- Joined
- Dec 16, 2013
- Messages
- 3,943
- Reaction score
- 2,197
- Points
- 113
This is one from a while ago, I'd forgotten all about it until star wars reminded me of it recently. Figured I should dig my pics out and do something with them. This was the day I first met this strange Welshman called @Lenston. I've never been able to look at a sheep in the same light since! It's a fascinating place because of it's history this one. Bit of a bastard to get into but once inside it was pretty chilled and we didnt see a soul. A few months later we returned at night hoping to see the Millennium Falcon but we were too late unfortunately. The history is quite extensive so skip to the pics if you can't be bothered reading it.
For many, Greenham Common is synonymous with the Cold War and the peace protests against the siting of Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) at the former airbase during the 1980‘s. At the end of the 1970’s, NATO member countries agreed to approve plans to deploy nearly 600 nuclear cruise missiles in Western Europe. Greenham Common Airbase was identified as one of the first airbases to receive the weapons and it was aimed to have Greenham as an operational cruise missile base by December 1983. In 1980 the British Government announced that Greenham Common would see the deployment of 96 Tomahawk Cruise nuclear missiles and in 1981 work began, preparing the airbase to receive the nuclear weapons.
Also in 1981 a peace group called “Women for Life on Earth” marched from Cardiff to Greenham at protest against cruise and on arrival a number chained themselves to the perimeter fence at Greenham. Within a few days they established the first peace camp. Also in 1981 a peace group called “Women for Life on Earth” marched from Cardiff to Greenham at protest against cruise and on arrival a number chained themselves to the perimeter fence at Greenham. Within a few days they established the first peace camp. In early 1982 the camp became entirely for women and children only.
The world watched the peace women protest. International media attention was drawn to the protests at Greenham and the site became a world famous icon for protests against nuclear weapons. In December 1982 around 30,000 women gathered to join hands around the airbase in what was known as the ‘Embrace the Base‘ event. A 14 mile human chain linked Greenham with other nuclear sites.
GAMA remains a very visible reminder of Greenham Common‘s past and the history of international conflict during the late twentieth century. The six hardened shelters were constructed to protect the GLCMs from possible nuclear and conventional attack. Each shelter was designed to withstand a thermonuclear airburst explosion above Greenham Common and Newbury or a direct hit from a 500lb conventional bomb. It is believed that the shelters, that stand around 10 metres high, were built with a reinforced concrete ceiling about two metres thick, below a steel plate, around three metres of sand, a further reinforced concrete slab, all covered with tonnes of soil. Each shelter had six bombproof steel doors, three at each end.
The missile silos at GAMA, in which ground launched cruise missiles of the USAF‘s 501st tactical missile unit were stored - 25th January 1989. The INF Treaty, signed by presidents Reagan and Gorbachev in 1987, meant that by the Spring 1991 Greenham‘s role as a base for nuclear weapons would be over and by 1990 the cruise missiles had gone from the airbase. In 1992 Greenham Common Airbase was declared redundant for military purposes by the Ministry of Defence and the fate of Greenham Common hung in the balance. The runway at Greenham lies deserted while its fate is decided.
It was most recently used during the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) in which it was used as the location of the Resistance Base.
Aerial view from Google images
For many, Greenham Common is synonymous with the Cold War and the peace protests against the siting of Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) at the former airbase during the 1980‘s. At the end of the 1970’s, NATO member countries agreed to approve plans to deploy nearly 600 nuclear cruise missiles in Western Europe. Greenham Common Airbase was identified as one of the first airbases to receive the weapons and it was aimed to have Greenham as an operational cruise missile base by December 1983. In 1980 the British Government announced that Greenham Common would see the deployment of 96 Tomahawk Cruise nuclear missiles and in 1981 work began, preparing the airbase to receive the nuclear weapons.
Also in 1981 a peace group called “Women for Life on Earth” marched from Cardiff to Greenham at protest against cruise and on arrival a number chained themselves to the perimeter fence at Greenham. Within a few days they established the first peace camp. Also in 1981 a peace group called “Women for Life on Earth” marched from Cardiff to Greenham at protest against cruise and on arrival a number chained themselves to the perimeter fence at Greenham. Within a few days they established the first peace camp. In early 1982 the camp became entirely for women and children only.
The world watched the peace women protest. International media attention was drawn to the protests at Greenham and the site became a world famous icon for protests against nuclear weapons. In December 1982 around 30,000 women gathered to join hands around the airbase in what was known as the ‘Embrace the Base‘ event. A 14 mile human chain linked Greenham with other nuclear sites.
GAMA remains a very visible reminder of Greenham Common‘s past and the history of international conflict during the late twentieth century. The six hardened shelters were constructed to protect the GLCMs from possible nuclear and conventional attack. Each shelter was designed to withstand a thermonuclear airburst explosion above Greenham Common and Newbury or a direct hit from a 500lb conventional bomb. It is believed that the shelters, that stand around 10 metres high, were built with a reinforced concrete ceiling about two metres thick, below a steel plate, around three metres of sand, a further reinforced concrete slab, all covered with tonnes of soil. Each shelter had six bombproof steel doors, three at each end.
The missile silos at GAMA, in which ground launched cruise missiles of the USAF‘s 501st tactical missile unit were stored - 25th January 1989. The INF Treaty, signed by presidents Reagan and Gorbachev in 1987, meant that by the Spring 1991 Greenham‘s role as a base for nuclear weapons would be over and by 1990 the cruise missiles had gone from the airbase. In 1992 Greenham Common Airbase was declared redundant for military purposes by the Ministry of Defence and the fate of Greenham Common hung in the balance. The runway at Greenham lies deserted while its fate is decided.
It was most recently used during the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) in which it was used as the location of the Resistance Base.
1. Three high fences guarding the site
2. This is where military personnel would have entered the site
3. Any weapons would be placed into the drawer and held inside the gatehouse.
4. Both the door and the window had what appeared to be bullet holes all over them
5. One of many storage units
6. Behind here is the entrance to a bunker, you’d need a forklift to move that concrete block unfortunately
7. Various outbuildings are scattered all over the site
8. Looking down from the top of a silo towards two others
9. This is one of the silos where nuclear missiles would have been stored
10. The doors to the nuclear missile bunkers are required by NATO law to stay open so Russian satellites can see that they are empty
11.
12. Controls for the hydraulic doors
13.
14.
15.
Thanks for looking 
Last edited by a moderator:
