RAF Bentwaters (1951 - 1993) Part 1. The Domestic Site.

[@piggyoinkenstein.186]

Ain't been there but been chicksands, high wycombe, and croughton/heyford. My dad was in the air force for 29 years, back n forth to UK. Was a groovy place back in the 70s. When the best of what was british was still alive and well. Ahh, the fish and chips wrapped in newspaper etc.🤪👍

[@skipsmoyer4574]

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.

[@Chelveston78]

Hi and thank you for your comment. Check out my Y/T video titled RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge 'The Domestic Site' Revisited (2001 -2002). Essentially a rehash of this video with a few contemporary scenes added. The Water Towers were Base 'Landmarks' and briefly feature at 1.38 mins. They're long gone today but many accepted the challenge to climb these structures - good memories. All the best.

[@LeeBv9983]

Don't know how this popped up in my YT feed. I was stationed in England from 1978-1984. From 1978-1981 I was at RAF Wethersfield in Essex (AKA RAF Sleepy Hollow). There was actually lots of housing there and we had a large number of firemen from Bentwaters living there. Because they worked 24 hour shifts with two days off in between, the longish drive to Wethersfield was worth it to get their families in housing. Wethersfield was so small then that there was no fire station on the base and any emergency response would come from the town of Braintree about 10 miles away. However, in 1981 a Red Horse squadron moved in and the excess housing vanished, as did I as my unit relocated to RAF Uxbridge in west London, which is how I got a second tour.

[@Chelveston78]

Hi. Thank you for your comments. You highlight what I said in the video about the scarcity of 'Base Housing' at Bentwaters (and I guess other USAF Bases) in the 1970's with personnel willing to travel to Wethersfield for family accommodation. I think from Base to Base a distance of 50+ miles but given the back roads and with no direct route, it would have made for a long travel time. I know of others who lived a good way from the Base (some by their own choosing). I think the situation improved into the 1980's with more Base housing being built. As to 'why this popped up on your YT feed,' maybe algorithms, play lists or just the magic of the internet - who knows but I thank you for the information. All the best...

[@piggyoinkenstein.186]

Wow, sure would like to have a couple of them pork pies from sainsburies. oink, oink. !

[@htw9594]

Was there 1959 - 1961. Fifth to seventh grade .

[@thomaslake2946]

Were is rendlesham

[@Chelveston78]

Hi, the original settlement at Rendlesham was/is to the West of the former RAF Bentwaters. A settlement since Medieval times, in fact earlier. The 14th Century St. Gregory's Church still survives? Interestingly and very recently (2022), there have been archaeological digs around Rendlesham sheading more light on the areas early settlement. I would suggest that you check out Google Maps satellite imagery which may explain better how the area would have looked if you exclude the Base? Today, the Domestic Site at the former Base forms part of the 'New Village Community' of Rendlesham. Hope this answers your question? All the best.