Welcome to RAF Lakenheath, U.K.

United States Air Force
Welcome to RAF Lakenheath, U.K.
AVA20853VNB1
Welcome aboard! A tour of the shopping and other facilities.
Prepared by Detachment 1, AETC Training Support Squadron
Lackland AFB, Texas, USA

[@sskyking1]

For any young, single airmen who get orders for Lakenheath, I encourage you to take FULL advantage of the opportunities presented. Don't spend your weekends and off time on base. Book tours and see as much as you can. The Club is fine sometimes, but get yourself out to the local pubs too. Meet people. I used to walk two miles to the nearest pub because I didn't want to drive, but I played on the darts team and those of us who hung out there would arrange summer barbeques with our British friends at the pub. If you find yourself bored or homesick, you'll have only yourself to blame! Cherish the time... you'll remember it for a lifetime. I'm sitting here enjoying the memories 33 years later!

[@mtnride4930]

I agree, I was stationed there from 74-76 worked in Flight Medicine (48th ATH) wish I could remember the pubs I went to in Lakenheath village, my first week there one of the guys took me to his local a free house and he introduced me to Newcastle Brown. Great Memories USAF PROUD

[@jessiemurkin3936]

@@mtnride4930the tap?

[@sskyking1]

82-83 for me! So much fun there! Met my wife in the base Commissary and married in Bury St. Edmunds. Best assignment ever! Went to Edinburgh Scotland five times in two years, went to Monaco for the Grand Prix, joined the National Trust and toured dozens of castles, manor houses etc... lifted many a pint and threw many a dart at the Chequers in Eriswell. I'd love to go back for a visit. William Tell Overture forever! (those who lived on base at the time know what I mean). Being with the Hospital, we used to deploy to RAF Feltwell during excercises. Sorry to hear that Mildenhall is closing. Had fun learning to drive a stick for the first time in a right-hand drive truck.

[@geoffpoole483]

I'm a Brit who lives not far from RAF Lakenheath. Totally endorse your comment. There are loads of things to see and do in the UK and distances are short by US standards. It's easy and fairly cheap to get to France and Holland and other countries in Europe. Glad you enjoyed your posting.

[@paulhiggins8662]

sskyking1 I was there at the same time. My Dad was the RAF Commander, I worked at the Pizza Place. Happy times.

[@jkocol]

I was here from Dec 82 to Dec 85. I remember watching Max Headroom, Blackadder, The Young Ones, and I remember thinking how different television was there compared to the U.S. Like how Monty Python was so different. Not realizing how ground breaking all of these shows were.

[@AVMamfortas]

I was at RAF Honington, nearby, and provided a joint Air Traffic Control service for all three bases - from Honington. I had American servicemen and women on my staff. I also established a joint-services 'Assault Course' Club and took USAF and RAF guys and gals into the Thetford Forest every week to 'run' the three courses there. That was back in 78-9. Great times.

[@jkelley01938]

Honington Zone. 1979 Comm Sq 1968-70

[@importedmusic]

Such a refreshing change to see people immigrating into the UK and appreciating our culture!

[@lukeconer298]

i thought they moaned lol. doesnt look to bad way they spoke it was like bed sits or something haha

[@dragongamer1569]

importedmusic yep never thought I'd go to England

[@ffilchtaeh]

Anyone being handed orders for this place is being given a gift. That's how I felt. I wish I never left.

[@lietome2033]

***** While you are there, go visit Aviemore Scotland. I was stationed at RAF Alconbury and went to Aviemore many times. There are camp grounds everywhere, so we always camped. Glasgow to visit Glasgow Cathedral ,Edinburgh for the Castile and the whole of the city. It is where my great grandfather was from. Wish he would have stayed there.

[@slabuda1970]

Dude I just saw this and then saw your post. Best time of our lives brother.

[@JohnLee-jo3bp]

I felt the same!

[@mtnride4930]

YUP gotta agree. 74-76 Flight Medicine (48th ATH) I had the best time kayaked from the west coast of Scotland to the east coast and climbed Ben Nevis, Kinderscout so many great places to see.

[@danbruno5945]

My dad was in forces and enjoyed a good run in the 90s growing up around 93 to 97. Nostalgia and the BX smelling of hotdogs 🌭 😂💯👌

[@GrantGrove]

Lived off base in Exning, 1 Duck Ln. 70-72. LHS 72. The bases have grown since my years there.

[@sskyking1]

Watched again last night with my wife. We had a lot of fun with the memories it brought back. They really need to update this video though. Based on the presence of the F-15s I can tell it was shot later than 1992, but the cars and fashions (and the computer hardware) make it look like it wasn't much later... maybe 2000 at the latest. At any rate, it was interesting to see how much had been built up and added since we left in 84.

[@mattylamb9194]

They mentioned 1993-1994 in the video, and the pressure on housing. I;d say this is 1995. Computers look as if they are of that time too

[@mtnride4930]

WOW a video to watch before you PCS. I was at Lakenheath from 74-76 and it was a great time I was in Flight Medicine. I remember stepping off the plane at night and the first thing I remembered was smelling the coal from fireplaces. My sponsor met me and took me to the barracks he said "see ya in the morning". Lots of fond memories. Not one time did I ever say I want to go back to the world. Thanks for the video. USAF PROUD

[@beverlydenton1209]

My grandson and his wife left for Likenheath today. This video really helped settle my mind. Thank you for sharing.

[@patd4u2]

I was Stationed at RAF Alconbury twice back in 1977-79 and 81-86, then at RAF Bentwaters from 1988-1993, then RAF Mildenhall from 1995-1999 when I retired. Mildenhall is right next to Leakenheath. I loved it there, safer than here in Southern Calif. Nothing to worry about, takes a little getting used to a different country and life style, but once you get used to it there is nothing like it. I miss the UK.

[@donburgess1712]

Hello how are you doing?

[@paulrkiii]

I went to Lakenheath High School from 1990 to 1993. I have good memories of my time there! My father was stationed at Mildenhall and we lived in base housing at Lakenheath.

[@harpoon_bakery162]

how was the base-housing? did you work on the F-15's?

[@KC4JTA]

I was at the Heath from 1978 to 1981 and I loved every bit of it. A tour is what you make of it. For you younger people, get out and see England and make some friends. Too mant younger airmen get there and never go anyplace or do anything off base. Get out and have fun instead of getting drunk every chance you get. The Brittish people are great and friendly. If it is still there, the little fish and chips in Feltwell Villiage has some really good food. Yes you will work hard.

[@cat-a-tonic150]

77-79. Best time of my life. Drove an MGB and made lifelong friends. Especially love BSE.

[@jameshough9983]

Lived there from 77-80 then again from 83-87. Loved it.

[@harpoon_bakery162]

wow. when do you think this video was filmed (recorded).

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate how are you doing?

[@DrumminJ219]

HAHa I remember that coach from 14:50, This must be old! This brought back many good memories

[@rickcollazo2912]

I was working in the UK Port of Felistow and took flying lesson at Lakenheath Aero Club. I lke that base,.

[@markstenerson6851]

My favorite place I ever lived. But man that video is hokey.

[@JAMamation]

i live near there and learned quite a bit from watching this video that i never knew about! :)

[@flysafer0150]

1960-63. The school has changed as well as the base. Not Unexpected. Enjoyed my time at the high school and made many friends. Keeping in touch with them is important because we shared many interesting times.

[@DriftIAm]

I was part of the 48th Hosp. Squad. from 76 till 80. Man oh man have things changed but I see they haven't replaced the Hosp. building. Spent a fair amount of time at the Rod&Gun Club. But spent even more time riding my Harley Davidson bought thru new car sales tearing up the neat country roads. Ahhh memories..........

[@mtnride4930]

Hey I was in Flight Medicine (48thATH) 74-76. What a great time Brother.

[@thomasbair7222]

1973-76 for me. F-4D's. Saw the record setting SR-71 do a fly over. Had strippers at the NCO club on members night. Lived in Mundford. Had wet commander's call. Arab oil crisis. Burned up valves on Morris 1100 by using mogas. Toured from Land's End to John O'Groats. Loved it.

[@mtnride4930]

Hey I was there about the same time 74-76 worked in flight Medicine (48th ATH) many memories. I remember learning to Kayak there and there were I believe 16 of us we kayaked from the west coast of Scotland to the east coast. What great time.

[@ferrettales5594]

Bro, my boyfriend has been stationed there for the past year and I go on to visit every weekend and it's funny because it makes you think how old it all looked but also it looks the exact same still 😂😂

[@anghinetti]

Great Britain (the largest island of Europe) contains only of a part each of England, Scotland and Wales, the remainder of those three countries sharing between them upwards of 6,000 other islands. It's market towns which will have markets rather than villages, many of the market charters granted hundreds of years ago. Lakenheath's first market charter was granted in the year 1201 (reign of King John).

[@jonhaber6999]

68>71. I was privileged to serve at Lakenheath. Base commander, Col. William Whisner had John Wayne good looks. Moreover, he was a war hero ; P- 51 combat ace. For an E-4, I had the best job on base : staff photographer - 9 to 5. Yet, I could never forget that simultaneously other armed forces were facing death, everyday, in Viet Nam. Kudos to VN vets. My experience there was enhanced by having a car ; Fiat 500. The country was replete with great places and things to do : London, Bury, Edinburgh , Cambridge , lawn tennis at Golders Green, and the pinnacle, seeing the Crown Jewels at Tower of London. I used to commit a misdemeanor , most weeks, by crashing the Hospital dining room. I was usually " made" and thrown out hungry. Base food was then generally good ; but the Hospital, better ! If you join , take advantage of the new skill sets that you acquire . My AF job propelled me into a successful 30 year photography practice . Go 48th ! Jon Haber.

[@suzyuk]

Love to see what life is like on the base now. Use to love the club at Lakenheath and Mildenhall, anyone remember usaf chicksands, get in touch

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate how are you doing?

[@jkelley01938]

I was there 1968-70. It sure has changed a lot. The movie theater, hospital, and gas station look the same. It appears the tower and RAPCON have been updated and moved.

[@jjcustard6378]

I'm from Norwich and my father used to pick up the yanks from the bases in his works van for cigarettes and booze on Friday nights and theyd spend the weekend in bop city and sleep on our lounge floor

[@danbruno5945]

14.27 Lovely white mk2 golf🤩

[@mikalee68]

I was stationed here from 1977 to 1979 , a lot has changed. What a great time ! They used to bus english girls on base every weekend to go to the NCO club we had a great time !

[@williamkapp1110]

I was stationed there Dec. 83-Dec. 87.

[@timyeager9678]

Did you know anyone at mildenhall? At the trans squadron? My dad was stationed there around this time

[@jbthesfm]

05-07, looked exactly the same!!

[@maesfforddfilmunit]

definitely early 90's! It amuses me that they show all these images of 'quaint olde England', shame they're actually nowhere near the base! and the scene they show at 0:32 is the Scottish Highlands, an 11 hour drive from lakenheath! I bet it's a bit of a shock to those expecting cream teas and cricket on the village green, only to find acres of pine trees and nothing but fields of sugar beet and carrots.

[@cambs0181]

Welcome to Lakenheath whilst giving a view that couldn't be more different from the Lakenheath are if it had heard of antelope roaming across the shot.

[@myronprice7957]

There in the mid sixties.... what a change.

[@danbruno5945]

Lakenheath 90s memories 1.Nintendo entertainment system christmas day 2.Popeyes chicken 3.Donut world 4.Thinking Feltwell was a giant golf ball 5.Castlevania adventures gameboy theme 6.Haloween was a big deal 7.Standing still at the mall while US anthem played 8.The BX smelling of mustard/hot dogs 9.Brown paper bags at the commisery 10.Dad picking up his payslip at his locker

[@fender200]

I'd say this is mid-1990s looking at the cars. The 48th got its F-15s in 1992 so it must be after this date.

[@TyTy518]

Ill be going here as a crew chief after i finish tech school

[@ronaldljones]

My Sister Was Stationed There A Few Years Ago.

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate how are you doing?

[@Nick--im6sw]

my dream base

[@tcgn654]

WAIT AMERICAN LIVE IN BRITAIN?!?!?!?!?!?!? THEY ARE SPREADING

[@Nick--im6sw]

***** OMG AMERICANS LIVING ALL AROUND THE WORLD

[@ashbytimuk]

What on earth is that shot at 4:56? It doesn't look remotely like anything you would find in or near East Anglia. More like the Lake District or parts of Scotland or Wales.

[@anghinetti]

ashbytimuk: Think it were the Lake District. Even a few of the opening scenes are anywhere other than in East Anglia.

[@jackkirk61]

From the lakes and yes it is the lakes

[@mahriah09]

I was born here November 7, 1969....WOW

[@harpoon_bakery162]

Love this introductory to Lakenheath. I do have one question: Why did they take all the video when it was cloudy? Seems like they could have make it much more inviting by filming this on a better day. Oddly, they picked a very gray day to do this.

[@GrantGrove]

It was cloudy often for days, not gloomy just cloudy.

[@juliest631]

Whoa whoa whoa... there was a pool here?

[@bjayscanlon]

In my day as a member of the 1979th Comm, we had FB-111's. The 80's were good but hard times.

[@jkelley01938]

We had F100's when I was there. 1979 Comm Sq too

[@anotherdave5107]

are you sure they weren't F-111F?

[@harpoon_bakery162]

why hard times? was the base a cool place to be? could you go to a local watering hole and play some darts (cricket)? By the way, did the local pubs have electronic darts or only bristle dart boards?

[@jjcustard6378]

@@harpoon_bakery162 you'll be hard pushed to find electronic boards in Britain, I've never seen 1

[@harpoon_bakery162]

@@jjcustard6378 well i trust you are at darts ground-zero because the name Custance has to be British and likely steeped in tradition.

[@FELiPES101]

When was this filmed? Early 90s late 80s?

[@duxberry1958]

i use to go on RAF bruntwood and it was nothing like this it had 4-6 lane 10 pin bowling ally the house,s were like shoe box,s

[@amishmike1]

The Heath!

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate how are you doing?

[@EliteXtasy]

00:30 - looks like the Lake District.

[@minirumbler123]

I was born in that base

[@leadster88]

Bloody hell this is old....I would say early 90's for sure (roughly 93/94 I would say).

[@matthewjcarruthers]

That has to be 20 years old.I was expecting F-111's on the flightline.

[@suzyuk]

Anyone remember usaf Chicksands, now we're talking back in the day, love to hear from anyone.

[@keithwhite6096]

My dad was stationed there from 1974-1977. I was 10-12 years old at that time. Alconbury, Chicksands, Upper Heyford, Bentwaters, Scunthorpe , Feltwell, .Mildenhall and the Heath. We took Rec center tours to Paris, Amsterdam, Brugges, and other places. I had the time of my life..

[@mtnride4930]

YUP I remember all those places 74-76 worked in Flight Medicine and Public health (48th ATH)

[@mtnride4930]

@@keithwhite6096 I was there 74-76 went to all those bases. Worked in Flight Medicine and Public Health. 48ATH and did those trips out of the rec centers good times

[@PS-ru2ov]

I was friends with a guy from Texas called Dan who was based in Lakenheath, He came to visit me in Northern Ireland the part of the UK i live in 2005 roughly and we lost touch after a while, ive often wondered what happened to him so dan if you read this get in touch!

[@Kentuckyhorse1]

How old is this? Those hairstyles are retro!

[@frankmilford9406]

Needs UPDATED please

[@GJones462-2W1]

I know, I arrived there in 1989, and I never saw this "welcome" film. Looks like they're showing Bury St. Edmunds a lot.

[@calebcarpenter5442]

RIP Popeyes 😔🙏 you will be missed

[@danbruno5945]

Omg same 💯 My dad was in the forces and I enjoy my best years growing up 93 to 97,BX smelling of 🌭👌😂😂😂

[@chuck5988]

wen was this video done thing it needs updated am I right in saying its the 80s?

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate how are you doing?

[@danbruno5945]

Looks more 90s to me i saw a mk2 golf in the clip 1992 model

[@dextroketashroom]

lol me too '87

[@ClearSmashDrop]

The narrator has an odd accent. Its American but sounds like mabye something else mixed in? Anyone agree? Like she is a transplant from somewhere else.

[@MtnLiner]

4:56

[@aleccap5946]

wow how old is this lol small houses eh no kidding and huge prices if you want to buy one, the off base must be like living on another planet for some Americans not having a clue about our lousy roads and super high petrol prices lol welcome to the UK

[@jonhaber6999]

1968. Roads were comparable to N. California ; petrol coupons were very cheap. Now I pay 4.25 in CA.

[@peterredpath4610]

It'll get busier when Mildenhall closes.

[@steventhompson9431]

Yes England builds houses of Stone and Bricks USA builds houses of sticks

[@yasirbhojani]

Not at all, they're just not 4.5th Gen....In terms of capability, F-15E cannot be compared to a Typhoon... F-15SE, though, might kick Eurofighter's a** ;)

[@aleccap5946]

Making it sound like going back in time lol How old is this old school nonsense

[@thegreenbastard5171]

"RAF Lakenheath is a rewarding assignment", that's a laugh. My mate is stationed there and he told me "The Yanks" hate it there! Apparently they all hate it because it's really boring, nothing to do.

[@swimmerman2233]

I was stationed there 2017-2019 had a blast with stuff not regarding work. Leadership made work trash though

[@etbn1080]

Sooo true!

[@danbruno5945]

Yeah I agree on how the Americans would find it boring, Its actually more interesting for the UK residents that can get on base if they are married to someone in the forces. I loved the base

[@AndyReggae67]

i don't understand how can it be boring.Dont they allow you off base to visit different parts of the uk.And surely you have tvs.computers,radios,Cylcles.Libary.come on even a walk locally near the base.your comment doesn't even make any sense more like nonsense you only make it Boring if you are actually a Boring person anyway

[@jonhaber6999]

The immature always are bored. The curious welcome travel ; better than my college degree !

[@blackwatchuk]

Wow, what a con! Lakenheath doesn't look like that at 0.32! Ha ha.

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate how are you doing?

[@armykid567]

really they are that bad? lol

[@Itsmeeman1]

There is no longer a need to have this on British soil.

[@dragongamer1569]

Itsmeeman1 why

[@eddiegreenslade8970]

yeah why.the USAF are more than welcome in the UK

[@PS-ru2ov]

go away I am British and our american friends are always welcome in the UK no doubt you are a Corbyn lover he hates everything British and would remove our armed forces as well so go fuck off somewhere .......

[@0utcastAussie]

@@PS-ru2ov Indeed, These twats have no idea of the massive boost for the local economies these bases give.

[@gurgy3]

Just be glad it’s the airforce and not a bunch of grunts and leathernecks.

[@williamkapp1110]

I was stationed there Dec. 83-Dec. 87.

[@sneaux49]

'69-'73

[@donburgess1712]

Hello mate