Peterborough PROBUS Club Probes RAF Molesworth

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, Jr., Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Royal Air Force Molesworth, England --  Touring a now disused hardened bunker that once sheltered massive Transporter Erector Launchers for the very brief ground launched cruise missile mission of the mid-1980's at the base provided a sobering reminder of the tensions of the Cold War era for the visitors, and a contrast with the diverse, yet equally important missions that this part of the English countryside has hosted here since 1942 - all well within living memory of several members of the distinguished retired business group.

And for the thirty-three members of Peterborough PROBUS '02 visiting on May 6th, it was a chance to meet some of the over 1,200 Americans and members from twenty-four European nations who work at Royal Air Force Molesworth, and receive briefings on the missions carried out there in support of the United States European Command, the United States Africa Command, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  The visit was sponsored and organized by British Community Relations Advisor, Ms. Jacqui Ireland as part of her role in community outreach.

Peterborough PROBUS Vice President Mr. Tony Pickering, expressed the group's thanks to the 423rd Air Base Group Commander, Air Force Col. Amy A. Hammond who hosted the group for the Tribase, U.S. Navy Captain Henry J. "Harry" Babin, Deputy Commander of the European Command Joint Analytic Center, and the staff for the visit.  The visitors commented "I had no idea all this was going on in my own back yard, and  I feel so much safer" and "this is so informative and interesting, and everywhere is so clean and tidy"

For the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians at RAF Molesworth it was an honor and a welcome opportunity to thank these local community leaders for the warm welcome that we and our families enjoy as members of the many villages and communities in which we live.  

The group was briefed on the three commands at Molesworth today and the history of the base beginning with the arrival of the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) with its B-17 Flying Fortresses, and continuing throughout the Cold War to the missions of today including the war on terrorism. The group toured the base viewing the wartime hangar where then-Princess Elizabeth christened a B-17, and visited the bunker dating from the short period when RAF Molesworth was like the more well known RAF Greenham Common, a ground launched cruise missile base.

As U.S. Navy Captain Henry J. "Harry" Babin, Deputy Commander of the European Command Joint Analytic Center who hosted the group at RAF Molesworth noted, the best part of the visit was the opportunity to answer the many good questions from the group, and clarify any misperceptions about what goes on here at RAF Molesworth and importantly meet our neighbors.