RAF Engineering & Airfield Construction Branch Association
About
Our Association traces its origins to the Airfield Construction Branch (ACB), one of the largest units in the RAF which at its height had 19 Squadrons and nearly 30,000 personnel. Our senior members today were part of the ACB consisting of 5001, 5002, 5003, and 5004 Squadrons. The ACB was disbanded in 1966 when airfield construction passed from the RAF to the Royal Engineers.
After 1966, the Airfield Construction Branch lived on through two Associations of former members. The Airfield Construction Officers Association (ACOA) was developed under the leadership of founding President, Air Commodore Alexander ‘Daddy’ Dow (OBE) known as the Maker of Airfields and who rose to be the RAF Chief Engineer at Air Headquarters as well as Chief Engineer in Directorate of Works at the Air Ministry. The Airfield Construction Branch Association (ACBA) was formed from the non-commissioned members of the ACB. The ACBA ran in parallel with the ACOA for many years but as ACOA numbers dwindled, it joined with the larger ACBA.
With the reformation of 5001 Squadron in 1999, one of the original ACB units was reborn to enable ground engineering functions supporting deployed Air Operations. Primarily consisting of Trade Group 5 engineers, 5001 Squadron provides temporary working environments such as hangars for RAF fast jets and rotary aircraft, portable aircraft arrestor gear and environmental conditioning.
In 2022, the Royal Air Force changed its trade and branch structures, consolidating them into professions. During 2023, the RAF’s 5001 Squadron and Airfield Construction Branch Association voted to formally extend its membership to encompass all of the engineering professions and recognise that many of its newest members came from a wider catchment than 5001 Squadron.
RAF Engineering & Airfield
Construction Branch Association
RAF Engineering & Airfield Construction Branch Association
Active from 1939 to 1st April 1966, the origins of the Airfield Construction Branch were in France. Initially formed as the Number 1 Air Ministry Works Unit, it evacuated from France to the UK following the fall of France in 1940.
In 1940 it became Number 1 and 2 Works Squadrons and grew to six squadrons by the end of 1941. In July 1942, these units were given the title RAF Works Service. Expansion continued and in May 1943 the Unit, now consisting of 19 squadrons, was renamed the Airfield Construction Service (ACS). The ACS grew to the point where it employed 30,000 people and operated all over the world.
Following the end of the Second World War, there was still a lot of construction work needed and at the time of the Berlin Airlift in 1949, the ACS was renamed the Airfield Construction Branch. In 1951, 5355 Wing was established in RAF Kasfaret in Suez with Numbers 1 and 2 Squadron respectively being renamed 5001 and 5002 Airfield Maintenance Squadrons. 5001 Squadron was based at Kasafreet and 5002 Squadron was based at RAF Abu Sueir.
The Airfield Construction Branch was disbanded on 1st April 1966 when its responsibilities were transferred to the Royal Engineers.
5001 Squadron
Initially badged while at Kasafreet in Suez in 1951, 5001 Squadron was renamed 5001 Airfield Construction (Light) Squadron in May 1954. In August 1955, it moved to RAF El Adem and in September to RAF Idris at Tripoli.
In April 1959, it moved to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. While based at RAF Akrotiri, the Squadron supported a long-term detachment as RAF El Adem south of Tobruk in Libya. In addition to these locations, the Squadron also worked in Iran, and more widely in Libya. In 1963, a large detachment of the Squadron moved at short notice to the Far East to undertake work in North Borneo. Finally, in September 1963, the Squadron moved to RAF Seletar in Singapore where it remained until the Branch was disbanded in 1966.
In 1999, 5001 Squadron was reformed at RAF Stafford as part of 85 Wing to provide airfield engineering construction and maintenance support for deployed RAF operations. As part of the development of the A4 Force Elements, 5001 Squadron relocated to RAF Wittering in 2007 and transferred into 42(Expeditionary Support) Wing. Since 1999, 5001 Squadron has supported all fixed wing and most rotary wing deployments by Royal Air Force squadrons in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, USA, and Cyprus.
As part of the introduction of the RAF’s new operating model, 5001 Squadron is now part of RAF Global Enablement which provides the critical capabilities required to enable, maintain and sustain global air operations.
Such operations are managed from its home base at RAF Wittering, where 5001Sqn now represents the largest contingent of TG5 personnel in the RAF. The empowered global readiness team's spearhead trade support capabilities across the world and deservedly earned a Deputy Commander Operations commendation in the New Years Honours List in 2022.
In the 2022 New Year Honours, the Royal Air Force's (RAF) 5001 Squadron was recognised with a commendation for its Expeditionary Airfield Facilities (EAF) Flight. The commendation was awarded by the RAF's Deputy Commander Operations for the EAF Flight's exceptional work during the preceding 12-month period. During that time, the flight collectively spent 4,580 days away from base to complete its operational commitments. During the qualifying period, the EAF team completed 37 separate deployments to install temporary hangars and buildings across nine operational theatres. Additionally, they continued their regular maintenance tasks in six other global locations. The citation praised the team's outstanding contributions to defence and engineering, highlighting the technical capability and diversity of the entire 42 Expeditionary Support Wing, to which 5001 Squadron belongs.
5002 Squadron
5003 Squadron
