‘When your signal goes down, something’s going on’: life next to a US air base in the UK
Summary
RAF Lakenheath and nearby bases in Suffolk, England, host the largest US Air Force presence in Europe. The local community experiences disruptions like phone and internet signal loss and loud noises when US military planes fly, but they also benefit economically from the bases.Key Facts
- RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force base in Europe.
- Nearby bases include RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell.
- About 7,000 US active duty personnel and 11,000 family members live on or near the bases.
- The village of Lakenheath has around 10,000 people, nearly half are US citizens.
- Locals notice phone and internet signals drop during military activities.
- Loud noises from military jets cause disruption but are accepted by residents.
- Car insurance is higher locally due to accidents involving American drivers.
- The bases store nuclear weapons and were originally selected in World War II for strategic reasons.
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