Airfields and their Memorials in East Anglia

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Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   Text © Copyright March 2015, Adrian S Pye; licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence.
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Matlaske to Seething











AirfieldGroupMoreMemorial
MatlaskMatlask served as a satellite station for RAF Coltishall operational from October 1940, The airfield had two grass landing strips. LinkExternal link TG1534 : Matlaske airfield marker by Adrian S Pye TG1434 : Matlaske village sign (detail) by Adrian S Pye
MendleshamInitially a RAF station from December 1943 until 4 April 1944, after which it was occupied by the USAAF 8th Air Force becoming station 156 and home to the 34th Bombardment Group flying both the B17 Fortress and B24 Liberators LinkExternal link TM1065 : New home for the Memorial to the 34th BG (H) by Adrian S Pye
Mepal Opened in June 1943 - RAF 75 (NZ) Sqdn. Thor missile base from 1957. LinkExternal link TL4579 : RAF Mepal memorial by Adrian S Pye TL4579 : RAF Mepal memorial by Adrian S Pye
Metfield(AAF366) 8AF - 353BG, 491BG LinkExternal link TM3078 : Memorial to 491st Bombardment Group (H) by Adrian S Pye TM3078 : Memorial to the Carpetbaggers, RAF Metfield by Adrian S Pye TM2980 : Memorial to the USAAF which were at Metfield 1943 - 1945 by Adrian S Pye
MetheringhamThe airfield was constructed during 1942 and 1943, when approximately 600 acres of farmland and woods were cleared to create the new airfield for No. 5 Group Bomber Command in Grantham and 106 Sqdn. LinkExternal link TF1060 : RAF Metheringham memorial on former perimeter track by Adrian S Pye TF1060 : Memorial to 106 Squadron ... by Adrian S Pye TF1060 : Roadside memorial to RAF Metheringham by Adrian S Pye
MethwoldDispersal airfield for Feltwell in late 1938. After upgrading in 1943 became a satellite of Mildenhall. Closed in 1960. LinkExternal link TL7394 : RAF Methwold; in memory of all who served there 1939-1958 by Adrian S Pye TL7394 : Etched glass memorial to RAF Methwold by Adrian S Pye TL7394 : Methwold village sign featuring a Lockheed Ventura ? by Adrian S Pye
Mildenhall Established in 1930, and opened in 1934. WWII RAF Bomber Command until 1945. Assigned to USAF in 1950 LinkExternal link TL8093 : Memorial to crew-members of a Lancaster HK773 LS-W, XV sqdn by Adrian S Pye TL6977 : RAF Mildenhall Memorial by Adrian S Pye
MolesworthRAF Molesworth is a Royal Air Force station dating back to 1917. Its runway and flight line facilities were closed in 1973 and demolished. New facilities were constructed to support ground-launched cruise missile operations in the early 1980s. It is now a non-flying facility under the control of the United States Air Force (USAF), and is one of two RAF stations in Cambridgeshire currently used by the USAF LinkExternal link TL0876 : Memorial to 303rd Bomb Group (H). Molesworth by Adrian S Pye TL0876 : Memorial to 303rd Bomb Group (H). Molesworth by Adrian S Pye TL0876 : Station 107 Molesworth layout plan 1942 -1945 by Adrian S Pye TL0876 : The back of the memorial at Molesworth by Adrian S Pye
Mousehold HeathIn October 1914 the Royal Flying Corps took over the old cavalry drill ground as an airfield, now the Heartsease Estate, and erected the HQ buildings on the other side of Salhouse Road. Hangars and other buildings survive on Roundtree industrial estate. LinkExternal link TG2409 : Aircrew crash memorial on Mousehold Heath, Norwich by Adrian S Pye TG2409 : Memorial plaque on Mousehold Heath, Norwich by Adrian S Pye
NactonSee IpswichTM1941 : Formation, by Rick Kirby by Adrian S Pye
NarboroughRFC Narborough was opened as a RNAS night landing ground but was soon taken over by the RFC later to become the RAF by which time in 1918 over 1000 personnel were based there. it was the largest all-aircraft Station in Britain during WW1. A total of twenty-one squadron served at Narborough. The Station closed in 1919 and the land was returned to agriculture. LinkExternal link TF7412 : Memorial to Narborough Aerodrome 1915 -1919 by Adrian S Pye TF7412 : Memorial to, and information about, Narborough Aerodrome by Adrian S Pye TF7410 : Memorial at Narborough Field by Adrian S PyeTF7410 : Inscription on the Narborough Field memorial by Adrian S Pye
Newmarket HeathCommunications Unit under Signals Command (Commcen Eastern) and (Commcen North East) Runway was the Rowley Mile racecourse. LinkExternal link TL6262 : Memorial near the Conference Centre by Adrian S Pye TL6262 : 99 Squadron, RAF Newmarket memorial by Adrian S Pye
North CreakeRAF. The site was originally used as a decoy, dummy airfield for RAF Docking but by 1942 additional airfields were required and the runways were laid by the end of the year. LinkExternal link [[[]]] TF9038 : Airfield identification tablet by Adrian S Pye
North KillingholmeThe RAF station opened in November 1943, and became fully operational in January 1944 when 550 Squadron moved there from RAF Waltham. The station was with No. 1 Group RAF. No. 14 Base HQ was based at the airfield between 1944 and 1945. It remained operational until October 1945 LinkExternal link TA1417 : Memorial to RAF North Killingholme in Lancaster Approach by Adrian S Pye TA1417 : North Killingholme village sign by Adrian S Pye TA1417 : Lancaster Approach,  to North Killingholme industrial estate by Adrian S Pye
North Pickenham(Station 143) 8AF - 491BG, 492BG(H) LinkExternal link TF8606 : Memorial to USAAF personnel at North Pickenham by Adrian S Pye
North CotesActive air station during World War I, and then again from the mid-1920s. Between 1942 and 1945, during the Second World War, it was the home of a Coastal Command Strike Wing LinkExternal link TA3602 : RAF North Cotes Strike Wing memorial by Adrian S Pye TA3602 : RAF North Cotes Strike Wing memorial by Adrian S Pye TA3602 : WW2 air-raid shelter at North Cotes by Adrian S Pye TA3702 : Part of the display at North Cotes airfield museum by Adrian S Pye
North WithamOpened in 1943, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces and allocated to the USAAF Troop Carrier Command in August 1943. LinkExternal link SK9423 : Information board about RAF North Witham in Twyford Wood by Adrian S Pye SK9423 : Information board about North Witham airfield by Adrian S Pye SK9423 : A walk through Twyford Wood: No 9 by Kate Jewell
Oakington2 Group 218 Sqdn. & 5 FTS. Currently awaiting redevelopment LinkExternal link TL3966 : RAF Oakington memorial window in Longstanton church by Adrian S Pye TL3966 : Longstanton: All Saints - RAF 7 Squadron memorial window (detail) by John Sutton TL4166 : Type T2 Hangars at the former RAF Oakington by Rob Noble
Old Buckenham(AAF 144) 8AF - 453BG. A large part of the site is currently a private airfield. LinkExternal link TM0793 : Old Buckenham Airfield Memorial by Adrian S Pye TM0793 : Old Buckenham Airfield Memorial in detail by Adrian S Pye
OultonRAF - 803 Radio Measures Counter Sqdn. LinkExternal link TG1527 : RAF Oulton Airfield Memorial by Adrian S Pye TG1728 : RAF 100 Group memorial plaque - RAF Oulton Museum by Evelyn Simak TG1426 : Plaque in memory of RAF Oulton by Adrian S Pye
ParhamSee Framlingham
Polebrook(AAF110) 97BG(H) & 351B.G. LinkExternal link TL1086 : RAF / USAAF Polebrook memorial by Adrian S Pye TL1086 : RAF / USAAF Polebrook memorial by Adrian S Pye TL1086 : U.S.A.A.F. Memorial at R.A.F. Polebrook / USAAF Station 110 - (Photo 3) by Richard Humphrey
PulhamRNAS then RAF. Airship base from 1915. It was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1912 the site was not operational until 1915. From 1918 to 1958, the unit was a Royal Air Force establishment. The R34 landed at RNAS Pulham to complete the first two-way flown crossing of the Atlantic in July 1919. LinkExternal link TM1982 : Air Station Lane, Rushall by Adrian S PyeTM2185 : Pulham St. Mary village sign plaque by Adrian S Pye TM2185 : Pulham St Mary village sign by Adrian S PyeTM2185 : Pulham st. Mary village sign by Adrian S Pye
Rackheath (AAF145) 8AF - 467BG. Construction began in 1943 for the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force with the normal configuration and buildings. The airfield was opened on 11 March 1944 and was used by the 467th Bombardment Group (H), with four Bomb Squadrons of B24 Liberators. The group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945. Following handing the airfield back to the RAF, No. 94 and No. 231 Maintenance Unit were there briefly until the station closed permanently in late 1945. LinkExternal link TG2813 : Memorial to USAAF Rackheath by Adrian S PyeTG2812 : The Coffey Crew gates by Adrian S Pye TG2812 : Memorial plaque at the foot of Rackheath village sign by Adrian S PyeTG2813 : Three memorials to USAAF Rackheath Units by Adrian S Pye
Rattlesden(AAF126) 8AF - 447BG (temp 322BG) LinkExternal link TL9756 : Rattlesden Airfield Memorial by Adrian S Pye TL9756 : Rattlesden Airfield Memorial by Adrian S Pye TL9759 : Memorial to the 477th Bomb Group by Adrian S Pye
Raydon(USAAF F-157) 8AF & 9AF - 353FG* 357FG, 358FG LinkExternal link TM0639 : Raydon Airfield Memorial by Adrian S Pye TM0639 : Map of USAAF Stn. F-157 Raydon by Adrian S Pye TM0639 : Memorial Plaque on the Raydon Airfield Memorial by Adrian S Pye
RidgewellThe airfield was opened in December 1942 as a satellite of RAF Stradishall and was first used by No. 90 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, flying Stirlings until May 1943 when the USAAF (AAF167) 381BG(H) moved in. It remained the only long-term heavy bomber base of the 8th AF in Essex and the furthest east of its thirteen heavy bomber stations. LinkExternal link TL7439 : RAF / USAAF Ridgewell Memorial by Adrian S Pye TL7439 : RAF Ridgewell Memorial by Adrian S Pye
Rivenhall(AAF168) 363FG 397BG. Opened in 1942, used by RAF & USAAF. After the war it was closed in 1946 but kept in reserve until 1956. LinkExternal link TL8119 : RAF / USAAF Rivenhall Airfield memorial by Adrian S Pye
Rougham (Bury St Edmunds)(AAF468) 8AF 47BG(L) briefly, 94BG(L), 322BG(M) It was built for the RAF during 1941 and 1942 with three intersecting concrete runways but used by the USAAF 1943 and 1944 flying four squadrons of B17 Fortresses LinkExternal link TL8964 : The control Tower and memorial at Rougham by Adrian S PyeTL8964 : RAF / USAAF Rougham, 47th, 322nd & 94th BG (H), memorial by Adrian S Pye TL8964 : Plaque on the 47th, 322nd & 94th BG (H) memorial at Rougham by Adrian S PyeTL8564 : Memorial to the USAAF personnel who served at Rougham Airfield by Adrian S Pye
SaltbyInitially the airfield was a grass satellite airfield to RAF Cottesmore, RAF Saltby opened in August 1941 as the home of No. 14 OTU, (Operational Training Unit) but closed for improvements in August 1943. In February 1944 it was allocated to the Ninth Air Force. It had gained three concrete runways, 33 loop and 17 pan hardstandings, and four T2 hangars and a B1. The 314th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-47s and C-53s, occupied the station from then until March 1945, when it was handed back to the RAF. In May 1945 it was used by a detachment of the 349th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-46s.The airfield closed in late 1945 & the station was used for storage until 1948.It was sold in 1955, much of the site has since been demolished and returned to agriculture. SK8726 : Memorial at Saltby airfield by Adrian S Pye SK8726 : Airfield memorial next to the perimeter track at Saltby by Adrian S Pye
SandtoftRAF Sandtoft opened in February 1944 as a satellite airfield to RAF Lindholme which was 3 miles to the west. No. 1 Group, RAF Bomber Command based a number of aircraft here from the RAF 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, including Halifaxes from RAF Faldingworth and Avro Lancasters. In November 1944 the airfield transferred to No. 7 Group Bomber Command. LinkExternal link SE7408 : Memorial to RAF Sandtoft (closer) by Adrian S Pye SE7408 : Memorial to RAF Sandtoft (plaque) by Adrian S Pye
ScamptonRAF Scampton stands on the site of a WW1 RFC landing field, which had been called Brattleby. On the night of 16–17 May 1943, 617 Squadron despatched 19 Lancasters from Scampton. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, the main bulk of the squadron attacked the Sorpe, Eder and Möhne dams. LinkExternal link SK9479 : RAF Scampton memorial in Scampton church by Adrian S Pye SK9779 : The gate guardian at RAF Scampton by Adrian S Pye SK9679 : Hangar at RAF Scampton by Adrian S Pye
ScopwickRAF Scopwick was short lived under that name. To avoid confusion it was renamed Digby and was established on 28 March 1918. It has been home to a number of units, including Nos. 2 and 3 Flying Training Schools and both Guy Gibson and Douglas Bader were stationed here. LinkExternal link TF0658 : Scopwick cemetery and Commonwealth War Graves by Adrian S Pye TF0658 : The grave of  Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, age 19 by Adrian S Pye
SculthorpeRAF Sculthorpe was built as the second satellite airfield of RAF West Raynham a few miles to the south, the first being RAF Great Massingham. RAF 100 Grp. During the Cold War it was occupied by USAF 420th Air Refuelling Squadron. RAF Sculthorpe is now a military training facility for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence. LinkExternal link.TF8431 : Ex Guardroom at the entrance to Tattersett business park by Adrian S Pye TF8531 : Abandoned guard hut on the old Sculthorpe airfield by Adrian S Pye TF8431 : Old underground fuel tank on the surface by Adrian S Pye
SedgefordDuring World War I, the airfield was used for home defence duties, and was initially attached to the Royal Navy. By 1916, the Royal Flying Corps, a precursor the current RAF, took over the facilities. RAF Sedgeford was reused during World War II, when it was classified as a 'Q-type' and 'K-type' bombing decoy. No memorial
Seething(AAF146) 8AF - 448BG(H). Seething airfield was built in 1942−43 to the standard Class A requirement for heavy bombers. Now home to Waveney Flying Group. MuseumTM3195 : Memorial to the 448th BG near the airfield museum by Adrian S PyeTM3197 : USAAF 448th Bomb Group (H) memorial by Adrian S Pye TM3296 : Memorial to the 448th Bombardment Group at Seething Airfield by Adrian S PyeTM3296 : Memorial to the 448th Bombardment Group at Seething Airfield by Adrian S Pye

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