RAF Bassingbourn, Military museum and former air base in Royston, England
Description
RAF Bassingbourn is a former air base and military museum near Cambridge featuring preserved runways and wartime structures. The site shows what a working airfield looked like during its operational years.
History
The Royal Air Force built this base in 1938 for British operations. After 1942, American forces took control to fly B-17 bombers on missions over Europe.
Culture
The museum displays photographs, uniforms, and equipment from decades of military service. Walking through, you can see how soldiers lived and worked at this station.
Practical
The museum opens for guided tours where you can visit the restored control tower and see wartime equipment. The grounds are open and walkable, though wearing comfortable shoes is a good idea.
Did you know?
During the war, workers painted the runways with patterns designed to blend them into the farmland below. This camouflage technique made the airfield harder to spot from aircraft overhead.
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