Airman 1st Class Daniel Coleman, left, and Tech Sgt. Lamont Robinson test out the beast cage at Haunt World at RAF Lakenheath. Members of the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron prepared the haunted house for Halloween. (Charlie Coon / S&S)
Airman 1st Class Daniel Coleman, left, and Tech Sgt. Lamont Robinson test out the beast cage at Haunt World at RAF Lakenheath. Members of the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron prepared the haunted house for Halloween. (Charlie Coon / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Tim Trace of the 100th Readiness Support Squadron prepares an underground surprise at Haunt World at RAF Mildenhall, England. (Charlie Coon / S&S)
RAF MILDENHALL, England — There’s trouble brewing at RAF Mildenhall.
There are bloody stumps, cages and coffins at an abandoned building on the base. Ghouls, zombies and innocent victims will all roam Haunt World.
The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron is ushering in Halloween with the creep shows set for Friday, Saturday, Wednesday, Thursday and Oct. 31. A toned-down show for the kids will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. each night. The show for grown-ups is from 9 to 11 p.m.
“That’s even more fun — scaring adults,” said the ringleader, Staff Sgt. Carlos Simpson. “Seeing a grown man scream or jump — it’s funny.”
Admission is $3 for kids 12 and under, and $4 for those over 12.
Up to 35 “actors” will work at Haunt World. Simpson said a number of them have been working frantically for the last two weeks to prepare the building, that will include:
• Eleven rooms of horror.• An electrocution room.• The prison block.• The torture chamber.• The checker room that “messes with your head.”
The squadron hopes to use Haunt World to raise money for its Thanksgiving dinner and holiday party.
That’s the plan, anyway.
“We hope to make back the money we’ve spent,” said Senior Airman Amelia Grahn.
That’s about $1,500.
Last year the communications and transportation squadrons were combined into one — the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The project is a way to build camaraderie.
“It’s a way for the squadron members to get involved with other members,” Staff. Sgt. Ken Jeltema said.
Really?
“The goal is to scare the crap out of them,” said Nicki Trace, wife of Staff Sgt. Tim Trace.
Squadron members went to the base’s property manager in September looking for a building to transform. They found a vacant one slated for demolition.
It took time to piece together a plan and meet safety requirements before the squadron got the OK. If the building wasn’t haunted before, it is now.
The airmen are hopeful that Haunt World will become an annual tradition.
“If we can find a building every year ...,” Grahn said.
Haunt World is designed for adults, but group members say they won’t go hog-wild during the early evening shows for the young, impressionable children.
“We just want them to have fun, get them in the Halloween spirit,” Simpson said.
Really?
“OK, we want to scare them — but not to death,” he admitted. “Just give them nightmares.”
