Date:Wed, 27 May 1998 20:13:39 -0500
Subject:Menwith Hill Visit
FROM:"J. Anthony Abel" sanfran@texas.net

Bill:

E-Mail absolutely knocks me out! Here we have exchanged three messages in less time than snail-mail could get the first one out of town. I have never lost my sense of wonder at the technology of communications, dating back to my days on the Hill.

You asked about details of our trip last spring.
Actually, we only got to the parking lot outside the main gate. My, how that has changed. The parking space where the Bloke Bus would back into while awaiting the guys heading into town -- that parking space is still there. The gate itself has spikes in the road and a guard house between the inbound and outbound lanes of traffic. Looked like civilian constables on duty.

We didn't get inside -- didn't even try. We parked in a parking lot in front of the administration building, but outside of the fence. My wife started to take a picture before a told her it might not be a good idea. I was afraid of attracting a lot of unwanted attention. After all, the place isn't even listed on any of the maps of the area.

The view of Forest Moor across the road hasn't changed a bit. I looked over that vast expanse of rock fences and heather, just as I did 35 years ago from the window of my barracks room. It was nice.

The road itself has undergone some major improvements. It's no longer the country road I knew. It has been widened, resurfaced, and goodness gracious, there's traffic on it -- lots of traffic. Out on the main road into Harrogate, "The Bloody Bull" seems a lot closer to the road than it used to be. And you can hardly see the old rhomboid antennae for all the "golf balls".

Cece and I are going back to Harrogate for the last week or so of August. We've rented a flat on St. Mary's Street. It's just off Cold Bath Road and right in the middle of the town, only a block or two from Montpellier Hill.
I'm working with Bill Gardner, president of the 13th M.H. Association, who has written to the commander of the American portion of the base. I think there's a bloke commander too -- since it is now known as RAF Menwith Hill.
We're definitely going to make a run at getting inside this time. I don't give a hoot about the mission out there these days, but I sure would like to repeat some of those photographs you have on your web site.
..... In the meantime, there's more about last year's visit to Harrogate at the 13th website. Look under "Hill Postings" for the post "How long has this been goin' on!"

Tony Abel
sanfran@TEXAS.NET
Menwith Hill '60 - '62