The base was opened and closed in May 1969 in order to serve the winning entry of Flt Lt Tom Lecky-Thompson and Harrier XV741 in the Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race.
The aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt SK Nayak, had taken off from Adampur Air Force airbase about 10:00am, five minutes prior to the crash.
Wellingborough School RAF section is linked to No. 5 Air Experience Flight at RAF Wyton, where cadets are flown on Friday afternoons in the Grob Tutor training aircraft, and to 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire, where cadets go on Sundays to fly in the Grob Vigilant motor glider, and where Flt Lt Walker is a C Category instructor.