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Waterguard Work at Foreign Air Bases in the UK |
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These USAF, US Navy and Canadian air bases were in fact RAF stations with an RAF Commanding Officer and the Americans and Canadians were our 'guests'. They were NOT Foreign territory hence our writ ran upon them. This gave the Waterguard access and Customs control of was exersised by one or more Preventive Officers, many of whom 'lived in' at the base Bachelor Officers Quarters, on a semi-permanent basis. These postings lasted for not less than 28 days and no longer than a year.
The 'resident' Waterguard staff would call upon the relevant Mobile Rummage Crew to provide support for any large movements of personnel. Mobile Rummage Crews would also attend to control the bases civilian staff in their quest to smuggle PX goods - particularly on a Saturday nights, when after the station dance the local talent often received PX goods in return for favours bestowed!
| NAME | LOCATION |
US USERS |
WATERGARD DIVISION |
STAFFED |
DATES OF US FORCES USE | |||||||||||||||||||
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RAF Alconbury |
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire |
USAF |
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1953-1995 |
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RAF Barford St John |
Oxfordshire |
USAF |
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| RAF Bentwaters |
Woodbridge, Suffolk |
USAF |
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1951-1993 |
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RAF Blenheim Crescent |
Hillingdon, London |
US Navy |
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RAF Brize Norton |
Brize Norton, Gloucestershire |
USAF |
London Airport | 1952-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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RAF Bovingdon |
Bovingdon, Hertfordshire |
USAF |
London Airport |
1951-1962 |
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RAF Burtonwood |
Warrington, Cheshire |
USAF/USAAF |
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1948-1994 |
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RAF Chelveston |
Chelveston, Northamptonshire |
USAF/SAC |
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1952-1962 |
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RAF Chicksands |
Shefford, Bedfordshire |
USAF-SS |
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1950-1995 |
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RAF Croughton |
Croughton,Northamptonshire |
USAF Schools for children of US Serviceman |
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1950- |
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RAF Daws Hill |
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |
US Navy/SAC |
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1952-2007 |
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RAF Fairford |
Fairford, Gloucestershire |
USAF |
London Airport |
-1972 |
1950- |
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RAF Feltwell |
Norfolk |
USAF |
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RAF Greenham Common |
Greenham Common, Berkshire |
USAF/SAC |
London Airport |
-1972 |
1951-1992 |
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RAF Hendon |
Hendon, London |
US Navy |
London Airport |
Yes |
-1956 | |||||||||||||||||||
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RAF Lakenheath |
Lakenheath, Suffolk |
USAF/SAC |
Harwich |
From RAF Mildenhall |
1948- |
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RAF Langar |
Langar, Nottinghamshire |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Harwich (?) | 1951-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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RAF Manston |
Manston, Kent |
USAF An emergency landing strip for US Bombers. US personel were never in residence. | Dover |
No |
1952-1960 |
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RAF Menwith Hill |
Harrogate, Yorkshire |
US Army/USAF |
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1960- |
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RAF Metfield |
Metfield, Suffolk |
USAAF |
1943-1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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RAF Mildenhall |
Mildenhall, Suffolk |
USAF/SAC/AMC And the main base for US servicemen arriving and departing the UK. |
Harwich |
1954-1972 Five or six POs on DD working on a twenty four hour, seven days a week basis. |
1950- |
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RAF Molesworth |
Molesworth, Cambridgeshire |
USAF/SAC |
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1951- |
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RAF Sculthorpe |
Fakenham, Norfolk |
USAF/SAC |
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1949-1992 |
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RAF Shepherds Grove |
Walsham le Willows, Suffolk |
USAF |
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1951-1958 |
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RAF Tibenham (Also known as Tivetshall) |
Long Stratton, Norfolk |
USAAF |
1941-1945 |
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RAF Upper Heyford |
Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire |
USAF/SAC |
London Airport |
-1972 A PO on DD in charge. |
1950-1994 |
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RAF Welford |
Wellford, Berkshire |
USAF |
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1955-2004 |
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RAF West Mallling |
West Mallling, Kent |
US Navy |
Dover |
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1961-1963 |
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RAF Wethersfield |
Wethersfield, Essex |
USAF |
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1951-1960 |
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RAF Woodbridge |
Woodbridge, Suffolk |
USAF |
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1952-1993 |
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OWO 52/1948, item 6, set out the Duty Free Importations for US Forces Personnel, and can be seen by selecting the 'button' to the right. |
Some personal anecdotes and memories from members of the Waterguard who served on US Military Air Bases can be found on the appropriate 'Anecdotes' pages. They can also be seen by selecting the 'buttons' below.
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RAF BOVINGDON |
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RAF GREENHAM COMMON |
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RAF HENDON |
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RAF MILDENHALL |
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RAF UPPER HEYFORD |
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RAF WEST MALLING |
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