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View Full Version : A walk around Raf Upper Heyfford



minxy*
02-02-2011, 09:13 AM
I visited this place quite a while ago after doing a road trip to West park and never got round to putting the pictures up :s anyway......

Some history (pinched from wiki)

Located Near Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Type Air Force Base
Built 1916
In use 1916-1993

RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The base was brought into use for flying in July 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II it was used by many units of the RAF, mainly as a training facility. In September 1939 it was the home of No. 70 Wing RAF with Nos 18 and 57 Squadrons, part of No. 2 Group RAF. From March 1946 until June 1950 it was the home of No.1 Parachute Training School RAF.

During the Cold War, Upper Heyford served as a base for United States Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC) strategic bombers and United States Air Forces In Europe (USAFE) tactical reconnaissance and fighter aircraft in the UK.

Upper Heyford was unique among bases in the United Kingdom as only the flight-line area required military identification to access. The rest of the base, save the commercial facilities, was accessible to military and non-military alike.

Uniquely, the airspace around the base (from the surface to 3500') was protected by a mandatory radio area (UHMRA) in which private pilots were required to be in contact with the base controllers on frequency 128.55 when flying past or overhead.

The base was home to the Upper Heyford High School Hadites until Spring 1975 when the school moved to RAF Croughton. The School kept the name "Upper Heyford High School" until Autumn 1982 when it was then given its new name of "Croughton High School". The Upper Heyford/Croughton High School Hadites were renowned across DoDDS Europe high schools for their athletic legacy.

The pictures

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5272289943_b3ba35d923.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5272898370_564433950a.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5272889800_b0b8143fd5.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5272289767_0f947d96a1.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5272289705_17f4058e06.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5272898108_8eeb9d9b73.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5272289595_5a43c2f49d.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5272289519_43d782ba1c.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5272289481_04dab0949b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5272289363_3a2e0af123.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5272289303_861a887c04.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5272889856_e02f446d45.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5272897868_4e0a545413.jpg

Thanks for looking :D

KingElvis
02-02-2011, 09:33 AM
Great stuff, a place I would love to see.

Nicola
02-02-2011, 12:22 PM
Cool - love that last shot!

simonix
02-02-2011, 08:59 PM
Just the sort of place I find really interesting, great shot of the yank fire hydrant, reminds me of Sculthorpe. :-)