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Airport
Gweru-Thornhill Air Base
(
IATA
:
GWE
,
ICAO
:
FVTL
) is one of the two main air bases of the
Air Force of Zimbabwe
located near the central city of
Gweru
.
[3]
The airbase is home to air force fighter squadrons and the Pilot Training School. According to
Janes Defence Weekly
of 6 September 2006, a US$41.5m simulation center was being established. A range of amenities and services, which include workshops, transport fleets, equipment depots, and accommodation, sporting and entertainment facilities, support the base.
It is home to these squadrons:
- No. 2 Squadron (Cobra) - for advanced jet training and close air support. Operates 12
K-8s
.
- No. 4 Squadron (Hornet) - equipped with Cessna
FTB337G
and
O-2A
- No. 5 Squadron (Arrow) - interceptor/fighter role with
Chengdu F-7
II/IIN and
Chengdu FT-7BZ Trainer
.
- No. 6 Squadron (Tiger) - with
SF-260M
, SF-260TP and SF-260W
RAF Thornhill
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]
In 1939 a committee was set up to locate and survey three sites near
Gweru
(at that time known as Gwelo) that were suitable for the establishment of an airfield for the
Commonwealth Training Group
responsible for training aircrews for the defence of the
Empire
during World War II. The most suitable site comprised a portion of Thornhill farm and an adjacent farm, Glengarry. This land was commandeered for the duration of the War and finally purchased in 1947. The first buildings were constructed in 1941 and official use and the beginning of training began in March 1942. Some of the original buildings of this time are still in use at Thornhill today.
The town of Gwelo and the air station grew during World War II, with a total of 1810 pilots trained during this time.
At the end of WWII the Royal Air Force retained its Rhodesian Air Training Group (RATG) at RAF Thornhill. The airfield remained an active Royal Air Force (training) base until their withdrawal in 1953, when it was taken over by the
Royal Rhodesian Air Force
(RRAF). Tarmac runways and concrete hard standings were added in 1956/57, allowing jet aircraft to operate from Thornhill AB.
[5]
[6]
See also
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References
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Bibliography
[
edit
]
- Brent, W. A. (1987).
Rhodesian Air Force: A Brief History 1947?1980
. Kwambonambi: Freeworld Publications.
ISBN
978-0-620-11805-7
.
External links
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