F-5E of the 527th TFTAS

RF-4C of the 1st TRS

TR-1A 801068 of 95 RS departs RAF Alconbury

One of the advantages of being stationed at Ramstein was the fact that HQ USAFE was located on the north side of the base. That meant I had access to many of the USAFE command level organizaitons.. One of which was personnel. I liked being stationed overseas.. there was a special camaradery about being an expatriate living in a foreign land.. I had traveled to Italy, France, Spain, Iran and many other countries while on leave.. This was one of the main reasons I joined the USAF in the first place.. to travel.

I really didn't like Ramtstein though.. Germany was OK but the organizaiton on the base had a lot of people with attitudes.. this was also a time of fiscal restraint in the military.. and people who were overseas were encouaged to extend their tours. I called and made an appointment with the USAFE assignments office and met with a SSGT there. He looked up my Inventory Management AFSC and told me that he could slot me for another three years at Camp New Amsterdam, Holland; Zaragoza AB, Spain; RAF Alconbury, England, or I could just stay at Ramstein for another three years.

Given these choices.. I opted out for England. I had been to Spain on leave and wasn't all that thrilled with it.. Holland however.. was worth considering since I had been there several times and found it very much to my liking.. but in the end when I mentally flipped the coin.. England was what I wanted and USAFE was more than willing to send me there.. Even allow me to drive my car to RAF Alconbury and pick up the cost of the ferry and travel expenses.

So after two weeks in Pennsylvania the beginning of June .. right after July 4th I got in my car and headed north.. leaving Ramstein behind me.. first stop was Zebrugge Belgum... to the ferry.. then the next morning .. Felixtowe England.. and the beginning of the most enjoyable assignment I had in the Air Force.

(to be continued)...

RF-4C of the 1st TRS in front of one of the hardened revetments built at RAF Alconbury in the late '70s

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Location of RAF Alconbury near Huntingdon England	Back Gate into RAF Alconbury leading to Technical Site #5
Main Gate into RAF Alconbury leading to the support facilities	Transient Airman's Quarters
Base Exchange	NCO (Formerly Officer's) Club

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Here is the USAF History of RAF Alconbury up to it's closure in 1995. Actually it's not actually 'closed'.. but just the small housing area remains open to the USAF. A very tall chain link fence has been placed on the base blocking access to most of the old flight line areas.. maintence faciites.. and where I used to work both in Supply and at the 527th area. Also.. faciities such as the NCO Club.. BX.. Commissary and Clinic have been moved either to RAF Molesworth or RAF Upwood. From people who have been to Alconbury recently in 1998.. I've heard that the flightline area looks a lot like what a ghost town does.. weeds in the road.. empty .. ghostly buildings.. It's sad in a way.. since it's not what I remember.. but also.. Europe has changed.. for the better.. and it's because of that.. well.. Alconbury isn't needed any more... and that has to be a good thing...

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RAF ALCONBURY HISTORY

RAF Alconbury began as a satellite base for nearby RAF Wyton during the early days of World War II.

The first American unit at Alconbury was the 93rd Bombardment Group and its B-24 Liberators. The 93rd BG flew 8th Air Force's first operational B-24 mission to the continent, attacking the Lille Steelworks in Belgium. The major unit from 1942 to 1945 was the 482nd Bomb Group, part of the famous Pathfinders. The Royal Air Force again took control of Alconbury in 1945, after the end of the Second World War.

When the U.S. Air Force again took control of the base in 1954, several U.S. units called the base home: the 86th Bomber Squadron and 42nd Troop Carrier Squadron. The 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing arrived in 1959 and became the host unit at RAF Alconbury for almost 30 years.

The Strategic Air Command's 17th Reconnaissance Wing activated at RAF Alconbury on Oct. 1, 1982, bringing with it the TR-1 (U-2) reconnaissance aircraft. The 17th RW inactivated in July 1991, but a subordinate unit, the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, remained at RAF Alconbury with the U-2 until 1993. After the 95th RS inactivated, the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., continued to have personnel and U-2 aircraft deployed to RAF Alconbury. The last U-2 aircraft departed RAF Alconbury in March 1995.

In August 1987, the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was redesignated the 10th Tactical Fighter Wing after the unit received the A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter. During its brief existence, the 10th TFW deployed personnel and A-10 aircraft to the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm. As part of the U.S. military drawdown in Europe, the A-10s departed in spring 1992, and the 10th TFW became the 10th Air Base Wing on March 31, 1993. To maintain the units heritage, the Air Force moved the 10th Air Base Wing flag to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., on Nov. 1, 1994. The 710th Air Base Wing was activated as the host unit on RAF Alconbury, then inactivated July 12, 1995, upon the activation of the 423d Air Base Squadron at RAF Molesworth.

The 39th Special Operations Wing arrived at RAF Alconbury in 1992. After consolidating its aircraft and people at the base, the 39th SOW inactivated, and the 352nd Special Operations Group activated, linking the unit's heritage with a historic World War II commando unit. The 352nd SOG departed RAF Alconbury for RAF Mildenhall on Feb. 17, 1995. Restructuring throughout Europe resulted in the RAF Alconbury flightline being turned back to the Ministry of Defence on Sept. 30, 1995.