RAF Cranwell

RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
Near Cranwell, Lincolnshire in England
	College Hall at Royal Air Force College Cranwell
	Alitum Altrix; (Latin for 'Nurture the Winged')
Site information
Type	Training station
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	No. 22 Group (Training)
Condition	Operational
Website	Official website
Location
	RAF Cranwell Shown within Lincolnshire
Coordinates	53°01′49″N 000°29′00″W / 53.03028°N 0.48333°W
Area	700 hectares (1,700 acres)
Site history
Built	1916
In use	1916–1918 (Royal Naval Air Service); 1918 – present (Royal Air Force)
Garrison information
Current; commander	Wing Commander Matthew "Chocka" Thornton
Occupants	RAF College Cranwell; Central Flying School; HQ No. 3 Flying Training School; No. 45 Squadron; No. 57 Squadron; No. 703 Naval Air Squadron (operates from RAF Barkston Heath); HQ No. 6 Flying Training School; East Midlands Universities Air Squadron; No. 7 Air Experience Flight; See Based units section for full list.
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: EGYD, WMO: 03379
Elevation	67.7 metres (222 ft) AMSL
Runways
08/26	2,082 metres (6,831 ft) asphalt/concrete
01/19	1,462 metres (4,797 ft) asphalt/concrete
08N/26N	761 metres (2,497 ft) grass
08S/26S	761 metres (2,497 ft) grass
	Source: UK MIL AIP Cranwell

Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell (ICAO: EGYD) is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the Royal Air Force College (RAFC), which trains the RAF's new officers and aircrew. The motto, Altium Altrix, meaning "Nurture the highest" appears above the main doors of the Officers Mess. Since January 2025, RAF Cranwell has been commanded by Wing Commander Matthew "Chocka" Thornton.