History RAF Benson
1 history 1.1 years , world war ii 1.2 post-war 1.3 21st century history early years , world war ii fairey battles of no. 12 operational training unit raf in flight construction of raf benson began in 1937 part of expansion of raf , in response threat of war nazi germany. construction undertaken contractors john laing & son. benson officially opened raf station on saturday 1 april 1939 under command of group captain r t leather afc. station s first aircraft 2 squadrons of fairey battle light bombers, began arrive few days later. no. 103 squadron arrived raf boscombe down , started flying in on 3 april 1939, joined in next few months no. 150 squadron arrived raf abingdon. the battles replaced in december 1940 vickers wellington medium bombers. @ same time supermarine spitfires of no. 1 photographic reconnaissance unit (pru) , raf coastal command arrived. benson gained considerable fame home of photographic reconnaissance remainder of second world war. in june 1943, no. 1 pru formed ...