RAF Thurleigh Air Traffic Control Tower
The Explore
After a double visit to the RAE Bedford Windtunnel testing site, we decided to take a look at the ATC tower which was basically situated on the same site but on the other side of the massive multi-runway airfield. A long walk past some smelly sheep and a few dives into the bushes thanks to some farmer spreading equally smelly shit around the neighbouring field, eventually we were at the tower. On first inspection the place looked like it had been recently “sealed†with nice fresh looking boards all around but with a bit of head/ball scratching and a leap of faith from The Lone Shadow, myself and Session9 were in
Didn’t bother with zillion cars parked on the runways as there were transporters and humans in hi-viz kicking around most of the time..
The History
Thurleigh was built for RAF Bomber Command in 1940 by W & C French Ltd. Its first use was by NO.160 SQN RAF, forming on 16 January 1942. Thurleigh was one of 28 fields listed for use by the U.S. Eighth Air Force on 4 June 1942, tentatively designated station B-4, and was allocated on 10 August 1942. With the essential construction completed, the 306th Bombardment Group deployed to Thurleigh on 7 September 1942. The group flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, and remained at Thurleigh until 1 December 1945. That was the longest tenure of any U.S. air group at a UK base.
Starting in 1946, construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became known as the Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Bedford. The runway was extended in the post-war period to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon aircraft (which required a very long runway) that ultimately never went into production. One local road was dropped into a cutting so that it would not sit above the level of the runway. All this airfield activity justified a Control Tower of this size…
The Pictures
Taken in 1957 (not really, was a few weeks ago )
2/3. On the long walk to the tower we went past this rickety wooden construction with the bottom of the ladder entwined with thick thorny shit..
4. Also this collection of buildings which didn't look worth the effort accessing..
5/6. On to the ATC Tower itself..
7. Main Tower Control..
8.
9.
10.
11/12..
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19/20.
21. Central Stairwell
22/23. Lurking in the ladies..
24.
As always, thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated
The Explore
After a double visit to the RAE Bedford Windtunnel testing site, we decided to take a look at the ATC tower which was basically situated on the same site but on the other side of the massive multi-runway airfield. A long walk past some smelly sheep and a few dives into the bushes thanks to some farmer spreading equally smelly shit around the neighbouring field, eventually we were at the tower. On first inspection the place looked like it had been recently “sealed†with nice fresh looking boards all around but with a bit of head/ball scratching and a leap of faith from The Lone Shadow, myself and Session9 were in
Didn’t bother with zillion cars parked on the runways as there were transporters and humans in hi-viz kicking around most of the time..The History
Thurleigh was built for RAF Bomber Command in 1940 by W & C French Ltd. Its first use was by NO.160 SQN RAF, forming on 16 January 1942. Thurleigh was one of 28 fields listed for use by the U.S. Eighth Air Force on 4 June 1942, tentatively designated station B-4, and was allocated on 10 August 1942. With the essential construction completed, the 306th Bombardment Group deployed to Thurleigh on 7 September 1942. The group flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, and remained at Thurleigh until 1 December 1945. That was the longest tenure of any U.S. air group at a UK base.
Starting in 1946, construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became known as the Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Bedford. The runway was extended in the post-war period to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon aircraft (which required a very long runway) that ultimately never went into production. One local road was dropped into a cutting so that it would not sit above the level of the runway. All this airfield activity justified a Control Tower of this size…
The Pictures
Taken in 1957 (not really, was a few weeks ago
)
2/3. On the long walk to the tower we went past this rickety wooden construction with the bottom of the ladder entwined with thick thorny shit..
4. Also this collection of buildings which didn't look worth the effort accessing..
5/6. On to the ATC Tower itself..
7. Main Tower Control..
8.
9.
10.
11/12..
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19/20.
21. Central Stairwell
22/23. Lurking in the ladies..
24.
As always, thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated
