| One of the many former Suffolk airfields I shall be featuring in my collection as it boasts a Museum on site, RAF Bentwaters was a former WW2 bomber station located next to the parish of Rendlesham about 4miles North East of the town of Woodbridge, some 10miles North East of Ipswitch.
The base took its name from "Bentwaters Cottage", a former dwelling that had to be knocked down to make way for the airfield. It originally opened in 1944 as an RAF bomber station, but post war was used a fighter base. Then in 1951, was used by the USAF, who also occupied the nearby RAF Woodbridge, and the 2 stations became known as the "Twin Bases". During its later years, the station became well known for housing the A10 tank buster aircraft, but finally closed in 1993 following the end of the cold war. Today the site is now a private industrial estate. A museum, based in the former command centre, operates on site staffed by volunteers from Bentwaters aviation society. Please note that these pictures around site were taken as part of an organised visit with the museum. Public access is otherwise restricted to the museum itself and only on the weekends when its open. Please check the links on my front page to visit their website if you want to visit the museum. Don't just turn up on site and try and wander round, you will be booted off! |
Former tech site entrance, now the industrial estate entrance. 700x525 |
Former security lodge (now used by the estate security). 700x525 |
Was this the original WW2 guard room? 700x525 |
Welcome to RAF Bentwaters. 700x525 |
The control tower and ancillary buildings. 700x525 |
Control tower, front view. 700x525 |
Station memorial next to tower. 700x525 |
Close up of the memorial inscription. 700x525 |
Original USAF signage is still in place around the base. 700x525 |
Me on the upstairs balcony (thanks Noel) 700x470 |
View accross the airfield. 700x525 |
Mural on the stairs up to the observation tower. 700x525 |
Old panels still in place. 700x525 |
Noel enjoying the view. 700x525 |
Interesting painting on the ceiling. 700x525 |
This way to the museum. 700x525 |
Bentwaters Cold War Museum, located in the former command centre/ops block. 700x525 |
Museum entrance. 700x525 |
Guard room. 700x525 |
decontamination shower. Note open blast door. 525x700 |
This way please... 525x700 |
Welcome to the museum. 700x525 |
View down the main entrance corridor through the open blast doors. 700x525 |
Decontamination room. 525x700 |
