The weather has been positively Spring like here in West Berkshire. I think that THM had the better of the last two days yesterday, as there was a somewhat chilly Northerly breeze today that meant the long trousers were still needed – well for a skinny old poof like me they were!
A bit of a change from the natural terrain.
. by
Philip Mock, on Flickr
. by
Philip Mock, on Flickr
Once again this is Greenham Common, on the furthest South edge. The little pond you see here below is fed by a water drain that goes under the original security fence back when it was an active Air Base.
In the mid 80’s the S.A.S. used this drain to gain access.
The agreement between the U.S. and the U.K Governments was that 96 armed Nuclear Tomahawk Cruise Missiles would be deployed at Greenham. There were however a couple of interesting conditions. Firstly, a Battalion of British Soldiers would be permanently stationed at the Air Base to work ahem “alongside” the United States Air Force 501st Tactical Missile Wing. Secondly, at some point the British S.A.S. would carry out a mock assault on the base to test the security.
I knew some of the British soldiers there at the time, and they described what it was like the following day after the S.A.S. had broken in by crawling up the drainage outlet that feeds the pond in the picture. Apparently it was chaos, and very embarrassing for the U.S. Air Force. The S.A.S. had run havoc in there. They even got right up to the Silos, and fixed imitation Limpet Mines on the doors - oops!
The now empty Silos were also used for a scene in the last Star Wars film.
Greenham Pond 250319 by
Philip Mock, on Flickr
Pip.
_________________
Currently in the stable - 1993: Kona Kilauea | 1995: Kona Kula | 1996: Kona Ku | 1997: Kona King Kahuna Stars ‘n’ Bars 18” Vs | 1997: Kona King Kahuna 19” Disc | 1997: Kona Explosif | 1997: Kona Koa | 1998: Kona Hei Hei | 1998: Kona Ku | 1998: Kona Hot | 2000: Kona Score | 2000: Kona Explosif | 2003: Kona Kula Primo | 2010: Kona Kilauea.