I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford from 1992 until 1994 and I'd say it was the best time of my life. 17 years later I drove up from where I'm living now to go on a tour.
I was stationed here from 87-91, 55th Weapons Loading. Have to say it was the best experience of my 23 year career. Load Barn was in 3-bay. I was unable to drive Chris Penik to the airport for his flight to the states and therefore he missed flight 103 which was the doomed Pan Am aircraft that crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland. I wasn't sure if he asked anyone else, but to this day and always will remember him. I want to say I had a small part in preventing him from flying that fateful day. If you are out there, hi Chris, from Michael Kenny, I was part of the 3 Mike load crew, along with Mike Brown and Mike Sansone.
Thanks for sharing! I actually still live in Bicester after all these years. I arrived in late 1979 as a dependent kid & went on to graduate at CHS & eventually married a military stationed at Heyford so I had the benefit of being here during its peak years up until its closing. I have very fond memories of my younger years at UH and still miss seeing the planes, though to be fair when it's in your blood you get used to living near runways. I don't often drive through the base but last Friday decided to take a longer way home to catch up with all the renovations out there. It's getting to be so unrecognisable now. If you ever want updates about UH or surrounds do let me know as happy to share! Terri
Supported the Skykings football team from 1973-1993. Best twenty years of my life. Had a social life that was second to none. Thank you to all the American service men and women I had the privilege to know.
I was there from Sept 89-Dec 91. Worked Ammo over in South CAS. By far my favorite duty station. Thanks for sharing this video. Sad to see the state that its in now.
I was stationed there 1982 to 1985 and Loved being there. This video brings back so many good memories. My Son was born in Brackly which is close to there
My Father was stationed at this base from 1969-1977 where i was a dependent and went to the elementary school. I then joined the Air Force and this was my first duty station from 1986-1989. To see the base in the condition that it is in now is somewhat heart breaking. Upper Heyford and surrounding area will always hold a special meaning to me. Thanks to the person who took time to post this.
Yep..Love the area and the locals for the most part..Enjoyed the Potato Pub in Woodstock. Worked in the Phase Docks from Jan. 1971- Oct 1974. Miss the friends that I was introduced to
80 to 82, 20th AGS, Blue 2, 68066 (I guess she died in Turkey in 91). Thank you for this, it was 2 of my very best years. Thank you UK for being such a friend in this scary world.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane (1987 - 1990). I worked at FTD and my wife worked out in Intel. Our base house was one of the single level duplexes directly behind the Class VI. What a great time that was. I made it back there during a business trip while teaching GPS principles for Rockwell/Boeing at RAF Lakenheath.
Traveled by ship from NY with my mother at 18 months (1951) to join my father. Stayed until 1953 and took ship back to US. Have a few pictures of brick buildings and saw on in this video.
Things are very different around here now. Most of the barracks have been demolished and a series of new houses were built in their place. I live just around the corner from the runway, in a house which I believe used to be a senior ranked officers accommodation. It’s one of a few original houses that are still here. I chose this location partly because of it’s remoteness but mostly because it was built following an American spec., which means more space around the house (front/back yard) and inside in comparison to traditional houses in britain. I also get two wall sockets side by side,- one US and one UK next to it, which works well for me since most of my gadgets come with US plugs. The actual compound is still fenced, although most of it’s hangars were rented to private businesses. There’re a couple of companies renting the space in the area, but the most of the space is taken by a company called Paragon that stores and delivers new vehicles. The entire area is owned by Dorchester Group and they are currently transforming the place into a more traditional British town
Was there from Jan '81 to Jan '83, during the time when Octopussy was filmed. The tow driver in the film was a guy from my section, Red 2. His name is John Layton. My buddies and I were in either Oxford or London what seemed like every other weekend. I was too young to know how good I had it then.
I lived at Croughton and went to Upper Heyford school from 1974-75. Almost nothing in this video looks familiar but I don't remember going into the area where the airbase was that much. The school was mostly quonset huts. We were told it had once been a POW camp for Italians. The last shot of the road looked familiar. I enjoyed my stay there. I was a Sophomore.
Stationed at UH 1978 - 1980. Assigned to 20th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. I worked out in the CAS area, Conventional Maintenance department. Painted, assembled, and maintained more bombs and explosive items than I can remember today. It was at this time when they built all the earth covered storage buildings out in the bomb dump and the hardened aircraft buildings on the 'line. All the hard bombs were stored in open top revetments prior to those being built. When the aircraft shelters were initially constructed they were a very stark white color of concrete, stood out like a sore thumb! But after a while, I guess after the concrete cured, the fire department would send a pumper out and they sprayed them down with a chemical that was supposed to make them appear more earth like, which they do in most pictures I've seen since that time. I lived in building 500 for about a year and then moved off base to Middle Barton. So many good times & wonderful memories. Thanks for the tour of the old place, it's sad to see it in such an unkept state. The last memory of UH was passing by the bomb dump on the bus going to Mildenhall and hiding my eyes from everyone else!! Take care mates!
I lived at RAF Upper Heyford from 1981 to 1991. My father was stationed there with CES. He was in the barrier maintenance division. I could not have asked for a better place to grow through my teenage years! I graduated from RAF Croughton (Hadite) and moved back to the states. I joined the Air Force and tried to get stationed back at Upper Heyford but they sent me to RAF Lakenheath. I was there from 1994-1999. Heyford was much better. I used to live in one of the houses in the video. 531C Carswell Circle.
Nice to know you guys still come back and visit, I live in Milton Keynes and watched 111's from UH fly over my parents house right through my childhood and late teens during the 70's and 80's, was fascinated by them and watched through my bino's, great times, thanks : )
Thanks for posting, a flood of memories came rushing back. There will never be a base like this ever again. For the people who never got stationed there, this was a magical base, you had to be there to know what all the people that was stationed there is talking about. The best base of all times and I have been to many, no other compares.
Great video - brought back great memories. Thanks! Glad to see they finally finished the roundabout in front of the Base headquarters building. It started in 1989 and hadn't been completed when I left in 1991.
Interesting to see so many people who worked here as RAF members, I lived there as a citizen for 5 years in 2006. Crazy to see these videos. Even crazier to see the riot police train right outside my house. They actually saw my house in the video at 4:38. We were right outside of the old fire building.
Sad to see it like this. I have wonderful memories from here. I volunteered at the American Red Cross as a caseworker coordinating emergency leave and also financial counseling and no intrest loans. Would love to see again one day.
Stationed here from '87-'91. An experience like no other. Used to DJ at all three clubs there (MadRok). My daughter was born at the base hospital. Lots of terrific people and unforgettable times. wouldn't it be wonderful to go back in time for 24 hours to revisit.
omg. I used to help you d.j. Sum nights we'd do warehouse disco and nco club and o club. good to see ya on here bro. I think I'm doing now what you use to in the military. Lol.
20 MDG 93-94. I was still going through inprocessing when I got new orders from one of the assignment teams and started outprocessing. Pretty weird when you have to schedule your outprocessing appointments around your inprocessing appointments. I lived in one of the older dorms my first few months there before I found a house in Banbury. The dorm was shared by both medics and ammo troops...an interesting combination that resulted in a lot of broken day-room furniture and and a few fights. I worked ER and had the pleasure of checking in the last ER patient before we closed the doors and transitioned to the new Acute/Primary Care Clinic where Family Practice used to be. I stayed until Feb 94, when we closed all the medical facilities for good and I did a PCS to RAF Upwood. I went back several times before I left England in 1998 and it was a sad sight, seeing all the overgrown vegetation, AAFES signs still in place, most of the base pretty much untouched, and what looked like a parking lot on the flightline. I heard they were using it for a vehicle leasing company, but that was probably just speculation. Thanks for the video. Much better than the virtual tour I took using Google Street View recently. Tiger Tiger!!
I was stationed there in 1960 thru 1963 as a medic and worked at the dispensary. These pictures mean nothing to me because they were after the base was rehabbed. I was with the 3918th SAC command. Great duty.
20th CRS 82~84. I loved Heyford and I loved England. Met my wife at The City of Oxford Rowing Club on January 21, 1984 while attending a "Fancy Dress" birthday party for a girl name Julie Creegan. We will have been married 26 years this April. I still go back to England with my wife and kids and show them my old haunts. I lived in Islip for all but 2 months of my tour in England. Has anyone been to The Head of the River in Oxford?
Bob AMMO Jan81-Nov.83 .Great video; ecohing some of the other comment here, brings back some great memories. Lived off base in Brakley. My first son was born in the what was brand new Upper Heyford hospital in July of 1982.
Wow, never expected to find video of U H just thought I'd take a shot at it. I was stationed there from Jun 1957 to May 1960. In my mind, it doesnt resemble anything that I remember, course ones mind plays tricks after nearly 60 years! 3918th Combat Support Group. We had constant B-47 TDY,s from the states as the cold war was pretty serious at that time. Housing was in concrete block buildings, about 12 to a building. Heating was crude, M47 fuel oil stoves that were warm if you sat your butt next to them! Good duty, and lots of memories. Jim V
Our English neighbors in Upper Heyford village said the B-47s were the loudest airplanes based there--much louder than the F-111. Must have been that water injection!
stationed there from 83-85....AGE 20 EMS!!! AGE3....like the ending at the witches circle, can't count how many times we passed that on the way back to the BONE!!!
This was a great video. I was stationed there at the 20SPS from 84 and left Thanksgiving day in 86. I used to run Oxford and loved London on the weekends. Club Manhattans is still in Oxford. I went back in 2005 and took loads of photos. Thanks for the video, it was great. I will return whenever I come back. 20 years in the Air Force and England was the best of my overseas assignments.
With the 20th CES 70 - 74. Managed lots of projects for the F-111 infrastructure including new airman dorms, new BX, underground fuel storage, and the "weather shelters" which were hardened after I left. Once had to inspect the "special weapons" storage. Very spooky being next to nuclear weapons in the bunkers.
Chris, I was station there from 02/15/1967 thru 02/15/1970. Like you it was the best USAF assignment I could have recieve after finishing my avionic instrumentation course at Chanute AFB Rantoul, IL. So many wonderful from the three years while station there.......😳
Was stationed there as my first duty station 1977-1981fire dept loved every minute of it and miss being there. I go over every few years and always stop by to take a look. One year they had a reunion there was fun to see some old friends. The Three Shoes is now a private residence that up for sale last year. There was talk of making it a Cold War memorial hope they do that place was special for everyone stationed there
I was there 70-74. Very exciting. They were replacing the F100s with F111s. We always knew when the engineers were on base from General Dynamics; the BX was out of Marlboros and Vienna sausage. Ha. Also remember the 'daylight astronomers' parking on the Queens Highway at the runway and watching the F111 with binoculars. I was always amazed by the contrast of a sleepy little English village next door to a Tac base. Yep, best time of my life. I fell in love with England.
'88-'92 I hear the echos of activity from years ago and it saddens me to see it so empty. Worked in the firehouse as a fire truck mechanic and remember the endless IFE's of swept wings, the hot brakes and departure end cable engagements.
Great video and song, thank you very much. I was there 78-81. Best time ever. Ah, the AAFES gas station where I got caught having someone else's gas coupons. Wish I could get back to Heyford someday. Is most of the buildings fenced-off? Sleep tight, Upper Heyford is on alert!
I remember driving those same roads so many times while stationed at Heyford from 1992 until closing the base in 1994. Wish I could have seen how the 55 FS looks today, but it's probably better that you didn't have pictures of it. However, this brings back so many great memories, yet it's so sad to see that once vibrant air base now sitting virtually lifeless. Thanks for taking the time to post this!
Thank you for posting that. Wow....what great memories. I was stationed there from 1977- 1979. Was with the 20th SPS (flightline not LE) until they found out I was color blind and was scared I would shoot down allied aircraft because I wouldn't be able to see what color their tail was...lol. They sent me to the 79th TFS (Tigers roar), then to the Comm center. So sad when I heard she was closed. Great friends, Great times !!
Just so everyone knows, with exception of a portion of the housing towards U H Village, everything on the opposite side of Queens Highway/Runway is all gone except the Finance Office (where I worked 70-73). They are building new homes (hundreds), the hospital, sports grounds, barracks, dining hall, all gone. Visit friends near Heyford every two years or so since 93.
Myself and my friends went to the very last Airshow at UH Just before it closed. I've also got some photography of FB111 landing and taking off on a previous occasion taken with 500mm mirror lens.
I worked there from March 87 to Oct 92 in building 576.... most ppl that spent any time at heyford will have called in there, I still live close to the camp and pass through often, I found this video when looking at some F111 videos... Small world ,
Great memories, was there from 77 to 79 20th AMS CNPA our barracks was Bldg 480, hoped to see it in the video but it wasn't there. Still great to see the other parts of the base. Never saw the "Witches Circle" though. Thanks for posting.
Hey Steve, I was there '77-'79 in Bomb/Nav. I remember you. you were down the hall with Taggart and the boys, right? I sure miss those days. Wish I could go back for a visit.
Was there from 87-90 520th TFW 55th AGS 555th AMU triple Nickle as a Radar and Navigation avionics Tech. Worked with a some good people Mark was my trainer Burt was my supervisor. Had a guy we called Casper and another we called Flash. I lived in Woodstock did the pub crawl almost nightly. would love to go back and see what the area is like now? found a great site for those looking for other Upper Heyford memories www.raf-upper-heyford.org/index.html
i went there last weekend I went inside the hospital and walked around the village flats etc took many photos. not really aloud in there but no one seemed to care
Sadly most of the gas station side of the base is now gone and is all new houses. sad to see nearly cried watching this video my uncle lived in the house next to the canteen for at least 40 years and moved out 2 weeks ago
WE FLEW FROM LORING AFB ,SAC, WITH B-36 ,IT ALL STARTED AS AN ALERT AND WE WOUND UP IN LONDON.HA,OXFORD WAS BEAUTIFUL 1954, MET SOME NICE ENGLISH WOMEN,RED AND I ?BOUGHT AN ENGLISH RACER FOR MY BROTHER FOR XMAS,PACKED IT INTO OUR B36 .ALOT OF FOG.
Loved the bit at 4:09. Our policy was to neither confirm nor deny the presence. Then there for all top see is that we had B61's and B57's !!! I suppose it doesn't matter now. There 1971 to 1976
It's a ring of trees in farmers field and it was said you could never count the same number of trees twice driving by. Google maps, all these decades later, makes it look like 12 or 13: www.google.com/maps/search/raf+upper+heyford/@51.9155548,-1.236734,308m/data=!3m1!1e3
You would not recognise it now chap, the whole place is a giant building site, thousands of houses, the airfield itself has been made to look better, HAS's tidied, no weeds, but everything back from the pan is gone, very few buildings left, a few hangars, but the Cap Road is a nightmare, just a giant building estate with middle class tossers trying to live normal lives among tat and the insane amount of traffic using the camp road, car transporters, digers, it's truly awful sadly.
I was stationed here from 87-91, 55th Weapons Loading. Have to say it was the best experience of my 23 year career. Load Barn was in 3-bay. I was unable to drive Chris Penik to the airport for his flight to the states and therefore he missed flight 103 which was the doomed Pan Am aircraft that crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland. I wasn't sure if he asked anyone else, but to this day and always will remember him. I want to say I had a small part in preventing him from flying that fateful day. If you are out there, hi Chris, from Michael Kenny, I was part of the 3 Mike load crew, along with Mike Brown and Mike Sansone.
What a great story. Fates quite a thing.
Thanks for sharing! I actually still live in Bicester after all these years. I arrived in late 1979 as a dependent kid & went on to graduate at CHS & eventually married a military stationed at Heyford so I had the benefit of being here during its peak years up until its closing. I have very fond memories of my younger years at UH and still miss seeing the planes, though to be fair when it's in your blood you get used to living near runways. I don't often drive through the base but last Friday decided to take a longer way home to catch up with all the renovations out there. It's getting to be so unrecognisable now. If you ever want updates about UH or surrounds do let me know as happy to share! Terri
Supported the Skykings football team from 1973-1993. Best twenty years of my life. Had a social life that was second to none. Thank you to all the American service men and women I had the privilege to know.
I lived there in '83-'86 my late husband was stationed there as an AGE mechanic.
I was there from Sept 89-Dec 91. Worked Ammo over in South CAS. By far my favorite duty station. Thanks for sharing this video. Sad to see the state that its in now.
I was stationed there 1982 to 1985 and Loved being there. This video brings back so many good memories. My Son was born in Brackly which is close to there
My Father was stationed at this base from 1969-1977 where i was a dependent and went to the elementary school. I then joined the Air Force and this was my first duty station from 1986-1989. To see the base in the condition that it is in now is somewhat heart breaking. Upper Heyford and surrounding area will always hold a special meaning to me. Thanks to the person who took time to post this.
83-86 20th SPS - Thanks for sharing. This brought back a flood of memories.
Yep..Love the area and the locals for the most part..Enjoyed the Potato Pub in Woodstock. Worked in the Phase Docks from Jan. 1971- Oct 1974. Miss the friends that I was introduced to
Wow, Deja Vu. I was stationed there a million years ago (1978/79). Thank you for sharing.
i worked at the N.C.O club from 1990 to 1993 close down, it was great and i loved it and was sad when it closed. Derek Berryman
Best times of my life! 1970-74
80 to 82, 20th AGS, Blue 2, 68066 (I guess she died in Turkey in 91). Thank you for this, it was 2 of my very best years. Thank you UK for being such a friend in this scary world.
It was the most beautiful place, I still miss it
I worked at the Lamplighter Inn from Aug 90 to Aug 92, good days.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane (1987 - 1990). I worked at FTD and my wife worked out in Intel. Our base house was one of the single level duplexes directly behind the Class VI. What a great time that was. I made it back there during a business trip while teaching GPS principles for Rockwell/Boeing at RAF Lakenheath.
we were stationed at UH from 79-82. dad was a WSO in the 79th. used to love watching them take off at night full afterburner...
Traveled by ship from NY with my mother at 18 months (1951) to join my father. Stayed until 1953 and took ship back to US. Have a few pictures of brick buildings and saw on in this video.
Things are very different around here now. Most of the barracks have been demolished and a series of new houses were built in their place. I live just around the corner from the runway, in a house which I believe used to be a senior ranked officers accommodation. It’s one of a few original houses that are still here. I chose this location partly because of it’s remoteness but mostly because it was built following an American spec., which means more space around the house (front/back yard) and inside in comparison to traditional houses in britain. I also get two wall sockets side by side,- one US and one UK next to it, which works well for me since most of my gadgets come with US plugs. The actual compound is still fenced, although most of it’s hangars were rented to private businesses. There’re a couple of companies renting the space in the area, but the most of the space is taken by a company called Paragon that stores and delivers new vehicles. The entire area is owned by Dorchester Group and they are currently transforming the place into a more traditional British town
Was there from Jan '81 to Jan '83, during the time when Octopussy was filmed. The tow driver in the film was a guy from my section, Red 2. His name is John Layton. My buddies and I were in either Oxford or London what seemed like every other weekend. I was too young to know how good I had it then.
I lived at Croughton and went to Upper Heyford school from 1974-75. Almost nothing in this video looks familiar but I don't remember going into the area where the airbase was that much. The school was mostly quonset huts. We were told it had once been a POW camp for Italians. The last shot of the road looked familiar. I enjoyed my stay there. I was a Sophomore.
I was at Heyford from 87-91, 79th TFS/AMU This is excellent, thank you for producing it
Stationed at UH 1978 - 1980. Assigned to 20th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. I worked out in the CAS area, Conventional Maintenance department. Painted, assembled, and maintained more bombs and explosive items than I can remember today. It was at this time when they built all the earth covered storage buildings out in the bomb dump and the hardened aircraft buildings on the 'line. All the hard bombs were stored in open top revetments prior to those being built. When the aircraft shelters were initially constructed they were a very stark white color of concrete, stood out like a sore thumb! But after a while, I guess after the concrete cured, the fire department would send a pumper out and they sprayed them down with a chemical that was supposed to make them appear more earth like, which they do in most pictures I've seen since that time. I lived in building 500 for about a year and then moved off base to Middle Barton. So many good times & wonderful memories. Thanks for the tour of the old place, it's sad to see it in such an unkept state. The last memory of UH was passing by the bomb dump on the bus going to Mildenhall and hiding my eyes from everyone else!! Take care mates!
I lived at RAF Upper Heyford from 1981 to 1991. My father was stationed there with CES. He was in the barrier maintenance division. I could not have asked for a better place to grow through my teenage years! I graduated from RAF Croughton (Hadite) and moved back to the states. I joined the Air Force and tried to get stationed back at Upper Heyford but they sent me to RAF Lakenheath. I was there from 1994-1999. Heyford was much better. I used to live in one of the houses in the video. 531C Carswell Circle.
Nice to know you guys still come back and visit, I live in Milton Keynes and watched 111's from UH fly over my parents house right through my childhood and late teens during the 70's and 80's, was fascinated by them and watched through my bino's, great times, thanks : )
Was stationed there from 82-85. It was the most fun I have ever had, period.
Thanks for posting, a flood of memories came rushing back. There will never be a base like this ever again. For the people who never got stationed there, this was a magical base, you had to be there to know what all the people that was stationed there is talking about. The best base of all times and I have been to many, no other compares.
Great video - brought back great memories. Thanks! Glad to see they finally finished the roundabout in front of the Base headquarters building. It started in 1989 and hadn't been completed when I left in 1991.
Interesting to see so many people who worked here as RAF members, I lived there as a citizen for 5 years in 2006. Crazy to see these videos. Even crazier to see the riot police train right outside my house. They actually saw my house in the video at 4:38. We were right outside of the old fire building.
I was stationed here in 69-72. Whoa. Thanks for the nostalgia trip.
Sad to see it like this. I have wonderful memories from here. I volunteered at the American Red Cross as a caseworker coordinating emergency leave and also financial counseling and no intrest loans. Would love to see again one day.
My home for 7 years Jul 80 - Sep 87. 77 TFS Aircrew Life Support. Best assignment hands down.
Wow, my first duty station 1985 to 1987-- brings back sweet memories, I hated the long exercises lol
Stationed here from '87-'91. An experience like no other. Used to DJ at all three clubs there (MadRok). My daughter was born at the base hospital. Lots of terrific people and unforgettable times. wouldn't it be wonderful to go back in time for 24 hours to revisit.
omg. I used to help you d.j. Sum nights we'd do warehouse disco and nco club and o club. good to see ya on here bro. I think I'm doing now what you use to in the military. Lol.
Wow, 7320th SPS my first duty station, I was stationed there from 1985-1987, it brings back sweet memories.I hated the long exercises though lol.
I was there 1975-1977 as a AF Weather Observer. Nice video. Thanks.
I was a child there in the 60's.My dad was stationed there.
20 MDG 93-94. I was still going through inprocessing when I got new orders from one of the assignment teams and started outprocessing. Pretty weird when you have to schedule your outprocessing appointments around your inprocessing appointments.
I lived in one of the older dorms my first few months there before I found a house in Banbury. The dorm was shared by both medics and ammo troops...an interesting combination that resulted in a lot of broken day-room furniture and and a few fights.
I worked ER and had the pleasure of checking in the last ER patient before we closed the doors and transitioned to the new Acute/Primary Care Clinic where Family Practice used to be. I stayed until Feb 94, when we closed all the medical facilities for good and I did a PCS to RAF Upwood. I went back several times before I left England in 1998 and it was a sad sight, seeing all the overgrown vegetation, AAFES signs still in place, most of the base pretty much untouched, and what looked like a parking lot on the flightline. I heard they were using it for a vehicle leasing company, but that was probably just speculation.
Thanks for the video. Much better than the virtual tour I took using Google Street View recently.
Tiger Tiger!!
I was stationed there in 1960 thru 1963 as a medic and worked at the dispensary. These pictures mean nothing to me because they were after the base was rehabbed. I was with the 3918th SAC command. Great duty.
20th CRS 82~84. I loved Heyford and I loved England. Met my wife at The City of Oxford Rowing Club on January 21, 1984 while attending a "Fancy Dress" birthday party for a girl name Julie Creegan. We will have been married 26 years this April. I still go back to England with my wife and kids and show them my old haunts. I lived in Islip for all but 2 months of my tour in England. Has anyone been to The Head of the River in Oxford?
I love the video and music..So sad to see it all. And what it all was.
Luv watching these vids bout past duty stations. such good times back then! ! thanks for vid...
Bob AMMO Jan81-Nov.83 .Great video; ecohing some of the other comment here, brings back some great memories. Lived off base in Brakley. My first son was born in the what was brand new Upper Heyford hospital in July of 1982.
I was stationed at UH 1978 - 1980 assigned to the Gun shop then Loading 20 MMS.
Wow, never expected to find video of U H just thought I'd take a shot at it. I was stationed there from Jun 1957 to May 1960. In my mind, it doesnt resemble anything that I remember, course ones mind plays tricks after nearly 60 years! 3918th Combat Support Group. We had constant B-47 TDY,s from the states as the cold war was pretty serious at that time. Housing was in concrete block buildings, about 12 to a building. Heating was crude, M47 fuel oil stoves that were warm if you sat your butt next to them! Good duty, and lots of memories. Jim V
Our English neighbors in Upper Heyford village said the B-47s were the loudest airplanes based there--much louder than the F-111. Must have been that water injection!
stationed there from 83-85....AGE 20 EMS!!! AGE3....like the ending at the witches circle, can't count how many times we passed that on the way back to the BONE!!!
This was a great video. I was stationed there at the 20SPS from 84 and left Thanksgiving day in 86. I used to run Oxford and loved London on the weekends. Club Manhattans is still in Oxford. I went back in 2005 and took loads of photos. Thanks for the video, it was great. I will return whenever I come back. 20 years in the Air Force and England was the best of my overseas assignments.
I was there from Feb. 1967 ~ Feb. 1970, what a great time!
With the 20th CES 70 - 74. Managed lots of projects for the F-111 infrastructure including new airman dorms, new BX, underground fuel storage, and the "weather shelters" which were hardened after I left. Once had to inspect the "special weapons" storage. Very spooky being next to nuclear weapons in the bunkers.
Great Video! Thanks for the memories!
Lisa Thibault Woodward (AIC 20 SPS 1991-1993)
My dad was stationed here 1978-1982 with the Fire Department.
20th MMS 1974-1976 and 1977-1979. Thanks.
we worked on the m40 in 1989,used to see the jets flying in and out.some thing else back then.
Chris, I was station there from 02/15/1967 thru 02/15/1970. Like you it was the best USAF assignment I could have recieve after finishing my avionic instrumentation course at Chanute AFB Rantoul, IL. So many wonderful from the three years while station there.......😳
The best time of my life. AMMO 86 to 89.
wow it's hard to watch these....Thanks for posting though. I hope to get back there some day and show my kids.
Was stationed there as my first duty station 1977-1981fire dept loved every minute of it and miss being there. I go over every few years and always stop by to take a look. One year they had a reunion there was fun to see some old friends. The Three Shoes is now a private residence that up for sale last year. There was talk of making it a Cold War memorial hope they do that place was special for everyone stationed there
brings back memories... good time
I was there 70-74. Very exciting. They were replacing the F100s with F111s. We always knew when the engineers were on base from General Dynamics; the BX was out of Marlboros and Vienna sausage. Ha. Also remember the 'daylight astronomers' parking on the Queens Highway at the runway and watching the F111 with binoculars.
I was always amazed by the contrast of a sleepy little English village next door to a Tac base. Yep, best time of my life. I fell in love with England.
'88-'92
I hear the echos of activity from years ago and it saddens me to see it so empty. Worked in the firehouse as a fire truck mechanic and remember the endless IFE's of swept wings, the hot brakes and departure end cable engagements.
I worked Blue section 80-82. Good duty back then for a snot nose, wet behind the ears Amn.
I was a crew chief in blue section during that time, I move to MAT in 82. I was a SSgt at that time.
Hey Chris I was there at the same time, in the comm group.. You had a guy in your SQ they called Tiny but he was really a big guy
Great video and song, thank you very much. I was there 78-81. Best time ever. Ah, the AAFES gas station where I got caught having someone else's gas coupons. Wish I could get back to Heyford someday. Is most of the buildings fenced-off? Sleep tight, Upper Heyford is on alert!
I remember driving those same roads so many times while stationed at Heyford from 1992 until closing the base in 1994. Wish I could have seen how the 55 FS looks today, but it's probably better that you didn't have pictures of it. However, this brings back so many great memories, yet it's so sad to see that once vibrant air base now sitting virtually lifeless. Thanks for taking the time to post this!
Thank you for posting that. Wow....what great memories. I was stationed there from 1977- 1979. Was with the 20th SPS (flightline not LE) until they found out I was color blind and was scared I would shoot down allied aircraft because I wouldn't be able to see what color their tail was...lol. They sent me to the 79th TFS (Tigers roar), then to the Comm center. So sad when I heard she was closed. Great friends, Great times !!
76-78 20th SPS great times
Just so everyone knows, with exception of a portion of the housing towards U H Village, everything on the opposite side of Queens Highway/Runway is all gone except the Finance Office (where I worked 70-73). They are building new homes (hundreds), the hospital, sports grounds, barracks, dining hall, all gone. Visit friends near Heyford every two years or so since 93.
Myself and my friends went to the very last Airshow at UH Just before it closed. I've also got some photography of FB111 landing and taking off on a previous occasion taken with 500mm mirror lens.
@1470mrb I was there those same years, worked right here: 3:12 in Weapons Handling!
I worked there from March 87 to Oct 92 in building 576.... most ppl that spent any time at heyford will have called in there, I still live close to the camp and pass through often, I found this video when looking at some F111 videos...
Small world ,
Great memories, was there from 77 to 79 20th AMS CNPA our barracks was Bldg 480, hoped to see it in the video but it wasn't there. Still great to see the other parts of the base. Never saw the "Witches Circle" though. Thanks for posting.
Hey Steve, I was there '77-'79 in Bomb/Nav. I remember you. you were down the hall with Taggart and the boys, right? I sure miss those days. Wish I could go back for a visit.
I live in one of the bungalows and I wish I could find out more about the people who lived here
Was there from 87-90 520th TFW 55th AGS 555th AMU triple Nickle as a Radar and Navigation avionics Tech. Worked with a some good people Mark was my trainer Burt was my supervisor. Had a guy we called Casper and another we called Flash. I lived in Woodstock did the pub crawl almost nightly. would love to go back and see what the area is like now?
found a great site for those looking for other Upper Heyford memories
www.raf-upper-heyford.org/index.html
I was in blue section too 90-91 b shop avionics.
i went there last weekend I went inside the hospital and walked around the village flats etc took many photos. not really aloud in there but no one seemed to care
The fenced in area was the WSA Weapons Storage Area
Sadly most of the gas station side of the base is now gone and is all new houses. sad to see nearly cried watching this video my uncle lived in the house next to the canteen for at least 40 years and moved out 2 weeks ago
Nice video & music but would have preferred some commentary with this fascinating site. Love the old WW2 hangers.
WE FLEW FROM LORING AFB ,SAC, WITH B-36 ,IT ALL STARTED AS AN ALERT AND WE WOUND UP IN LONDON.HA,OXFORD WAS BEAUTIFUL 1954, MET SOME NICE ENGLISH WOMEN,RED AND I ?BOUGHT AN ENGLISH RACER FOR MY BROTHER FOR XMAS,PACKED IT INTO OUR B36 .ALOT OF FOG.
1983-1986 42nd ECS, wow, had no idea they had closed this base
I was stationed there late eighties. This was coming in from Bicester.
Oxford
Same here, My dad was and still is in fire protection and was stationed there at the same time. Does Ed Jones ring a bell?
For all of you who aren't already a member there is a couple of facebook groups for people who were at Heyford! facebook.com/groups/1639641346298389/
R.I.P heyford its being ruined!
Loved the bit at 4:09. Our policy was to neither confirm nor deny the presence. Then there for all top see is that we had B61's and B57's !!!
I suppose it doesn't matter now.
There 1971 to 1976
I remember working VA with the B-61's ready to go. VA was great duty.
what and where is the witches circle shown at the end?
It's a ring of trees in farmers field and it was said you could never count the same number of trees twice driving by. Google maps, all these decades later, makes it look like 12 or 13: www.google.com/maps/search/raf+upper+heyford/@51.9155548,-1.236734,308m/data=!3m1!1e3
B-flight 79th Tigers, 90 to 93 ... GO SKYKINGS!
i was stationed at upper Heyford 1983 to 1985 is there any 0ne who is
+Paul Dunn I was born on base in 1984. Perhaps you know my parents?
Were you a cop? Your name sounds familiar. 82 - 84
Did you know my uncle, Major Mike McGuire?
RAY fire department 90 and 91. kind of sad to see it closed
shit i was was born there...
T-Bird? Is that you??
You would not recognise it now chap, the whole place is a giant building site, thousands of houses, the airfield itself has been made to look better, HAS's tidied, no weeds, but everything back from the pan is gone, very few buildings left, a few hangars, but the Cap Road is a nightmare, just a giant building estate with middle class tossers trying to live normal lives among tat and the insane amount of traffic using the camp road, car transporters, digers, it's truly awful sadly.
How sad.. ;-(