page_title: RAF Benson
hierarchical_section_title: RAF Benson
caption_attribution_description: MSN 33643 B737-8AS RYANAIR LONDON FLIGHT BVA-DUB
context_page_description: Royal Air Force Benson or RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force station located at Benson, near Wallingford, in South Oxfordshire, England. It is a Main Operating Base and home to the RAF's fleet of Westland Puma HC2 support helicopters, comprising No. 33 Squadron and No. 230 Squadron. Other flying units comprise No. 22 Squadron, the rotary wing Operational Evaluation Unit and No. 28 Squadron which is the combined Puma and Boeing Chinook HC4 operational conversion unit. Lodger units include the Oxford University Air Squadron and No. 6 Air Experience Flight, both flying the Grob Tutor T1. The National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance are also based at the station, both operating Airbus H135 helicopters.
  RAF Benson opened in 1939 and during the Second World War operated as a training station and later in the photographic reconnaissance role. Post-war, Benson operated under RAF Transport Command throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s various signals and administrative units were present and in the early 1990s the station began its current support helicopter role.
context_section_description: Royal Air Force Benson or RAF Benson (IATA: BEX, ICAO: EGUB) is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located at Benson, near Wallingford, in South Oxfordshire, England. It is a Main Operating Base and home to the RAF's fleet of Westland Puma HC2 support helicopters, comprising No. 33 Squadron and No. 230 Squadron. Other flying units comprise No. 22 Squadron, the rotary wing Operational Evaluation Unit and No. 28 Squadron which is the combined Puma and Boeing Chinook HC4 operational conversion unit. Lodger units include the Oxford University Air Squadron and No. 6 Air Experience Flight, both flying the Grob Tutor T1. The National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance are also based at the station, both operating Airbus H135 helicopters.
  RAF Benson opened in 1939 and during the Second World War operated as a training station and later in the photographic reconnaissance role. Post-war, Benson operated under RAF Transport Command throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s various signals and administrative units were present and in the early 1990s the station began its current support helicopter role.
caption: Benson village (left) and RAF Benson (centre and right) from the air
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