raf west raf west site located london borough base originally built depot royal_air_force raf split north railway housed depot original personnel accommodation site leased air_force followed navy eventually housing united_kingdom command navy following review properties navy vacated site surplus requirements project model following year initial plans homes retirement home approved london borough july buildings subsequently demolished way new development bought acre site november history establishment land site developed originally owned chosen march wing commander house decision instead establish depot existing buildings site revisited july selected house depot military acquisition order close proximity great western metropolitan railways ideal purpose additional construction costs meant final total original estimate need heating brought requirement boiler houses plus additional foundations needed buildings north railway lieutenant created design site buildings contractor involved civil engineering company appearing records temporary railway siding created aid delivery building supplies december sheds completed officers mess sleeping quarters navy july military stores moved site items kept completed sheds shortage bricks october meant widening bridge railway delayed construction railway line site inter war years wrote land employed september announce wished buy land allow permanent use raf accept initial offer agreed sell eventual deadline january receiving sum resident land cancelled september paid compensation military march authorities believe worthy built included site later residence commander naval activities united_kingdom based site maintenance unit ran site separating regimental buildings north depot buildings south scheme established raf stations prepare cases civil disturbance prepare fences depot belonging nearby railway company replaced non variety raf guard sergeant corporal acting corporal airmen formed protect site rest decade provided guard housed sick bay remaining married given houses park road placed order closure public ran site providing maintenance nearby green lane path originated eventual order dated october replaced previous orders required replacement route route established officially separated sites depot site accommodation site considered separate raf stations original accommodation buildings north site replaced new married quarters raf established apprentice scheme october earlier trial concluded successfully scheme trained general administrative accounting duties practising depot acting total passed scheme station commander wing commander died quarters february buried churchyard february funeral attended personnel depot raf succeeded wing commander second world war newly formed depot group raf equipment maintenance unit raf overall command depot responsible provision maintenance engines sent units ammunition prepared sent squadrons action maintenance unit raf came control depot january increase personnel lead extension station additionally navy army built site order protect potential enemy bombing majority moved temporary base gloucester later war maintenance unit involved radio preparations day landings produced radar equipment use air_force submerged feet water post war years following end war depot responsible repair vehicles conversion coaches aircraft engines propellers radar equipment continued repaired site vehicles air_force air_force base nearby raf south began serviced april american vehicles maintained dedicated shed remaining operation closed having run subsidiary gloucester office previous year lack available housing gloucester area meant closure completed proposed april year convert base transfer operations august formed station unit office responsible medical records transferred moved building november relocated station passed december enable consolidation facilities sites country single location october american relocated air_force decided close headquarters civilian members staff redundant station chapel built building incorporated nave seating space people connecting wings hall gymnasium built site navy leased site december constructed additional facilities personnel families including bar filling station post office cinema chapel school baseball diamond medical dental centre came morale welfare recreation department large area site demolished late 1980s large residential development named village housing shared personnel british families built building incorporated separate sections children families recreational facilities courts built baseball diamond field house built built nearby following year closure redevelopment following review facilities navy elected vacate site beginning june final chapel service held june operations returned united_states plan save million year staff involved service personnel civilian staff british civilian staff base closed ceremony september american flag lowered personnel transferred new facilities naples italy united_kingdom officially stood september ceremony late buildings site excluding elementary school demolished included demolition works village housing retained separate military buildings purchased acre site development november explore living thames valley later bought acre plot february outline planning permission granted london borough january despite local opposition buildings having flat roofs new homes social housing plan included homes bed care home largest buildings storeys high september sought permission london borough sell completed homes completing highway work site order development financially viable september homes sold additional houses construction largest building construction house completed october final homes development completed tailored care living development received planning permission open early september began public consultation reopening elementary school free special school january plans refurbished open pupils gradually expanded eventually intake pupils september school named opened intake pupils january officially reopened permanent secretary
RAF West Ruislip