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I will return, but will be seeking official permission to do so. There are aspects
about this site that I hadn’t realized and there are serious ramifications about
being seen walking around it.
OK, serious stuff over with, here's what we missed, or should be there:
Station Headquarters © Simon Cornwell 2002
"Thanks for the memories though - it was without a doubt the best assignment
I've ever had in the Air Force and am sorry to see the buildings I remember
so well being in such bad shape. The Officer's Mess was our dormitory for
students. We actually conducted classes in a large, renovated building in
front of the parade ground - don't think I saw any pics of that on your site
or at least I didn't recognize them."
"Anyway, I remembered the "lush green carpet" well from the Officer's Mess
and the room where the fireplace was where we took class pictures. I have a
few in my possession now. I even remember the day we had that installed
which was roughly 1991 (I think)."
John Hancock, MSgt, USAF
"Many of the buildings you visited were not part of the elementary
school, except for the Dining Room. That was our cafeteria. The
parade ground was our recess/playground area. We also used the gym,
and at least once used parts of the runway to run laps and do sprints."
"If you ever do visit Upwood again, I would really appreciate being
able to see some of the buildings on the north side of the base. The
two H-shaped buildings (D1-F1 on your map) were where my classes were.
I believe the two Type 'Q' barracks on the opposite side of the
parade ground (F4-F6) were classrooms for younger kids, and the
H-shaped building in between them housed the school's administration
offices. Those are the only buildings I remember being part of the
school."
"I had no idea that the base closed soon
after we left. It is heartbreaking to see the buildings rotting away
in such disrepair, but I really do appreciate being able to see the
place again." - Kim
"2 - 2nd and maybe a 3rd grade class or two were here. I still remember my teachers name, Mrs. Calzini if I remember correctly.
We had the class in the front of the building in the south wing, 2nd floor. I remember this building a lot because a bat kept
making its home in the fire alarm and would set the stupid thing off at least 3 or four times a month."
"3 - Kindergarden and 1st grades were here. Was at Upwood Elementary for those grades so I only remember going in that building
once or twice for siblings."
"4 - This was used, and I think another visitor commented, for the Leadership school for the NCOs. My dad was actually
assigned to live there for a bit while he was in training, even though we lived in the base housing at Upwood."
"5 - School Lunchroom. I remember this walk everyday. Not sure I labeled it very well. I remember being told that it had
been the airmen dining hall during WW2. There was a huge mural on the north wall, it's hard to remember exactly what it was but I
keep seeing a picture of the English countryside. Looking at the picture here I still see the diagonal walkway to the entrance
where we would line up for lunch. That line would go from that door, all the way down the hall, hug the wall to the left,
around the the north wall then back down the west wall into the serving area doors."
"6 - I think the upper floor here was 5th grade and the lower floors were general purpose. I had an English history
class here when I was in 3rd or 4th grade."
"7 - same as 6 here, except that it was 4th grade classes and general purpose on the first floor."
"I know you probably get a lot of people when it comes to the military bases giving you the names of the
buildings they see you looking around. I am very curious for the building 1 -3 if they are not used anymore what they
look like inside anymore. I thank you for listening to my ramblings. Made me really miss the time I had over there in
the UK. Now I'm going to head back to your pictures and remember some other times." - Joseph O'Donnell
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