I served at Alconbury from 1967 to 1970. Thanks for this video. There were so many bases back then. But I guess once the Cold War ended, they decided they didn’t need quite so many. Nonetheless, the history of our presence in Europe is still of interest.

Loved the video! Michele

Met my husband in Feb. of 1970 at RAF Bentwaters. I had lived in England since Jan. 1968, at RAF Upper Heyford. Joined my Dad, who was Commissary Manager/Officer & Mom in 1969, when freeze on hiring civilians was lifted!! My husband flew F-4s with the 92TFS. We met September 1970 and married 3April 1971. Our daughter was born at RAF Lakenheath September 1972! Sadly, orders came and we left England March 1973 for Grand Forks, ND, There he flew the F-106. Squadron deactivated within a year! Our next assignment - Minot, ND!! Still flying and enjoying life! More assignments and retirement in 1990. But Bentwaters always is very dear to our hearts!! Our second daughter born in Minot, ND 1975, would for years ask why she was not born in England!😊But eventually realized why, and loved being a “NoDakor”!! Bentwaters was revised, with both our daughters, while stationed in Germany! We lived in Aldeburgh and we were able to share with them our first flat and house we called “home”! Aldeburgh was as we left it! A wonderful trip!! And fantastic memories! Miss England to this day!

Stationed at RAF Chicksands 1984-1988. Special for me since my family settled in Jamestown from England. Really enjoyed it!!!!

Good stuff👍

We were stationed at Croughton. My dad was a comm bunny and i followed in his footsteps. I am very interested in the housing at Upper Heyford now. im thinking of relo from the usa to uk since im a dual..and i can. How far is Upper Heyford from Croughton as im considering Banbury my birthplace (Horton Hosp) . Tu for video excellent.

As a guy growing up around greenham and Welford in the 80s and apparently my auntie having more American soldiers then Ronald Reagan 😂😂 I was always told not much went to greenham it was a big hoax most stuff went to Welford airbase as they had there own roadway put in off the m4 motorway. I don’t know how true it was and yes it was a crying shame how they destroyed the runway, I think it was the biggest runway in Europe and would have been a great overflow for Heathrow.

GREAT BASE AND ASSIGNMENT. I WAS THERE 81st EMS AGE SHOP 1989 TILL BASE CLOSURE/MISSION COMPLETE! IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE CLOSING THE TWIN BASES RAF BENTWATERS AND RAF WOODBRIDGE.

I was there 89-91. Good job on getting all this together. On the other hand, I had to mute the music. Music was terrible!

Incredible photographs.

Sad to see Linton go. Was a regular visitor to the RAF Air Cadets Activity Centre there.

My father was stationed at Bentwaters around 1961 - 1963. We lived in the newer housing near that dead end I believe in your video. My father Col Jack Frost was a Squadron Commander and we were in famous company. We lived in a 2 Story Duplex. Across the street was the freestanding ranch style home of the Wing Commander / future Vietnam Ace Col. Robin Olds, married to movie star actress Ella Raines, who completely remodeled the Wing Commader's house (never heard of that being allowed before or since. Next door waste only other freestanding ranchhouse which belonged to the Base Commander. One of the other neighbors was Col Chappy James another famous black Air Force high ranking leader. Before the U.S. knew who the Beatles were, we did. We used to go to London to an Officers Club I thought was called the Columbia Club..but I may have the name wrong?? We'd go shows like the Sound of Music andtoWimbleton for events. My sister was born at Bentwaters Woodbridge RAFB....we'd take a shuttlebus to Woodbridge RAFB to elementary school. In back of the duplex were nothing but wheat fields..abandoned medieval cottage ada nearby manor house.

Wow! That brought back some memories. My family and I were there 74-77 & 84-88. I joined the Air Force and was station at Mildenhall 99-04. I took several road trips to Woodbridge to revisit home. It was bittersweet.

It, RAF Croughton, was always a COMMs based. Years later, I worked for BT and can confirm that it will not be going away anytime soon. 🤫

Was there 1959 - 1961. Fifth to seventh grade .

Was stationed there Nov 78 -80 just missed the UFO event by week or so. Climbed the water tower one night alone. Some period after told a buddy ( Tim) and he talked me taking him up so we went. Most amazing we didn't get caught. Thanks for trip back.

Was there Nov 78 -80. This has helped me as looked at new Google map and couldn't find orientation, now see much was demolition. I climbed the water tower twice, first alone, then some time later a friend talked me into again and we both went up. Never got caught.

My dad worked the command post from 84-87. We left in July 87. Lived in Trimley St Martin in Felixstowe until we moved onto WB.

I’m crying now. I met my husband there in 1988. I worked in the housing office. I left in 1989 and went back to AZ. He transferred to Offut. We long distance dated and married in 1990 before the Gulf War. We were going to go back on our anniversary in 2020, but Covid. I was thinking about going back for our 35th. I don’t think I could now.

I was there in the 70s…

outside the gym was a clump of bamboo ,by the year 2000 it was a forest

I am proud to live in lincolnshire and have seen just jane taxi many times and watch BBMF fly over, thanks for keeping the memories alive 😊

I was at dependent at Alconbury, ‘74-‘78. At that time we didn’t have a school team as 9-12 grade were bussed to Lakenheath and lived in dorms. The base teams were the Spartans. Later, Alconbury JHS became Alconbury HS with their teams being the Dragons.

Thank you so much for sharing this! My father was stationed there 72 to 76. We lived on Portal Drive, you went right by our old house! I love living there. Best part if my childhood.

Thank you for the memories. We were stationed at Upper Heyford in 1969-1971. I am still so thankful for the opportunity to see this part of the world and have lived in the English community in Somerton. Great benefits as an Air Force brat that most kids don't enjoy. Some wonderful memories!

Thanks for the tour. I wish I had been there when the F-111's were in residence. A feeling of sadness though- the past has been swept away.

I was stationed at RAF Croughton from 1976 to 1979. always loved the nurses at Stoke Manville Hospital in Aylesbury. Good times and good memories.

My sister attended in mid 80s. I was to young.

how come you were able to go on base??, I remember visiting an american friend of mine sadly i have lost touch with them when they were based there in 2005, amazing place for a British person like me felt weird using US $ in the UK!!! i visited Lakenheath i would love to go on base again

I did the Army short rigger course in 1998! Still used wellies at Stenigot.😂

i lived at RAF SCULTHORPE 683B CAMBRIDGE STREET 75-77 DAD WAS POSTED AT RAF WEST RAYNHAM

I was stationed there 1990-1992. Had some great times there.

I was there in 77 TDY from Wiesbaden. My team and I Built the guard tower shown at the beginning of the video. I have seen it in a few other recent videos. It's Good to know it's still standing......Mark Arbogast

I was stationed there '87 to '91......Fire Fighter...Met my wife and had a great life.....👍👍

My father was weapons loader at RAF Bentwaters from Oct. 71 - June 76. Thanks for posting the video.

For "Urban Explorers" read "Vandals".

We will never forget hosting our dear American friends who remain UK brothers and sisters in arms.

I was there 1984 -1988. Go POL

20th TFW 1980/81 "Sleep tight tonight, Heyfords on alert"

Graduated high school in 78 and stationed at Bentwaters and Woodbridge with Security Police. Was 18 and 19 so I guess some of the students on the school buses that entered through the main gate were my age. Loved this base. Wrapped up my 6 year enlistment at Edwards AFB on my 24th birthday as SSgt then off to CA Highway Patrol Academy the month after.

Thank you for posting this video. I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford from November 1979 to November 1981. It was my first assignment after Technical School, I was a fresh 17-year-old Airman Basic then. 😱 Looking at your video, I recognized the Base Exchange, Movie Theater, & Bowling Alley. Other than that, I did not recognize anything else. It looks like a different place -- I guess it IS a different place now 45 years later (geez, I'm old). Oddly enough, the lasting takeaway from my experience there was, not so much the work I did there, (it sucked) but it was the music (which definitely did NOT suck). Since it was my first time in a different country, everything was new and different to me. I remember taking a keen interest in this new music I was hearing on BBC1, from these bands that I had never heard of before, like The Police, Human League, Duran Duran, etc. (actually: XTC). Once again, thank you for posting. It took me back to those slightly thrilling days of yesteryear.

I live next to it

I remember doing discos with 2 lovely girl dancers in all of the USAF bases including bentwaters in the early 70s All in all 11 different bases a real education and fun

I was there when Col. Kelly crashed. I was 10 and I remember this event. I think he had a daughter about my age. Wethersfield AFB, 4 years. We first lived off-base in Castle Headingham and eventually moved on base into a tiny trailer park. I am glad I can still remember!

I just discovered this. Such joy. Swinderby was my first posting out of Boy Entrant training in 1961. So many memories jogged by your excellent photos. Your coverage is simply the best. Thanks. So sad nothing left. I was a wireless tech then, working in the new control tower and what was known then as the old tower. On top of which there was a small room with a round window we used as a workshop and hiding place out of sight. Nice camp with many attractive WAFs. Flying training with Vampires. Very cold in winter.

Thanks for posting the video. I was an USAF brat. My father was stationed their from October 1971 to June 1976. Had base housing at RAF Woodbridge. Spent in Great Glenham and Ipswich before getting base housing.

If some of the design from the TSRII didnt go into that aircraft I would eat my old RAF beret

Were is rendlesham

The 1940's music doesn't work for this presentation. When I worked there in the late 1980's -1990's the music was more energetic. Why not re-edit using Big Country singing "In a Big Country" and Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and The Clash "Rock the Casaba". Also, the parody song "Bomb, Bomb Iraq" fits the mood of 20th TFW personnel from the Wing Commander down to the one striper Knuckle Buster maintaining our Aardvarks and Ravens. Just saying, a USAF RAF Upper Heyford Vet.

Thank you for posting this “tour”. I was stationed at RAF Croughton from 1986 - 89 as a 307x0/493x0. My two oldest sons were both born at the UH base hospital. All shipping was done at the UH Commissary and BX. I really miss my time there.