Oxfordshire played host to American forces at the Upper Heyford airfield near Bicester for many years.
The military personnel often expressed their gratitude for the hospitality they received by opening the base to local families and organisations.
Picture 1 was taken in 1964 when more than 800 children and their parents were treated to a Christmas party in the gymnasium.
Children living in Upper and Lower Heyford, Fritwell, Somerton and Kirtlington were joined by those from families on the base.
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A two-hour, non-stop programme included entertainment from a rock group, a conjurer and the pipe band from the Standard Motor Company at Coventry. Every child left with a stocking full of fruit, sweets and nuts.
Not all groups were welcome, however. Pictures 2, 3 and 4 were taken during regular demonstrations by peace campaigners.
Picture 2 dates from June 1983 when several hundred staged a sit-down outside the base in a four-day protest against nuclear weapons. More than 100 arrests were made.
Six months earlier, on New Year’s Eve 1982, 1,000 people - some seen in Picture 3 - blockaded all nine gates.
About 400 police were drafted in, but the demonstration passed peacefully. One of the protesters, Richard Samson, said: “Our idea was to disrupt the functions of the base.”
Campaigners sent their messages flying high in Picture 4 with a balloon race during an Easter peace festival in 1984. The winner received a chocolate Easter egg.
Spokesman Chris Morgan said: “We want to contrast children enjoying themselves in the sunshine with the horrors the base is capable of inflicting.”
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More than 100 senior citizens - some seen in Picture 5 - were entertained to a three-course Christmas lunch at the base in 1978 as guests of the Wives’ Club.
The guests came from old people’s homes in Bicester and from Ardley, Fritwell, the Heyfords, Steeple Aston and Somerton.
It wasn’t always a case of entertaining groups at the base - occasionally airmen would visit them. One such occasion was in 1964 when they threw a Christmas party for residents at Barton End home in Headington.
Father Christmas - Master Sergeant Arthur Patterson - is seen in Picture 6 handing out presents.
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