Freedom of Entry into the Borough for the Army and the RAF, Stafford

Description:The Army and the RAF Parade before the Mayor of Stafford, Councillor Brian Price, outside the Shire Hall in Market Square, Stafford. On the left service personnel from the Army 22 Signals Regiment and on the right the RAF TSW (Tactical Supply Wing) are pictured taking part in a joint Freedom of Entry into the Borough Parade.

The Borough of Stafford conferred the Freedom of Entry into the Borough to RAF Stafford (16 MU) on 16 December 1954. RAF Stafford closed on 31 March 2006 after 67 years and then the Army occupied the base which was given a new name: Beacon Barracks, MOD Stafford. Following RAF Stafford’s closure the TSW continued to be involved with the local community. On 2 October 2007 Stafford Borough Council passed a resolution to confer the Freedom of Entry into the Borough of Stafford on the TSW (which has been based at Stafford for almost 40 years) and on the 22 Signal Regiment. The formal joint ceremony granting of the Freedom of Entry into the Borough of Stafford was held on Saturday 19th April 2008. TSW was the first RAF Unit (as opposed to a Station) to be granted this honour.

RAF Stafford was formed 1 December 1939 following the purchase by the Treasury of 362 acres of land near Stafford. The main site was at Beaconside and originally known as No. 16 Maintenance Unit or more often as 16 MU and there were outlying sites around the area. The Unit's motto was ‘Instumenta Fundamenta’ which translates as 'Supplies are the Foundations'.

Apart from helicopters, the site was a non-flying base which formed part of a large and complex RAF logistics organisation. There were many enormous stores and warehouse buildings with facilities for the maintenance of equipment and storage of parts needed by the Ministry of Defence in order to keep front line aircraft flying worldwide. Later the site also became involved in supporting military aircraft for NATO partners in Europe and for India and New Zealand.

The site celebrated 50 years in 1989 and at that time stood on 670 acres with seven dispersed sites. There were around 1600 personnel of which half were service and half civilian. The stores held around 617,000 different items of equipment including airframes, aero-engine spares, complete engines (e.g. for the Tornado), guided missile spares, right down to nuts and bolts.

On 1 April 1999 the name 16 MU disappeared and two new agencies were created with the site renamed as RAF Stafford and DSDC (Defence Storage and Distribution Centre) Stafford, subsequently known as DSDC North. In later years, due to Government policy, there were many changes for RAF Stafford and airmen and airwomen began to relocate to other sites. On 17 December 2004 the Mountain Rescue Team relocated to RAF Valley after 42 years with RAF Stafford. During September 2005 DSDC North was closed and on 31 March 2006 RAF Stafford closed after 67 years.

The site was given a new future by the Ministry of Defence who required the Army to occupy the base and it was given a new name: Beacon Barracks, MOD Stafford. A major redevelopment of the site took place with new buildings and facilities for troops transferring to Stafford. Additionally a new estate of over 340 houses was created on one of the former Storage sites opposite to the Beacon Barracks main entrance.

Copyright for this image belongs to MOD Stafford (Ministry of Defence) and it may not be used for resale or commercial purposes without MOD Stafford’s express permission.