Like several others, I was an Air Force brat at Sculthorpe from 1954-1956. When we first arrived on base there were still anti-aircraft guns and crews in sandbagged revetments. My school was in a series of Quonset huts heated with kerosene pot-bellied stoves and with playground swings built around concrete bomb shelters. Since there were no fire hydrants, there were swimming pool like tanks filled with water scattered all over the base. And finally, what caught my eye and made me look at the video was the color photograph of the four man crew lined up by their B-45. I have the original photo framed on my wall because is it of my dad and his crew.

I was born at the U.S.A.F. Hospital there in 1953. My Dad was attached to the RAF, and was part of the relief effort in the flood of "53", Enjoyed your presentation.

Thanks so much for sharing this. I was on the base in the 50's as a child of USAF and two of my brothers were born on RAF Sculthorpe. Being born and reared in the USAF, I am extremely proud of our pilots and support staff. But I also learned a deep admiration and respect for the Royal Air Force. I have seen pictures of Sculthorpe today as a field of cattle grazing. I hope that the incredible valor of the RAF will never be forgotten and that we will always remember that "never was so much owed by so many to so few"!

@edwardjackson5039

7 жыл бұрын

The airstrip area remains in military hands, officially as an army helicopter training area, and there are exercises about twice a year. Demolition work on the hangars began in March 2009. The airfield is currently (2015) being used by the USAF 352nd SOG based at RAF Mildenhall as an area to perform low flying, airdrops, and rescue and recovery mission training. These exercises are conducted by C-130 Hercules and CV-22 Ospreys most evenings while fast jets from Lakenheath and Marham appear daily. The only buildings that remain are the control tower, the fire station buildings (next to the control tower) and a small half moon concrete shelter (now used by a farmer for machinery and equipment storage. There are up to 2,000 cows on the grassy areas).

Thanks for the comments,I thought that people with a RAF Sculthorpe connection would enjoy this so I decided to share it via KZread! Glad you enjoyed it.

Nice to see the footage from the past. I was there TDY back in 1990. We had A-10's the mission was scrubbed they all left for the Desert Shield. I went back in 1998 and got access onto the base to look around. They had tore down a few of the dorms and the grass was overgrown. Of course the Housing had been turned over to the British.

Cool, I lived there from 1963 to 1965, I was a young child ,the base was left to the kids to explore all the left over buildings including the bomb storage area at the end of the runway. I've revisited it in 2002, to find the base reduced in physical and preceptional area. It was a vacation into the past from a childs view of reality. In addition a visited Hahn AB (GDR) where I lived as an adult to find it reduced to the same state.

Thank you for a great video. My father was part of the 47th (before I was born) as the Director of the Evasion/Escape School for crewmembers, and also a lead navigator and "security crew" aboard the Soviet Aeroflot TU-104 from 56-59 on their trips to New York. He also flew aboard the B45s and 66s. I hoped to see him in the video, but despite not seeing him, I know his spirit was there. Saluting all members of the 47th and 84th!!

This is fantastic. OK no B/RB66's - a pity, but nonetheless a great film. I've lived near the base for the last 9 years, and watched and listened to USAF elements of the 352nd SOG frequent the runway. Yes, they still land occasionally, either to pick up paras, or, until the 21st SOS left, the odd MH53M (or two) would drop in - usually quite late. This is very well done & Yes, U2's were there 4 a short stint, whilst Alconbury had a runway maintenance job. Read '50 Years Of Watching & Waiting'.

I served there from july 1o50 until february 1951.I was with the 97th bomb wing as a ground crew mechanic on a b50 bomber of the 340th bomb squadron.this was just after the outbreak of the korean war.many great memories.

I am Joe Mldz and I was stationed at sculthorpe from 1956 to 1958 as a member of the 47th Air Police Sq. I have a lots of memories. I recall the J,S and O restricted areas and Palm convention King Lynn Town. Oh my god the trafic control point in from of the exchange. Nevr forget my cool night on the flight line.

@davematthews675

4 жыл бұрын

hi Joe, do you remember a Don cox or Donald cox , im told he was air police 1956, Dave Matthews

As the CEO of the Welbeck Estate Group I acquired RAF Sculthorpe, except the airfield from the Ministry of Defence in the early 1990s. I am what is known as an RAF brat as my father was an RAF Aircrew Officer for 40 years. The commercial part of the site is now known as 'Tattersett Park' iwhich nclude all the barrack blocks, post exchange (PX), church, guardroom, gymnasium, community centres, and extensive storage and industrial units. These were sold by Welbeck Estate to a single purchaser in 1997 and in more recent years it was re sold to Roger Gawn, an architect from nearby Melton Constable Hall. We also acquired at RAF Sculthorpe the 300 single storey houses known as 'Tobacco houses'. They were known as that because in the 1950s the British Government erected them for the US Government for occupation by the USAF and bartered with them for payment with American Tobacco! They were all modernised by us and we renamed them 'Wicken Village' and were sold individually through the real estate agent William H Brown, Dereham. In regards to other US military facilities nearby, in 2006, we also acquired the entire RAF West Raynham facility including the entire tech and domestic site and married quarter housing, again excluding the airfield from the MOD and e owned them for a few years until they were also sold to Roger Gawn. In the UK from 1999 until 2010 Welbeck Estate Group also owned 570 houses known as the Lords Walk Earlsfield Estate at RAF Lakenheath let in their entirety to the USAF for occupation by personnel from RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell. Also, close by to Sculthorpe in 1999 we acquired the 157-military housing estate at RAF Watton many having been occupied by US personnel over the years

The music is by the USAF band,thought it was quite fitting. Glad you liked it.

Thanks for this. My Dad was stationed there from 51 or 52 until 54. He loaded the atomic bombs on those B45s.

I was there for tdy’s ‘77-‘78; considering it was tdy had a great time with A.F. and Army components

My dad was stationed at Sculthorpe as an engine mechanic on KB-29 tail number 906 in the mid 50's.I even found a picture of his plane online, during an open house there. Anyone here know or worked with Bob Peck? He passed away in 2009, but I'm still looking at his Air Force past and what he saw and where he was.

Just saw this... My friend Frank Bastidas & I made the last flight of a B-45 on June 14, 1972, when we delivered it to the SAC Museum at Offit Afb... a great bird, fun to fly, George Gordon

I was There from 1955-to 1958 .Boy what memories! Got in,Got out Goodby! Will n ever forget the nice people Kings lynn,Norwich.Great Yarmouth.I was young,single Almost got married.Think about my days.Bill Freeman,Ac2 .

@imogengodwin3660

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Bill! I wonder if you knew someone named Burton Hall Allen Jr. who may of served here too?

Great Video! My mother worked on Sculthorpe and my father was with the 84th BS from 55-58.

My brother Am1c Paul Kincaid was stationed here from 53-55. I am a retired Msgt retired USAF James (Gene) Kincaid

I was there 52-56 as a " typical AF Brat". My Dad was in the 47th Field Maint Sqd. M/SGT James Gardner

Cool video. It's a shame it was all shot before the B-66 arrived. My dad was left seat in a 66 from 1959-62 for the 84th Bombardment Squadron of the 47th.

hey ive just been to a car boot sale here in new zealand an in the box of of junk tha i had to buy for what i wanted is a cream and gold beer mug whith the emblem 47th motor vehicle sq. blue red yellow a wheel whith a bomb trough it 1955 so if this means any thing to any of you your welcome. prefer to give to some one who was at the base as to a collecter so if you missed out on your mug i have it on the bottom it says burnes w bounds royal moulton england regards lou god bless

@rafsculthorpeheritagecentr4866

5 жыл бұрын

If you still have the mug.... Would love to have it for our upcoming museum display.

No B-66's ? I was there with my family when they changerd over to the "new' Douglas B-66 Destoryer. My father was the comisary officer from 1957-1961. WOW! What a great show. Is this posted on the Sculthorpe web page? Thanks, thanks a bunch.

I'm sure I remember seeing U-2's taking off from Sculthorpe. Maybe late 80's/early 90's. Would this be the case?

@terifarley4770

6 жыл бұрын

No direct experiance with this, other than reading about U-2s still being flown from England in the 80s, wearing a dark and medium gray camo pattern, the U-2s had a tall spine as well, but they where U2s and not the much modified U2R or TR version.

47-039 was my uncle's plane (b-45). He was in the 47th bomber group recon as pilot in command. It was nice seeing 47-038. I think the photo around frame 4:33 may have been him.

I was here from Sept 1955 to Sept 1958 19th TAC RECON SQ.

Missing all you Yanks Paul a Brit had lots of fun in the Air Force with our TACEVALs

Thanks for your comment. Glad that people are enjoying it,feel free to share it with the Sculthorpe web page if you like.

@snetterton88 Any chance you have SB-29 pics or vid from 1952-1960

They are indeed B-45's,the USAF's first operational jet bomber.

This may be a silly question, but what are the Marches playing throughout this video?

I was stationed at Sculthrope 1955-1959

@JoseGarcia-bp6nm

7 жыл бұрын

Richard LaChance. my name is Joe Garcia I was in the 85th bomb sqd 1958-1961 .They used to call me Chico. I used to hang out in Norwich with Tom Supernant and Eugene Lowery (47th A&E ) had many friends at Sculthorpe. My Gmail is jmarcelinog638@gmail.com like to hear from anyone who was there at that time.

@JoseGarcia-bp6nm

7 жыл бұрын

I thought I was replying to your comments didn't mean to erase yours. JMG

Did B=45s bomb targets during the Korean war? I know that the B-26/(A-26) Invader dropped a lot of ordnance, as did the B-29s, and B-29s suffered losses.

Does anyone know about USAF Chick Sands base in Shefford Beds UK? It is one of the most un talked about and has had a lot of paranormal activity all around that area still very much hush hush going on anyone have any stories and expereinces get back to me

@rubysnana03 I was there for Flintlock 86 with the 7th SOS 64-0555

@gasmc130 ,sorry my friend I don't:(

From personal experience I know this base was not staffed by purely white Americans. It's a shame that the valuable part that Black Americans played is not recognised anywhere in the compilation .

@ianbrown9717

4 жыл бұрын

No, it wasn't....a lot of black Americans were with the motor pool or air police at Sculthorpe. Regards Ian RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre Curator