Updated on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 12:32 PM
Narrative:
Bushey Hall 1953-55
U.S. Army Base
32nd AAA Brigade Headquarters
34th AAA Operations Detachment
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Narrative by Roy Reeves |
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In February, 1951, during the
height of the Cold War, the United States sent the 32nd AAA Brigade to England
from Ft. Bliss, Texas.
The 32nd AAA Brigade HQ consisted of the 34th AAA Operations Detachment, the 6th Chemical (smoke) Unit, an Augmentation Unit of which I have forgotten the designation, along with Radar/Gun Batteries. These Anti Aircraft Gun Batteries guarded the planes and runways of the numerous SAC bases of the 7th Air Division, such as Brize Norton, Upper Heyford and many more.
The purpose of the deployment of the 32nd AAA Brigade and it's supporting units in England was as an early warning system for the SAC bases in England.
The purpose of the 34th AAA Operations Detachment was to receive radar information on unidentified, incoming aircraft and track such aircraft on our plotting table in our Operations Control Center and send a warning to the AAA Gun Batteries. Photos of the 34th AAA Opns. Detachment Control Center Quonset Hut (Nissan in Brit) are shown as they appeared in 1953-55 and now, as are some of the other buildings of Bushey Hall. Wherever possible, these comparison photos are shown side by side in order that you may see the changes over these past 47 years.
The 32nd AAA Brigade HQ and supporting units were stationed at Mildenhall RAF base when I arrived in 1953. Sometime in the late summer of 1953 it was decided that the Brigade would be moved to a small base near Watford, called Bushey Hall.
In September, 1953 the 32nd AAA Brigade HQ and all supporting units except the Radar/Gun Batteries moved to Bushy Hall and remained there until 1957. After the departure of the U.S. Army, the base was used by the U.S. Government as a DODD School.
My thanks to Mr. J. Mercer for making this "Bushey Hall Before Then" site possible and sincerely hope that these old black and white photos of the 50's will be of some Interest to all.
Roy Reeves, vesree@cox.net (5/28/02)
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For 32nd AAA Brigade Organizational Chart "Click Here!" |
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If you have any questions or you have any photos you would like to share and add to this page, please email me at: vesree@cox.net Roy Reeves ... |
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32nd AAA Brigade HQ Battery narrative & photos, Click Here! |
