Royal Air Force Station (RAF) Molesworth, England

APO, AE 09470 | Base Operator: DSN: 314-238-1110, 011-44-1480-541110

RAF Molesworth: Overview

RAF Molesworth is one of only a few bases in England that is maintained and commanded by the United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE). The base has not had a flying mission for many years and is, therefore, utilized to serve a number of important land-based missions. The primary mission of this installation is to provide intelligence to allied forces Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The entity that leads this initiative is the JIOCEUR Analytic Center of the United States European Command (USEUCOM).

British forces did establish an airfield in the area for use during WWI, but it was closed following the war. However, the onset of WWII motivated the British government to find viable sites for airfields, and the establishment of RAF Molesworth quickly followed. Prior to the arrival of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) in 1942, the base was the home of both Australian and British bombing squadrons. The USAAF also used the base to stage bombing missions during WWII. Following WWII, the base was used mainly for resupply missions until it was renovated in the 1980’s. At that time, the original infrastructure was removed and a nuclear missile launch infrastructure installed. Due to treaties with the Soviet Union, the nuclear mission was aborted in 1988 and the current mission was established.

RAF Molesworth: Education

You can earn your degree and enjoy being stationed overseas at RAF Molesworth by attending an online school. Online schools allow you to take classes according to your schedule. And, if you go on TDY or are transferred, you don't have to put school on hold. You may want to request information from a number of these schools. Start by clicking the "Find A School" button below:

RAF Molesworth: Location

The village of Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom is the obvious namesake of this installation. London is only about 40-50 miles to the south of RAF Molesworth. The Wash, which is a bay of the North Sea on the eastern coast of the UK, is about 35 miles to the northeast. Other villages and communities in the area include Huntington, UK, Wellingborough, UK, Kettering, UK, Corby, UK, Peterborough, UK, March, UK, Ely, UK, Cambridge, UK, St. Neots, UK, Rushden, UK, Billing, UK, and Northampton, UK.

RAF Molesworth: Interesting Facts

The host unit of RAF Molesworth is the 423rd Air Base Group (423 ABG) of the USAF. The 423 ABG is actually stationed at RAF Alconbury.
RAF Molesworth is one of two installations in the UK that were once utilized by the Eighth Air Force of the U.S. Army Air Force and remain under the command of U.S. forces to this day.
During WWII, RAF Molesworth hosted a number of celebrities. Bob Hope held a USO event at the base in 1943 and famous news anchor Walter Cronkite participated in a bombing mission that flew out of RAF Molesworth.