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Report - - RAF Upwood, Cambs August 2019 | Military Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - RAF Upwood, Cambs August 2019

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mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Ahhh RAF Upwood, the perenially trashed, empty, easy explore. It had been four years since my first and up to this point only visit, back when the tanks were still there as well as the ladder in the water tower, and I decided it was time for a revisit with a couple of noobies and a friend who hadn't been before.

This time I managed to get around pretty much everything although I baulked at the way up the tower, having been up there once before when it was easy I decided it wasn't necessary for me to go up again. Houses are now being constructed on the site of the old medical centre, so I'm not really sure how much longer the rest of the place has left sadly.

RAF Upwood originated in September 1917 when the War Department requisitioned Hill Farm, then owned by Lord de Ramsey, for use as an Emergency Landing Ground. The airfield was later used as a Home Defence 1st Class Night Landing Ground for BE2 aircraft of 7 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. By the summer of 1918 permanent huts and five large hangars had been constructed and the site renamed Upwood Airfield, under 6th Brigade, Midland Area of the 47th Home Defence Wing of the newly formed Royal Air Force. When World War I ended the airfield reverted to agricultural use with the buildings being salvaged by local farmers.

The Royal Air Force returned to Upwood Airfield in January 1937 when Squadrons 52 and 63, equipped with Hawker Hind and Audax bi-planes, were located there. Squadrons 90 and 53, equipped with Bristol Blenheims, replaced 52 and 63 Squadrons by February 1940 - their main mission to train RAF personnel for bombing missions. These two units later merged to form 17 Operational training Unit (OTU).

By April 1943 the airfield came under No. 8 PFF (Pathfinders) Group but as the grass runways were frequently waterlogged, upgrading work was required.

Three new concrete runways were constructed by October 1943, allowing the first of the Pathfinder Squadrons, No. 139 (Jamaica), to use the airfield the following January. From this time forward, Upwood Airfield was home to 139 Squadron equipped with Mosquitoes as well as 156 Squadron with Lancaster bombers.

At the end of the Second World War, 156 Squadron was relocated at Wyton whilst 139 Squadron remained at Upwood until February 1946. After this it was used as a training centre for some time and was later leased to the USAF. It was vacated in 1994 when US troops returned home after the Cold War, although the USAF retained a modern medical centre on site until 2013, which was then demolished in 2015.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning to wander around, and I'm amazed we didn't see or hear anyone else the whole time we were there. I managed to totally forget about the large Upwood House just down the road from it despite mentioning it on the way in as well, bummer.

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Thanks for looking :)
 

Bugsuperstar

Irresponsible & Reckless
Regular User
I really liked this place mate. The tanks were a nice touch back in the day. Do you know why they were removed? Great pics man.
 

Bugsuperstar

Irresponsible & Reckless
Regular User
I'm guessing they were removed when the site was sold for housing, probably the only valuable metal left in the whole place that was scrappable!

Yeah man that’s true! It was SO hot when we visited. Could hardly breathe inside those tanks.
 

The Witness

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
good pictures buddy! , i keep reading of underground tunnel beneath this place but after a few visits now i have never been able to find anything! anyone else found a way in?
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
There are a few tunnels that lead from the basements of some buildings to hatches in the ground a short distance away but as far as I know there are no underground tunnel networks here.
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Nice mooch there, shame the tanks were gone, but good re visit all the same :thumb
 

Bigrobbyault

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I've seen that there was a underground bunker (tunnels) there but they have been blocked up I see on a old video from the 80s there was bomb shelters dotted around also
 

The Witness

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Yeah I heard there was an entrance in the guard house but I couldn't see anything! Like you said more than likely blocked off now.... I wish I could find the blueprints
 

The_Mole

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Yeah I looked in what I think was the guard house (the one with RAF UPWOOD on) I did see in the building opposite a doorway blocked up
Thats interesting to hear. I may have to take a look at that. Although I cant think why there would be a Basement in that building!
I did find, on a seperate airbase, a tunnel hatch leading to a basement beneath the Airmens Mess. I never got to go in as when I went back, it was under development! Been kicking myself ever since. Will have to have a scout around the mess before its all gone.
 

Bigrobbyault

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Thats interesting to hear. I may have to take a look at that. Although I cant think why there would be a Basement in that building!
I did find, on a seperate airbase, a tunnel hatch leading to a basement beneath the Airmens Mess. I never got to go in as when I went back, it was under development! Been kicking myself ever since. Will have to have a scout around the mess before its all gone.
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The Witness

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Thats pretty bloody intriguing! someone must know more about this!! ........ completely going against what i stand for and would normally say but someone needs to take a hammer to that!.... even just removing a brick to have a look! the buildings beyond fucked already and will only get demolished soon for housing.... i suppose its our job to document this sort of thing!....?
 

Simon Cornwell

28DL Member
28DL Member
I've heard there are four bomb shelters at Upwood but have only found two.

They're in the 'H' barrack blocks on the eastern side of the parade ground (behind two smaller blocks and next to the former medical center site).

The entrances are in the central corridor. Unfortunately both are flooded and blocked up with rubbish. I suspect they have emergency exits beyond the barrack blocks which are the 'tunnels and hatches' a previous poster mentioned.

All the best,
Simon
 

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