USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)

[thevulcan]

Honington, Wattisham, Boscombe down, Leeming, Leuchars, Linton? all options for ACE.

[Sparts99]

I wonder how much of the militray infrastructure is left at Weeze, former RAF Laarbruch?

[The Star of Woo]

Upper Heyford, Bentwaters, Sculthorpe - all stuff that dreams are made of.

[andrewn]

Upper Heyford, Bentwaters, Sculthorpe - all stuff that dreams are made of.

Indeed, Upper Heyford is gradually disappearing, the former domestic site is now largely demolished and there's new housing estates going up in their place. It's gone way past the point of return, in terms of it being an active airbase ever again.

Bentwaters is privately owned these days, the site externally at least is relatively complete, but it would take a massive, government led, intervention to get it turned back over for military use in any form. Again, it's not going to happen, in my opinion.

Sculthorpe !? When I last visited 15 or so years ago the place looked dilapidated, with most of the former base housing and facilities sold off and repurposed. Let's be honest it never had the best infrastructure to start with.

Sadly, it's hard to think of any former USAFE bases in the UK that are candidates for even a limited re-opening. I'd agree with posts above that the likes of Boscombe, Yeovilton, Leeming, Leuchars are much more realistic prospects for use as NATO forward operating bases, and with a few (tens of) millions thrown at them could probably be bought up to a decent enough spec for dispersal type operations by USAF aircraft.

[somerset]

Upper Heyford, Bentwaters, Sculthorpe - all stuff that dreams are made of.

Indeed, Upper Heyford is gradually disappearing, the former domestic site is now largely demolished and there's new housing estates going up in their place. It's gone way past the point of return, in terms of it being an active airbase ever again.

Bentwaters is privately owned these days, the site externally at least is relatively complete, but it would take a massive, government led, intervention to get it turned back over for military use in any form. Again, it's not going to happen, in my opinion.

Sculthorpe !? When I last visited 15 or so years ago the place looked dilapidated, with most of the former base housing and facilities sold off and repurposed. Let's be honest it never had the best infrastructure to start with.

Sadly, it's hard to think of any former USAFE bases in the UK that are candidates for even a limited re-opening. I'd agree with posts above that the likes of Boscombe, Yeovilton, Leeming, Leuchars are much more realistic prospects for use as NATO forward operating bases, and with a few (tens of) millions thrown at them could probably be bought up to a decent enough spec for dispersal type operations by USAF aircraft.

Yeovilton does already have Nato on Base ......it'd be nice to see to some different kit .....as much as its a dream

[warthog81]

Silly to build housing estates over places like Upper Heyford and Alconbury. I cannot see any of the old bases being brought back but with large US investment if they really wanted to I would imagine something could be done with Sculthorpe and Woodbridge. Bentwaters might be also be possible. All former UK USAFE bases and many RAF should have been retained as strategic reserve sites.

[Vulcanone]

Silly to build housing estates over places like Upper Heyford and Alconbury. I cannot see any of the old bases being brought back but with large US investment if they really wanted to I would imagine something could be done with Sculthorpe and Woodbridge. Bentwaters might be also be possible. All former UK USAFE bases and many RAF should have been retained as strategic reserve sites.

Yes, but they would have needed money to keep them in a reasonable state.... And we all know neither political party has done much to stop the pruning of assets..

[roughcutter]

Could Honington be redeemable? I think the last time it saw action was in 95 when the 48th temporarily set up shop whilst the runway at LN was being refurbished.

[Vulcanone]

Could Honington be redeemable? I think the last time it saw action was in 95 when the 48th temporarily set up shop whilst the runway at LN was being refurbished.

Last I heard was its runway was not in the best of shape, however that does therefore pose a question about some airfields that are used for Biz jets and other not quite light aviation etc, operating from ex RAF bases that have not, as far as I know had any work done on the runways for years.... North Weald, and Biggin Hill amongst others

[Nighthawke]

Honington infrastructure has gone as far as I recall. Most of this thread is pie in the sky anyway.

[tm74sqn]

Manston in Kent apparently being re-opened as an airport - rumour or rubbish?

[Vulcanone]

Manston was confirmed as reopening last week..... It still has to become reality however

[Vulcanone]

Honington infrastructure has gone as far as I recall. Most of this thread is pie in the sky anyway.

I do tend to agree

[Sparts99]

Manston was confirmed as reopening last week..... It still has to become reality however

Polar helicopters still operate from there but only from an old dispersal off the peri track. There are GA events there now and again so there must be some useable runway. I really can't see Manston being viable long term, or at least the full runway being retained if it does come back to life. The advantage of good road and potential rail links to Europe via tha channel tunnel has gone now, its too far from London, where's the market?

[Seahornet1]

Honington infrastructure has gone as far as I recall. Most of this thread is pie in the sky anyway.

I do tend to agree

Indeed. Even calling it a rumour gives it more credibility than it warrents. My guess is that someone made it up, just for the fun of the reaction.

[Thunder]

Did the USAF even have 20-25 bases in Europe to start with?

[XWP29]

This thread doesn’t do anything for our credibility as a spotting community.

[luxto]

Did the USAF even have 20-25 bases in Europe to start with?

Yes, 30+. I can think of 17 active bases in the UK alone.

[Thunder]

The words “spotting” and “creditably”, don’t belong in the same sentence

@Luxto, you must be slot older than me then to remember that many

[Vulcanone]

Manston was confirmed as reopening last week..... It still has to become reality however

Polar helicopters still operate from there but only from an old dispersal off the peri track. There are GA events there now and again so there must be some useable runway. I really can't see Manston being viable long term, or at least the full runway being retained if it does come back to life. The advantage of good road and potential rail links to Europe via tha channel tunnel has gone now, its too far from London, where's the market?

Airfreight has been touted?