Autovon Exchange (RAF Martlesham Heath)
This was one of my first explores so the photos and video parts of the report aren't quite as good as they could be. Also since visiting, i found out that the site is owned by a charity that relies on donations to continue there restoration efforts. They have open days relatively often so if you really want to see inside i'd suggest going to one of those; especially as you wouldn't see a whole lot more by yourself. They aren't trying to turn it in to flats, rather resort it to its former glory. It would be great if people didn't break in forcing them to spend money on fence repairs.
History
Not everyone is interested in reading pages of history so I've put a summary at the top for those less interested. A full account is still included for those that enjoy a good novel.
Summary
In summary, the site was used from WW1 onwards for various military uses, however its most notable form was an Autovon Exchange. Autovon was essential a military version of the civilian phone network, used by the US and NATO, which allowed priority calling from low ranking officials right up to the US President. The Autovon System was activated during 1969 and was one of only twelve site around the world to every run it.
Full Account
Before i begin, while in use the site was always high security and so some information and history is pretty vague or just missing completely. This secrecy has produced some interesting myths such as an underground hospital and even a top secret submarine base with a water channel leading to the coast. Although stated that there is nothing there, the Freedom of Information request has seen no reply so i like to imagine...
As i mentioned before the site was built sometime between the first and second world war. The first use of the site was believed to be one of three timing huts sitting on the boundary of Martlesham Heath Airfield, these huts were used for aircraft speed tests. It is through that the site then turned to communication development during the 1930's however it unclear as there is no records relating to this time. As of August 1940 there was still only one building on the site, possibly the original timing hut. This information was discovered in 2009 when the Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group received a reconnaissance photograph showing a lone building with several bomb craters surrounding it.
In 1953 the US Air Force took control of the site, the first 26 years of residence haven't been documented. Autovon was activated during 1969 and saw the use of 550 telephone landlines. The Autovon system would remain vital to the US and NATO throughout the cold war until it was replaced by the upgraded Digital European Backbone System (DEB) in the late 1980's.
During the 1970s and 80s, the station was virtually self-sufficient and incorporated living quarters, dining facilities, a grocery store, a petrol station and a military social club. At its height, about 110 personnel worked at the station in various technical and support roles.
The upgraded DEB system was partially established at the station, as the last in a line of similar installations built across Europe. However, the ending of the Cold War and subsequent closure of the site meant that the new system was never brought on line at RAF Martlesham Heath. The DEB building itself, situated on the opposite end of the site to the Museum, was designed to be unmanned and built to withstand a nuclear blast, with 3ft thick walls and automatic flash shutters to protect the sophisticated internal equipment.
After the deactivation of the site in 1988, it finally closed in 1992 after 34 years of US operations.
References
The Autovon Exchange at Ipswich
(Site Information)
SBF Glossary: .at to A $60 value, and you also get...
(Autovon)
http://www.suffolkaviationheritage.org.uk/rochistory.htm
(Further Site Information)
Ipswich AUTOVON Telephone Exchange - a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence
(Freedom of information request)
The Explore
After parking in a rather conveniently placed car park and walking across the field i was met with the perimeter fence....6ft high and barbed wire topped. With nothing but a bit of grass to aid my climb over i decided teleporting would be the easier option. After getting past the first fence i was just met with another one equally as difficult, bollocks. A little more teleporting later and i managed to get to the buildings.
The majority of the interior was stripped out and nicely redecorated by the pigeons that had taken up residence. There were a few pieces of equipment left but most of the place was a fetid pile of mouldy pigeon poop. Safe to say the charity restoring the place had a lot of workand poo on their hands. After mooching around most of the buildings i went and investigated the three towers that previously housed the massive radio dishes.
The two smaller towers had their ladders removed but luckily the largest had a couple to choose from. One ladder going vertically up the middle without any breaks, then a second going up the side and a steep angle with breaks every 10 meters or so. As im incredibly lazy i decided to go with the one that had plenty of stopping points.
Getting to the top didn't take too long however the views were pretty disappointing from the top as the mist had dropped the visibility considerably. This probably helped however as the tower is hugely far way from Foxhall Road which is pretty busy during the day. Either way i had a decent view of the site from a bird's eye perspective. After a couple of videos i was satisfied and decided it was home time.
Photos
Thanks For Reading
Exxperious
This was one of my first explores so the photos and video parts of the report aren't quite as good as they could be. Also since visiting, i found out that the site is owned by a charity that relies on donations to continue there restoration efforts. They have open days relatively often so if you really want to see inside i'd suggest going to one of those; especially as you wouldn't see a whole lot more by yourself. They aren't trying to turn it in to flats, rather resort it to its former glory. It would be great if people didn't break in forcing them to spend money on fence repairs.
History
Not everyone is interested in reading pages of history so I've put a summary at the top for those less interested. A full account is still included for those that enjoy a good novel.
Summary
In summary, the site was used from WW1 onwards for various military uses, however its most notable form was an Autovon Exchange. Autovon was essential a military version of the civilian phone network, used by the US and NATO, which allowed priority calling from low ranking officials right up to the US President. The Autovon System was activated during 1969 and was one of only twelve site around the world to every run it.
Full Account
Before i begin, while in use the site was always high security and so some information and history is pretty vague or just missing completely. This secrecy has produced some interesting myths such as an underground hospital and even a top secret submarine base with a water channel leading to the coast. Although stated that there is nothing there, the Freedom of Information request has seen no reply so i like to imagine...
As i mentioned before the site was built sometime between the first and second world war. The first use of the site was believed to be one of three timing huts sitting on the boundary of Martlesham Heath Airfield, these huts were used for aircraft speed tests. It is through that the site then turned to communication development during the 1930's however it unclear as there is no records relating to this time. As of August 1940 there was still only one building on the site, possibly the original timing hut. This information was discovered in 2009 when the Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group received a reconnaissance photograph showing a lone building with several bomb craters surrounding it.
In 1953 the US Air Force took control of the site, the first 26 years of residence haven't been documented. Autovon was activated during 1969 and saw the use of 550 telephone landlines. The Autovon system would remain vital to the US and NATO throughout the cold war until it was replaced by the upgraded Digital European Backbone System (DEB) in the late 1980's.
During the 1970s and 80s, the station was virtually self-sufficient and incorporated living quarters, dining facilities, a grocery store, a petrol station and a military social club. At its height, about 110 personnel worked at the station in various technical and support roles.
The upgraded DEB system was partially established at the station, as the last in a line of similar installations built across Europe. However, the ending of the Cold War and subsequent closure of the site meant that the new system was never brought on line at RAF Martlesham Heath. The DEB building itself, situated on the opposite end of the site to the Museum, was designed to be unmanned and built to withstand a nuclear blast, with 3ft thick walls and automatic flash shutters to protect the sophisticated internal equipment.
After the deactivation of the site in 1988, it finally closed in 1992 after 34 years of US operations.
References
The Autovon Exchange at Ipswich
(Site Information)
SBF Glossary: .at to A $60 value, and you also get...
(Autovon)
http://www.suffolkaviationheritage.org.uk/rochistory.htm
(Further Site Information)
Ipswich AUTOVON Telephone Exchange - a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence
(Freedom of information request)
The Explore
After parking in a rather conveniently placed car park and walking across the field i was met with the perimeter fence....6ft high and barbed wire topped. With nothing but a bit of grass to aid my climb over i decided teleporting would be the easier option. After getting past the first fence i was just met with another one equally as difficult, bollocks. A little more teleporting later and i managed to get to the buildings.
The majority of the interior was stripped out and nicely redecorated by the pigeons that had taken up residence. There were a few pieces of equipment left but most of the place was a fetid pile of mouldy pigeon poop. Safe to say the charity restoring the place had a lot of work
The two smaller towers had their ladders removed but luckily the largest had a couple to choose from. One ladder going vertically up the middle without any breaks, then a second going up the side and a steep angle with breaks every 10 meters or so. As im incredibly lazy i decided to go with the one that had plenty of stopping points.
Getting to the top didn't take too long however the views were pretty disappointing from the top as the mist had dropped the visibility considerably. This probably helped however as the tower is hugely far way from Foxhall Road which is pretty busy during the day. Either way i had a decent view of the site from a bird's eye perspective. After a couple of videos i was satisfied and decided it was home time.
Photos
Thanks For Reading
Exxperious
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