RAF Shepherds Grove is located on the outskirts of the sleepy Suffolk village of Stanton. It was built during WW2 as an airfield for bombers. During the Cold War in the 1950′s the USAF took over and based jet fighters there. When the jet fighters left, part of the base was used as a launch site for Thor nuclear missles.
The site closed in 1966 and some of the base is now an industrial estate.
April 2007 update – The control tower, fire station and industrial units have now been flattened.
Control Tower
So, here’s the control tower. It was in a bit of a state when I visited. It had a mini-refurbishment in the 1990′s when Redland Tiles used it as an office – they covered it in tiles. Most of them have been smashed up since Redland’s departure.
The control tower was demolished in June 2006 to make way for an Ikea distribution centre. Which is a great shame 
Fire Station
I think this was a fire station (or if not, some sort of vehicle servicing building). This has probably been demolished too.
Weapons Store
Across a field is an old weapons store used for the Thor missle site. There are three “igloo” buildings – two used for normal bombs and one for nuclear warheads. The latter has a huge concrete safe inside.
There are also two observation points – these are seriously cool and I want one!
A maintenance building is also there, but in a pretty bad state. It has a chimney.
Thor Launch Pads
There used to be three of these, but nothing now remains other than a few small piles of rubble and a concrete floor. The most interesting piece of rubble had some words printed on it in reverse – odd.
Industrial Units
There were a few of these located near the control tower. I imagine they’ve been demolished too.
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I rarely visit this site but I am a ‘Grover’ and was based at Shepherds Grove with the 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing and also over at Molesworth whilst I was in Europe. Long time ago now but looking forward to the 2012 reunion. This message raised something at the back of my mind. My son was posted with the 17th SSS at RAF Edzell in Scotland back in the 1990s. He married a local Scottish lassie and they came across this Roger Bamber as he had something to do with a company called Welbeck. One of the family bought one of the ex base houses from him and together with the other folks on the estate experienced nothing but problems. I wonder if this is the same guy. Gus
Gus
You and I were at Molesworth and I remember your son Mitch whilst he was with the 17th at Edzell in Scotland. Not the best posting for action!
Yep – you’re right about this guy Bamber. His outfit was called Welbeck Homes and a few of the US housing was sold to families of ex 17th crew and they had nothing but problems. Are you still in Maryland? Alex SL