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I was out for a solo exploring day earlier in the year and I decided to head for a mooch around bentwters just to see what I could find what was different to the tour they show people.i actually found quite a bit.it was areally enjoyable to look around.a lot of the place is used as an industrial estate,and its nice to see it being put to use.there is active security there too who drive about..RAF Bentwaters was a former world war two base built in 1942 and was in use by the RAF till 1949 it was then taken over by the Americans who used it till 1993.it had a twin base up the road called RAF Woodbridge.several squadrons were based here over the years.the last being the infamous tank busters the A-10.it was also famous for the Rendlesham forest incident were servicemen from Woddbridge in 1980 saw flashing lights in the sky.it was classed as Britain's Roswell incident.funny most ufo sightings seem to be near American bases
THE PLANES
On the base is several old planes and helicoptors.a company does these up and sells them.not sure if the company exists still.as the same planes are still there in old photos I have seen online.they were cool to shoot though.my favourite being the two seater black navy harrier.
SPECIAL WEAPONS STORAGE
The special weapons storage area is situated behind the regular bomb stores.the regular ones are in use by a company.you know whe you go this area they held some pretty special stuff in here.there was prob nuke heads.CND always descended on Greenham common but in reality I think a lot of the American bases stored nukes.the stores are surrounded by several fence and barb wire and razor wire on top.you enter via a large double gate.once in the gate area number one gate would close and you would be trapped between two.you would then be authorized and allowed in.there is a tower above the gate house with machine gun apertures in there over looking he gate area.further in is a watch tower.and down the other end is a block,this looks like a garage but behind the shutter would be a Humme ready to ride out if under attack.the building also had machine gun apertures fscing in direct line down the main stores.also lots of telegraph poles were dotted around the compound,if Russian helicoptors carrying spetsnaz special forces were to try and land the poles would slow that down.these were serious times in the cold war.
The view from the top of the tower was amazing.
The hummer shed in the background
Were the standard bomb stores water pool is there is a load of cannons that were lifted from a wreck in the sea and stored in here.
As you come out the stores is big building,not sure what this was,i think maybe a maintenance building
Fuel lines
THE STAR WARS BUILDING
To the rear of the site sit this building what is nicknamed the star wars building.this is because of basically the huge concrete shaped blast walls that surround it.the building itself is basically a block building.this was for the pilots.situated near the pens it was used for debriefing and briefing the pilots and there was toillets and showers and locker rooms,even a small medical room.i learnt after it is hired out now and again.
SITE SECURITY
With a base this size security was heavy,i managed to get in the police block,but the dog section was well sealed sadly.
THE VEICHLES
Dotted around the airfield is several trucks.some real nice examples on here.shame they are in a state.
ADMIN BUILDING
Not really sure what this building was used for but looked like an admin building of some type.it had a reception and offices and a bit of nice decay inside
DEPUTY COMMANDER OPERATIONS
This block when I looked through the windows looked so good.i was struggling to find a way in and nearly gave up.then I found a small gap and I was in.its one of the most decayed buildings I have been in.you could almost feel the damp and smell it in here.the deputy commander was in charge of being in contact and organisation of operatiox with other countries so basically he would work closely with there NATO aliies.there is a bunker building next door sadly that was a no go.
RANDOM AIRFIELD STUFF
This was the rules board for civilians visiting around the runway and taxiway areas.
At either end of the airfield is a pair of buildings.these would act as a safety line if planes were in trouble.a cable would be pulled up to stop the planes over shooting the runway if they suffered some sort of problem.in the roomy you can still see the hole in the wall and plinth for whatever mechanism was used.
Another watch tower to overlook the airfield.this one is in a right dilapidated state.
Two of many hangars around the back end of the airfield.most of these had the squadrons insignia on the door
Some random little building near the runway
The old bus stop to transport personal around the airfield
THE PLANES
On the base is several old planes and helicoptors.a company does these up and sells them.not sure if the company exists still.as the same planes are still there in old photos I have seen online.they were cool to shoot though.my favourite being the two seater black navy harrier.
SPECIAL WEAPONS STORAGE
The special weapons storage area is situated behind the regular bomb stores.the regular ones are in use by a company.you know whe you go this area they held some pretty special stuff in here.there was prob nuke heads.CND always descended on Greenham common but in reality I think a lot of the American bases stored nukes.the stores are surrounded by several fence and barb wire and razor wire on top.you enter via a large double gate.once in the gate area number one gate would close and you would be trapped between two.you would then be authorized and allowed in.there is a tower above the gate house with machine gun apertures in there over looking he gate area.further in is a watch tower.and down the other end is a block,this looks like a garage but behind the shutter would be a Humme ready to ride out if under attack.the building also had machine gun apertures fscing in direct line down the main stores.also lots of telegraph poles were dotted around the compound,if Russian helicoptors carrying spetsnaz special forces were to try and land the poles would slow that down.these were serious times in the cold war.
The view from the top of the tower was amazing.
The hummer shed in the background
Were the standard bomb stores water pool is there is a load of cannons that were lifted from a wreck in the sea and stored in here.
As you come out the stores is big building,not sure what this was,i think maybe a maintenance building
Fuel lines
THE STAR WARS BUILDING
To the rear of the site sit this building what is nicknamed the star wars building.this is because of basically the huge concrete shaped blast walls that surround it.the building itself is basically a block building.this was for the pilots.situated near the pens it was used for debriefing and briefing the pilots and there was toillets and showers and locker rooms,even a small medical room.i learnt after it is hired out now and again.
SITE SECURITY
With a base this size security was heavy,i managed to get in the police block,but the dog section was well sealed sadly.
THE VEICHLES
Dotted around the airfield is several trucks.some real nice examples on here.shame they are in a state.
ADMIN BUILDING
Not really sure what this building was used for but looked like an admin building of some type.it had a reception and offices and a bit of nice decay inside
DEPUTY COMMANDER OPERATIONS
This block when I looked through the windows looked so good.i was struggling to find a way in and nearly gave up.then I found a small gap and I was in.its one of the most decayed buildings I have been in.you could almost feel the damp and smell it in here.the deputy commander was in charge of being in contact and organisation of operatiox with other countries so basically he would work closely with there NATO aliies.there is a bunker building next door sadly that was a no go.
RANDOM AIRFIELD STUFF
This was the rules board for civilians visiting around the runway and taxiway areas.
At either end of the airfield is a pair of buildings.these would act as a safety line if planes were in trouble.a cable would be pulled up to stop the planes over shooting the runway if they suffered some sort of problem.in the roomy you can still see the hole in the wall and plinth for whatever mechanism was used.
Another watch tower to overlook the airfield.this one is in a right dilapidated state.
Two of many hangars around the back end of the airfield.most of these had the squadrons insignia on the door
Some random little building near the runway
The old bus stop to transport personal around the airfield
Looks such an amazing site to explore! Them planes look so dramatic under that cloudy sky and that lush fern room!!! and you didn't forget the bog shot
...excellent report and explore mikey!
