Where were the large numbers of F-15's going when they took off from 3.30 to 6am on Monday 5th Jan?
See local press article here.

The word was Afghanistan in some reports and South West Asia in others. All very loose. They have never taken off at that time before. Being at the start of the Israel/Gaza troubles, it seems possible they were going to help Israel as Lakenheath has the experience from trianing with DIME bombs.

We were told they needed to take off that early so it was still light when landing at their destination. Night landing has never bothered them before. In fact they make a point of night flying all through the winter at Lakenheath. Could it be their tail fins were flying with an Israeli call sign which would not want to be seen taking off here or any other base outside of Israel. F-15's landing in Israel with the Lakenheath LN callsign would be equally unacceptable to such an operation.

RAF Mildenhall Base Tours Resume (1st Jan 2002)
RAF Mildenhall has reopened its gates to tours again after months of closure. The tours are designed to give the local community an insight into life on the Mildenhall airbase. Over 2000 people a year visit the base with professional business organisations, vehicle touring clubs, aviation enthusiasts and air training cadets, just some of the groups who attend.
Tours begin at 1130 every Tuesday and Thursday with an experienced guide to show groups around the base.
To book a tour or to arrange for a speaker to attend a meeting or event call 01638 542654

From Bury Free Press 28/12/01

Lakenheath tours have now also been resumed, but are fully booked till July 2002. However, Lords walk is still closed (06 March 2002)

Thetford 01842 754 404 School lane Thetford

PT Coles 18 Raymond Street Thetford
01842 753501

Both these supermarkets deliver next day to Lakenheath within a 2 hour window of your choice and you can order from their websites. Iceland also allows phone/fax ordering. Both stores allow you to save your shopping basket so you can build up items day by day until you are ready to order. Tesco deliverto Lakenheath in refridgerated vehicles from their Newmarket store. (£5 Delivery charge).

www.tesco.com

www.iceland-shop.co.uk

Order before 3pm for next day delivery, £4 Delivery Charge, min order £40. Phone for their catalogue.Iceland deliver in refridgerated vehicles from the Thetford store (Mistergate).
Thetford Iceland - 01842 750746
Home Shopping - 0870 0100 867

Can't find DIY things locally?
Go to Homebase online and get it delivered next day. Delivery is probably no dearer than fuel or public transport costs. Please try to shop locally where possible, but if all else fails Homebase have the lot.

EASTGATE VETERINARY GROUP
The Riverside Veterinary Clinic,
15 Mill Street, Mildenhall, IP28 7DP
01638 713980
Eastgate Veterinary Clinic,
Bury Road,
Thetford.
01842 753961
Eastgate Veterinny Clinic,
Cotton Lane,
Bury St Edmunds
01284 753961 (24hr Emergency number)

MILKMAN ARLA Foods, Hammond Close Newmarket CB8 OAZ 01638 662066

Route 200 is the main bus that goes through Lakenheath. It goes from Newmarket to Thetford and travels though the village via, Broom Road, Highfields, Wings Road.

Route 200 stops at:
Thetford, Sainbury's
Thetford, Riverside Bus Station
Thetford, Railway Station
Santon Downham Church
Brandon, Sewing Machine Centre, London Road Manor Road, St Peters Approach
London Road, Crown Street Corner
Wangford, Brandon road Junction
Lakenheath, Woodlands
Lakenheath, Highfields
RAF Lakenheath, Lakenheath Road
Eriswell, Sparks Farm Holywell Row, Hollands Farm Junction
USAF Mildenhall, Mickeys Tea Bar
Mildenhall, King Street Bus Stand
Worlington, Walnut Tree
Freckenham, Elms Road
Red Lodge, Boundary Road
Kennet Village
Kennett, Railway Station
Newmarket, Rookery Bus Station

352 Mon-Sat
Lakenheath Woodlands to Bury via
RAF Lakenheath, Eriswell, Holywell Row, Mildenhall, Icklingham, Worlington, Red Lodge,Herriswell, Tuddenham, Cavenham, Lackford, Flempton, Hengrave, Fordham All Saints. 3 buses a day starting at 0730, 1000 and 1517 Lak - Bury and 0900, 1420, 1750 Bury to Lak.
Rough Guide only.Call Suffolk Traveline 08459 583358 for full timetable.

BUSSEN and PARKIN
Large Independent Hardware shop Est 1919
King Street Mildenhall
01638 712265
www.bussens.com

FENCING SUPPLIES

P- JAYS, 40 Woodcutters Way, Lakenheath
Professional landscape builders and fencing contractors, born and bred in Lakenheath. Members of the Guild Of Master Craftsmen and the prestigious Marshalls Landscape Register.
10 year guarantee on all labour and materials.
Full details are available in their brochure

Michael Tuffs 01842 861613
Roy Allsop 01842 861766
e-mail mtuffs.pjays@virgin.net
www.p-jays.co.uk

Lakenheath Country Club & Clay Target Centre
01638 533353
info@lctc.co.uk

The Cromwell Inn and Hotel
(Visited By Oliver Cromwell)
Traditional Sunday Lunches Available.
76 High St Lakenheath.
Tel/Fax 01842 860308.

BASES
Lakenheath Royal Air Force Base,
APO AE 09464-5000, United Kingdom, tel. 638 523000. Located 70 miles northeast of London, England; 25 miles from Cambridge. 4480 military personnel; 2025 civilians.
RAF BASE COMMANDER Sqrn. leader Martin Godfrey (01638 532 706)

Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base,
APO AE 09459-5000, United Kingdom, tel. 638 511110. Located 30 miles northeast of Cambridge, England. 3492 military personnel; 193 civilians.
Lakenheath Aero Club 01638 532613

Citizens Advice Bureau

Brandon and Lakenheath

COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD

LAKENHEATH FOOTBALL CLUB
Contact number for the senior side who play at the "nest" or "pit"
Mrs P .Gyte (01842)860979

LAKENHEATH LADS 2001/2002 SEASON requires players of ages u8, u9, u10, u11, u13 and u15. Must be available to play Sundays, and train Saturday mornings.
Training for the new season starts in July.
Contact Mr S FLack 01842 862010
or e-mail flackvalentine@aol.com

LAKENHEATH SILVER BAND
(Looking for members)

LAKENHEATH RABBIT RESCUE
If you need a home for a Rabbit or unexpected litter. Please contact us. We take on any rabbit, any age and any condition. No questions asked. Happy loving home available with 24hr/ 7 day all year round care. Neutering/Spaying and medical attention carried out where needed. We will also look after bunnies while you go away on holiday.

Email Howard and Val
Sorry we are full at the moment (March 2002)

Lakenheath 2000 Excellent Site, lots of contact numbers and info

I found this info at www.getmapping.com and thought Lakenheath residents may find it interesting

Lakenheath formerly known as Laringahetha in Laringahetha, SUFFOLK (although its also quoted here as Laken hythe, "hythe" meaning "landing place". )

Eriswell formerly known as Hereswella in Hereswella, SUFFOLK
Wangford formerly known as Wamforda in Wamforda, SUFFOLK
Undley formerly known as Lundale in Lundale, SUFFOLK
Hockwold formerly known as Hocwella in Hocwella, NORFOLK

RAF Lakenheath History
15th Jan 1960: 48th Fighter Wing moves to RAF Lakenheath UK
7th Jan 1972: First - 4D Phantom II joins wing (to begin replacing the wing's F - 100 fleet)
1st March 1977: F-111F's join the wing; 48th is the first USAFE wing equipped with F-111F's.
February 1992: F-15E's join wing.
December 1992 The last F-111F leaves RAF Lakenheath for reassignment to Cannon Air Force Base N.M.
January 1994 F-15C's join wing.
[However no mention of when nuclear weapons arrived at USAF Lakenheath!]
RAF Base Commanders 01638 521945
Squadron Leader Martin Godfrey
Feb 1999 - August 2001 Squadron Leader Paul S. Seymour
August 2001 Squadron Leader Mike Turner
USAF Base Commanders
Sept 1999 - March 2001 Col Irving Halter (Now with 366th wing at mountain AFB Idaho)
Current base commander Col John T Brennan (From March 2001)

US Holidays
This list of american holidays is provided so British Lakenheath residents may know in advance when the base will be on holiday and can therefore plan ahead for a peaceful day.

*Red = Days they observe at Lakenheath
* As far as I can work out this information is correct, but I have had to work out what days the base take as holidays myself as they refuse to give this innocent information to Lakenheath residents.

2001
New Year's Day Monday, 1 January, 2001.
Birthday of Martin Luther King Monday, 15 January, 2001.
Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day)(Observed) is Monday, 19 February, 2001.

Armed Forces Day Saturday, 19 May, 2001.
Memorial Day Monday, 28 May, 2001. (Usual flying this year)

Flag Day is Thursday, 14 June, 2001.
Independence Day Wednesday, 4 July, 2001.
UK August bank holiday Monday - observed by base this year.

Labor Day is Monday, 3 September, 2001.
Columbus Day (Observed) is Monday, 8 October, 2001.
Election Day Tuesday, 6 November, 2001.
Veterans' Day Holiday is Monday, 12 November, 2001
Thanksgiving Day Thursday, 22 November, 2001.
Day After Thanksgiving Friday, 23 November, 2001.
Christmas Day is Tuesday, 25 December, 2001.
======================================
2002
New Year's Day is Tuesday, 1 January, 2002.
Birthday of Martin Luther King is Monday, 21 January, 2002.
Washington's Birthday (Observed) is Monday, 18 February, 2002.
Washington's Birthday is Friday, 22 February, 2002.

Armed Forces Day is Saturday, 18 May, 2002.
Memorial Day is Monday, 27 May, 2002.

Flag Day is Friday, 14 June, 2002.
Independence Day is Thursday, 4 July, 2002.

Labor Day is Monday, 2 September, 2002.
Columbus Day (Traditional) is Saturday, 12 October, 2002.
Columbus Day (Observed) is Monday, 14 October, 2002.
Election Day is Tuesday, 5 November, 2002.
Veterans' Day is Monday, 11 November, 2002.
Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, 28 November, 2002.
Christmas Day is Wednesday, 25 December, 2002.

From http://www.smart.net/~mmontes/ushols.html

Retreat sounds 4pm Winter and 5:30 in Summer. Retreat is the noisy Tannoy we hear playing the US and UK anthems every day, which is far louder over the Broom road area of village than standing outside the gate in Lords Walk.
We are trying to get them to stop sounding retreat from the Tannoy as a gesture of good will to the village and as reconition of the many decades of support villagers give by putting up with aircraft noise reducing our quality of life/sleep patterns etc