RAF Fylingdales
RAF FYLINGDALES: Radar base with helipad
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: Just E of the A169, 8nm SSW of Whitby town centre and 12nm NW of Scarborough town centre
NOTES: When a helipad was first installed here is not known? Clearly, as in the 2002 picture above, although marked, it was not expected that any helicopters would arrive, it being used as a car park. And indeed, by 2009 it was no longer marked. But, by 2018 at least, it was now clearly marked - so what changed?
RAF FYLINGDALE was first commissioned in 1963, at the height of the 'Cold War' as a main part of a Missile Early Warning System. As everybody 'in the know' knew, there was no possibility whatsover of an all out atomic war, which could only result in the destruction of most of humanity on earth.
What interests me, is how, week in and week out, month in and month out, year in and year out, for nigh on three decades, did those manning this station manage to remain awake looking at their radar screens? Were they given other tasks like monitoring military aerial exercises, civil air movements etc?
Given that the principal enemy of all western nations today, (written in 2020), mostly from Islamic States, has no recognisable army, no navy and no air force, how does this facility still justify its existence?
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