This is our second visit to upwood mainly to see the station commanders house as we seen to have missed this first time . The camp had changed a lot since our last visit for the worse and a big gate has now been installed and many of the buildings have had fires in them and station HQ had been badly hit
Now for some history
Originally used as a night-landing ground, by 1918 five hangars had been built and the centre became a training station. With the end of World War I the airfield was cleared. 1934 saw RAF Upwood reactivated and expanded to deal with the increasing threat posed by Nazi Germany.
The new base became operational in February 1937, housing two flying units. These original squadrons were reassigned in 1939 and replaced by No.90 and No.35 Squadron. Neither squadron saw combat and they were merged as No.17 Training Unit. When this unit departed Upwood in 1943, the grassed runways were replaced with three concrete runways.
The base re-opened in October 1943 and between 1944 and 1945 was used by No.139 and No.156 Squadrons. Their Mosquitos and Lancasters saw action in Germany, dropping target indicators over Berlin and bombing Stuttgart. After the end of the war they delivered food to the starving people of Holland and returned repatriated former Prisoners of War. In addition to housing several bomber units during the 1940s and 1950s, some of which took part in the Suez crisis, RAF Upwood was used as a location in the Dirk Bogard film 'Appointment in London'.
In 1961 Upwood was transferred to RAF Strike Command and by 1981 the base was almost dormant. Control was passed to the United States Air Force and Upwood became a satellite base of RAF Alconbury, providing housing and support for personnel. In 1986 a multi-million dollar medical facility was opened, delivering outpatient services to American military members in the area. The end of the Cold War saw a phased rundown of RAF Alconbury. The site was acquired by Strawsons in 1999 and in 2005 the last USAF family moved out of the Upwood housing
the Pics
Station commanders house
upwood part 2 002 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 012 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 020 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 014 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 022 by urban phantom, on Flickr
Main site
upwood part 2 056 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 059 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 057 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 087 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 095 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 097 by
urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 108 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 103 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 125 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 128 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 119 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 138 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 142 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 147 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 131 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 162 by urban phantom, on Flickr
Thanks for looking all comments welcome
Now for some history
Originally used as a night-landing ground, by 1918 five hangars had been built and the centre became a training station. With the end of World War I the airfield was cleared. 1934 saw RAF Upwood reactivated and expanded to deal with the increasing threat posed by Nazi Germany.
The new base became operational in February 1937, housing two flying units. These original squadrons were reassigned in 1939 and replaced by No.90 and No.35 Squadron. Neither squadron saw combat and they were merged as No.17 Training Unit. When this unit departed Upwood in 1943, the grassed runways were replaced with three concrete runways.
The base re-opened in October 1943 and between 1944 and 1945 was used by No.139 and No.156 Squadrons. Their Mosquitos and Lancasters saw action in Germany, dropping target indicators over Berlin and bombing Stuttgart. After the end of the war they delivered food to the starving people of Holland and returned repatriated former Prisoners of War. In addition to housing several bomber units during the 1940s and 1950s, some of which took part in the Suez crisis, RAF Upwood was used as a location in the Dirk Bogard film 'Appointment in London'.
In 1961 Upwood was transferred to RAF Strike Command and by 1981 the base was almost dormant. Control was passed to the United States Air Force and Upwood became a satellite base of RAF Alconbury, providing housing and support for personnel. In 1986 a multi-million dollar medical facility was opened, delivering outpatient services to American military members in the area. The end of the Cold War saw a phased rundown of RAF Alconbury. The site was acquired by Strawsons in 1999 and in 2005 the last USAF family moved out of the Upwood housing
the Pics
Station commanders house
upwood part 2 002 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 012 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 020 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 014 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 022 by urban phantom, on Flickr
Main site
upwood part 2 056 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 059 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 057 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 087 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 095 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 097 by
urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 108 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 103 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 125 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 128 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 119 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 138 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 142 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 147 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 131 by urban phantom, on Flickr
upwood part 2 162 by urban phantom, on Flickr
Thanks for looking all comments welcome
