TG4018 : Pillbox beside Fritton Lane
taken 9 years ago, near to Ludham, Norfolk, England
Ludham airfield was constructed as a grass surface satellite airfield for RAF Coltishall. Flying commenced in November 1941, with the airfield being used as a forward base for Fighter Command and it was used by a number of RAF squadrons over the following years until the station was closed in 1943 to build three concrete runways, taxiways and hardstandings intended to be used by the US Army Air Forces. They never opted to use the airfield, however, and a skeleton duty crew was then based here to provide emergency recovery facilities for American bombers returning from overseas missions.
In August 1944, the airfield was transferred from RAF No. 12 Group to the Admiralty which had no suitable sites available. In September, Ludham was commissioned as HMS Flycatcher, RNAS. HMS Flycatcher was a ships' name designated for the headquarters and formation station of the Mobile Naval Airfields Organisation which was to assemble and despatch the first five Mobile Naval Air Bases and one Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard at Ludham. As the location did not lend itself to the task of the MNAO, the RAF proposed to exchange it for RAF Middle Wallop. The Admiralty accepted and Ludham was returned to No. 12 Group control.
For a short time the site was used by the 602nd and 603rd squadrons from Coltishall and by the 91st and the 1st squadrons but they all left again in July. No further flying took place and the airfield was put under Care & Maintenance in August 1945. Control passed to No. 60 Group Fighter Command and the accommodation sites were utilised for housing personnel from surrounding RAF establishments. The airfield was closed in April 1946.
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