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.
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. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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.
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.
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.
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 was at Upper Heyford from 89 - 92. Loved every minute of it!
Thanks for the video. Spent two years and hundreds of hours guarding that flight line. Two of the best years of my young life. 20th SPS
Hey Greg, I was there with you, 83 to 85. I still remember you eating that chicken at the chow hall and stacking them bones !!!!
@@billcarson7913 those were the days 😅
@@gregfry5356Hey, this is W House if you remember. I subbed your channel to message you but that feature is gone. wondered how you were
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.
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. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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.
DJohnson wow what a walk down memory lane I worked weapons out of north three bay 86-88 This was a super first assignment, and some great memories
Refueled many F-111's inside those shelters. 20th Supply Sq (1984-1986)
Some of my fondest memories were spent here working in the US Air Force.
Yeah my uncle was posted here and mildenhall I used to love the visit when I was a kid
Great video. I was stationed there 89-92. Sad to see some of it is left only to memory.
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.
While assigned to the 20thTFW was assigned to the AMS and worked in Automatic Test Stations 75-81.
Cool video. I was stationed here in the late eighties.
Nice to know 👍😃
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 !
The Air Force called the PX, an army term, (post exchange) BX or Base eXchange.
Too we lived on Harris Rd on the Base , if any of you did when we lived there 64-70 ? Great to know Cathy Nashville TN
Wasnt it a USAAF base in the 70’s? Seemed to remember going when it ATC. G
I worked out of the three bay hangar shown at approx 10:28 back in 80-82
I was there 80-83 worked in the 55 then 77.
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.
It broke my heart when they close the base
I was there '78-'80. Vaguely familiar, but did not recognize a single landmark.
I was there 80-83 and I remember most of it, I worked on the flight line.
Why UK decisions to close this air base , the largest in UK and beautiful .. this need to renovate and working again!!
It's all there ready to be used if need be
Awesome! This has to be a WW2 era base yeah?
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???
I was stationed at UH in '79-80 and was in the 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Good times, Thanks for the video.
I got there in July 80 as a crew chief. Good times.
The runway still in realy good condition
I was there 88-90
Worked there for Motorola fixing Non tactical radios in the 1980's - found this film very nostalgic - bought back lots of memories
79th Tigers B flight 90 to 93
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.
Keep in touch you guys, and fellow airmen. My F111E 20Tfw, is parked up, with the the rest of, my model air arm.
80-83 is when I was there, love it.
I wonder what they did with the Bits under Ground ?
Hello People since RAF Upper Heyford, closed, we have occasional flights, RAF Chinooks, Puma', Apaches.
one of my best freinds lives in the old married quarters there and they also used the od PX in the movie world war Z
Reckon I was on that bus.
F111 Territory...
83-85 for me
RF-101C's before that.
Absolutely ...another iconic aircraft.
brings back good memories sad to see the place decaying like that
Doug Quaid : Indeed !
I guess the CND camp moved out! 😂
88-90 A Flight Security
We want the USAFE there
@@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.
Surely the base could be operational again all the buildings are still there
It appears to be in pretty good shape wouldn't take too much to get it operational.
Isn’t it a housing estate now 😢