About this Unit
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located in Oxfordshire, England. It was first established in 1918 and played a significant role during both World War II and the Cold War. During the Second World War, it served primarily as a training and operational base for bomber and reconnaissance units. In the post-war era, RAF Upper Heyford became a key United States Air Force base, hosting Strategic Air Command and later Tactical Air Command units until its closure in 1994. The site is remembered for its pivotal contribution to NATO air operations and its long-standing Anglo-American partnership.
Historical Facts
• 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.
