Barksdale dispersal pans upgraded for nuclear QRA

[Andy_99]

Don't forget Welford is close to Fairford & the vast majority of it is away from prying eye's.

I remember the Greenham Common women well, many a pleasant day spent taking out the guylines of their tent's/bashers with the full support of the Guards/Police on the fence.
Also remember the peace campaigners camped out on the footbridges near Welford on the M4 during the Bosnia conflict & maybe GW1/2

I for one wouldn't have any issue with Nuclear weapons being here again with the USAF, I wouldn't have issue with the RAF reintroducing some of the previous capability either.

These are slightly worrying times, Comrade Corbyn's idea that if we give up weapons everyone else will just doesn't make sense.

[Seahornet1]

Don't forget Welford is close to Fairford & the vast majority of it is away from prying eye's.

I remember the Greenham Common women well, many a pleasant day spent taking out the guylines of their tent's/bashers with the full support of the Guards/Police on the fence.
Also remember the peace campaigners camped out on the footbridges near Welford on the M4 during the Bosnia conflict & maybe GW1/2

I for one wouldn't have any issue with Nuclear weapons being here again with the USAF, I wouldn't have issue with the RAF reintroducing some of the previous capability either.

These are slightly worrying times, Comrade Corbyn's idea that if we give up weapons everyone else will just doesn't make sense.

Whelford is close to Fairford - it's the next village. Welford (of peace-camp fame) is about 40 miles away...

[JohnAAT]

During a deployment about 10 years ago to Fairford we were watching fron the crash gate on the south side of the airfield when an elderly lady pushed pass me and climbed up and over the gate, kicking me in the face with her wellies while she did it. She walked over to the nearest bomber and un-furled a large banner. The police arrived after 20 minutes or so and obviously we're embarrassed and unsure what to do. One of the policemen even held one end of the banner for her before she was gently escorted away to a vehicle!
John

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John, I suspect I remember the exact event you refer to in 2003 and it was a turning point in how airfield security was managed. After that point no one got ‘near enough’ to a Buff. Even the most hardcore of protestors realised the American SPs were prepared, ready and legally allowed to empty a magazine into anyone trying their luck.

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The lady with the flag was Lindis Percy. Initially she was just seen by the British Police as an irritant but her associates started breaking in carrying hammers, nails, hacksaws etc.

[Andy_99]

Don't forget Welford is close to Fairford & the vast majority of it is away from prying eye's.

I remember the Greenham Common women well, many a pleasant day spent taking out the guylines of their tent's/bashers with the full support of the Guards/Police on the fence.
Also remember the peace campaigners camped out on the footbridges near Welford on the M4 during the Bosnia conflict & maybe GW1/2

I for one wouldn't have any issue with Nuclear weapons being here again with the USAF, I wouldn't have issue with the RAF reintroducing some of the previous capability either.

These are slightly worrying times, Comrade Corbyn's idea that if we give up weapons everyone else will just doesn't make sense.

Whelford is close to Fairford - it's the next village. Welford (of peace-camp fame) is about 40 miles away...

I agree Whelford is close to Fairford, But RAF Welford the US Munitions facility is only 2 exits east along the M4 from Swindon (The dedicated one for the facility). IIRC it was/is one of the largest muntions facilities in Western Europe. From the M4 the only clue is the exit sign showing 'Works Unit Only' is in Red & White with black type (As per all Military signs).

Many Years ago I was lucky enough to have a joint scout camp with the US Scout troop that was jointly located at both Welford & Greenham Common.

As mentioned back in the days of the Bosnia & Gulf Wars when B1's & B52's operated from Fairford a lot of the munitions was taken from Welford to Fairford in large convoy's of trucks during the day prior to evening launches.

[JohnAAT]

My 10 years really were 14 years-how time flies. I have watched planes at Fairford since the days of Concord and living in Worcester only 1 hour away I could use my half day and I saw every one of the Concords fly. Even with military flying, I have never seen any enthusiast cause trouble or be a security risk. The demonstrators have not achieved their objectives but really tarred us with the same brush. Certainly the civilian police have become less tolerant of us at times probably when parking causes problems. I am not sure where to leave my car at the 27 end. I did have one problem with the RAF police when I was driving in to RIAT one year. They stopped my estate car just after we entered the airfield and asked if I would help them in keeping their dogs up to date with seeking explosives . I agreed ( stupid ) and we got out while they hid a small piece of Semtex in the boot. The dog was produced and was encouraged to search the boot. Fantastic result. It totally ignored the Semtex but tried to eat my sandwiches. It had to be dragged out of the boot. The police laughed and then said that if my car was searched again in the next three months it would test positive for explosives! Just explain they said!
John

[Andy_99]

My 10 years really were 14 years-how time flies. I have watched planes at Fairford since the days of Concord and living in Worcester only 1 hour away I could use my half day and I saw every one of the Concords fly. Even with military flying, I have never seen any enthusiast cause trouble or be a security risk. The demonstrators have not achieved their objectives but really tarred us with the same brush. Certainly the civilian police have become less tolerant of us at times probably when parking causes problems. I am not sure where to leave my car at the 27 end. I did have one problem with the RAF police when I was driving in to RIAT one year. They stopped my estate car just after we entered the airfield and asked if I would help them in keeping their dogs up to date with seeking explosives . I agreed ( stupid ) and we got out while they hid a small piece of Semtex in the boot. The dog was produced and was encouraged to search the boot. Fantastic result. It totally ignored the Semtex but tried to eat my sandwiches. It had to be dragged out of the boot. The police laughed and then said that if my car was searched again in the next three months it would test positive for explosives! Just explain they said!
John

Classic imagine that nowdays

Mum & Dad live in Newbury & Sis lives in Swindon so if it does reactiviate finding somewhere to stay for a trip shouldn't be an issue.

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Welford still supplies Fairford amongst other places with some types of munitions. During Iraqi Freedom, they were making very regular supply trips which the protestors started interfering with. At that point, the nuclear munitions convoy team was used which was equipped with more than colourful language and pointed sticks.

[Andy_99]

Welford still supplies Fairford amongst other places with some types of munitions. During Iraqi Freedom, they were making very regular supply trips which the protestors started interfering with. At that point, the nuclear munitions convoy team was used which was equipped with more than colourful language and pointed sticks.

Ah yes the Nuclear Convoys teams that transport the munitions from Aldermaston & Burghfield, you don't wanna upset them.

[Sparts99]

"I agree Whelford is close to Fairford, But RAF Welford the US Munitions facility is only 2 exits east along the M4 from Swindon (The dedicated one for the facility). IIRC it was/is one of the largest muntions facilities in Western Europe. From the M4 the only clue is the exit sign showing 'Works Unit Only' is in Red & White with black type (As per all Military signs). "

So many times I driven past that and wondered what it was, thanks.

[davekench]

"I agree Whelford is close to Fairford, But RAF Welford the US Munitions facility is only 2 exits east along the M4 from Swindon (The dedicated one for the facility). IIRC it was/is one of the largest muntions facilities in Western Europe. From the M4 the only clue is the exit sign showing 'Works Unit Only' is in Red & White with black type (As per all Military signs). "

So many times I driven past that and wondered what it was, thanks.

Have a look on Google Earth and you will realise how big the site is!

Dave

[Andy_99]

"I agree Whelford is close to Fairford, But RAF Welford the US Munitions facility is only 2 exits east along the M4 from Swindon (The dedicated one for the facility). IIRC it was/is one of the largest muntions facilities in Western Europe. From the M4 the only clue is the exit sign showing 'Works Unit Only' is in Red & White with black type (As per all Military signs). "

So many times I driven past that and wondered what it was, thanks.

Have a look on Google Earth and you will realise how big the site is!

Dave

I remember back in the day's before Google Earth etc.. when it was just a white space with just contour lines on the OS map.

[TS010]

I guess it's only me being a boring old f..t, but I wish people would spell Britain's finest airliner with an 'e' on the end. It's CONCORDE, and always has been!!!. Heaven knows everybody must have seen it in print!!.

It was spelt Concord until the French had a hissy fit and insisted it had an e added to the end of it. The French flew theirs first and the name Concorde stuck.

[Seahornet1]

I guess it's only me being a boring old f..t, but I wish people would spell Britain's finest airliner with an 'e' on the end. It's CONCORDE, and always has been!!!. Heaven knows everybody must have seen it in print!!.

It was spelt Concord until the French had a hissy fit and insisted it had an e added to the end of it. The French flew theirs first and the name Concorde stuck.

Ah, not quite. The 'e' was originally agreed by both sides in the very early development days, as the French had proposed the name in the first place. But then PM Macmillan (yes, that long ago!) removed it unilaterally after some kind of diplomatic spat with DeGaulle, and the aircraft went through most of the sixties with different spellings either side of the channel. So actually, it was the UK that had the hissy fit...!

Eventually, we went back to the original name (still before anything had flown), with some face-saving guff about the 'e' standing for 'excellence' (or something similar).

[Seahornet1]

Absolutely right, SH. and standing for Entente Cordiale.

Thanks Jem, I knew it was something like that. (Maybe we should have told the French that it was spelt Entent Cordial, on this side of the channel...! )

[JohnAAT]

I apologise profusely for my spelling of Concord(e) and the heated discussion I provoked. I am just proud of our part in the creation of that superb plane. Will my new spelling be acceptable to the Francophiles .
John