RAF Upper Heyford

• World War I Origins: RAF Upper Heyford was originally opened in 1918 during World War I as a Royal Flying Corps station, serving as a training ground for pilots. • Interwar Bomber Base: In the interwar years, Upper Heyford became an important bomber airfield, hosting squadrons equipped with aircraft such as the Handley Page Heyford, which was named after the base. • World War II Service: During World War II, the base trained bomber crews and housed operational units, playing a key role in the RAF’s expansion and readiness. • Cold War Transformation: In 1950, RAF Upper Heyford was handed over to the United States Air Force (USAF), becoming a major base for Strategic Air Command and later United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). • Strategic Bomber Operations: The base hosted American B-47 Stratojets and later the supersonic F-111E Aardvark tactical strike aircraft, focusing on nuclear deterrence missions during the height of the Cold War. • Cuban Missile Crisis Alert: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, F-100 Super Sabres stationed at Upper Heyford were placed on high alert as part of NATO’s readiness to respond to potential conflict. • Operation El Dorado Canyon: In 1986, F-111E jets from Upper Heyford participated in the US airstrike against Libya, flying one of the longest combat missions of the time. • Host to SR-71 Blackbird: The legendary SR-71 Blackbird spy plane occasionally deployed to Upper Heyford for reconnaissance missions over Europe and the Soviet Union. • Closure and Legacy: After the end of the Cold War, the base was returned to the UK government in 1994. Its extensive infrastructure, including hardened aircraft shelters and underground facilities, stands as a testament to its Cold War significance. • Cultural Impact: RAF Upper Heyford has been used as a filming location for movies such as “World War Z” and is a popular site for urban exploration, preserving the memory of its decades as a key NATO airbase.