Old US/RAF Thor IRBM sites in Great Britain
Tim Tyler
sites in Great Britain.
I have my reference source in front of me now, & here's where they
were:
77th RAF SMS -- Feltwell
97th RAF SMS -- Hemswell
98th RAF SMS -- Driffield
144th RAF SMS North Luffenham
SMS - Strategic Missile Squadron. Headquarters for the squadrons was
the 705th Strategic Missile Wing was activated in 1958 at RAF
Lakenheath, but soon moved to South Ruislip, where it merged with SAC's
7th air Division.
My referecne source mentions that Thor IRBMs were stored horizontally
on "tactical, field-deployed launchers." However, a photo of a Thor at
the 97th SMS field site at "RAF Station Caister" shows a rather
permanent setup consisting of a large concrete pad area and some pits.
Each Thor squadron had 15 missiles, which (at this point, I'm making
educated guesses) probably would have been dispersed in 3 or 5 distinct
sites around the squadron's main base, thus giving each operating
location 5 or 3 Thors.
The first squadron (77th, Feltwell) became operational on 22 June
1959, and all Thor IRBMs were phased out by 15 August 1963. Reasons for
deactivation included the facts that the Thor systems weren't hardened,
and would take a relatively long time to arm and launch.
Thor sites were operated by the RAF, however the USAF Strategic Air
Command retained custody of the nuclear warheads, operated the
communications networks which would receive launch orders for the Thors,
and provided trainin to the RAF units.
Reference source: 'From Snark to Peacekeeper -- A Pictoral History of
Strategic Air Command Missiles' 1 May 1990, Office of the Historian, HQ
Strategic Air Command.
Also, the September '98 issue of the Association of Air Force
Missileers (http://www.thebook.com/missileers) contains a brief article
by someone who had been a USAF officer assigned to the RAF Hemswell ("12
miles North of Lincoln, in Lincolnshire England") site in 1962. He
mentions that after the Thor mission was terminated, the base was used
as a training facility for Middle Eastern nationals (whatever that
means!), & that part of the old base is still used as a housing annex
for RAF Scampton.
He reports the former RAF Officers Mess is now flats & a bed &
breakfast, but that the old hangar that was the 97th SMS Command Post &
other related buildings are still there. The field that had the actual
Thor launch sites is overgrown with canola oil plants.
I'd love to hear from others who have visited the old Thor sites.
I'm not sure how topical the matter is to this newsgroup, since
apparently very little of the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile
launch/control sites were below ground.
--
Tim Tyler
tty...@mich.com
http://www.mich.com/~ttyler/
Tex Bennett
Hi Tim,
Thor - one of my favourite subjects, if only for its brief
appearance and swift disposal. Funnily enough, there was an Anglia TV
docco on Sunday evening, about the Cold War in East Anglia during the
60's (like a fool I forgot to record it) but it showed some archive
film of Thor sites (North Pickenham and Feltwell I think)
> My referecne source mentions that Thor IRBMs were stored horizontally
>on "tactical, field-deployed launchers." However, a photo of a Thor at
>the 97th SMS field site at "RAF Station Caister" shows a rather
>permanent setup consisting of a large concrete pad area and some pits.
The missiles were stored under a concrete hanger, which was moved back
on rails to let the launcher be erected. The sites were semi permanent
- concrete pads with blast walls, fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) tanks
and the hanger (which usually covered the missile). The launch control
was in a caravan. There were a few wooden prefab huts used for admin
and the RAFP. The missiles were on a trailer affair, which was used as
part of the launcher after it was moved into the vertical position.
Once fueled and erected they could only remain upright for about 2
hours as the LOX froze certain components
> Each Thor squadron had 15 missiles, which (at this point, I'm making
>educated guesses) probably would have been dispersed in 3 or 5 distinct
>sites around the squadron's main base, thus giving each operating
>location 5 or 3 Thors.
There were 60 missiles deployed in Eastern England by March 1960
organizationally divided between Nos 1 and 3 Groups RAF Bomber
Command.
There were 4 Thor Complexes centred on Feltwell (Norfolk), North
Luffenham (Rutland), Hemswell (Lincs) and Driffield (Yorks). Each of
these main bases controlled four satellite sites each on a disused WW2
airfield - so in the end there were 20 bases with 3 pads on each. They
were dispersed because of the 15 minutes needed to fuel, erect, align
and fire the missiles.
> The first squadron (77th, Feltwell) became operational on 22 June
>1959, and all Thor IRBMs were phased out by 15 August 1963. Reasons for
>deactivation included the facts that the Thor systems weren't hardened,
>and would take a relatively long time to arm and launch.
It was also a very dangerous weapon politically in the advent of an
international crisis. Remember the two hour limit I mentioned above?
After the limit was reached the missile had to be "recycled" ie,
lowered, purged, thawed out, refueled, and re-errected. This took 6
hours, and so only a limited number of the force could be held ready
at one time, to prevent the entire force being out of action during
their recycle time. If *all* of the force were erected, it was a clear
signal to the Russians that they were going to be used within the next
two hours, so in the event of a political crisis could tip the
aggressors hand into attacking
> Thor sites were operated by the RAF, however the USAF Strategic Air
>Command retained custody of the nuclear warheads, operated the
>communications networks which would receive launch orders for the Thors,
>and provided trainin to the RAF units.
Apparently the RAF technicians found that they could bypass the duel
key system quite simply, by depressing a panel on the side of the
warhead!
> I'd love to hear from others who have visited the old Thor sites.
>I'm not sure how topical the matter is to this newsgroup, since
>apparently very little of the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile
>launch/control sites were below ground.
I've visited a few (North Pickenham, Feltwell and North Luffenham),
there's not much left except the launch pads, some pipe work and the
blast walls. The admin site at North Pickenham was used as some kind
of Christian Youth Centre when I visited it a few years back. The rest
of the site was a Bernard Matthews Turkey Farm!
There was talk of putting the rockets underground at one stage to
reduce their vulnerability, but was abandoned due to cost.
Sources:
"V Force" by Andrew Brookes ISBN 0 7106 0238 3
"Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier" Duncan Campbell ISBN 0 7181 2350 6
"RAF Nuclear Deterrent Forces" Humphrey Wynn (HMSO) ISBN 0 11 772778 4
"
--
Tex Bennett
*** spam spoiler -> please replace BeeTee with bt ****
David Bowie
Tim Tyler wrote:
>
>
> I'd love to hear from others who have visited the old Thor sites.
> I'm not sure how topical the matter is to this newsgroup, since
> apparently very little of the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile
> launch/control sites were below ground.
>
To both add personal, and quote written observations to your interesting
posting on the UK THOR programme :-
In =The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier= (ISBN 0-586-08626-9), Paladin 1986,
Duncan Campbell (are you there ?) says :-
<<The first Thor nuclear missile bases in Britain became operational in
1958. The maintenance of the missiles, other than the warheads, was the
responsibility of the RAF. The 60 missiles, assigned to 20 Strategic
Missile Squadrons, were divided into four wings of 15 missiles each.
Each Squadron had three missiles, and was stationed on a separate
airfield.
Each wing had one central base, and four more dispersed around this
headquarters, all on former wartime airfields. The missile bases were
spread across a wide area of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and parts of East
Anglia. The headquarters were at Driffield, Yorkshire; Hemswell,
Lincolnshire; North Luffenham, Leicestershire; and Feltwell, close to
Lakenheath in Suffolk. The latter four were working airfields, to which
a massive 1,000 flight airlift brought the missiles and other essential
components in 1958 and 1959. All 60 missiles were in service by May
1960.>>
Great Driffield Satellites :- Carnaby, Catfoss, Breighton, Full Sutton.
Hemswell Satellites :- Caistor, Ludford Magna, Bardney, Coleby Grange.
North Luffenham Satellites :- Folkingham, Polebrook, Harrington, Melton
Mowbray.
Feltwell Satellites :- North Pickenham, Sheperds Grove, Tuddenham,
Mepal.
RAF HQ's :- Bawtry, Mildenhall, High Wycombe (Bomber Command HQ).
USAH HQ :- High Wycombe (SAC 7th Air Division HQ).
I personally "visited" Hemswell in the summer of 1977, (perhaps '78).
The airfield was derelict at this time, the main runway being cluttered
with burnt-out vehicles. Grass areas overgrown. The old Flying Control
Tower (typical 2nd War RAF pattern) was also derelict. However, the
hangers were very well maintained. In fact, I was told by service
personnel that they housed part of the - then topical - EEC "Food
Mountain", butter, I believe. Certainly, there were numerous portable
pieces of equipment ranged around the hangers; they looked to be like
either portable skid mounted generator units, or, perhaps, compressors
associated with a refrigeration system. I do not recall seeing any
other service quarters, but then again, it was dark. The station was
still prominently locally sign posted as "RAF Hemswell".
Slightly different tack now : Again at this time, I also recall seeing
the grassed mounds of what was presumably the bomb dump at nearby RAF
Scampton. I don't have the appropriate Ordnance Survey Sheet handy, but
I think this was at the north east perimeter of the airfield, which was
then host to Vulcan Squadrons. Was this then a nuclear weapons store ?
Certainly, an armed guard was clearly visible atop the "igloos". Do such
structures extend significantly underground ? Or are they all above
surface within the earthen/concrete ramparts ?
Best Wishes,
David Bowie.
*****************************************************
David Bowie. david...@cableinet.co.uk
Burntisland, Scotland.
*****************************************************
Tex Bennett
<david...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote:
> Do such
>structures extend significantly underground ?
No
> Or are they all above
>surface within the earthen/concrete ramparts ?
Yes
--
Tex Bennett
Terence W. Wiseman
Ludford Magna airfield.
The blast walls are still standing. They are in the middle of a cornfield
now. The bungalow built for the Site Commander is now a private residence.
Regarding the bomb dump at RAF Scampton. Yes - this was a nuclear dump.
Strangely, the vehicles carrying the weapons had to cross a main road to get
onto the airfield. The dump appears now to be unused.
A similar dump can be seen at old RAF Faldingworth. I'm told this was the
largest nuclear weapon dump in the UK.
Terry Wiseman
Tex Bennett
<wis...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote:
>Regarding the bomb dump at RAF Scampton. Yes - this was a nuclear dump.
>Strangely, the vehicles carrying the weapons had to cross a main road to get
>onto the airfield. The dump appears now to be unused.
Wyton was the same. What has happened to Scampton now, Terry?
>A similar dump can be seen at old RAF Faldingworth. I'm told this was the
>largest nuclear weapon dump in the UK.
Built by my Father in Law! (After he built the one at Barnham, near
Thetford)
--
Tex Bennett
Simon Muir
<T...@BeeTeeinternet.com> writes
>The admin site at North Pickenham was used as some kind
>of Christian Youth Centre when I visited it a few years back. The rest
>of the site was a Bernard Matthews Turkey Farm!
Quite correct.
I stayed at the North Pickenham camp in the 1970s when it was owned by
Scripture Union - had a brilliant fortnight Karting under the auspices
of Crusaders (christian young peoples' clubs). We had some of the old
WWII dispersals and perimeter road for the Kart track, and were quite
close to two of the Thor pads, which I clambered all over at the time
(the chicken sheds were on the main runways). At that time the brick-
built WWII admin block/HQ was still there, about 1 mile away, but
abandoned & in disrepair. Our part was wooden huts - presumably from the
Thor days, including one large, heavily-built concrete 'garage'. Could
this have been the Thor hangar? It was roughly 500yds from the pads,
facing the back of the blast walls.
In 1974, you could still see all the painted signage on the concrete, of
the pads, including warnings about LOX and ubiquitous high voltage
notices. One odd thing I remember was the use of stainless steel
pipe/cable clips in the floor ducts. I was struck by this at the time as
it seemed OTT. Was there some particular reason for this choice of
material?
On one of the days we went shopping in Swaffham or Downham Market, I did
some research about the base in the local library. They had cuttings of
CND protests there, with pictures, so there should still be quite a few
people around with good memories of its active days. I did shoot a roll
of film at the time I was there, but naturally the Karting was much more
interesting!
--
Simon Muir
Tex Bennett
<sim...@muircom.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Quite correct.
>I stayed at the North Pickenham camp in the 1970s when it was owned by
>Scripture Union - had a brilliant fortnight Karting under the auspices
>of Crusaders (christian young peoples' clubs). We had some of the old
>WWII dispersals and perimeter road for the Kart track, and were quite
>close to two of the Thor pads, which I clambered all over at the time
>(the chicken sheds were on the main runways). At that time the brick-
>built WWII admin block/HQ was still there, about 1 mile away, but
>abandoned & in disrepair. Our part was wooden huts - presumably from the
>Thor days, including one large, heavily-built concrete 'garage'. Could
>this have been the Thor hangar? It was roughly 500yds from the pads,
>facing the back of the blast walls.
Hmmm - might be - The pictures I've seen show the hangarette/garage on
rails quite close to the pads. There were still a lot of huts extant
when I visited.
>In 1974, you could still see all the painted signage on the concrete, of
>the pads, including warnings about LOX and ubiquitous high voltage
>notices. One odd thing I remember was the use of stainless steel
>pipe/cable clips in the floor ducts. I was struck by this at the time as
>it seemed OTT. Was there some particular reason for this choice of
>material?
That struck me whe I visited in <thinks> 1992ish - there was still
stainless steel pipework sticking out of the concrete. Used because it
was fairly corrosion proof and wouldn't get too brittle in contact
with the very cold LOX.
Just nearby the site is the huge microwave tower at Great Massingham
-I wonder if the two were connected?
>On one of the days we went shopping in Swaffham or Downham Market, I did
>some research about the base in the local library. They had cuttings of
>CND protests there, with pictures, so there should still be quite a few
>people around with good memories of its active days. I did shoot a roll
>of film at the time I was there, but naturally the Karting was much more
>interesting!
There were *huge* demos there at the time - it turned quite nasty at
times with the building workers on the site (it was being built at the
time of the first demo) wading into the demonstrators.
It seemed so peaceful and evocative when I visited it on a late
autumnal afternoon....hard to believe there was a *huge* amount of
equivalent TNT yield their once
--
Tex Bennett
Richard McLachlan
<T...@btinternet.com> writes
of a Swiss explosives manufacturer.
I have not seen the nuclear facility at Scampton, but I did have a tour
of the US one at Upper Heyford when it was still operational. The
security level was truly impressive. To get your car in, you drove over
a ramp where the guard walked underneath the car to inspect it. The
whole place was bristling with guns with rounds up the spout, and the
entire compound was planted with vertical spiked poles to prevent
helicopter assault.
--
Richard McLachlan
C152/R22
G3OQT
Steve Fox
had all 3 pads intact with the entrance buildings (garage?) and
all the posts for the perimeter fencing. Iwas there about 3 years
ago.
One odd thing I saw there was a concrete post about 8 ft high
with a small cap on. There was also one at Mepal near Cambridge
which has most of its pads still. I'd love to know what it was.
Oddly, there is a Thor in the RAF Museum and Hendon next to the
Valiant and model Yellow Sun H-bomb
Steve
--
Terence W. Wiseman
Tex Bennett wrote in message <3613338f...@news.btinternet.com>...
>On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 13:49:42 +0100, "Terence W. Wiseman"
><wis...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>>Regarding the bomb dump at RAF Scampton. Yes - this was a nuclear dump.
>>Strangely, the vehicles carrying the weapons had to cross a main road to
get
>>onto the airfield. The dump appears now to be unused.
>
>Wyton was the same. What has happened to Scampton now, Terry?
Major Correction!!!!! The nuclear weapon dump was at RAF WADDINGTON - home
to the Vulcans. (Scampton and Waddington are very close!) You can get
quite close to the bunkers (to photograph them ?) The area around them
appears to now be just an MT area. The base is still in use as a home for
the AWACS.
Scampton is strange !!! It is technically closed, but they are doing a lot
of building work there !
The Red Arrows use the airspace above it to practise their skills and
presumably use it as an Emergency Landing Ground. The Red Arrows base is
now at Cranwell since Scampton closed.
>>A similar dump can be seen at old RAF Faldingworth. I'm told this was
the
>>largest nuclear weapon dump in the UK.
>
>Built by my Father in Law! (After he built the one at Barnham, near
>Thetford)
You can get a good view of the bunkers at Faldingworth if you walk across
the fields, but as they store (or did) ammunition in them, security is very
very tight so don't approach the fence!
Two of the old wooden watchtowers were bought (obtained) by a local farmer
and he uses them for grouse shooting, but one watchtower in the middle of
the dump complex remains.
A while back, i parked by the fence and went for a walk across the fields to
look at the dump - our local police officer received an enquiry about me,
presumably from my car registration number !
Martin Briscoe
anyone know anything about the store that was at RAF Machrihanish? I
was told once that it was based on part of the old coal mines there
but never seen that confirmed.
Martin
Neil
Martin Briscoe wrote:
ssssshhhhh ... you'll have the conspiracy theorists out now !
Never mention Machrihanish .. oh bollocks ... you made me do it now.
IIRC, there was a store for nuc depth charges or something there maybe,
always been lots of rumours of cruise missiles being delivered there then
trucked away to other places and stuff like that. Used to see very
strange convoys of vehicles heading "south" on the only road out (my
family home nearby).
dunno about the coal mines though.
Long runway, middle of nowhere = rumours of stealthy goings on in some
peoples minds.
Neil.
Tex Bennett
wrote:
>ssssshhhhh ... you'll have the conspiracy theorists out now !
>Never mention Machrihanish .. oh bollocks ... you made me do it now.
Too late!
>IIRC, there was a store for nuc depth charges or something there maybe,
>always been lots of rumours of cruise missiles being delivered there then
>trucked away to other places and stuff like that. Used to see very
>strange convoys of vehicles heading "south" on the only road out (my
>family home nearby).
Machrihanish was a forward operating base for NATO ASW aircraft
assigned to cover the Eastern Atlantic in avent of war. The nuke depth
charge dump was guarded by US personel - like the one at St Mawgan
(The US assigned the nuke DCs to NATO, but were custodians of them).
Also Machrihanish was earmarked as an emergency strip for battle
damaged SAC B52s returning from raids on the Soviet Union.
>dunno about the coal mines though.
Never heard of those and it would be a silly place to keep weapons
anyway.
>Long runway, middle of nowhere = rumours of stealthy goings on in some
>peoples minds.
Indeed!
--
Tex Bennett
Gary Marden
> Major Correction!!!!! The nuclear weapon dump was at
> RAF WADDINGTON - home to the Vulcans. (Scampton and
> Waddington are very close!) You can get quite close to
> the bunkers (to photograph them ?) The area around them
> appears to now be just an MT area. The base is still in
> use as a home for the AWACS.
Steph and I went past Waddington a few weeks ago, on our way up to
Lincoln for the weekend. The AWACS are easily visible from the road -
bloody great things! I think they've built a viewing area on one side
of the road.
Regards
Gary
Terence W. Wiseman
">Steph and I went past Waddington a few weeks ago, on our way up to
>Lincoln for the weekend. The AWACS are easily visible from the road -
>bloody great things! I think they've built a viewing area on one side
>of the road.
>
>Regards
>Gary
There is an excellent viewing area at Waddington - even a cafe/toilets with
aircraft enthusiasts things for sale. Caution - the local police use it as
a refreshment area, so don't have any bald tyres etc. The AWACS take off
and land at regular intervals and there are often other aircraft coming in
and out.
The nuclear bomb dump is to the left of the viewing area as you face the
airfield. Walk up the road a bit and you can get quite close to the old
dump. I have never been stopped when approaching it.
Terry Wiseman.
Staff or Volunteer Member
<wis...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote:
> Tex Bennett wrote in message <3613338f...@news.btinternet.com>...
> >On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 13:49:42 +0100, "Terence W. Wiseman"
> ><wis...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Regarding the bomb dump at RAF Scampton. Yes - this was a nuclear dump.
> >>Strangely, the vehicles carrying the weapons had to cross a main road to
> get
> >>onto the airfield. The dump appears now to be unused.
> >
> >Wyton was the same. What has happened to Scampton now, Terry?
>
>
> Major Correction!!!!! The nuclear weapon dump was at RAF WADDINGTON - home
> to the Vulcans. (Scampton and Waddington are very close!) You can get
> quite close to the bunkers (to photograph them ?) The area around them
> appears to now be just an MT area. The base is still in use as a home for
> the AWACS.
>
> Scampton is strange !!! It is technically closed, but they are doing a lot
> of building work there !
> The Red Arrows use the airspace above it to practise their skills and
> presumably use it as an Emergency Landing Ground. The Red Arrows base is
> now at Cranwell since Scampton closed.
>
> >>A similar dump can be seen at old RAF Faldingworth. I'm told this was
> the
> >>largest nuclear weapon dump in the UK.
> >
> >Built by my Father in Law! (After he built the one at Barnham, near
> >Thetford)
>
> You can get a good view of the bunkers at Faldingworth if you walk across
> the fields, but as they store (or did) ammunition in them, security is very
> very tight so don't approach the fence!
>
> Two of the old wooden watchtowers were bought (obtained) by a local farmer
> and he uses them for grouse shooting, but one watchtower in the middle of
> the dump complex remains.
>
> A while back, i parked by the fence and went for a walk across the fields to
> look at the dump - our local police officer received an enquiry about me,
> presumably from my car registration number !
Although closed, while returning from this year's Waddington air display,
I noticed that RAF Scampton's radar was still in use?
Regards
Phil
Terence W. Wiseman
>Although closed, while returning from this year's Waddington air display,
>I noticed that RAF Scampton's radar was still in use?
>
>Regards
>
>Phil
Yes, the Red Arrows use Scampton although their home base is RAF Cranwell.
The radar at Scampton is often in use - perhaps as part of RAF ATC.
Terry Wiseman