Royal Air Force Station Greenham Common, Military air base in Newbury, England
Royal Air Force Station Greenham Common is a former air base located in the parishes of Greenham and Thatcham in Berkshire, roughly 88 kilometers west of London. The site includes several paved areas, concrete hangars, and a control tower that now operates as a museum.
The installation was built in 1942 and initially served the Royal Air Force before American forces took command during World War Two. During the 1980s, the US Air Force stationed nuclear cruise missiles here, prompting large peace demonstrations outside the perimeter fence.
The site takes its name from the adjoining common land that has been used for grazing since medieval times and now serves the public as open parkland. Visitors still recognize the outlines of former runways, which now function as walking paths used by cyclists and dog walkers throughout the day.
The former control tower welcomes visitors and displays exhibits about the military past of the installation. Walking trails cross the open grounds, which suit longer walks or cycle rides through the area.
On June 5, 1944, General Eisenhower delivered his address to Allied troops here shortly before the Normandy landings. The tower served as a key hub for transatlantic transport flights between North America and Europe throughout World War Two.
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