The Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) was established to provide a secure oil distribution network for the United Kingdom at the beginning of World War Two in 1939. Over a period of years the pipeline route has been extended and amended, certain sections renewed and relaid or diverted until it now covers approximately 2,500 km of pipe and associated storage depots, pumping stations and other sites.
The GPSS network provides an important link around the country, is unobtrusive and its presence removes the need for significant tanker movements across the UK. The GPSS distributes about 40% of aviation fuel within the UK and serves a number of important civil airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick as well as significant military airfields, locations served by the GPSS include RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall.
Although the network was regarded as a secret operation during World War Two, this classification has been gradually relaxed and today its broad route is known and the pipeline location can be identified from the white stiles that mark the presence of the underground pipeline at field boundaries.
The network was built during World War II and was used to supply fuel for Operation Pluto. This pipeline would have served the nearby depot for the Desert Rats, as well as many other locations locally.
The pipelines are marked by the white fencing and yellow & black capped post that you can see very close to the cache location, now you know what they are you will notice there are loads around this area......and now you know.
There is room to park off the road very close to the cache, but it is also close to a main road so please keep an eye on any children.