Glatton had four gates numbered 1 to 4. Here you will find a discription of all four gates and where you would find these on the airbase.
Gate #1, Main Gate
Gate #1 was located on Conington Lane opposite of the entrance to the 750th BS living area. Glatton airbase was partialy build in a residential area so local residents would also pass this gate to get to their homes. Residents had to stop at the gate and identify themselves to the MP’s.
The sign oppossite the MP guard house reads:
VISITORS
Vehicles Must Give Way To Aircraft
All visiting drivers will report to
Flying Control before proceeding
on to the perimeter track…
Failure to comply renders civil-
lian drivers liable to prosecution
The farm manager of the Conington Estate would frequently visit the Crown and Woolpack on Saturday evenings. Being local and regular he became well known to the guards at the main gate who could easily identify him by the old German Opel car he was driving. He soon got accustomed to driving through the checkpoint without stopping. On one particular Saturday night, he left the Crown and Woolpack to drive back across Conington Lane on to his residence, unaware that the gate was not manned by MP’s who knew him. The MP’s opened fire and his car was hit, and for many years thereafter, he proudly drove around, shwing the bullet holes the Yanks put in his car.
Men from the base, with leave passes, would gather at the main gate hoping to hitch a ride to town or to one of the many local pubs. Later two buses would daily operate from the MP post at gate #1. Passengers would be picked up here and would only be discharged at designated stops.
The first photo is an aerial photo and shows the current location of the main gate on Conington Lane. The second photo shows the location of the main gate and the enterance (left) to the 750th BS living area. Photo three shows the MP building with two MP’s guarding the enterance to the base. Photo four shows men waiting or hoping to hitch a ride to one of the many pubs.
— click on the images for full size photos —
Gate #2
Gate #2 was located along Glatton Lane. Glatton Lane separated the Airbase and Bomb Store. Gate #2 was on the side of the Airbase. We have no clear aerial photos of the bomb store area so no photo of the MP post at gate #2
The first photo is an aerial photo and shows the current location of gate #2. The second photo shows the current location on street level. On the right would have been the entrance to the Bomb Store and on the left the entrance to the Airbase.
— click on the images for full size photos —
Gate #3
Gate #3 was located on Pingle Bank (named Shanks Road by the Americans). Nearby were the petrol installation and the dirt pile. The men of the base would leave through this gate when going for a drink at Railway Arms or the Admiral Inn. New arrivals would enter the airbase through this gate when arriving by train.
The first photo is an aerial photo and shows the current location of gate #3, that would be on the parking lot of the Conington Flying Club. The second photo shows the current location on street level looking in the direction of Sawtry.
— click on the images for full size photos —
Gate #4
Gate #4 was located on Church Lane (named Deadwood Drive by the Americans) just around the corner from the sick quarters area.
The first photo is an aerial photo and shows the current location where gate #4 used to be. The second photo is taken towards the location of gate #4. The field on the left would have been the sick quarters area. The third photo is taken from the other side where you would have entered the airbase, towards the sick quarters area and the church.
— click on the images for full size photos —