Author Topic: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's  (Read 451 times)

Offline iTunes

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USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« on: November 30, 2008, 10:02:17 AM »
Hey guys
Trying to find out if any of you lot or anyone you know was ever based at the above in the late 80's?
I spent some time there doing the old "keep away from the fence" routine.
It was the primary base for the Cruise missile system, we had at the time a whole wave of people protesting etc and so I had to play Security Guard there.
Had a really good time there, the USAF guys really took care of us Brits and so I'm trying to find some USAF guys that was bunked in the same block as me.
Nothing quite like having to aprehend a bunch of let's say "ugly women who prefer the company of other ugly women"....
The Class Acts.
JG54 Grunherz
iTunes- UK's finest killer of ack huggers and runners, mixing business with girls and thrills.
JG54/ Manchester United- Nobody likes us-we don't care... Goes by the name of Wayne rooney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW-47c_8J4c

Offline Rich46yo

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Re: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2008, 04:01:35 PM »
I thought we based Pershing-ll there. I may be wrong. I havnt lived my life in google but do remember England hosted both Pershing-ll and GLCMs.

While I wasn't based there I do remember the ruckas from the better red then dead crowd. I guess they never read the memo that our deployment was in response to the Soviet deployment of the SS-20 IRBM. Tho it probably wouldn't have mattered, which is why Stalin called them "useful fools". But the GLCMs and Pershings scared the bejeezus out of the Soviets and helped bring about the end of the cold war. Another fact the flag burning crowd forgot to mention is that we retired many older type special weapons when we deployed Pershing and GLCMs. But it was the cruise missiles that really scared the Reds cause an effective defense against them was impossible.

It was the height of the Cold War and I remember it well. America had many thousands of special weapons deployed including three classes of ICBM, two classes of SLBMs, and many thousands forward deployed in Europe.
"flying the aircraft of the Red Star"

Offline iTunes

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Re: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2008, 04:37:57 PM »
Monday-Friday was usually ok, It was the 3 day weekends/Holidays that really brought out the "We shall not be moved" crowd that liked to hold candles etc etc, CND with the peace symbol was the big thing, Nothing like having to manhandle dykes that jumped the fence and hand them over to either the USAF cops or the MOD Police (Depending on which part of the base they were on)
Never forget the two AF guys that got shoved into our little squad, One guy in particular:
"Why the F##K am I doing this? I'm a cook"
 iTunes-"dunno mate"
"Who the F##K are they anyway?"
iTunes- "Dunno mate"
"Whys that ugly old broad doing that to the other one?"
iTunes-" That's all they can get mate, would you go near one of them?"
"No F###ing way"

There were numerous racing stables and training grounds nearby (Horseracing) used to pick up the odd tip here and there from some of  the trainers, So all in all, I never really concerned myself with the larger picture, It was a detachment for me in an easy place doing an easy gig being very well looked after by the USAF, I'll never forget the messhall, Commisary I think you boys call it, First day, Goes in for some breakfast, said to the guy, "Fried egg please mate" guy looks at me and says " Easy over, hard over, hawaiin style?" Thought to myself, "Welcome to America iTunes" lol
The Class Acts.
JG54 Grunherz
iTunes- UK's finest killer of ack huggers and runners, mixing business with girls and thrills.
JG54/ Manchester United- Nobody likes us-we don't care... Goes by the name of Wayne rooney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW-47c_8J4c

Offline Airscrew

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Re: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2008, 09:42:59 AM »
My brother was stationed at Greenham Common around 82 to 85ish, cant remember exact dates.  worked the Fire department.  I got to visit him September 82 or 83, when I was TDY to Little Rissington for training.  Somewhere I got some pictures I took of the base (used a little 110, so they pretty crappy pictures) I remember the dumpsters and some of the protesters.  If I remember right my brother referred to them as a bunch of lesbians...

Offline iTunes

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Re: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2008, 03:35:15 PM »
My brother was stationed at Greenham Common around 82 to 85ish, cant remember exact dates.  worked the Fire department.  I got to visit him September 82 or 83, when I was TDY to Little Rissington for training.  Somewhere I got some pictures I took of the base (used a little 110, so they pretty crappy pictures) I remember the dumpsters and some of the protesters.  If I remember right my brother referred to them as a bunch of lesbians...
And that'll be about right sir, not the ones you see on certain PPV movies, But a kind not as pleasing to the eye....., overalls, Buzz cuts, boots and of course a Face only their Mum could love, Especially when they are in the middle of the usuall rants about "Fascist pigs, Tools of the State, Come over this side of the fence if your man enough" etc etc
The Class Acts.
JG54 Grunherz
iTunes- UK's finest killer of ack huggers and runners, mixing business with girls and thrills.
JG54/ Manchester United- Nobody likes us-we don't care... Goes by the name of Wayne rooney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW-47c_8J4c

Offline Airscrew

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Re: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2008, 04:52:50 PM »
I'll have to put forth some effort and see if I can find those pictures.  If I remember right I got at least one pic of some of them standing near a dumpster and my brother telling me they were living out of those dumpsters. 

Offline cpxxx

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Re: USAF guys based at RAF Greenham Common in late 80's
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2008, 06:36:48 AM »
What I always thought hilarious  was the some women remained there until 2000, despite the fact that the missiles were gone in 1991 and the base itself closed in 1993. They are convinced to this day that they actually caused the missiles to be removed. Clearly unaware of the whole Reagan/Gorbachev cold war ending business.  At least they provided work for the like of itunes. Imagine that sitting there seven years with nothing going on. They were mad :O