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Gweru-Thornhill Air Base

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Gweru-Thornhill Air Base
Roundel of Zimbabwe.svg
Gweru, Midlands Province in Zimbabwe
Site information
Owner Zimbabwe Defence Forces
Operator Air Force of Zimbabwe
Location
Zimbabwe adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Gweru-Thornhill AFB
Location within Zimbabwe
Coordinates 19°26′11″S29°51′43″E / 19.43639°S 29.86194°E / -19.43639; 29.86194
Site history
Built1941 (1941)
Battles/wars
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: GWE, ICAO: FVTL
Elevation4,680 metres (15,354 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
13R/31L7,826 metres (25,676 ft) Asphalt
13L/13R8,766 metres (28,760 ft) Asphalt
Sources: World Aero Data [1] GCM [2]

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]

Contents

History

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. [4] The town of Gwelo and the air station grew during World War II, with a total of 1,810 pilots trained during this time. [5] At the end of WWII, the Royal Air Force retained its Rhodesian Air Training Group (RATG) at RAF Thornhill. [6]

Royal Rhodesian Air Force usage

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), as Zimbabwe was then known as Rhodesia. Tarmac runways and concrete hard standings began construction in 1956, allowing jet aircraft to operate from Thornhill AB. Additional upgrades included a radar facility and control tower. These additions were opened in 1957. In 1956, the No. 9 Short Service Unit was the first course to undergo the Basic Flying School at Thornhill, and were moved to New Sarum to do Advanced Flying School and Operational Conversion Unit courses. In 1957-58, the No. 10 Short Service Unit was the first course to fully complete their training at Thornhill. [7]

During September 2006, a simulation center was under construction, costing about US $41.5m. A range of amenities and services, which include workshops, transport fleets, equipment depots, and accommodation, sporting and entertainment facilities, support the base. Today, Thornhill Air Base operates as the primary base for the Air Force of Zimbabwe's fighter squadrons due to the ideal climate conditions that it provides. It also housed the Pilot Training School. [8] [4]

Units

The following units that were based at Thornhill Air Base:

Rhodesian Air Training Group (RAF) [9]
Air Force of Zimbabwe [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Airport information for FVTL". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Data current as of October 2006.
  2. ↑ Airport information for FVTL at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. ↑ McCrea, Barbara; Tony Pinchuck (2000). The Rough Guide to Zimbabwe. Rough Guides. p. 106. ISBN   1-85828-532-1.
  4. 1 2 "Zimbabwe Military Air Bases and Airfields". Aeroflight – World Air Forces. Internet Archive. 4 November 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Brent 1987, p. 26.
  6. ↑ "Rhodesian Air Force: A brief history". rhodesianforces.org. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  7. 1 2 "History of Thornhill Air Station". rhodesianforces.org. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "Jane's Defence Weekly". Jane’s Defence Weekly. Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane’s Information Group. 6 September 2006. ISSN   0265-3818.
  9. ↑ "RATG (Rhodesian Air Training Group)". RAFweb. Retrieved 10 February 2026.

Bibliography


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