Control tower
Constructed in 1942 as an RAF airfield, the airfield saw Second World War use by both the RAF and USAAF. In the 1950s, after a period of disuse, the airfield was once again taken over by the USAAF. A huge expansion programme took place with the runway being ultimatwly extended to run up to 2 miles in length. Contraversy came in 1980 when the decision was taken to base 100 Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) at the site, prompting a 19 year occupation by protesters from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Following the cessation of the Cold War, Greenham Common was returned to the UK MOD and subsequently to the local council. The land has mostly been returned to the local people with the runway being largely removed to create hard core fill for the Newbury Bypass. What remains is the airfield control tower, now restored, the GLCM site as a secure storage facility, and the main ancillary site has been converted into an industrial and commercial park.
Control tower
Constructed in 1942 as an RAF airfield, the airfield saw Second World War use by both the RAF and USAAF. In the 1950s, after a period of disuse, the airfield was once again taken over by the USAAF. A huge expansion programme took place with the runway being ultimatwly extended to run up to 2 miles in length. Contraversy came in 1980 when the decision was taken to base 100 Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) at the site, prompting a 19 year occupation by protesters from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Following the cessation of the Cold War, Greenham Common was returned to the UK MOD and subsequently to the local council. The land has mostly been returned to the local people with the runway being largely removed to create hard core fill for the Newbury Bypass. What remains is the airfield control tower, now restored, the GLCM site as a secure storage facility, and the main ancillary site has been converted into an industrial and commercial park.