USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Front left view) - 4 Oct 1980

U S Air Force buses in the UK

Folder: East Anglian buses and coaches
When I first moved to Suffolk in early 1979 the United States Air Force operated a fleet of imported buses at the neighbouring air bases at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. These buses had bodywork of the styles used for American school buses. Initially they were of the normal control layout (engine between the front wheels with the driver and entrance door immediately behind them) which were la…  (read more)
USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Front left view) - 4 Oct 1980

USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Front left view)…

04 Oct 1980 334
Saturday 4 October 1980 – The United States Air Force Base at RAF Mildenhall (Suffolk, UK) had a delivery of Wayne bodied International Harvester buses in the early part of 1980. Previously there was a mix of left hand drive and right hand drive buses employed with the entrance doors across from the driver. The 1980 intake was unusual in that they had passenger entrance doors on either side of the body so that passengers could be set down at the kerb when they were operating on public roads both inside and outside of the base perimeter. In these shots of bus 80B 1569 taken close to the Bowling Alley at RAF Mildenhall the layout of the door arrangements can be seen.
USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Front right view) - 4 Oct 1980

USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Front right view)…

04 Oct 1980 327
Saturday 4 October 1980 – The United States Air Force Base at RAF Mildenhall (Suffolk, UK) had a delivery of Wayne bodied International Harvester buses in the early part of 1980. Previously there was a mix of left hand drive and right hand drive buses employed with the entrance doors across from the driver. The 1980 intake was unusual in that they had passenger entrance doors on either side of the body so that passengers could be set down at the kerb when they were operating on public roads both inside and outside of the base perimeter. In these shots of bus 80B 1569 taken close to the Bowling Alley at RAF Mildenhall the layout of the door arrangements can be seen.
USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Rear right view) - 4 Oct 1980

USAF 80B 1569 at RAF Mildenhall (Rear right view)…

04 Oct 1980 291
Saturday 4 October 1980 – The United States Air Force Base at RAF Mildenhall (Suffolk, UK) had a delivery of Wayne bodied International Harvester buses in the early part of 1980. Previously there was a mix of left hand drive and right hand drive buses employed with the entrance doors across from the driver. The 1980 intake was unusual in that they had passenger entrance doors on either side of the body so that passengers could be set down at the kerb when they were operating on public roads both inside and outside of the base perimeter. In these shots of bus 80B 1569 taken close to the Bowling Alley at RAF Mildenhall the layout of the door arrangements can be seen.
USAF bus at RAF Mildenhall - 24 May 1981

USAF bus at RAF Mildenhall - 24 May 1981

24 May 1981 504
Sunday 24 May 1981 – One of the left-hand drive United States Air Force buses seen airside at the RAF Mildenhall Passenger Terminal during the annual Air Display. The terminal regularly handles passenger aircraft from abroad and the Base is assigned the IATA airport code of MHZ.
USAF bus at RAF Mildenhall Base Chapel - 1979 1980

USAF bus at RAF Mildenhall Base Chapel - 1979 1980

01 Jan 1980 559
Circa 1979/1980 – The buses employed by the United States Air Force at RAF Mildenhall during the early 1980s were largely left-hand drive. This circa 1968 bus on Chevrolet chassis was seen picking up near the Base Chapel when operating the ‘Base Shuttle’ – a timetabled circular service that ran round the whole perimeter of the site serving various work units and remote hangars. Centre of the road passenger loading was not ideal but on the roads within the Base area there was a form of discipline that existed. Gradually right-hand drive vehicles became the norm.
USAF Motor Pool at RAF Mildenhall - 1979/1980

USAF Motor Pool at RAF Mildenhall - 1979/1980

01 Jan 1980 1 317
Circa 1979/1980 – A line up of United States Air Force buses in the Motor Pool compound at RAF Mildenhall. They are all on International Harvester chassis, bodywork perhaps by Superior and Ward. Note that only one is right-hand drive. Most of the fleet at this time was largely left-hand drive.
USAF buses in High Street, Mildenhall - Oct 1979

USAF buses in High Street, Mildenhall - Oct 1979

01 Oct 1979 1 377
October 1979 – Two International Harvester buses of the United States Air Force seen in Mildenhall High Street collecting personnel from either the White Hart or Bell Hotels opposite St. Mary’s Church. Note that the leading bus is left-hand drive whereas that behind is right-hand drive. Most of the fleet at this time was left-hand drive which wasn’t ideal when the buses ran off Base on assignments like this. In early 1980 a number of Wayne bodied International Harvester buses were assigned to USAF at RAF Mildenhall which featured passenger entrance doors on either side of the body.
USAF buses and planes at RAF Mildenhall - Sep 1980

USAF buses and planes at RAF Mildenhall - Sep 1980

01 Sep 1980 1 294
September 1980 – The United States Air Force has had a presence at RAF Mildenhall from 1950 and in this view taken from the southern side of the site two of the bus fleet were seen dealing with air crew movements. I am not an aircraft expert but I know that on the left is a Starlifter and think that in the background a Convair.
USAF 68B1155 at RAF Mildenhall - 4 Oct 1980

USAF 68B1155 at RAF Mildenhall - 4 Oct 1980

04 Oct 1980 1 297
Saturday 4 October 1980 – At the time of this photograph among the oldest buses operated by the United States Air Force Base at RAF Mildenhall (Suffolk, UK) included this 1968 Chevrolet 68B 1155. It was a left-hand drive model like most of the fleet at the time although some right-hand drive models were operated.
USAF 68B1155 at RAF Mildenhall - 4 Oct 1980

USAF 68B1155 at RAF Mildenhall - 4 Oct 1980

04 Oct 1980 1 306
Saturday 4 October 1980 – At the time of this photograph among the oldest buses operated by the United States Air Force Base at RAF Mildenhall (Suffolk, UK) included this 1968 Chevrolet 68B 1155. It was a left-hand drive model like most of the fleet at the time although some right-hand drive models were operated.
USAF bus at Holywell Row - May 1980

USAF bus at Holywell Row - May 1980

01 May 1980 334
May 1980 – The buses of the United States Air Force at RAF Mildenhall provided a regular timetabled shuttle service for personnel between RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath so could regularly be seen on the public roads. This bus was at the roundabout near Holywell Row. During the early 1980s most of the fleet was left-hand drive.
USAF 73B 3141 in St. Andrew's Street, Mildenhall - Aug 1979

USAF 73B 3141 in St. Andrew's Street, Mildenhall -…

01 Aug 1979 325
August 1979 – United States Air Force 73B 3141 seen in St. Andrew’s Street, Mildenhall (at the rear entrance to the Bell Hotel) when collecting personnel from either RAF Mildenhall or RAF Lakenheath. Most of the USAF bus fleet at this time was left-hand drive which wasn’t ideal when the buses ran off Base on assignments like this. In early 1980 a number of Wayne bodied International Harvester buses were assigned to USAF at RAF Mildenhall which featured passenger entrance doors on either side of the body.
USAF Motor Pool at RAF Mildenhall - Feb 1980

USAF Motor Pool at RAF Mildenhall - Feb 1980

01 Feb 1980 390
February 1980 – A line up of United States Air Force vehicles in the Motor Pool compound at RAF Mildenhall. From right to left is an International Harvester wrecker truck then four International Harvester buses. Beyond the two smaller vehicles is a Chevrolet bus.
USAF 70B 2589 and 77B 5552 at RAF Mildenhall - Feb 1980

USAF 70B 2589 and 77B 5552 at RAF Mildenhall - Feb…

01 Feb 1980 395
February 1980 – Two of the United States Air Force buses seen at RAF Mildenhall. They are 70B 2589 and 77B 5552, both on International Harvester chassis.
USAF 77B 5552 at RAF Mildenhall - Feb 1980

USAF 77B 5552 at RAF Mildenhall - Feb 1980

01 Feb 1980 1 318
February 1980 – The buses employed by the United States Air Force at RAF Mildenhall during the early 1980s were largely left-hand drive. 77B 5552 dating from 1977 has International Harvester chassis.
USAF buses at RAF Mildenhall - Mar 1981

USAF buses at RAF Mildenhall - Mar 1981

01 Mar 1981 391
March 1981 – Two International Harvester buses of the United States Air Force at work at RAF Mildenhall. The leading bus is one of the Wayne bodied vehicles delivered in 1980 which featured passenger doors on both sides of the body. The bus behind was one of the earlier left hand drive models with the sole door on the right side.
USAF bus at RAF Mildenhall - Jul 1980

USAF bus at RAF Mildenhall - Jul 1980

01 Jul 1980 627
July 1980 – The buses employed by the United States Air Force at RAF Mildenhall during the early 1980s were largely left-hand drive and featured both short and long wheelbase models. One of the latter type on International Harvester chassis was seen near the Bowling Alley at RAF Mildenhall.
USAF 70B 2594 in St. Andrew's Street, Mildenhall - 30 Sep 1979

USAF 70B 2594 in St. Andrew's Street, Mildenhall -…

30 Sep 1979 314
Sunday 30 September 1979 – United States Air Force 70B 2594 seen in St. Andrew’s Street, Mildenhall (at the rear entrance to the Bell Hotel) when collecting personnel from either RAF Mildenhall or RAF Lakenheath. Most of the USAF bus fleet at this time was left-hand drive which wasn’t ideal when the buses ran off Base on assignments like this. In early 1980 a number of Wayne bodied International Harvester buses were assigned to USAF at RAF Mildenhall which featured passenger entrance doors on either side of the body.
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