RAF Wittering misses out in bid to become new home of Red Arrows

The RAF display team was looking for a new home, after it was announced they were moving away from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire two years ago.

RAF Wittering was one of three bases shortlisted to become the new home. However, today the Ministry of Defence announced the Red Arrows would be moving to RAF Waddington, also in Lincolnshire, just a few miles from their current home. from 2022. RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire had also been considered as the new home.

North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara, who campaigned to bring the Red Arrows to his constituency, said he was disappointed by the decision.

He said; “The news that the Red Arrows will not be coming to RAF Wittering comes as a huge disappointment, especially after so much work has been put in trying to persuade the Ministry of Defence of the merits of RAF Wittering.

“It would have been a great honour to have the world famous Red Arrows based locally and of course there would have been a boost to the local economy too.

“I want to thank Peterborough City Council and Wittering Parish Council for working with me to try to bring the Red Arrows to our area.”

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “The Red Arrows have a proud and prominent place in British culture and have long demonstrated the best of what the UK Armed Forces offer with their world-renowned skills, discipline and teamwork.

“I am delighted that they will be able to continue to practice their extraordinary aerobatic talents above RAF Scampton in their home county of Lincolnshire.”