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Royal Air Force Sealand or more simply RAF Sealand is a former Royal Air Force station in Flintshire, in the north-east corner of Wales, close to the border with England, and operated between 1916 and 2006. Under defence cuts announced in 2004 RAF Sealand was completely closed in April 2006. All remaining RAF units were moved to RAF Leeming. Part of the original airfield is now operated as the civilian MoD Sealand. ==Early history== It was originally a civilian airfield and was taken over by the military in 1916 for training. Two twin hangars, which were built in 1917, were used by the newly formed Royal Flying Corps. Originally named RFCS Shotwick and later RAF Shotwick, the station was finally named RAF Sealand during the Second World War. Immediately pre-war and in the early war years, it was the home of No. 5 Flying Training School RAF (5 FTS), equipped with Airspeed Oxfords. During the war, the Flying Training Schools provided what was in effect intermediate training for pilots who had received ab initio training and flown solo at an EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) and who had subsequently been inducted into the RAF. Pilots thus arrived at No. 5 FTS RAF Sealand as APOs (Acting Pilot Officers) and upon satisfactory completion of intermediate training became Pilot Officers (POs), and were prepared for posting to a squadron or OTU (Operational Training Unit). Kenneth Cross spent time at No. 5 FTS as an instructor in the early 1930s. From 5 August 1940, the CFI (Chief Flying Instructor) was Edward Mortlock Donaldson. Amongst the pilots who trained at 5 FTS, RAF Sealand was Johnnie Johnson. No. 30 Maintenance Unit RAF was formed there in 1939. Two years later No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School RAF equipped with Tiger Moths was located at RAF Sealand. In 1951 the station was taken over by the United States Air Force. Among the units that operated there was the 30th Air Depot Wing. It was handed back to the RAF in 1957. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「RAF Sealand」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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