This massive facility is part of a very active Royal Air Force base, but being an ordnance and weapons store is situated at the very far edge of the active base well away from the main parts. The base is currently home to four Eurofighter Typhoon units - two front-line, one training squadron and one equipment testing squadron. The Quick Reaction Alert Interceptor mission which responds to unidentified aircraft entering UK airspace is based there as is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which includes six Spitfires and one of only two remaining airworthy Lancaster bombers plus other various aircraft.

The weapons store, situated at the very edge of the far end of the base, has been disused for a number of years. Contrary to what many believe it never stored nuclear weapons as the base was never a launching point for them.

I had this place on my map for ages ever since it popped up last year but it was always a little too far out the way from where we were going. Well as it happened I was in the rough area so thought sod it lets go see whats what - I hadn't seen any photos from it since last winter so it was kind of a stab in the dark. So we turn up and suddenly realise the active base is very active, there are Eurofighter Typhoons flying in formation around the base, coming into land right overhead, it was pretty damn awesome to see. After parking up and heading in we made it to the buildings and whilst inside I heard a distinctive engine sound, I look up out the window and what do I see, a Spitfire flying along above the treeline heading into the base - that was an amazing little experience.

We checked out the buildings, they all looked accessible but more than a couple of them had a massive amount of undergrowth in front of access points so we decided against being ripped to pieces on brambles. After that we headed back through the hardened weapon storage bunkers, and whilst checking out the one with the monster forklift inside I managed to startle a huge grey bird in the air conditioning room which proceeded to take flight, brushing the top of my head and crapping down my arm....

It was a pretty rushed visit here sadly as time was getting on, so I'd love to go back and shoot it in more detail as I feel we missed things. I was glad to see that it doesn't appear to have changed much from the last photos I saw though. It's easily the best abandoned weapons store in the country by some way.

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Thanks for looking

Now this is cool! Nice write up and amazing pictures. It seems like this was a fascinating experience with the training exercises and all that occurring right down the runway!

Wow, I really appreciated reading the story behind this one. Definitely sounds like a unique place. #15 was my favorite. It just really seems to give a feel for this whole explore. Nice set!