The man in charge of RAF Lyneham believes the closure of the base is inevitable.

Station commander group captain John Gladston, who was only put in charge of the base in December, said: “We understand the reasons for the move but of course we are sad to see the closure of something that has been part of our lives.

“This is an iconic base home to an iconic plane.

“Part of our heart will always be here in Wiltshire.

“Defence cannot afford to retain two bases at the moment – the evidence in favour of the move is pretty stark.

“The first flight here was in 1967, the year I was born, and it is a very special place.

“Some people have worked here for 20 years and have huge emotional ties with the base. However you have to be sensible – it is a sad thing to close the base but it is necessary.

“Although the base is a big part of the community we are now half the size we once were and that has not really had an affect on the local community.

“The marital quarters outside of the base will be sold as residential homes and more people will move into the village.”

The decision to shut the base in 2012 and transfer to RAF Brize Norton has been widely criticised by politicians and local people, but the personnel who work and live on the base say it’s the only way forward.

The station currently employs 2,437 people, including personnel, civilian workers and contractors and there will be some casualties when the move happens.

The present scheme will see 251 service personnel being redeployed elsewhere, 481 contractors will no longer be needed along with 125 civilian admin posts.

Since the decision was made to close the base in 2003 a team, known as Future Brize, has been in charge of the logistics of the move and the preparation in terms of personnel.

Heading the team is Squadron Leader Lynn Powell who says everything is running on time and with no major problems.

She said the base’s two flight simulators, the most crucial piece of training equipment the base has, will be moved in April next year with all of the personnel moving between August and December 2012.

The gates at RAF Lyneham are due to officially close for the last time on December 31, 2012 when the final pieces of equipment and people are moved to Oxford.

Although the base will be shut, work will continue in terms of securing a future for the site.

It has not yet been established if the base will be handed back to the former landowners or used for something else.

The only thing that is certain is that, due to the use of aeroplanes and machines on the plot of land over the past 40 years, an environmental impact survey has to be completed along with any treatment work which made be needed.