Tankman
16-09-2010, 08:45 PM
Pic Heavy
Whilst in the area on a "Cold War" Weekend UE, We took up the offer of a "Behind the Wire Tour" from the nice chaps from Bentwaters Cold War Museum. Myself and BK did the rounds:thumb
A lot of industry now ocupies quite a considerable part of the old base, but this industry is varied from aircraft restoration companys to potato harvesting in the once hardened aircraft shelters.
However a lot still remains of Bentwaters and its previous use:thumb
On with the show:smile
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/350.jpg
This huge Marconi array radar is privatly owned and is being restored by some chaps from an electronics company. Very nice too:thumb
We managed to get into the control tower but it was mostly stripped out of original kit, so we moved on to the Special weapons Bomb Stores.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/353.jpg
The armoured pillbox at the entrance still looks foreboding, the gates still worked and swung back as we entered the security check point!
Once inside we had a good look around but the best view was from the watch tower, only thing was it shook quite badly as I climbed the stairs to the top, and I wasnt sure if it was safe or not:lol:
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/360.jpg
The only way is up:coffee
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/365.jpg
Once "Top Side" the views were spectacular and I had a Pano! of the whole area:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/379.jpg
The bomb stores laid out below me!
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/376.jpg
After we had looked around the Bomb Store, we wondered over to the 92 TFS, Squadron building for some A-10 Wall art:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/386.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/390.jpg
Then on for a tour of some lovely aircraft that was nicely sitting in a HAS Shelter
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/443.jpg
With the klaxon sounding the doors rolled back to reveal this ex RAF Jaguar:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/441.jpg
I was nearly wetting my pants:lol: Just what the doctor ordered:coffee
Not to far away we also came across some more Jaguar's in various states of decay/repair?
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/452.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/453.jpg
Next was onto one of the fuel dumps:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/499.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/502.jpg
Overgrown and out of use since 1992 nature is slowly reclaiming back her land!
Loads more pics here of our visit:
http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/?start=all
And our original report of the Battle Command Centre can be read here:
http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php/4730-RAF-USAF-Bentwaters-Cambridgeshire-July-09?highlight=BENTWATERS
Thanks for looking:thumb
Whilst in the area on a "Cold War" Weekend UE, We took up the offer of a "Behind the Wire Tour" from the nice chaps from Bentwaters Cold War Museum. Myself and BK did the rounds:thumb
A lot of industry now ocupies quite a considerable part of the old base, but this industry is varied from aircraft restoration companys to potato harvesting in the once hardened aircraft shelters.
However a lot still remains of Bentwaters and its previous use:thumb
On with the show:smile
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/350.jpg
This huge Marconi array radar is privatly owned and is being restored by some chaps from an electronics company. Very nice too:thumb
We managed to get into the control tower but it was mostly stripped out of original kit, so we moved on to the Special weapons Bomb Stores.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/353.jpg
The armoured pillbox at the entrance still looks foreboding, the gates still worked and swung back as we entered the security check point!
Once inside we had a good look around but the best view was from the watch tower, only thing was it shook quite badly as I climbed the stairs to the top, and I wasnt sure if it was safe or not:lol:
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/360.jpg
The only way is up:coffee
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/365.jpg
Once "Top Side" the views were spectacular and I had a Pano! of the whole area:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/379.jpg
The bomb stores laid out below me!
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/376.jpg
After we had looked around the Bomb Store, we wondered over to the 92 TFS, Squadron building for some A-10 Wall art:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/386.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/390.jpg
Then on for a tour of some lovely aircraft that was nicely sitting in a HAS Shelter
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/443.jpg
With the klaxon sounding the doors rolled back to reveal this ex RAF Jaguar:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/441.jpg
I was nearly wetting my pants:lol: Just what the doctor ordered:coffee
Not to far away we also came across some more Jaguar's in various states of decay/repair?
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/452.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/453.jpg
Next was onto one of the fuel dumps:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/499.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/502.jpg
Overgrown and out of use since 1992 nature is slowly reclaiming back her land!
Loads more pics here of our visit:
http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20BENTWATERS%20BEHIND%20THE%20WIRE/?start=all
And our original report of the Battle Command Centre can be read here:
http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php/4730-RAF-USAF-Bentwaters-Cambridgeshire-July-09?highlight=BENTWATERS
Thanks for looking:thumb