From: MBERCH(at)aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Subject: Twin Bases Changes - D Loving's photos
What incredible memories these pics and stories bring back to me from my childhood.
We were stationed at Bentwaters from approximately 52- 59 as best I can remember, I was just a child, I do remember starting kindergarten at the base school. My dad MSGT Eugene Rowlands was among other things, in charge of the base theater. My birthday parties were the ones the kids remembered cause my dad would show cartoons for my parties at the theater.
My older brother Richard and I were best friends with another USAF family named Grainger. Their children were Robin and Phyllis, and my best girl friend was Wanda Fay Howell.
I lost my dad at the young age of 57, and my Mom 3 years ago. Going thru her keepsakes I found many many pictures of Ipswich and Woodbridge that are dated in the same era. We lived off base at 79 Thoroughfare , which now is a vehicle free shopping district.
If anyone knows where these families went after they left England please let me know. We came home to the states and were stationed in DC , my dad was assigned to the Pentagon and years later transferred to MacDill in Tampa, Fla where he stayed until his demise.
Looking forward to some more info.
God Bless our troops wherever they may be.
Joyce Rowlands Berch
Smeagol1512
Bentwaters/Woodbridge patches.
Smeagol1512.
FalconRed3
Bentwaters August 1993.
My wife and I were visiting the UK from Germany in August 1993. We just happened to arrive at Bentwaters the day after the official closing ceremony. Colonel Radcliff would later be my boss at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ
FalconRed3
From: Wayne Dukes [waynedfl(at)yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010
Subject: Robin Olds story now on pre-order - prompted a memory
I was a young airman in the RAF Woodbridge Fire Dept. from Feb 64-Feb 67. One Christmas night while on duty at the fire station we were sitting in the day room watching TV, the door opened and there was a man there in civilian clothes. I didn't have a clue who it was so I spoke to him saying, "Come on in Sarge".
He smiled and came in and wished us all a Merry Christmas.
Afterwards an NCO asked me if I knew who that was?
Of course I replied "NO." He went on to tell me it was Col.Olds.
I will never forget that moment.
After I left the Air Force I had the opportunity to Go back to work for the USAF at Bentwaters from 76 to 85. I was the first US Civil Service Fire Inspector at the 81St TFW eventually ending up as the Asst Chief in charge of Fire Prevention. I saw the last F-101 leave, I saw the F-4's come and I was there when the A-10's came.
All total I spent 12 years at crooked creek
I ended my 32 year career as the Fire Chief at RAF Lakenheath 2003-2004.
Great times. Thank you for your effort.
Wayne Dukes
From: EDDIEMCAFEE(at)aol.com
Friday, February 05, 2010
East End Charlie?
East End Charlie was a legend among the young USAF Air Police Ramp Rats in the early 60s. Many thought he or she was a haze induced ghost or, at best, the figment of the imagination of some lonely young Woodbridge 81st Air Police Squadron guards who had nothing to do all night on sentry duty but to stare into the dense fog and wonder who (or what) might be out there watching them. The greater the imagination, embellishment and story telling prowess, the larger the legend.
But, for me and several more who worked security duty in the 78th TFS Aircraft Alert Area during the summer of 1963, we discovered that East End Charlie was not only real, but also real fast.
For several months in 63 there were several trailers parked just south of the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron Alert Aircraft Area at Woodbridge (just a few hundred yards west of the East Gate which led through the forest to RAF Bentwaters). These trailers were parked about 50 yards from the Alert Area and about the same distance from the base perimeter fence.
On several occasions we would see movement around the trailers late at night and also see cigarettes being flicked out the windows of the trailers. We would call for mobile patrols and K-9 teams to respond to check out these sightings. But each time the intruder (later dubbed East End Charlie) would beat the responders to the perimeter fence, scale the fence with catlike lightning speed and evade apprehension. Each time we would hear a motorcycle leaving the area a short time later.
We figured we had either a spy or a very brave and determined Ban the Bomber on our hands. After several failed attempts to catch Charlie, we enlisted the help of the local police who set up nightly stake outs in the woods outside our base fence.
Then one night as the usual scenario played out, East End Charlie scaled the fence and as he departed the area, he ran smack dab into the outstretched arms of two waiting local English Constables.
To the best of my memory, East End Charlie turned out to be a young local boy who was a member of an English Aircraft Tail Spotter Club. He wore spiked toed shoes, motorcycle gloves and pants. That is how he was able to get over the fence so fast and not get hurt. He would park his motorcycle in the woods, away from the base in the late evening, and would walk the rest of the way and climb the fence after it got dark.
Legend has it that he came back once each summer for several years, and did the same thing, until they moved the trailers. That was probably his way of having fun and to just say hi. I cannot attest to that as I never personally saw him again after the night he got caught.
Story by Eddie C McAfee, 81st Air Police Sq, 1960's
From:EDDIEMCAFEE(at)aol.com
Sent:Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:51:19 EST
Subject:"C" Flight Guardmount RAF Bentwaters 1963
Can anyone ID any of these guys who were on "C" Flight Security at Bentwaters in 1963?
Click on the image to see a full-size version.
This picture was included in a story about the 81 APS in the 81st TFW Base Newspaper call The Centurion on Feb 27, 1963. The Centurion was sent to me by Walter E. Smith.
Looks like the Flight Commander was TSgt James Abrahamson and the Assistant Flight Commander was SSgt Carl Trout.
Eddie McAfee