List of American military locations in Great Britain
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United States Air Forces in Europe
The List of American Military Locations in Great Britain lists all US military establishments in Great Britain from 1948 to the present, both closed and existing.
After the growing tensions between the victorious powers of the Second World War in the Cold War , Great Britain took on the role of the United States' abutment of the transatlantic bridge to Europe. In particular, the ranged combat bombers of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) used the well-developed operational airfields of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in East Anglia . At the beginning of 1954, the American air forces were regrouped: the tactical units of United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) stationed near the border in Bavaria were relocated to Rhineland-Palatinate , the strategic forces of the SAC now used those behind the British instead of the sites in Norfolk and Suffolk RAF Bomber Command lying RAF bases in Home Counties northwest of London ; USAFE tactical, partly nuclear-capable formations were stationed at the airfields in East Anglia. Likewise, some of the American nuclear capable aviation forces withdrawn from France in 1958 and 1966 - unless they were transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany - were stationed in England .
The protection of the RAF airfields was the responsibility of the US Army 32nd Anti Aircraft Defense Command (AADCOM) until 1957. From 1960 to 1992 the US Navy also used bases in Great Britain, in particular the base on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland was used by the American nuclear submarines. The European pillar of the Ballistic Missile Defense Early Warning Network (BMEWS) was in Yorkshire . With the end of the Cold War, most of the American military bases in Great Britain were closed.
List of military locations
KC-135 tanker aircraft at RAF Mildenhall
The structure of the lists for East Anglia, Home Counties, Midlands, London and South England, North England, Wales, Scotland and Isle of Man is essentially based on the numbering of the American Field Post Office (APO) for the US Army and US Air Force , Fleet Post Office (FPO) for US Navy. Wherever it made sense to reflect the strategic-tactical context, it was deviated from. In the other columns the name of the place, the military unit (station) and the county are given, furthermore - depending on the necessity - the duration of the presence is listed, from:
1958 as part of Operation "Red Richard" transfer of the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing (FBW) from Chaumont-Semoutiers → RAF Lakenheath, 48 vaults (maximum capacity 192 nuclear warheads, 110 B-61 bombs in 2005, withdrawal of nuclear weapons in 2007); Telecommunication and electronic reconnaissance
1958 as part of Operation "Red Richard" relocation of 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) from Spangdahlem → RAF Alconbury (UK), "Tri-Base Area Alconbury, Molesworth Upwood"
Alconbury
Magic Mountain
Cambridgeshire
1988-1989
1988 Construction of the top secret underground bunker for intelligence purposes at the RAF Alconbury base; three months after completion, the Berlin Wall fell and the bunker was shut down.
190
238
Huntingdon
RAF Molesworth
Cambridgeshire
1953-1956
1960-1992
1956-1957
GLCM base 1983–1988, 2 vaults (maximum capacity 8 W-80 warheads, 1988 withdrawal of nuclear weapons according to the INF treaty), "Tri-Base Area Alconbury, Molesworth Upwood"
Upwood
RAF Upwood
Cambridgeshire
1981-1995
608th USAF Contingency Hospital, "Tri-Base Area Alconbury, Molesworth Upwood"
Wyton
RAF Wyton
Cambridgeshire
1988-1995
Alternative place for RAF Alconbury
Bassingbourn
RAF Bassingbourn
Cambridgeshire
1948-1951
405
Woodbridge
RAF Woodbridge (WDE)
Suffolk
1952-1993
1952-1993
"Twin Base Bentwaters Woodbridge"
755
Rendlesham
RAF Bentwaters (BTS)
Suffolk
1951-1993
1960-1992
25 vaults (maximum capacity 100 nuclear warheads, 1994 withdrawal of nuclear weapons), "Twin Base Bentwaters Woodbridge"
1966 as part of Operation FRELOC relocation of the reconnaissance aircraft from Laon-Couvron → RAF Upper Heyford, 55 vaults (maximum capacity 220 nuclear warheads, 1994 withdrawal of nuclear weapons)
Bicester
RAF Bicester Service Annex
Oxfordshire
1966-1993
317th USAF Contingency Hospital
241
High Wycombe
High Wycombe Air Station (HYE)
Buckinghamshire
1958-1965
1966-1991
HQ 7th Air Division (SAC); 1966 relocation of the main USAFE depot from Châteauroux-Déols to RAF High Wycombe as part of Operation FRELOC; underground bunker as a war HQ USEUCOM
Bovingdon
RAF Bovingdon Radio Relay Site (BVN)
Hertfordshire
1951-1962
Base for liaison aircraft. Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Barkway
Barkway Communications Site (BRY)
Hertfordshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
US ammunition depot for British Thor missiles at RAF Hemswell
Scampton
RAF Scampton
Lincolnshire
1948-1949
Nocton Hall
RAF Nocton Hall
Lincolnshire
1984-1995
Air Force Contingency Hospital
RAF Spitalgate
Spitalgate Radio Relay Site (SPE)
Lincolnshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Crowland
Crowland Radio Relay Site (CRD)
Lincolnshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Kirton in Lindsey
Kirton in Lindsey Radio Relay Site (KNY)
Lincolnshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
North Somercotes
RAF Donna Nook
Lincolnshire
since 1976
Air-to-ground firing range
Gedney
RAF Holbeach
Lincolnshire
1954-2006
Air-to-ground firing range
Friskney
RAF Wainfleet
Lincolnshire
1950-2010
Air-to-ground firing range
London and the South of England
APO 1955
APO 1990
place
station
county
SAC
USAFE
AFCC
USAREUR
USNAVEUR
comment
83
London
RAF Uxbridge
Middlesex
1960-1992
Communication station
London (Uxbridge)
Hillingdon Radio Relay Site (HIN)
Middlesex
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
125
London
RAF Bushy Park (Camp Griffiss)
Middlesex
1960-1992
1951-1958
Communication station
151
London
London
Middlesex
Aerial Mail Terminal
241
553
London
RAF West Ruislip
Middlesex
1975-2006
Leased by the US Navy, logistical support for RAF South Ruislip
London
RAF South Ruislip (SRP)
Middlesex
1952-1958
1949-1972
1960-1992
1975-2006
HQ Third Air Force (relocated to RAF Mildenhall in 1972), HQ 7th Air Division (SAC) (relocated to High Wycombe in 1958), Air Force Hospital
London
RAF Blenheim Crescent
Middlesex
since 2007
1960-2007
Administration building
197
London
RAF West Drayton
Middlesex
around 1965
Connection to the Linesman system of the RAF (early warning system)
501
510
London
London (LDN)
Middlesex
1942-2009
HQ US Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (NELM) and USNAVEUR (7 North Audley Street), North Sea District
581
London
London
Middlesex
UK Terminal / USATT (US Army Transport Terminal)
198
Manston
RAF Manston
Kent
1951-1955
1954-1961
Dunkirk
RAF Dunkirk Radio Relay Station
Kent
1964-1990
Swingate
Swingate Radio Relay Station
Kent
1964-1990
Maidstone
RAF Cold Blow Lane Radio Relay Site (CDW)
Kent
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Hythe
RAF Hythe
Kent
1964-1994
Combat Equipment Base North Atlantic (POMCUS)
Oxted
Botley Hill Farms Radio Relay Site (BFM)
Surrey
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Dean Hill
Dean Hill Radio Relay Site (DHL)
Wiltshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Golden Pot Towers
Golden Pot Towers Radio Relay Site (GPR)
Hampshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
199
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
Dorset
1952-1960
Shaftesbury Military Hospital
Ringstead
Ringstead Radio Relay Site (RDS)
Dorset
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME), connection to Gorramendi (Spain)
Bulbarrow Hill
Bulbarrow Hill Radio Relay Site (BBL)
Dorset
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Portland Bill
Bill of Portland Radio Relay Site (BPD)
Dorset
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Locking
RAF locking
Somerset
1960-1992
Fleet Hospital 10
511
Newquay
RAF St Mawgan
Cornwall
1960-1992
Naval Weapons Facility, United States Navy Atomic Weapons Department
St Eval
RAF St Eval
Cornwall
1948-1951
Northern england
APO 1955
APO 1990
place
station
county
USAFE
MAC
ESC
AFSPC
USAREUR
comment
124
75
Warrington
RAF Burtonwood
Lancashire, 1974 Cheshire
1946-1953
1953-1959
1966-1994
Burtonwood Army Depot, POMCUS
210
Harrogate
Menwith Hill Field Station
Yorkshire
1956-2015
Telecommunication and electronic reconnaissance
243
Middlewich
RAF Cranage
Cheshire
1944-1958
Base for liaison aircraft
659
Whitby
RAF Fylingdales (FYL)
Yorkshire
since 1962
BMEWS (Ballistic Missile Early Warning System): NATO early warning system against attacks by long-range missiles with the corner points Fylingdales, Thule Air Base, Greenland and Clear Air Station, Alaska
Hornsea
RAF Cowden
Yorkshire
1959-1998
Air-to-ground firing range
Bishop Wilton Wold
Garrowby Hill Radio Relay Site (GHL)
Yorkshire
1964-1990
Relay station in the global radio relay network US Air Force (STRATCOM / AIRCOM / EAME)
Wales
APO 1955
APO 1990
place
station
county
USAREUR
USNAVEUR
comment
519
St Davids
RAF Brawdy
Pembrokeshire
1974-1995
Naval Facility (Sound Surveillance System in the East Atlantic)
Caerwent
RAF Caerwent
Monmouthshire
1960-1990
Reserve storage activity
Scotland
APO 1955
APO 1990
place
station
county
USAFE
AFCC
MAC
ESC
USNAVEUR
comment
202
Glasgow
RAF Prestwick
Ayrshire
1945-1960
Prestwick Ferry Port (support for transatlantic flights)
514
Dunoon
Holy hole
Argyll and Bute
1960-1992
Base for nuclear submarines, Naval Support Activity, Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Refit Site One
515
Campbeltown
RAF Machrihanish
Argyll and Bute
1965-1995
Naval Weapons Facility Det
516
Thurso
Thurso
Caithness
1960-1992
Naval Communication Station
Aberdeen
Aberdeen Antennae Site
Aberdeenshire
1960-1992
Naval Communication Station
Inverbervie
RAF Inverbervie Antennae Site
Aberdeenshire
1960-1992
Naval Communication Station
Mormond Hill
Mormond Hill Communications Site
Aberdeenshire
1964-1990
Latheron
Latheron Antennae Site
Caithness
1960-1992
Naval Communication Station
Arbroath
RAF Arbroath
Angus
1960-1992
Fleet Hospital Support Facility 13
Lanark
RAF Lanark
Lanarkshire
1960-1992
Fleet Hospital Support Facility 14
518
Edzell
RAF Edzell
Angus
1950-1997
1960-1996
Naval Security Group Activity, Telecommunications and Electronic Reconnaissance
Tain
RAF Tain
Ross and Cromarty
since 1950
Air-to-ground firing range
Fraserburgh
RAF Rosehearty
Aberdeenshire
1994-2007
Air-to-ground firing range
Isle of Man
APO 1955
APO 1990
place
station
county
USAFE
comment
Jurby
RAF Jurby Head
Isle of Man
1946-1993
Air-to-ground firing range
Abbreviations
abbreviation
text
AAA
Anti Aircraft Artillery
AADCOM
Army Air Defense Command
AFCC
Air Force Communications Command
AFSPC
Air Force Space Command
AIRCOM
Air Force Strategic Communications
BMEWS
Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
Det
Detachment
EAME
European-African-Middle Eastern Communications Area
ESC
Electronic Security Command
FBM
Fleet Ballistic Missile
FBW
Fighter Bomber Wing
FlaBtl
Anti-aircraft battalion
FmElo Aufkl
Telecommunication and electronic reconnaissance
FRELOC
Fast relocation
GCHQ
Government Communications Headquarters (UK)
GLCM
Ground Launched Cruise Missile
HQ
Headquarters
INF
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
MAC
Military Airlift Command
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NELM
Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
POMCUS
Prepositioned Organizational Material Configurated to Unit Sets