Armed Forces Day booklet, 21 May 1966 - Contributed by Phil Shimmon
Created on a typewriter and, I suspect, a 'duplicator'
Welcome Booklet
My father-in-law was stationed at Bentwaters from 1964-67, he worked in the hospital there. Every serviceman was given a small book before they were posted to England describing the base that they were assigned to. The book and it is full of all sorts of information, even a currency table, you remember, we had pounds shillings and pence in those days, under the conversion table is written:
The threepence is often called a "thruppence",
or "thrupp ny bit"
The halfpenny a "hay' p' ny," a sixpence a "tanner",
and the shilling a "bob".
The halfcrown is usually called "two and six", and the
pound a "quid".
A "guinea" is one pound and one shilling
in value, but there is no denomination of currency by that name. It is often used in prices in better class shops.
An American dollar is worth approximately seven shillings in British
currency.
It also gives the history of the twin bases, here is page two of the book:
Base history
You won't find the name Bentwaters on the map, nor will you find it listed at the nearest public library or post office. There is no geographical location officially identified by that name.
The name Bentwaters was associated with a group of farm buildings that existed in Rendlesham parish, East Suffolk, before world war 11. Then early in the war, the British army moved in and converted the quiet countryside into a combat training centre.
Bentwaters farm subsequently disappeared under shell- fire. In 1942 the allies began to build a bomber base here. The present runway is located on the site of the old farm. When the base was finished late in the war, it was called Butley airfield, and so it remained until the Americans returned to the UK in 1951.
It is a typical, dispersed RAF base totaling 850 acres of land. (You will find sugar beet fields and corn patches next to your shop, office and quarters.) This rural atmosphere has helped Bentwaters become known as the " most attractive" base in the UK.
Woodbridge, located two air miles and seven road miles to the east of Bentwaters, is a more compact base and its runway is a bit longer, it was also built during the war and used as an emergency landing field for crippled allied bombers and fighters returning from missions over fortress europe. Over one million pine trees were felled to make way for Woodbridge base (which is named after a nearby town) but several more millions still surround this jet nest.
Since there is no such animal as "Bentwaters", we suggest that when mailing letters through non- APO address, that you use the following: unit No., 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, USAF, RAF Sta Bentwaters (or Woodbridge), near Woodbridge. Suffolk, England.
Bentwaters and Woodbridge are sister bases; both coming under control of the 81st Wing. Bentwaters is the headquarters base and has two fighter squadrons: the 91st and 92nd. Woodbridge is the home of the 87th and 79th Tactical Fighter Squadrons.
The book contains lot of useful information for Americans coming to England for the first time, and there are some interesting photos of the base as it was then.
They had a 90 day grace on their motor vehicles before they became subject our registration tax, which was $45.00 (12 pounds) in those days, my goodness how things have changed.
Regards, Phil Shimmon