Greenham Common.. and first postings.
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Greenham Common.. and first postings.
Does one's first posting offer something special? A combo of being released from training and a sense of adventure maybe. Greenham was mine, and I dropped in the other day. It seems like yesterday, but is now referred to as modern history.
Sorry that some of the shots are badly exposed, I was experimenting. Forgive me too, if this is the wrong place for it (or if its just a boring thread and not in keeping here) but I always think there's something melancholy and almost spiritual about a unit thats no longer being used for what it was built for. Or maybe it is just a collection of lumps of concrete and old buildings?
The PX. God bless America. Southern Comfort and John Daniels $1 a bottle..
Each camp was colour coded the women. If they ever got in at a certain spot, they would sign the fence with pride. A bit like dogs and lampposts.
The chow hall. We used to laze on the grass here.
hangar 303.
Looking into the GAMA, now..
.. and in 1982. Foliage wasn't allowed and grass was to be no taller than 1.5 inches.
Building 273. Still declared to NATO and still inspected by the Russians.
VAG now uses the C5 pans to store cars.
The fire trainer.
The perimeter fence is a mass of patches.
Emotive stuff.
Leafy Berkshire. 25 years ago, there were battles on this stretch that would have made the miners blush.
This was the exact point that the Smellys first set up shop. They called their tents (made of sheets of plastic) benders. It is now a garden of remembrance for one of the girls who was a regular there.
Sorry that some of the shots are badly exposed, I was experimenting. Forgive me too, if this is the wrong place for it (or if its just a boring thread and not in keeping here) but I always think there's something melancholy and almost spiritual about a unit thats no longer being used for what it was built for. Or maybe it is just a collection of lumps of concrete and old buildings?
The PX. God bless America. Southern Comfort and John Daniels $1 a bottle..
Each camp was colour coded the women. If they ever got in at a certain spot, they would sign the fence with pride. A bit like dogs and lampposts.
The chow hall. We used to laze on the grass here.
hangar 303.
Looking into the GAMA, now..
.. and in 1982. Foliage wasn't allowed and grass was to be no taller than 1.5 inches.
Building 273. Still declared to NATO and still inspected by the Russians.
VAG now uses the C5 pans to store cars.
The fire trainer.
The perimeter fence is a mass of patches.
Emotive stuff.
Leafy Berkshire. 25 years ago, there were battles on this stretch that would have made the miners blush.
This was the exact point that the Smellys first set up shop. They called their tents (made of sheets of plastic) benders. It is now a garden of remembrance for one of the girls who was a regular there.
Hovering AND talking
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Greenham Common was an air force base near Newbury in Berkshire which became controversially famous for CND and Nuclear Weapon protests organised by groups of women who set up camps around the gates and perimeter. This became a focal point also to protest against the Atomic Weapons Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield.
The runway at Greenham Common was pulled up and used for the hardcore for the foundations of the Newbury By-Pass (another controversial project which attracted mass protest). Heaven only knows what that runway was contaminated with!
I used to live at Crookham Common but after the base's hey-day but was still aware of the importance that Greenham Common played in "modern history"!
Greenham_Common
Cheers
Whirls
The runway at Greenham Common was pulled up and used for the hardcore for the foundations of the Newbury By-Pass (another controversial project which attracted mass protest). Heaven only knows what that runway was contaminated with!
I used to live at Crookham Common but after the base's hey-day but was still aware of the importance that Greenham Common played in "modern history"!
Greenham_Common
Cheers
Whirls
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Sorry Founder, I should have made that clearer. Thanks Whirls.
Whirly, I think the runway at Greenham was the longest in mainland UK, and was deignated a stand by landing site for the Shuttle at one point.
Whirly, I think the runway at Greenham was the longest in mainland UK, and was deignated a stand by landing site for the Shuttle at one point.
Hmmm.
In Greenham you had:
a huge runway, rendered surplus by the end of the Cold War, on the right side of London, yards from an existing railway line, and a sneeze away from the M4, close by a town that already needed a by-pass spur down from the M4.
Option 1: Use the base as the basis of the much needed extra London airport, upgrading the rail link to Newbury racecourse and building the bypass to the East of Newbury (the ****ty side, though full of rich folk's houses) going via the new London-Newbury airport.
Option 2: Tear up the runway, build the bypass through the more unspoiled, more attractive country to the West of Newbers, and leave yourself with LGW still stuck in the most inaccessible part of London's environs and with LHR groaning at the seams.
And which did we choose?
London-Lyneham International, anyone?
In Greenham you had:
a huge runway, rendered surplus by the end of the Cold War, on the right side of London, yards from an existing railway line, and a sneeze away from the M4, close by a town that already needed a by-pass spur down from the M4.
Option 1: Use the base as the basis of the much needed extra London airport, upgrading the rail link to Newbury racecourse and building the bypass to the East of Newbury (the ****ty side, though full of rich folk's houses) going via the new London-Newbury airport.
Option 2: Tear up the runway, build the bypass through the more unspoiled, more attractive country to the West of Newbers, and leave yourself with LGW still stuck in the most inaccessible part of London's environs and with LHR groaning at the seams.
And which did we choose?
London-Lyneham International, anyone?
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ISTR being told by someone that Greenham was something of a red herring, and that the USAF was quietly shipping far more interesting things into Molesworth via Alconbury.
There is some evidence in the public domain that Molesworth was a nuclear weapons store, but this may have been more akin to RAF Faldingworth and RAF Barnham than a Cruise Missile Site.
Jacko makes a good point though - an example of short-termism at its worst.
STH
There is some evidence in the public domain that Molesworth was a nuclear weapons store, but this may have been more akin to RAF Faldingworth and RAF Barnham than a Cruise Missile Site.
Jacko makes a good point though - an example of short-termism at its worst.
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I personally had a great tour there,albeit very short in the late 80's. Manning the fenceline as a young SAC had its perks! The things those women would do to try and take your mind off the job in hand whilst another crept up further along and cut the wire!!
Thanks for sharing the pictures,fond memories of a place I'd long forgotten.
Thanks for sharing the pictures,fond memories of a place I'd long forgotten.
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ISTR being told by someone that Greenham was something of a red herring, and that the USAF was quietly shipping far more interesting things into Molesworth via Alconbury.
There is some evidence in the public domain that Molesworth was a nuclear weapons store, but this may have been more akin to RAF Faldingworth and RAF Barnham than a Cruise Missile Site.
There is some evidence in the public domain that Molesworth was a nuclear weapons store, but this may have been more akin to RAF Faldingworth and RAF Barnham than a Cruise Missile Site.
I agree with ranger. As a young LAC, it was quite an eye opener to see a few lesbians going at it hammer and tongues directly in front of you. Even through the binos
. The regulars there were mainly ok, it was the bored weekenders who were the pains in the arse.
Building 273. Still declared to NATO and still inspected by the Russians.
Always surprised they closed GC, but the expense of converting it back to 'UK standard' (no doubt all on 110v for starters) probably would not have helped. The first time I saw GC was from the back of a Hastings (as a CCF cadet) when we joined the circuit behind a B-47 and ahead of a KC-97. At that time I had never even heard of Greenham as an airfield, even though we lived not that far away. The last time (as an active airfield) was taking a Chinook there for RIAT.
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I remember well, RIAT (or just plain common or garden type IAT I think it was then) there back in '83. There was a missing man salute to Douglas Bader and you could have heard a pin drop as the Spitfires came over (well, if they were silent themselves of course). This is a shot I took that day:
The smellies threw paint over the SR-71 too, which didn't go down too well and I remember well, the final tannoy for The Grasshoppers display team to report to their aircraft for their demo, as their whereabouts were unknown. I was in the PS bar at the time, and they were walking along the ceiling. More musings, I remember being on top of an open double decker as the Synchro pair crossed over directly overhead. I can't see that happening now. Someone may correct me on this, but one of (or both of the) vintage pair crashed at the same time. There was a Cpl having a jolly in the back of the Meteor I think.. or that may have been a year or two later. Sorry, senile..
In the early 90's Wittering was under review for closure and Lakenheath was being looked at. Same there.. the cost of converting the 'leccy made a move prohibitive.
The smellies threw paint over the SR-71 too, which didn't go down too well and I remember well, the final tannoy for The Grasshoppers display team to report to their aircraft for their demo, as their whereabouts were unknown. I was in the PS bar at the time, and they were walking along the ceiling. More musings, I remember being on top of an open double decker as the Synchro pair crossed over directly overhead. I can't see that happening now. Someone may correct me on this, but one of (or both of the) vintage pair crashed at the same time. There was a Cpl having a jolly in the back of the Meteor I think.. or that may have been a year or two later. Sorry, senile..
In the early 90's Wittering was under review for closure and Lakenheath was being looked at. Same there.. the cost of converting the 'leccy made a move prohibitive.
Last edited by Al R; 4th Aug 2007 at 16:43.
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Oh strewth Greenham Common 
I vividly recall being seconded there as a member of the augmentee guard force back in the 80's. The women in the peace camp would often get their waps out for the lads, usually a sight to ellicit a cheer from any lusty chap. But the sight of those reesty, dowdy weirdo's boobies....
I vividly recall being seconded there as a member of the augmentee guard force back in the 80's. The women in the peace camp would often get their waps out for the lads, usually a sight to ellicit a cheer from any lusty chap. But the sight of those reesty, dowdy weirdo's boobies....
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"Roof tilers nailbags lad"
"Excuse me Flight Sergeant?"
"I was just thinking lad, those peace women. They've all got tits like roof tilers nailbags".
"Yes Flight Sergeant.".
We used to smuggle some of the regs on, they were fine, and we used to pass them coal through the wire in winter. They would tell us who the weekender troublemakers were and where they would be trying to break in. Although they got onto the unit many times, they only broke into the Gama (Ground Launched Cruise Missile Alert and Maintenance Area) once. My first WO was 'Uncle' Eddie Joiner and the CO was Billy 'Big Boots' Bremner. He retired a Groupie and died a year or so ago of the big C. My first Flt Cmdr was a Nu Yoiker called Bruce Cortlelano, who would never sit with his back to a door or window ('When you're born where I was born, you don't do dat sorda thing'). My first Flt SNCO was a chap called Geoff Chamberlain who is still (I think) the traffic warden in Stamford, which has been useful on a number of occasions.
"Excuse me Flight Sergeant?"
"I was just thinking lad, those peace women. They've all got tits like roof tilers nailbags".
"Yes Flight Sergeant.".
We used to smuggle some of the regs on, they were fine, and we used to pass them coal through the wire in winter. They would tell us who the weekender troublemakers were and where they would be trying to break in. Although they got onto the unit many times, they only broke into the Gama (Ground Launched Cruise Missile Alert and Maintenance Area) once. My first WO was 'Uncle' Eddie Joiner and the CO was Billy 'Big Boots' Bremner. He retired a Groupie and died a year or so ago of the big C. My first Flt Cmdr was a Nu Yoiker called Bruce Cortlelano, who would never sit with his back to a door or window ('When you're born where I was born, you don't do dat sorda thing'). My first Flt SNCO was a chap called Geoff Chamberlain who is still (I think) the traffic warden in Stamford, which has been useful on a number of occasions.
Last edited by Al R; 4th Aug 2007 at 19:55.
My QFI once asked for a PAR into Greenham Common during one of my IF training trips, but was refused by the Spams "For noise abatement reasons"....
We were in a Chipmunk, FFF's sake....
A PPRuNer who posts occasionally was the RAF Stn Cdr there during the GLCM period. The 'regular' wimmin peace campniks were apparantly OK, but the 'new age travellers' who stank of $hit and were covered in fleas and lice were a different matter.....
We were in a Chipmunk, FFF's sake....
A PPRuNer who posts occasionally was the RAF Stn Cdr there during the GLCM period. The 'regular' wimmin peace campniks were apparantly OK, but the 'new age travellers' who stank of $hit and were covered in fleas and lice were a different matter.....
Indeed a terrible waste of real estate, and, ironically, IIRC the base would still be open if the "locals" hadn't complained about the proposed KC-135 wing that was due to go to GC instead of Fairford. So, no noisy tankers equals fewer local dollars being spent, a bucketload of buckets and hot & cold running lesbian peaceniks. Was the thought of KC135s really that bad?
On the subject of the SR-71 "decorated" by the Smellys, apparently the crew did a usual airshow departure on the Monday, just orientated slightly differently - ie over the camp. Seemed that an SR-71 on it's a**e at max burner caused a bit of a "disturbance" to the peace camp...
I can remember flying over it in a Bulldog with Beags back in the early 90's and getting that spooky feeling that you've just bonged somewhere - and it was great sport using the area for Wingovers and quickstops in the Chinook.
On the subject of the SR-71 "decorated" by the Smellys, apparently the crew did a usual airshow departure on the Monday, just orientated slightly differently - ie over the camp. Seemed that an SR-71 on it's a**e at max burner caused a bit of a "disturbance" to the peace camp...
I can remember flying over it in a Bulldog with Beags back in the early 90's and getting that spooky feeling that you've just bonged somewhere - and it was great sport using the area for Wingovers and quickstops in the Chinook.
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On the subject of the SR-71 "decorated" by the Smellys, apparently the crew did a usual airshow departure on the Monday, just orientated slightly differently - ie over the camp. Seemed that an SR-71 on it's a**e at max burner caused a bit of a "disturbance" to the peace camp...
I live very close to Greenham (though didn't when it was active) and occasionally go cycling with the kids up there.
On my last trip we cycled the length of the runway - the mid-point intersection for some reason wasn't dug up and is still there. At the Eastern end, I found a set of 4 cables sticking out of the ground each side of where the threshold would have been - almost certainly the wiring for the PAPI's.
The "bunker" area is still very much sealed off - an eerie piece of modern history.
On my last trip we cycled the length of the runway - the mid-point intersection for some reason wasn't dug up and is still there. At the Eastern end, I found a set of 4 cables sticking out of the ground each side of where the threshold would have been - almost certainly the wiring for the PAPI's.
The "bunker" area is still very much sealed off - an eerie piece of modern history.
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Thanks Beagle.. the 80s are just one long mad haze man. I may have been right about the jolly mind, but I know nothing about the incident or its causes etc.
I might be wrong here too, but it was a Vampire or Sea Vixen that AM Sir Kenneth Hayr died in a few years back too? I have no idea what sort of rep he had with those he directly worked with, but I had a lot of time for him. He was CBFC in the 80s and visiting the troops out on the ground, I always remember him as being an interested, dapper and very courteous man, despite his wife being very poorly as I recall. F/F 10 years or so, and I stumbled across FO Sir Kenneth Hayr at a UAS. I watched him debrief a student.. still courteous, calm and (this might sound daft) he had an air of humility about him. I imagine that he still had so much more to offer. A sad day.
I might be wrong here too, but it was a Vampire or Sea Vixen that AM Sir Kenneth Hayr died in a few years back too? I have no idea what sort of rep he had with those he directly worked with, but I had a lot of time for him. He was CBFC in the 80s and visiting the troops out on the ground, I always remember him as being an interested, dapper and very courteous man, despite his wife being very poorly as I recall. F/F 10 years or so, and I stumbled across FO Sir Kenneth Hayr at a UAS. I watched him debrief a student.. still courteous, calm and (this might sound daft) he had an air of humility about him. I imagine that he still had so much more to offer. A sad day.