RAF Upwood officially closes it gates for last time after almost 96 years of service

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF Upwood, United Kingdom --  A closure ceremony at the former clinic at RAF Upwood on June 19 recognized almost 96 years of an Air Force presence at RAF Upwood.

The station has had an Air Force in situ, whether a Royal Air Force or U.S. Air Force, since September of 1917 when the Royal Flying Corps requisitioned 160 acres of farmland located near the village of Upwood. The station opened as Bury (Ramsey). This initial name referred to its location near the village of Bury and the larger market town of Ramsey. Initially there were no permanent flying units assigned to the station.
 
When World War I ended, the airfield reverted to agricultural use and the buildings were salvaged by local farmers. The RAF returned to Upwood in January 1937 when two flying squadrons were based there. On Jan. 31, 1941, German Corporal Josef Jakobs parachuted in to spy on RAF Upwood. During his landing, he broke his ankle, was easily captured and transported to the Ramsey Police Station before being taken to the Tower of London. He was found carrying forged papers, British currency, a radio and a German sausage. He was court martialed for treachery and sentenced to death by firing squad. Because of his injury, he was allowed to sit on a chair for his execution. Jakobs was the last person executed in the Tower of London and the chair that he sat on is still on display in the Tower.

In 1943, the base was targeted seven times by German planes. The Pathfinders stationed at the base during the war flew more than 6,000 sorties, including 36 consecutive night attacks on Berlin.

In 1981, the MOD gave the United States control of RAF Upwood. The base soon became a satellite station for RAF Alconbury - providing housing and support services for the personnel. In 1986, the medical facility opened to provide outpatient services to all American military members, their families and retirees in the area. The end of the Cold War in 1991 triggered the phase down of the activities at RAF Upwood and everything except the clinic and base housing were returned to the RAF and MOD control in September of 1995. On Jan. 16, 2007, the medical flight became the 423rd Medical Squadron and continued providing outpatient medical and dental care to the community until it officially closed and moved to RAF Alconbury in October of 2012.

"Today we mark the end of an historic military era spanning more than 95 years," said RAF Squadron Leader Clive Wood, the RAF Commander for RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth and RAF Upwood. "It is hoped that the facility will continue to fulfill some form of medical use in the future."

Most people at the ceremony shared the hope of having the 27-year old clinic be able to serve the local area.

"We want to see the medical mission here at RAF Upwood continue in some capacity," said Lt. Col. Cherron Galluzzo, 423rd Medical Squadron Commander and the last commander to be at RAF Upwood. "We would love to see the building utilized to help the local community, the RAF Wounded Warriors program or however the MOD can designate it."

For some, it was a bittersweet moment.

"I can honestly say I have never dreaded coming to work here," said Susan Mason, the clinic head housekeeper, who started working at the clinic the first day it opened in 1986. "I was born and bred here in Upwood, my parents still live in Upwood and they are both 89, my dad goes back three generations in Upwood Village. It would be nice if the local village bought it. This place has a lot of memories for me, my uncle flew from here with the Pathfinders and I can actually remember when the land the clinic is on was a cricket field."