I make fuel deliveries to Heyford twice a week now to the builders developing the site. Having served on detachment at Greenham Common in the mid 80’s I got rather emotional coming to Heyford, knowing how it would have been when fully operational and the sheer number of people making it what it was. I feel so very sad that bases like these have been closed, especially seeing what’s going on around the world right now. I recently walked around what’s left of Greenham and got the same feelings seeing what’s left there.
I spent 2 years ‘79 - ‘81 at the 77TFS, and 2 years ‘81 - ‘83 at 20TFW intell. We lived in Bodicote (near Banbury) while at the 77th, driving through the small towns through the north gate. When i moved to the Wing, we moved to base housing at RAF Bicester. It is sad to see the deterion, but at least it doesn’t have thousands of “new” cars parked all over the runways. That was a great 4 years.
I was assigned to UH twice for a total of 7 years. 76 - 80 then 90 till it closed in 93. I worked in the 3 bay hanger 20th MMS, training load crews. I rode my bicycle from Bicester around the 09 end of the runway (shown here @2:00) many times.
Went there whilst camping nearby in some farmers field with the brilliant KD21 air scouts probably in 1987 when i was 13 loved watching afterburner whilzt taking off at night.
great bit of film ... i worked on the base as a civilian back in the 70's and altho i worked in the flightline dinning hall serving some of the pilots i never knew (as you wouldnt) just how many hangers there was.
Great video, spent many a cold night on the flight line mostly patrolling and providing security for the F-111's on alert. Would not have had it other way, fantastic times at Heyford/'72-74.
Interesting to be sure. But such an awful WASTE. Material and land. Sadly, my base is gone to ground as well. Alconbury. Thank you for the drive about. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
My late Dad was Stationed there 1964-1970 , he worked in the Bunkers , Air Force Career ! I We lived on the Base on Harris Rd Dad was a Tech Sgt then , I went to School on the Base , at the time were old POW barracks , Separate 1 Level Buildings for each grade , We walked to school & home for Lunch a very Narrow side walk ! Had our Class Pictures made Outside our Class Buildings , the Officer Kids rode a bus to school , we had the Commissary Px a Recreation Center for us kids Chapel a Thrift store , Infirmary & Dental Clinic Now I know on web the NCO housing Quarters , they were Duplexes built in early 60's , have been Renovated , for English Council Housing ! Pictures on Web still same outside ! A modern touch inside No Changes to the Floor Plans Officer housing Quarters were 2 level connected housing Good Memories thanks !
was there 76~79 in AMS...Only thing I could really recognize was the Hammerhead Dip (The road around the end of the runway). Watched a drone vid awhile ago of Heyford and where the old AMS building and Chute Shops were are now just bare patches of ground. Really made me sad to see the base rotting away.
I don't recognize anything from 1957 when we lived on base housing.there were two very large hangers with one housing the commissary.looking at Google earth the housing and hangers are still there with much more housing where a field once was.
Spent many a cold winter's night on the flightline at Upper Heyford (AMS). They spent millions on all of those hangars and then they closed the place down???
The 20 TFW F111Es, would fly over my parents house, In Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, plus EF111A's, day and night, on final approach to land. When I was a child, we would wave our arms, to them, then we would get a wave from the Aircraft.
@@jasper9291 America pumped a lot of money into the area for many years. Most Brits got along fine with us, but there were were some that I detested. Like the civilians that worked on base with the landlords that would scalp renters.
