The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
BOMB SQUAD TO BE DISBANDED
The bomb disposal squadron based at RAF Wittering will be disbanded over the next 18 months, it has been revealed.
A spokesman for the Peterborough base said 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron would be disbanded by April 2020, with the bomb disposal services transferred to the British Army.
The squadron was originally formed in 1943 to deal with German Second World War bombs.
Peterborough residents still regularly see the squadron’s van at sensitive incidents involving weapons and explosives. Recently they were seen helping police at an operation in Uldale Way, Gunthorpe, and also helping investigators at the tragic explosion at a firework factory in Peterborough last month.
The base spokesman said there would be no redundancies as a result of the decision - either military or civilian as a result of the move, as mem- bers of the squadron were armourers or engineers, and they would be able to continue in other roles in the RAF.
Group Captain Tony Keeling said staff at the base were ‘deeply saddened’ by the announcement.
He said: “Everyone at RAF Wittering and across the wider Royal Air Force will be deeply saddened by the disbandment of 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron.
“For 75 years the Squadron has lived by its motto, to make the harmful harmless, in their operational role and the countless occasions in which they have assisted the civilian authorities to maintain public safety.”
He continued: “5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron has served this country with bravery, honour and distinction, and has maintained the best traditions of the Royal Air force throughout its history.
“We are very grateful to Squadron personnel, past and present, for all that they have given in the past 75 years.”
It is thought the specialist equipment used by the squadron will be placed into the armed forces equipment pool, with the possibility it will be transferred to the Army teams.
The spokesman for Wittering said the move would not have any impact on public safety.
The nearest British Army bomb disposal teams will be based at the Chetwynd Barracks in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire and at Colchester in Essex.