RAF Molesworth launch tower

[chopper2004]

Hi all

As a frequent driver past Molesworth, one sees the control tower sticking up high above the countryside from far afield

Did some digging and found out its part of the age old BGM-105 GLCM bunker complex.

Mind you, as the old GLCMs were gone near quart of century, why have the tower still there? Its now EUCOM JAC centre, why have the tower there.

[Crash alot]

if i remeber rightly its currently used as part of the security facilities as a look out tower ( might be wrong there the gen is kinda old) but i can allways take a shufty over there and have a look as its really local to me.

[Wader2]

why have the tower there.

Destruction costs money. Unless there is a health and safety reason, or a need to remove it, it is cheaper to leave it in situ.

There was a plan for redundant buildings to be demolished in 2006/07 as an economy measure against future expenditure and it would save on council rates and come off the resource accounting bill, as MOD has to pay a cost-of-ownership of its resources to the Treasury each year.

The in-year money dried up and demolition plans were shelved.

[chopper2004]

CrashaLot

Ah that makes sense, but with modern security set ups, CCTV, IR, NVGs, triplet alarms and god knows what, the days of watchtowers are long gone:ok:

Look at Alconbury, Lakenheath, Feltwell, Mildenhall, Croughton, Fairford...no watchtowers.

yes whats at Molesworth is vitally important in terms of data held and collected.

Unless they decide to send in the civil engineers from Alconbury, do something with the 30 year old whats-left-if-anything of the old runway, expand it.

[Duckandcover]

There ain't no runway at Molesworth...

[Crash alot]

very true, but trust me walk past that fence (great for dog walking) and it looks manned most days.

i know the old bunkers have various uses now, ranges ect so wouldnt of thought it was needed but hey ho thats the military for you. just look at the security on alconbury when approching certain disused buildings..................:eek:

[steamchicken]

There was a plan for redundant buildings to be demolished in 2006/07 as an economy measure against future expenditure and it would save on council rates and come off the resource accounting bill, as MOD has to pay a cost-of-ownership of its resources to the Treasury each year.

The in-year money dried up and demolition plans were shelved.

Jesus wept, RAB has been the worst idea ever, hasn't it?

[aw ditor]

Is there any info.' on the future of Alconbury, the approach lighting is still in situ?

[cliver029]

"Is there any info.' on the future of Alconbury, the approach lighting is still in situ"


Marshall Aerospace have been considering it and others, but the last attempt to turn it into an all freight airport was sort of scuppered by the nimbys who had moved into the area since the US Airforce moved out:*

Cliver

[Crash alot]

cliver its very true, those of us who lived when it was active dont mind if it does get used for airfreight.... then again im sure alconbuty developments might as alot of the buildings are now in use by business's which i assume would have to move out if it was returned to air duties?

[chopper2004]

Molesworth needs Alconbury for support in terms of general admin and ops.

Alconbury being the main hq for 501st Combat Support Wing which runs ops at Menwith Hill, Fairford, Croughton, etc etc.

On my flight maps of souther England, there is a recognized military helipad at Molesworth.:cool:

[Al R]

Does Molesworth still have the weekly surplus sales? A few years back, every Saturday, you could go there and buy anything from surplus KFS, to a Honda 50cc genny, to an RIB to a Dodge pick up. I got some steel cabinets and a bench for my workshop.. dirt cheap. That was in USAFE drawdown days mind.

[Heimdall]

There's a surprising amount of information about RAF Molesworth and many other sites of 'interest' on this website:


"Secret Bases" Part 1 - WWW.SECRET-BASES.CO.UK - © 2008 Pagliacci Productions Ltd (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alan-turnbull/secret.htm)

Heimdall

[chopper2004]

Quickie question, when looking at google maps / google earth/flash earth looking down at Molesworth looks bugger all military vehicles in car parks, more civvy cars.
No sign of Humvees, or Blue vehicles. Have seen pic on USAFE web of the Civil Engineering Fire dept 4 x 4s.

Though when driving down the A14, exotic 4 x 4 Cherokees (left hand drive) and maybe the odd classic Mustangs/Corvettes and odd bluebird bus and odd truck/van BUT no Humvees.

Anyone know if any Humvess or the like still at Molesworth or ALconbury . Bearing in mind when Alconbury runway was active +15 years back remember going past the fence and seeing M-113 APC and Humvees with the SFS.

WOnder if Molesworth still has amrket or 1940s reunion stuff going on at weekends now?

[Wessex Boy]

I'll be flying over on Saturday so will have a look.
Alconbury's runway is half full with containers and cars at the moment. but building-wise looks fairly complete

[Avitor]

I'll be flying over on Saturday so will have a look.
Alconbury's runway is half full with containers and cars at the moment. but building-wise looks fairly complete

Exactly what are they doing at Alconbury, WB?
For the record, many years ago, I was involved with countless military vehicles and their removal, assisted by the US military, to Marylebone rail station. Rum lads they were too! :cool:

[chopper2004]

Weesx Boy, Avitor

Thought you weren't allowed to fly over airbases :) SOrry been studying my Air Law not so well!!!

Sitll see the blue USAF vehicles, such as the school bus, bog standard road recovery vehicles, utility vans and odd pick up, and Fire Commander's Cherokee blue (not fire red ) and blue light up and down the A14.

So apart from the Devil rising, the X files becoming real and WW3, what would inspire the USAFE to reactivate the runway, and put flying units back there :)

In a way, Molesworth could have H pads for fast and secure transportations of personnel or stuff by either UH-60M on det from Germany with fuel bowser on hand and ATC support from Wittering, fire support no need as they have firefighting there. Or utilise the HH-60G at Lakenheath and base it once in a blue moon!!
Save the hassle with ground transport as on my old flight maps of this region, there is clearly marked an H on Molesworth :)

[gpn01]

Weesx Boy, Avitor
Thought you weren't allowed to fly over airbases :) SOrry been studying my Air Law not so well!!!


Unless it's within a Danger or Prohibuted Area there's no reason why you can't. Even if there was an ATZ you could still fly above it. Neither Alconbury nor Molesworth have an ATZ so you could fly quite closely to them. As most of the interesting stuff at Molesworth is underground you're not going to see much though. Lots of cars stored on the runway at Alconbury.

[chopper2004]

gpn01 (http://www.pprune.org/members/73875-gpn01)

Cheers for that I have to study more on my Air Law!!! Thought on the map, that Molesworth was restricted airspace anyhow.

Not bothered about whats under or not seen, just figured there be lots of Humvess running around like any other base :)

Shame they can't have rotary wing assets there (not that the USAF has much!!)

[gpn01]

Don't have a half-mil to hand but I'm pretty sure there's no airspace restrictions. Not sure why you'd expect to see USAF assets there either....it's mainly a USN operation isn't it ?

[Warmtoast]

Not sure why you'd expect to see USAF assets there either....it's mainly a USN operation isn't it ?

According to the FAS website:
Personnel from all four U.S. military services are assigned to the Joint Analysis Center and contribute to the intelligence mission.

More info here: Joint Analysis Center - EUCOM (http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/eucom/jac/)

And the co-located NATO Intelligence Fusion Center here:
NATO Intelligence Fusion Center opens in England | Stars and Stripes (http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=40812)