Royal Air Force Greenham Common

Royal Air Force Greenham Common was a military airfield in Berkshire, England, with a history spanning from the Second World War through the Cold War. Initially constructed for the Royal Air Force, it became a crucial base for the United States Army Air Forces during the air offensive against Nazi Germany. Its post-war significance escalated dramatically when it was selected as a base for United States Air Force BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missiles, making it a focal point of international tension and a symbol of nuclear disarmament protests.

History

Construction began in 1941 on common land near Newbury, with the airfield becoming operational in 1942 under the control of RAF Fighter Command. It was soon transferred to the United States Army Air Forces and became a key base for the Eighth Air Force. The station served as a departure point for heavy bombers, including the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator, participating in raids over Occupied Europe. After VE Day, the site was returned to the Royal Air Force and placed in a care-and-maintenance status, seeing limited use during the Berlin Blockade airlift operations before its eventual reactivation for a more confrontational role in the latter half of the 20th century.

Cold War operations

In the early 1980s, under the NATO dual-key system, the base was radically transformed to host Ground Launched Cruise Missiles as part of the alliance's response to the Soviet deployment of SS-20 missiles. The United States Air Force's 501st Tactical Missile Wing operated 96 BGM-109G missiles from hardened shelters constructed across the common. This deployment followed the ratification of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and was a direct implementation of the NATO decision taken by member states including the United Kingdom under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The presence of these nuclear weapons made the base a primary Soviet Union target and a central node in the strategic planning of both the Warsaw Pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Protests and women's peace camp

The missile deployment triggered one of the most sustained and famous protest campaigns in modern British history. In September 1981, a group called Women for Life on Earth arrived at the base, establishing the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. The protest, which remained for 19 years, became an iconic feminist and peace movement, emphasizing non-violent direct action. Protestors, often numbering in the tens of thousands, famously linked hands to "Embrace the Base" in 1982. Figures such as Bruce Kent of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament were associated with the demonstrations, which faced significant opposition from the Ministry of Defence Police and the government of Margaret Thatcher.

Closure and legacy

Following the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the missiles were removed in 1991. The base was officially closed in 1993 and the land was eventually decommissioned and returned to the local community. Most structures, including the iconic missile shelters and control tower, were demolished. The area has been largely reclaimed as public common land, with a business park occupying part of the former technical site. The peace camp finally disbanded in 2000, leaving a powerful legacy in the history of protest, Cold War strategy, and the global nuclear disarmament movement.

In popular culture

The base and the protests have been referenced in numerous cultural works. The 1985 television film *Threads* depicted the horrific consequences of nuclear war for which bases like Greenham Common were a preparation. The 2014 film *The Iron Lady* featured the protests as part of its portrayal of Margaret Thatcher's premiership. Musical tributes include the song "Greenham Common" by The Men They Couldn't Hang, and the base is mentioned in literature and documentaries examining the Cold War and feminist activism, cementing its place in the popular consciousness of the era.

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Berkshire Category:United States Air Force installations in the United Kingdom Category:Cold War military installations of the United Kingdom Category:Women's peace camps