One of five men arrested near RAF Fairford called the police at 00:45 BST, almost an hour before a farmer also dialled 999 after seeing men in balaclavas.
Three vans being spotted near the base, which the US military operates, sparked a major security incident around it.
They were released on bail on Monday in what police described as an "investigative decision".
Police say a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found during searches of the vans.
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