| SPAR SHOP Thanks for the photos of Snape. The Mill at the top of the hill was once owned by Benjamin Britten, then bought by a Mrs. Terry, and rented out to American school teachers from Bentwaters and Woodbridge bases. Pam's Mum used to work for them as a housekeeper. I have been in that house myself and it is very unusual. I liked the photo taken too of the lad walking up The Hill and of the new house that is sited where Mr Vic Last's Spar shop and restaurant once stood.
YOU WANT CHIPS WITH THAT?! The light colored building at the end was once a flat above the fish restaurant and I can see our old bedroom window. We used to have chips all over our bedcovers at night from persons sending them up to us if we left the window open. Ha! Pam says to stop sending all those photos. You are driving her husband nuts and he is getting homesick for Snape. Ha!
ENGLISH MUG I am drinking a wee bit of ale out of a English Pewter mug once owned by Pam's father. This mug has Snape Maltings 1859 - 1959 on the side of it and think it was given to all employees there to celebrate it's first 100 years. The Maltings closed in 1965 and was then made into the Snape Maltings Concert Hall and was opened by the Queen. I have photos taken of that event. Looking at the photo again, on the left one can see the back of the end row cottage where Lil Stennard lives. I just heard that she has taken ill and is in the Aldeburgh Cottage Hospital. She must be at least 92 years by now. Thanks again for the photos. Keep up the good work! Ta da This is claimed to be Ron Burrell today (March 1999) - Can you believe this "Old Geezer" actually jumped the fence at Bentwaters? He looks like my Grandad, on my mother's side!
WRONG NUMBER I remember Mrs. Knight from across the road who would come over and use our telephone to ring her sister in Orford. She was quite elderly but got along very well and was always friendly and helpful. She taught Jim and I a trick to keep the birds from breaking through the tin on our milk bottles and drinking the cream out. I loved the Plough and Sail and they were one phone number away from our number at Corner Cottage (We were Snape 412, the Plough and Sail was Snape 413). That always brought lots of interesting wrong numbers to Corner Cottage. Chuck Dalldorf
GREEN MAN DOG I have very fond memories of times spent at the Green Man Pub with Reggie and Monica in Tunstall. They had a dog named Fred that was overweight, and Monica would scold us when we fed him cornish Pasties (which we did constantly). We lived in a house named Selwyn Croft and myself and 3 other
guys split the rent, a really nice place. I remember that we used
to take the back road to Leiston for Chinese food and banana fritters,
or sometimes walk to town for fish (cod) and chips. One other
thing I remember is jogging on a path behind the SP barracks and
running through an old archway overgrown with ivy. It was near
Tunstall also. What a beautiful place.
PLAYING IN THE FARMER'S FIELDS My family was stationed at Bentwaters between 67-70. There were four of us kids - last name Amundson. My little brother Jim and I went to school on Bentwaters at - remember site 3 and site 6 schools. I also went to Woodbridge High for my 7th grade year. What great memories we have of England. Going to the movies for $.25, the teen club on Woodbridge, playing in the farmer's fields - oops, probably should have said that, getting all the kids on the street to play a game of tag or softball - all day. Also taking the train into London. And who could forget tasting Cadbury's chocolate. Still my favorite. Thanks for a great website. It was interesting reading what others had said about the place.
A SMALL COHESIVE UNIT From memory I can mention a few things about the base back then (1955-57). Upon my arrival at the 79th Fighter Bomber Squadron, we were attached to the 20th Wing at RAF Sta Wethersfield. RAF Sta Woodbridge was small then both in number of personnel and in area at the facility. During my assignment there, I witnessed the groundbreaking ceremonies and start of construction of Base Housing, Fuel depot West of the Flight line, K-9 facilities south of the Base Hangar areas, the Base Post Exchange South of the Mess Hall, the Barber Shop & NCO Club north of the Mess Hall. On the main road from the famous "Y" which guided you to the left to go to RAF Sta Bentwaters-or to the right which took you to RAF Sta Woodbridge you traveled past the Local Golf Course & Country Club enjoyed & used by many Officers. Turning left into RAF sta Woodbridge past the main gate, were the make shift Housing facilities for marrieds, little preferences could be made for Officers and Enlisted Marrieds, due to the scarcity of total number of facilities. Mostly trailer houses & small wooden buildings. BOQs were available but Officer personnel were allowed to reside in the local communities. The main street on base from the main gate to the center of activity was a relatively short distance but it seemed to be in a rural area due to the beautiful trees and underbrush that had not been cleared. The Base Hospital was halfway to the Operations Complex on the left, and most Enlisted housing was to the right, almost exclusively Quonset Steel Buildings, with concrete floors and kerosene pot heaters, which worked remarkably well. As you continued along the main road towards the operations complex, there was a building set aside as a non denominational Chapel for Religious Services on the left, and a few yards further were the Offices for the British Air Ministry on the right side of the main street. As you continued further, the Military Cluster of buildings. in close proximity to the flightline included the Base Theatre, Snack Shop, Library, Base Commander/Adjutants Office Flagpole Circle, Provost Marshalls building, approximately 50 yards to the West was the Air Police Building, Base FIRE Fighting Center, 79th Fighter Bomber Squadron Operations Building, (The Tigers Lair) and other support facility buildings. The main road continued to the east, along side the flight line, past the Control Tower, and to Hangar & Maintenance areas, Special storage areas, and to the newly developed K-9 Training & Housing areas. The F86 Aircraft in use were both small in number and small in numbers of Officer & enlisted personnel needed to support the mission, the smallness seemed to bring the Base closer as a cohesive unit and it proved to be highly successful. I can look back with fond memories of the time I served with the USAF at RAF Sta Woodbridge.
RUNNING CHEF I just stumbled on to your site... WOW!! More Pictures Please!! This site is GREAT! Most of the pictures that you have, are just a sample... As i drove the "Running Chef" on base, I had daily stops at most of the areas on Bentwaters and Woodbridge... Man, I feel home sick.. I spent most of the 80's in England, now.. I have to come back... I'll start saving today : ) Thanks for a great site.. more pictures please : ) I was stationed at Bentwaters, but lived on Woodbridge, in the barracks that were by the the 3 line bowling/eating place. (can't remember the name of it, but spent allot of time bowling there!) Those hadden't been renovated as of yet (1989, when i worked on base for AAFES as a "Running Chef" driver.) I was both active and civilian at the Twin Bases. from 1982-85 active duty at the Bentwaters dining hall and 86-89 for AAFES both working at the Bentwaters and Woodbridge gas stations and later getting on at the Foodland on Bentwaters as the "Rouch Couch" driver! Eric, was the night driver and I was the Daytime driver for the Woodbridge base, Connie was the daytime driver for the Bentwaters base. I think at the time I had the "inside track" on what was going on around the base.. as far as "Alerts and Excersises" before they started : ) hahaha.. As a civilian, I didn't miss those... But the Cops on both bases loved me, compared to eating MRE's anyday!! Let me know if I can be of anyhelp with pictures or locations of building on both bases.. I have a 87 Air Show book from the bases, if you'd like to have me scan the pictures from it, I'd be glad to. Thanks for the Great Web Site... I'll be back for the updates : ) E-4 Don Wilson, 81st Services SQ
EAST END CHARLIE I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge from 1968-1971 as a Security Policeman in the 81st SPS. I really enjoyed the pictures. Strange to see the bases overgrown with shrubery. When I was there the 78th/79th squadrons were very active. The 91st/92nd were active at Bentwaters. We also had a small contingent of a helicopter rescue unit there as well. Does anyone ever bring up "East end Charlie" during conversations? This was a local (we believe) that used to sneak up on the parimeter fences and throw rocks at the security policeman on post on Woodbridge when it was extremely foggy.I'm saddened by the fact that they have closed the bases, and that the major thing anyone is interested in about Bentwaters is a UFO sighting. Mark Rissmiller - Denver
BICYCLES, TRIUMPH and CHRISTMAS I just stumbled onto this site as I was searching for info regarding the UFO incident of '80. I was stationed at Woodbridge from '84-86 in the 581st AGS, Weapons Load Shop. I lived in the dorm the whole time, but I have many memories of life on and around the base. Riding bicycles with my mates to the sea shore, driving my Triumph with the top down along back roads and quiet walks in the woods around the base. I think Christmastime in Ipswich and Woodbridge town was the most beautiful time of the year with the snow falling and all the lights. It's sad to know that the base is gone now, I wish I could go back and see it all. At 18 yrs old, I took my time there for granted, but I will never forget the best times of my young life. I thank you and your fellow countrymen for showing me that there is a wonderful world outside the United States.
INSURANCE SALESMAN My Dad was Bill Spaine. He and my Mom retired in the UK in 1968 and lived there until they left in 89 just before the bases closed. My Dad (like Brian Hayes) sold Insurance to the GIs and he and my Mom knew a lot of people in the Suffolk area. They lived in Martlesham near the Red Lion Pub. I also spent most of my childhood there and left for good in 1984. I worked on Bentwaters for the Air Force, as did my Mom (she is English by the way). When I got married in England, Brian was my photographer. It's sad to think of how the bases now look and to reflect back on life there as we knew it. I loved England and in my heart it will always be home. So, I really enjoy the fact that you are keeping some of us still connected there! Jamie Spaine Malcolm FSBer(a)aol.com
KINDERGARTEN ...So on October 16th I visited the house in the town of Ipswich that I lived in first before my family moved on base at Bentwaters! That afternoon I stopped by the house I used to live at on base. I was surprised to see that it was still up, and that I actually remembered where I used to live (9 Redwald Road) and the people residing there were happy to let me come in and take a few pictures. Afterwards, I walked around the base, saw my old kindergarten building (I could finally reach the gate! I was only four at the time!) and a few other buildings that I could remember! Finally, as we walked back to the car, we were stopped by a security guard and I explained that I used to live there. He understood and even said that there were a lot of people who visit just to walk around, anyway I thought he was nice about the situation! :) It was sad to see that Wacker Field was full of houses, I remember some great American football games there in the rain! It was also sad to see these buildings overgrown with weeds, etc. but I have to remind myself that: "that was then, this is now!" Even that cattle guard thing on the road towards the base, (about a mile before you see the old billeting "huts") reminded me of my home at Bentwaters. I can’t believe it had been fifteen years!
THE BELLS If any of you remember the church bells that would peal out on quiet Sunday mornings, take a trip to "virtual Pettistree" and hear the church bells ring, at the Pettistree home page.
MEMORIES WANTED ! I live on the old Domestic site at Woodbridge, although I’m
a military helicopter pilot flying out of Wattisham. I find everything
to do with the old base extremly facinating, even as I fly along
the runway I cannot sometimes help letting my mind wander as I
feel like I’m taxi-ing my A10A prior to a mission. I would
like to know more about what life was like here as an American
airman, at work and at play, family life to Sqn life. Do
you know where I could possibly find out this info, or even do
you know any old airman from the base who is on the internet who
wouldn't mind ‘pulling up a sandbag’ and telling me
about any experiences gained here. I look forward to hearing from
you.
REMEMBER THE SHIP Was
stationed at Bentwaters During most of the 70’s. Worked with
Jim Grubbs and knew then that he would never leave England. Thought
I might do the same. I was in the Weapons Release shop at Bentwaters
with Dan Raith, Dave Worland, Gene Diaz, Tom Martin, and many
more I can’t think of right now. We had lots of great times.
Played on a football (soccer) team in Saxmundham. Next time you’re
there, stop at the Ship in Blaxhall and have a pint for me with
Jim.
TRIP FROM MOSES LAKE I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters during the early 50’s and was a Personal Equipment Technition with the old 91 Fighter Interceptor Sqdn there. Ya, we were the ones who re-opened the base after it closed at the end of WWII . We flew the F-86A Sabre and I got several rides in an old T-33 trainer as Survival Tech. My wife whom I married there and I live in Mountain Brook, Al. and several years ago I returned to the base - now RAF Woodbridge and met the guys at the new 91TFS who were flying A-10’s. I have lots of memorabilia and photos of the the base the planes and the trip over to England from Moses Lake, Wash. Those were the days, my friends. Ron Harlan Rwh729(a)AOL.com (also see entry on USUK SEARCH)
FAGS AND ROLOS I remember walking down the streets of Woodbridge Town and stopping to buy British cigarettes (very strong-ugh) and Rolos for 6d. They now sell them in the states for around 75 cents. Also spent time at a place called "The Sombrero" a cute little hangout for kids our age! Thanks again for your help. Pam Lupo (Patrick) PAMELALUPO(a)aol.com
ROCK EEL, COD & CHIPS Linn, I used to buy Rock Eel and Cod. At least in Ipswich. Had some friends in the 60’s that owned a fish shop and I asked about the rock eel and got the same answer you gave. (Linn B: It’s a euphemistic name for dogfish - a small shark-like fish often found off the West Coast (Cornwall etc.) - and I suspect we Brits wouldn’t buy it with its real name.) Guess they just eat the ‘fins’? Whatever, I could eat fish, while in UK, for all my meals. (Not to easy to get good fish here in a restaurant.) The price has also gone up quite a bit there. Last visit the car kept trying to turn toward the fish shop all the time (Thats what I told Mum anyway). With my ‘51 Consul (‘60’s), with no heater, I used to stop on Woodbridge Rd, buy chips, keep them in my lap to keep me warm on the cold winter nights riding back to the base. We were back there a few years ago and went around the corner from Mums to a Pakastani (would you believe it) run shop. Walked in and was treated like a king as he liked Americans. Took me out back to fridge and showed me the large whole pieces of fish and asked me which piece I would like? I proceeded to kick over his large can of beer and it just spun around spurting out the suds, all over the bottom of my jeans. He proceeded to cook the fish but was so tipsy he was out of it. Another woman customer, had worked there before, and proceded to take over after getting him into the back room. Customers came back with half cooked fish and bangers. She found a Five Pound Note and others in the oil. Never did go back there. Only went there because Mums favourite was closed. Have a now retired Bobby friend who told me he was closed down for living in the fish shop and obvious other reasons. Guess he was having marriage problems at the time. You can send me F & C anytime you like, but make sure they keep warm. Cheers. Jim Tansey tanseyj(a)HUACHUCA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL
PASADA BAR My name is Michael Mullock and was an A1C in the 2164 Communications Squadron 1965-1967. Worked at the tropo site at Martlesham. I married a girl form Norwich. Have fond memories of the East Anglian coast, The Pasada Bar and of a 20 year old airman in the 60’s falling in love with those young beautiful English Girls. How "sweet it was"
BAPTIST CHURCH I was stationed at bw from may of 1967 till january of 1970 and can’t think of any place I would have rather been. I left some very dear friends when I left england in january of 1970, some i still keep in touch with occasionally. I will never forget the great people around the area, I never could figure out how they were so tolerant with that many yanks around. I have a lot of fond memories of that time. I attended the beaumont baptist church in woodbridge, and belonged to a country club, but the name escapes me, [Alicebourney priory country club???] the memory is the second thing to go. Maybe someday I’ll be able to make it back. Keep up the good work, finding this website has made my day...maybe my year... You have done a great service to many of us that spent our youth in a very memorable place. thanks rick billings; email; billings(a)cswnet.com
CLOPTON I was stationed at RAF Woodbridge from 1986-1990. The absolute best years of my life were there. I am extremely sad to see the pictures of the base, and I, too, wish to make a pilgrimage to Suffolk to see things again, before they are gone. Memories of the place are as fresh in my mind today in 1998 as if they took place yesterday. My best memory are of the church services that I attended at Faith Baptist Church, which is located off the rugby pitch on Orford Road, Bromeswell. (About 1k from the fork in the road where the old house that got restored is). I lived in Clopton, in an ancient duplex down the street from the pub. It was the Something Head. I don’t remember the street name (B1078?). But it was there on the left as you head in the general direction of Ipswich. There was another house that some friends of mine lived in in Ashbocking. It was about 2 or 3 km from the Suffolk Agricultural College. The road curves to the right, and has a smaller road that goes off to the left, and the house was the first on the right. If you know where the pub, the Crossed Keys is, if you turn right there, and head toward the college, the house is the last on the left before you get to the "T"-junction. Anyway, thank you for the great website. Jonathan Burchard jonathanburchard(a)mailexcite.com, web site: http://www.iinet.net.au/~hodgeap
CAMRON BARRACKS I was stationed with the 81st TFW FMS (Electric Shop) from Feb 1963 to December 1965 and there are a fair number of people I would like to hear about/from. Since reading about Bentwaters I saw Ron Burrell’s name and a letter that he wrote and it brought back many pleasant memories as Ron lived against the hall in the CAMRON barracks before he married. I am a school superintendent living and working in northern Manitoba Canada now but find myself spending a lot of time thinking about my military experience and many of the good times and fine people I met. I thoroughly enjoyed England and have thought that I would like to return someday, just waiting for the right time I guess. Linn, thanks a lot for taking the time to provide the service you are giving us, it is noticed, used and appreciated. Good luck and give my regards to everyone that has ever served or spent time on the bases of RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge.
SEE IT BEFORE IT'S GONE I was stationed on RAF Bentwaters between 1986-88. I stumbled across your site by accident (while listening to the Ipswich radio station over the net) and have since been transfixed by the pictures of the base as it stands today. I’ve got some airline ticket quotes and am trying to justify a trip out to see it in person before its gone. On an emotional level, I guess I’m feeling a bit of guilt for not giving the base and area a very fair shake during my tenure there. I was relatively young then and so very busy building a career and education at the time. None the less, I’ve often thought of the many good times I had during my only exposure to the world outside the US, and figured I would someday get back. Seeing the pics on your site made me realize that it won’t be there when my someday finally arrives. So, though I can’t really afford it now, I am going to try to bring my wife and I over so I can show her first hand what I so many times told her about. And I suppose so I can put into better perspective and fill in some ‘time to smell the roses’ that I didn’t during my two year stay.
KINDLING & KINDNESS Thanks so much for your website. I was an Air Force dependant at RAF Woodbridge during 1971-1973. My dad was a flight engineer in the C130 Rescue unit assigned to Woodbridge. We lived in Woodbridge and the memories will never go away. Once on Mothers Day, I got on my bicycle and rode around the old neighborhood looking for the right gift. I saw a sign stating "kindling, 4 pence". Since I might have had maybe two or three shillings at the time, I thought this would make a grand present for me Mum. The kind lady who answered the door was more than generous and kind when she realised I didn’t exactly know what kindling was. But, in kind Woodbridge village fashion, we went to her lawn where she proceeded to cut at least a half dozen tulips from her garden and told me "theres your kindling lad, now lets wrap it up nice." My mom was thrilled with the flowers and when I related to my father how we could buy kindling so much cheaper than regular flowers, they still laugh to this day about the innocence of youth and the kindness of an unknown Woodbridge villager. Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory. Robert Wolfe Jr P.S. I am now a boom operator on KC10’s here and fight for the trips that go into Mildenhall. I always drive over to Woodbridge, but haven't found my old home as of yet. Still trying though.
ROWDY TEENAGERS I was stationed at RAF Woodbridge in the 79th TFS from January 1968 until they moved to Upper Heyford. I really had a good time over there. The people were very nice, even though we were rowdy teenagers. I made some life long friends of which I have been getting re-acquainted with over the Internet. We have discussed the possibility of a reunion in 1999, probably in Dallas. Anyone who would like to contact me for information can reach me by e-mail: battdaddy(a)hotmail.com.
M39 TREE CUTTER Do you remember? 1963 to 66 at Bentwaters and Woodbridge. Remember
a Woodbridge Staff Sergeant(?) firing M39 across the runway cutting
off the top of the tree. A month later down in trippley (sic)
they fired a gar 8 off. Tore the chain link fence down all the
way around the line shack. The IOI A and C models. Old time/ some
good/ some bad /lot of good times. Just a young weapons man in
them days,
DENSE FOG It’s been 20 years since I was at Bentwaters, and the memoirs sure do flood back: my first night’s sleep in a Nissen Hut, bone-chilling dense fog, driving on the left side of the road, Saturday shopping in Ipswich High Street, Duxford airshows, Saturday nights at the locals, trips to Bristol to visit relatives (negotiating the London Ring Road was the highlight of the trip!), quiet walks in the Suffolk countryside, exploring the old W.W.II airbases (8th AF Airfields Then and Now was well dog-eared by the end of my tour). Fond memoirs indeed. I loved England so much I went back for a second tour at Upper Heyford. I lived just off the A12 in Capel St. Mary for 3 years, next door to the coal merchant Mr. Parkins. He was my landlord. Can’t say I enjoyed the coal boiler heating system and no phone (couldn’t afford it), but I loved the time spent there. At Bentwaters, as a SSGT and TSGT I was an F-4D crew chief and flightline expeditor with the 81st OMS. I left Bentwaters in 1978, just as the first batch of A-10s were arriving. I can hardly imagine the bases closed. Sincerely, If you want to contact these memory weavers, |
