RAF Hythe

RAF Hythe was an RAF base situated in Hythe, Hampshire, 10 miles (16 km) south of Southampton on the western side of Southampton Water.

RAF Hythe
Located near Hythe in Hampshire
Disused RAF building, March 2007
RAF Hythe
Coordinates50.8667°N 1.3924°W / 50.8667; -1.3924
TypeFactory
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry until 1964
Ministry of Defence
Controlled byRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1924 (1924)
In use1925–2006

Hangars were first erected here by May-Harden-May Ltd and acquired by Supermarine in 1925. The site was used for the final assembly of marine aircraft. The site again changed hands in 1937, being acquired by Imperial Airways (later BOAC) who used the site for flying boat maintenance until November 1950. Later, from 1967, the facilities were used by the US Field Army Support Brigade/Combat Equipment Battalion-Hythe, mainly for small boat repairs. At this time, the base became known as RAF Hythe.[1]

The station, the last U.S. Army installation in the United Kingdom,[2] closed on 30 September 2006 after the American Army left following a cost-cutting exercise.[3][4] The site was acquired by the South East England Development Agency in October 2007, and has since been developed into the Hythe Marine Park, home to a number of maritime and marine production facilities.[5]

References
  1. Hampshire Aviation Locations H to M Archived 14 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "RAF Hythe, Army's last U.K. post, slated to close its doors – News". Stripes. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. "England | Hampshire | Workers bid farewell to RAF Hythe". BBC News. 29 September 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. "DefenseLink News Release: DoD Announces Installation Realignment in United Kingdom". Defenselink.mil. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  5. "Hythe Marine Park Information". Adamshendry.co.uk. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
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