RAF Gaydon

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RAF Gaydon
Gaydon, Warwickshire in England
RAF Vickers Valiant in anti-flash white
RAF Gaydon Shown within Warwickshire Show map of Warwickshire RAF Gaydon RAF Gaydon (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	52°11′08″N 001°29′31″W / 52.18556°N 1.49194°W / 52.18556; -1.49194
Type	Royal Air Force station
Code	GP (-1954) GD (1954-)
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Strike Command
Site history
Built	1941 (1941)/42 & 1953/54
Built by	John Laing & Son Ltd (1953-54)
In use	13 June 1942 - 31 October 1974 (1974)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation	130 metres (427 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 05/23 (Cold War) 2,750 metres (9,022 ft) Asphalt 05/23 (Wartime)  Asphalt 10/28 (Wartime)  Asphalt 16/34 (Wartime)  Asphalt

Royal Air Force Gaydon or more simply RAF Gaydon is a former Royal Air Force station located 5.2 miles (8.4 km) east of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire and 10.8 miles (17.4 km) north west of Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.

RAF Gaydon opened in 1942 and is known for its role during the Cold War, when it was under the control of RAF Bomber Command as it was the first Royal Air Force (RAF) station to receive the Vickers Valiant when No. 138 Squadron RAF re-formed here in 1955.

In 1978, the site passed into civilian ownership and today contains the British Motor Museum, the headquarters of automobile manufacturer Aston Martin, and the Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Centre.