The Bentwaters Cold War Museum is located at Bentwaters Parks, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, England. This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Cold War period, particularly the role of Bentwaters Air Base and its involvement in military operations during that time. Bentwaters was a significant U.S. Air Force base during the Cold War, and the museum provides insights into the military and political tensions of the era.
Bentwaters Cold War Museum
Building 134, Bentwaters Parks
Rendlesham
Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2TW
+44 7588 877020
Fax +44 1394 460355
On arrival at the security barriers, please follow the BCWM signs to the museum car park, or follow the instructions from the security staff as required. The airfield is private property, so please follow all signs and do not access prohibited parts of the airfield unless instructed to do so by museum staff or the security staff
Aircraft collection
| ZD667
ZF581 80-0219/AR WH453 XE707/VL-865 51-9252 XV401 FU-6 XX741/EJ | BAe Harrier GR.3
English Electric Lightning F.53 Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II Gloster Meteor F.8 Hawker Hunter GA.11 Lockheed T-33A McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 Republic F-84F Thunderstreak SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1A |
The Bentwaters Cold War Museum has become a popular attraction for visitors to the Suffolk coastal area and for those interested in aviation and military installations previously denied access to the public.
The museum is based in the United States Air Force (USAF) hardened command post on the former Bentwaters airbase which closed after the withdrawal of the USAF in 1993 and is believed to be the only such building open to the public in the UK and Europe.
Run by volunteers from the Bentwaters Aviation Society, the building is a large bunker made available to the public to view following 3 years of work to renovate and refurbish and opened in 2007. Further information on the society can be found at www.bentwaters-as.org.uk and for the museum at www.bcwm.org.uk
The Bentwaters Cold War Museum main “War Operations Room” and “Battle Cabin” have been restored to original condition including the original decontamination showers and airlocks allowing members of the public to see these once top secret, high security military installations in detail in an eerie atmosphere evoking the Cold War period.
Other parts of the building have been turned into exhibition rooms, covering the history of RAF Bentwaters from W.W.II until the base closed in 1993. Included in this are histories of the units that operated from the airfield, particularly the 81st Fighter Wing. Also included is the other airfield which was part of the “twin base” complex – RAF Woodbridge, again covering the period from W.W.II until the present day. Of particular interest to families is a detailed timeline display of the Cold War which has proven of great help to those studying this period at school.
Further exhibition rooms feature information on the “Special Operations/Rescue Squadrons” that were based at RAF Woodbridge, and also the “Aggressor” Squadron based at Bentwaters.
Outside are the aircraft exhibits where the RAF Harrier and Phantom can be seen, and are joined by the USAF A-10 Warthog which was a familiar sight in the skies over Suffolk when this iconic type operated from Bentwaters and Woodbridge.
There is plenty of car parking space and the Bentwaters Cold War Museum is suitable for all ages and has the added benefit of being an ideal all weather visitor attraction.
Further information for the museum can be found at www.bcwm.org.uk
Photo Rob Vogelaar