RAF Daws Hill, High Wycombe - November 2014

[The_Raw]

History

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American military forces were first stationed at High Wycombe in 1942, shortly after the United States' formal entrance into the Second World War. So urgent was the action that Wycombe Abbey School, situated on the land that would become the station, was given three weeks to find new facilities; failure in this effort led to the school's closing, until the independent girl's school was returned by the US in 1945.

In 1952, the station, formerly known as Daws Hill House, welcomed US forces again. The following years of the Cold War saw fluctuation in the station's importance.

Approximately 800 personnel were stationed there when, in 1969, their numbers were reduced, so that, in the early 1970s, only a small group remained for upkeep of facilities.

Then, in 1975, activity escalated, revitalising the station's importance to the American military in Europe. Its nuclear bunker, with 23,000 square feet (2,100 square meters) of space, housed high-tech equipment for the direction of nuclear bombers and guided missiles.

Between 1982 and 1985 there was a peace camp outside the base protesting against the bringing of United States cruise missiles to the United Kingdom.

Use of the station was reduced with the end of the Cold War; by 1992, US Defense personnel at RAF Daws Hill numbered fewer than 350.

In 2002, the UK Ministry of Defence proposed to close RAF Daws Hill some years in the future, turning the 50 acres (20 ha) of land over to other public and private use and relocating American Naval personnel and activities to other locations near London, particularly RAF Uxbridge. The plan apparently fizzled, however, when the US Navy voiced its preference to remain. High Wycombe, desiring to build at least 400 new houses by 2011 for its growing population, considered the land ideal for up to 600 houses; but nearby residents also rejected the proposal because of the changes that it would entail, including increased traffic on relatively quiet roads.

The station was home, between 1971 and 2007, to the London Central Elementary High School, part of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, with pupils in grades K–12. Also at Daws Hill are 70 housing units for American personnel and their families. Other facilities include warehouses and those for vehicle maintenance, as well as support buildings for persons who lived and worked at the station, such as a bank, a post office, a bowling alley, sports grounds and buildings, a small exchange, an automobile refuelling station, and a social club. The Police Firearms Officers Association have used the premises for training since it's closure, it is now awaiting development.

The Explore

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I visited with a friend from High Wycombe, we'd both been here years ago when it was operational because of friends who worked there so it was interesting to make a return. It's a pretty large site so it felt like a ghost town, large accomodation blocks and rows of empty houses everywhere and all the basic facilities you would find in any small town; a petrol station, school, post office and sports centre. Practically all the buildings have been emptied out but the school and the gymnasium still had a few details reminding you of their fomer use. Our main target was the nuclear bunker which has achieved listed status in recent years, unfortunately it was sealed as we expected but it was worth a look and still pretty cool to see that end of the site. Sorry about the tons of photos but there was a lot of stuff to look round and I'd say we only saw about half the site properly. Well worth a visit if you're in the area, we didn't see a single soul on our trip so it was chilled as you like. This was a bit of a last minute trip so cheers to Wevsky for some last minute info!

Main school building

Corridor with American style lockers

Science lab

Gas taps

Apron hangers

Reproduction room???

More lockers

Patriotic sticker on a door

Another lab

Old phonecard phone box

Canteen

Some strange notices on a window referring to the Police Fire Arms Association

Street with dormitories on either side, accessible but completely cleared out

The Gymnasium, basketball court

School emblem

Basketball practise room

Firing target

Heading for the bunker

One of the nuclear bunker entrances, unfortunately now sealed but here's what it looked like inside when Wevsky visited a couple of years back...... http://www.oblivionstate.com/forum/showthread.php/4218-RAF-Daws-Hill-Nuclear-Bunker-High-Wycombe-10-2012?highlight=daws+hill

Lift down to the bunker

The blast door of the other bunker entrance, also sealed and padlocked

A couple of abandoned vehicles

Petrol Station

American street names

Abandoned houses

Wanted to climb this but ran out of time, it must be the highest point in all of High Wycombe given that the base is situated at the top of the highest hill in the town, one for next time.....

Thanks for looking

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[Nelly]

Loving that. Very well done!!

 

[Andy]

Very interesting place!

 

[shaddam]

cracking stuff man

 

[skeleton key]

Good to see and well covered.

Shame about the bunkers and the ventilation needs to be exploited

Cool share mate

 

[cunningplan]

Great location and great shots, like it thanks

 

[The_Raw]

Thanks ladies and SK....that may well be a good idea

 

[klempner69]

Very very good Mr Raw.

 

[sentinel]

Top job mate..great photos

 

[The_Raw]

Cheers fellas, need to get back and climb that mast!

 

[skeleton key]

Is that a code name for bolt cutters lol

 

[The_Raw]

Is that a code name for bolt cutters lol

i don't know what you mean :errr:

 

[Lara]

Thats bloody lovely