Veiwing Area

[POL]

There is no need to register your details with anyone to view aircraft in this country, it would be nice if it stayed that way.

[Mike]

pictures shows a viewing platform does anyone know the location?

have a great 2015

Details of the campsite and viewing area can be found here :- https://sites.google.com/site/thenookcampsite/Home

[gary1701]

Gents,

This article appears in todays local East Anglian Daily Times. At first I read it thinking somebody had a very active imagination, as it seemed to have little to do with reality. I'm a local to Mildenhall/Lakenheath and know by sight many of the others. Nobodies ever mentioned a scheme at Mildenhall, never seen a card or have been asked for one by the USAF/MoD police.

It does appear to have something to do with this article posted a couple of days ago. Note the 'viewing platform' is not the Nook campsite/'Johns Field' trailer by the fence as linked above.

http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/news/story ... =123435087

First question is where is it? Again, nobodies mentioned it and I haven't seen it, despite being over many times since the date of the photo. I think many locals would understandably have reservations about signing up to such a scheme. If you are committing yourself to moving on when requested by the USAF Police in addition to the MoD Police then I think you'd want some reassurance that they are being trained to be consistent and understand the UK's view to photography at military airfields. As most of us know from experience, you can be at somewhere like Folly Rd one day without any problems, and then the next the USAF Police will turn up demanding that you move. This suggests it's down to the personal attitude of the individual rather than official policy at the base. Potentially you could have the situation where you might have a dozen or so guys waiting for a particular aircraft and the USAF Police turn up demanding that you move, anybody signed up to such a scheme is pretty much obligated to leave yet the others would probably tell the USAF (as frequently happens now) to get lost! I don't see the incentive here unless this elusive viewing platform is for registration use only (would it be enforced?) and is in a good position that cannot be reached at the moment.

I'm not against a registration scheme and the advantages to the base security force are immense, as it could provide a quick check of credentials but it should not be combined with a requirement to leave if demanded to do so by the USAF, given previous experience. Having a security phone number on a card is pretty much a no-brainer as well.

I just hope this doesn't mean that there's about to be pressure brought upon the Nook campsite to close or remove their platform in favour of an 'official' area.

Gary

[podge]

It looks like the platform at the willows campsite at the end of runway 11

[BOLLO]

And I belive you can not just go on and use the platform,you have to be camping on that site so really there is only Johns field that anyone can go on

[rh226]

I don't think that there is anything to be alarmed about. That USAF article seems to be more for educating the new personnel on base than for anything else.

The article is at great pains to point out very early on (4th paragraph) how the UK law stands in regards to the taking of photos. In other words, it says that we have every right to do so (provided that we are not trespassing) and it implies that the US personnel cannot do anything about it, if we are where we should be (legally).

The scheme that the article's author speaks of is, without doubt, the "Spotterwatch" scheme covering both Mildenhall and Lakenheath (see http://banterops.blogspot.co.uk/p/raf-m ... watch.html for more info). The PC Paul Glover mentioned in the article is the contact point for registration in this scheme - which the local Suffolk Constabulary boys often promote if they stop and speak to you. He is stationed on base at Mildenhall and the fact that he comes from Selby is irrelevant to the article.

As far as that viewing platform is concerned, please note that the caption reads "A platform used by tail spotters......". Therefore it is only showing an example of what the spotting community uses to obtain photos.

[blakey]

As far as that viewing platform is concerned, please note that the caption reads "A platform used by tail spotters......". Therefore it is only showing an example of what the spotting community uses to obtain photos.

Unless you click the top right link to the other 2 images which are of 'Johns' trailer

[rh226]

Yes, but those two photos are there for very different reasons - not to explicitly provide examples of viewing/photography platforms.

No. 2 is basically showing a fence outlined against the (fairly) newly risen sun - the trailer is not exactly prominent in the photo, whereas the fence is. This relates to the caption against that photo stressing that a fence is there for assisting security.

No.3. Well....you would have to be aware of the access to the flat bed of John's trailer to know where that picture was taken. The photo is there to emphasise that one or more "No entry to base" signs are positioned where spotters pursue their hobby. Without going outside the base fence, US personnel cannot see what is on Joe Public's side of those signs - unless there is one by a right-angle bend in the fence line. And John's Field provides an (possibly the only) example where the photographer inside the base could readily get a relatively "clear" photo for the article.

OK, those two photos do show a specific corner of John's Field. However, the points they are making is that (a) the fence marks the boundary of a (to us) prohibited area in UK law and (b) that there are signs warning us of this.

[deerhunter]

Arn`t they talking about the SpotterWatch Scheme, I gave my details to MOD Police ages ago, and was given an ID card with security phone numbers on it.

Its not mandatory, just voluntary, the MOD USAF personnel have realised there is a free extra bit of help for the security of the base. Also some spotter watch members have been given invites on special tours of the base

Sorry just re read earlier posts and realised someone has already mentioned the Spotter Watch Scheme, also I think that someone said that PC Glover has moved, whether its true or not I don't know.

Happy New Year all

[flat cap]

There is no need to register your details with anyone to view aircraft in this country, it would be nice if it stayed that way.

Well said

[deerhunter]

There is no need to register your details with anyone to view aircraft in this country, it would be nice if it stayed that way.

Being part of spotter watch is good, MOD police know us, we know them, we also are extra eyes and ears. I was involved in a situation last year, wont say where or when but was thanked by the base in question.

Also been invited on base tours as a thank you for participation....got to see the CV22 when they first arrived for example

I agree registration should not be mandatory but as said I`ve no qualms about my details being known to MOD,RAF,USAF

Happy New Year all

[Pune]

How do you go about registering, seems sensible to me, I did read about it ages ago but it seemed to go quiet....info' appreciated.
Cheers
Pune

[Andy_99]

Agree, I'd be more than happy to register as part of a scheme if it makes things a bit easier for all.

With all of the current tensions in the world (& at home) I can see the various security agencies getting a bit jumpy.

[redeye11]

Hi Chaps
I applied to join the M'hall/'Heath Spotter Watch at least 2 months ago - and had in fact forgotten about it until a couple of weeks ago
when I received my 'card' plus of course accompanying letter giving some info plus a portion which you have to sign and return.
The address on the letter and to which I applied is '' Ministry of Defence Police, Building 613, RAF Mildenhall, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 8NW.
Scheme still appears to be run by PC4527 Paul Glover.

[welshandy]

Hi All
I did try to download the form and error 404 came up, I will try to contact the base after the holiday to see if they are still available. seems a good idea we should look after the wider community.

I've just tried it and I get error 404 aswell

[GhostFlight91]

Hi All
I did try to download the form and error 404 came up, I will try to contact the base after the holiday to see if they are still available. seems a good idea we should look after the wider community.

I've just tried it and I get error 404 aswell

Same here

[TeeJay]

Spotter watch at Mildenhall and Lakenheath seems a bit haphazard.
Myself and a mate joined at same time, he received a membership card, I never did. But when they arrange a base visit I get emailed invites, but my mate doesn't. When I emailed PC Glover that runs the scheme, I never got any replies.
It's a good idea to run a scheme like this but it does seem very half heartedly orginised.
Here's hoping they try run the scheme better in the future.
Trev

[Victorvaliantvulcan]

I have been in Spotter Watch for 14 months and have never had an email invite for a base visit. I do have a membership card.

Saw this article in the Mildenhall (Bury St Edmunds) Mercury yesterday - anyone know where the purpose-built viewing platform referred to in the article is? Do they mean at John's field? No mention of base tours.

http://www.burymercury.co.uk/news/suffo ... _1_3897965

[rh226]

Just a paraphrase of the "mildenhall.af.mil" article and "dashed off" to keep up with any other publications. The journalist has no idea and, I suspect, has not even moved out of their chair to even visit the base.

See earlier posts in this thread for the location of this so-called "purpose built" platform - which the USAF article does not mention as such.