I have been to Upwood several times. But last visit was 2015, and then the demo started which you just presumed that was it and it would all be gone. I knew that was not the case, but I was surprised how much actually was left. Several building have gone like the officers mess and restaurant and various other buildings. But was enough to keep us happy and ended up spending fours here. It was more a visit for a relaxed wander with friends and we knew some great graffiti had appeared. On my earlier visits it was trashed then, the state of it now is even worse. It made Sculthorpe and Driffield look good, which is saying something. I still enjoyed it though as it was a fun day out with friends and it’s still RAF which I love.
RAF Upwood started life as a First World War airfield. It was first built in 1912 and named after Bury the local village. It was originally used as a night landing airfield and satellite field to Elmswell in Suffolk. The airfield was expanded and new buildings and hangars built. It was then renamed Upwood, and became a station for flying. In 1918 it was disbanded and returned to the community and buildings removed. With the Second World War looming the Royal Air Force was expanding at a rapid pace and needed new sites. Upwood was one that was earmarked for such development. Work began on expanding Upwood in 1936 and by 1937 it was constructed with five new hangars. The airfield was designed to accommodate two medium bomber squadrons, with the option for a third. it was mainly used for training though and this continued throughout the war. The base continued in service after the war right up to when the Americans took it on in 1981 as a satellite to Alconbury. It was used to house personnel from Alconbury, and to provide support services. A hospital was built in 1986 to provide medical facilities for the American personnel. I was lucky enough to see that hospital as well. After the Cold War the base was given back to the uk government, with last usaf family moving out in 2005 out of the housing that was being used still. The hospital finally closed up in 2012. I don’t know how much longer the rest of the site has now, it’s already had quite a few new houses built on it.
Some shots from over the site, the guardhouse still exists as does the station HQ. Several accommodation blocks are still about and the transport block and the boiler house and heating block and tower. I was looking through the buildings and seeing comparisons with other buildings on other sites and how similar they are being standard designs. The HQ was the same layout as Raynham, but hardly recognisable with the damage here. The accommodation blocks were the same as Church Fenton, they even had the same colour scheme of green,
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RAF Upwood started life as a First World War airfield. It was first built in 1912 and named after Bury the local village. It was originally used as a night landing airfield and satellite field to Elmswell in Suffolk. The airfield was expanded and new buildings and hangars built. It was then renamed Upwood, and became a station for flying. In 1918 it was disbanded and returned to the community and buildings removed. With the Second World War looming the Royal Air Force was expanding at a rapid pace and needed new sites. Upwood was one that was earmarked for such development. Work began on expanding Upwood in 1936 and by 1937 it was constructed with five new hangars. The airfield was designed to accommodate two medium bomber squadrons, with the option for a third. it was mainly used for training though and this continued throughout the war. The base continued in service after the war right up to when the Americans took it on in 1981 as a satellite to Alconbury. It was used to house personnel from Alconbury, and to provide support services. A hospital was built in 1986 to provide medical facilities for the American personnel. I was lucky enough to see that hospital as well. After the Cold War the base was given back to the uk government, with last usaf family moving out in 2005 out of the housing that was being used still. The hospital finally closed up in 2012. I don’t know how much longer the rest of the site has now, it’s already had quite a few new houses built on it.
Some shots from over the site, the guardhouse still exists as does the station HQ. Several accommodation blocks are still about and the transport block and the boiler house and heating block and tower. I was looking through the buildings and seeing comparisons with other buildings on other sites and how similar they are being standard designs. The HQ was the same layout as Raynham, but hardly recognisable with the damage here. The accommodation blocks were the same as Church Fenton, they even had the same colour scheme of green,
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