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All the United Kingdom England Upper Heyford RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

RAF Upper Heyford

A rotting air force base is now home to rare birds and scarce plants.

Upper Heyford, England

Added By
Rob Cannon
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RAF Upper Heyford   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
RAF Upper Heyford   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
  kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
The runways are silent and unused.   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
Unused launch consoles.   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
One of the abandoned structures.   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
A rainy day hanger.   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
Hangers and bunkers dot the landscape.   kingrat / Atlas Obscura User
  jwebbal / Atlas Obscura User
  jwebbal / Atlas Obscura User
  jwebbal / Atlas Obscura User
  jwebbal / Atlas Obscura User
  jwebbal / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Royal Air Force, Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located 5 miles outside of Bicester but thanks to budget cuts and a damnable peace, the airstrips and bunkers now sit dormant, slowly being taken back by an enemy they didn't expect: nature.

During the Cold War, Upper Heyford initially served as a base for United States Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC) strategic bombers and later United States Air Forces In Europe (USAFE) tactical reconnaissance, fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft in the UK. With the end of the Cold War however, the presence of the 20th TFW was deemed no longer necessary in England. Thus the presence of active military at RAF Upper Heyford was gradually phased down until no one remained.

Peregrine falcon, skylark, buzzards and other uncommon birds now rule the quiet landing strips while rare grasses push through the cracking concrete. Some of the buildings on the base are still used for vehicle storage in a half-hearted attempt to keep the site from giving itself back to the land entirely, and a few of the residential spaces are also inhabited with tenacious renters. However unless something drastic happens, the formerly strategic RAF Upper Heyford may disappear beneath the natural camouflage. 

Related Tags

Abandoned Ruins Military History Birds Animals Military

Community Contributors

Added By

kingrat

Edited By

Annetta Black, jwebbal

  • Annetta Black
  • jwebbal

Published

September 16, 2013

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Upper_Heyford
  • https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152033231723084.1073741838.381991388083&type=3
RAF Upper Heyford
Upper Heyford, England, OX25 5LG
United Kingdom
51.929405, -1.279624

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