Spragg is the senior consultant of the glenn miller archives and the american music research center at the university of coloradoboulder. It appears to have been little used, and was abandoned when peace came in 1918. Raf wymeswold is a former royal air force station located 3. Raf spilsby airfield history aircraft, airfields and airshows. The only unit to use bacton was a detachment of no.
See more ideas about royal air force, ww2 aircraft and air force. House prices in methwold road, northwold, thetford ip26. If you would like to send us a present, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. Norfolk record office holds some military history records. Rome2rio makes travelling from cambridge to methwold easy. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. The only remaining pub in the old village, they serve local microbrewery brandon ales. Methwoldworldwartwoairfield norfolk heritage explorer. Many former ww2 airfield sites are within easy reach along with important aviation heritage sites. The upper floors were decorated by acanthus leaves by a late 16thcentury craftsman and they run rampant across studs and plasterwork. The two transport routes opened up methwold fen to agriculture and by 1900 the village had a sub branch of gurneys bank now barclays of thetford which opened on mondays. The third picture shows how a large part of the ww2 airfield appeared in 2015, and typical of so many ww2 airfields in this region of the uk, this part is now dedicated to agriculture. A largely dry day on thursday with some patchy cloud but also plenty of sunshine, and it will be warm. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916.
On the day millers plane disappeared, 8 lancaster bombers one of them shaws were returning from an aborted bombing raid on siegen in germany because their fighter escorts had failed to get off the ground. The airfield is situated between hoton, wymeswold and burton on the wolds, lying in the current district of charnwood. Bases of bomber command then and now after the battle. It was a fairey battle plane from cottesmore, rutland, night flying over norfolk. Read more about raf methwold in the mhgs 2010 a4 27 page booklet, available from the group. Upon witnessing the beast, one airman said it was a huge supernatural beast. Air force bases in united kingdom, and 48th fighter wing is the only u. Edmund, a parish, in the union of lexden and winstree, hundred of winstree, n. If you have any memories, anecdotes or photos please let us know and we may be able to use them to update the site.
Raf methwold in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. T his chapter focuses on the operational career of bomber command the times when it was actively engaged on operations. With its twists and turns and cubby holes, methwold old vicarage also has an open fire and an ample kitchen with lots of space for cooking and dining. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in the uk during world war 2. The first picture is of the rather modest memorial on the green in methwold village. As well as a church, the village has an airfield, formerly raf little snoring, part of which is still active as a private airfield, whilst the other part now belongs to a potatoproducing company called bm. Other amenities in the village include a school, post office and a pub, the green man. Methwold war memorial, methwold 1430669 historic england. After moving to raf mildenhall in 1949 and briefly replacing the lancaster with the avro lincoln, the squadron was disbanded on 1 march 1950. Perhaps the single biggest personal discovery i made in researching this book concerns the history of ballooning in the uk. Books about methwold hythe area browse 29 photo books on methwold hythe and the surrounding area.
The physical development, construction and operational history of every airfield is described in detail and all are illustrated with wartime and presentday aerial photographs. Vickers wellington bombers from feltwell continued to use the site as a satellite base until the grass airfield was transferred to no. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated. These were, 464 raaf sqdn and 487 rnzaf sqdn making up 140 wing of 2 group of bomber command. An established author, he also lectures on raf history.
There is some evidence of methwold having its origins in the bronze age in that there are records of remains, dating from around 2,000bc, being found in methwold itself and the adjacent fens. In the winter of 193940, a ghost hound was sighted in the trees surrounding the methwold airfield. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to ww2 you may have at home. Whilst i was on that course, the sqdn moved to raf methwold which was a satellite to raf feltwell, again in norfolk. The methwold site offered camouflage cover for aircraft from a number of woods and plantations as well as room for grass runways and military buildings. Little snoring, norfolk genealogy familysearch wiki. In 1889 robert goodritch founded his farming model, a cooperative called the methwold fruit farm colony, just outside the village. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. History of manston airfield from 1916 to the present day. Hangers and 3 concrete runways, of between 1500 2000 yards in length, were built to equip methwold for the four engined heavy bombers then beginning to appear. Griston, norfolk genealogy genealogy familysearch wiki.
The fourth reel of film, shot from the opposite side to the third, shows the king and queen leaving the marquee. Raf watton was to have a varied and exciting postwar history and would become one of the unsung heroes of the cold war. Cambridge to methwold 3 ways to travel via train, line. Raf great massingham, a brief history 19401957 scarborough, prontaprint, 20, booklet harrington, janine raf little snoring, a brief history scarborough, trevor wise, 20, booklet harrington, janine raf swanton morley. Methwold was a wartime airfield, buried in the middle of sugar beet countryside. A brief history 19401995 scarborough, prontaprint, 20, booklet harrington, janine raf swannington 19441947. There may not be much evidence now, a few ruined huts, an old hangar and the remains of a mess room perhaps, but it was all there once, immediately adjacent to the. Open books is a nonprofit social venture that provides literacy experiences for thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and creative capitalization of books. This series of books provides a fresh userfriendly look at the military airfields of the british isles. Steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour.
Bombs fell all over the town with 4 people killed, 64 missing with another 345 injured. List of former royal air force stations military wiki fandom. Methwold as a village and the surrounding area is steeped in history, full of character and one of the largest parish of some 4900 hectares 12108 acres. Raf lakenheath and its sister base raf mildenhall are the two main u. This list of former raf stations is a list of all stations, airfields, and administrative headquarters previously used by the royal air force. The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 010720. Mill demoliished to make way for methwold airfield. Although it was published in 1985, it is still possible to find a copy even if, as i did, you have to secure it from a dutch second hand book seller. Ron introduces our readers to the war time methwold airfield. Originally built as an raf bomber command airfield during 19391940, bodney was transferred to the united states army air forces in the summer of 1943. Methwold war memorial, situated within methwold cemetery, is listed at grade ii for the following principal reasons.
With the closure o f a minor road between methwold and feltwell, the demolition of farm buildings and the removal of the tower of the old windmill, it wasnt long before methwold was operational and became home for a while at least to a variety of bomber squadrons. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of methwold hythe. The first use of lakenheath warren as a royal flying corps airfield was during the first world war, when the area was made into a bombing and groundattack range for aircraft flying from elsewhere in the area. National army museum is the british armys own museum. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today and explores the favourite local wartime haunts where aircrew and ground crew would go. The airfield was for a number of years under the control of no. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the. The airfield is now the site of the annual kent county show, but two memorials stand as poignant reminders of the epic events that transpired in this otherwise sleepy corner of britain. Raf bacton is a former royal air force landing field, built to accommodate aircraft intercepting zeppelin bombers during the first world war. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Add to cart 1click ordering is not available for this item. Through the pages on this site we hope to provide information for.
In the 1970s an extension was added to the original st. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. Raf sculthorpe was built as the second satellite airfield of raf west raynham a few miles to the south, the first being raf great massingham. The surviving concrete runways were laid in 1944 and the airfield was closed in 1945. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. Griston st peter and paul is an ancient parish in the diocese of norwich. Sculthorpe, norfolk genealogy genealogy familysearch wiki. For mail order please get in touch using our contact dahg form. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british. The proposal is for 6 individual sheds each measuring 24. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world.
Marketplace allows third party sellers to sell items live on the. Recent discovery of the angels from this roof will lead to restoration. Below are a mixture of photographs taken on the visit and sent by the methwold history group. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The airfield was constructed in 1942 1943 and follows the standard class a design. As such watton was the postwar centre to continue the research and development of radio electronic warfare for the raf. It had a population of 1,476 in 591 households at the 2001 census, increasing to 1,502 at the 2011 census. The stations are listed under any former county or country name which was appropriate for the duration of operation. A pictorial history is available for purchase in the raf museum and at the national trust shop. Find average house prices, current average values and other historic property data with the. The second picture is of one of two ww2 hangars that still exist at methwold. Each shed has 18 vent extract fans positioned in the roof which project 1.
The landscape to the east of the village, where the thetford. Several asphalt hardstandings were put down for aircraft during 19401941. His knowledge of the airfield and local history is inspirational. There are further shots around the airfield and the airmen disperse. History it was opened on 16 may 1942 during the second world war and was home to vickers. This world war two airfield was built as a satellite airfield for raf feltwell nher 4942 in 1939 before the outbreak of war. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. East anglia the history press, 2014, isbn 9780750956383 other resources. Bircham newton gave its name to an airfield, raf bircham newton, that was in use through world war ii and into the 1960s. South marston an outline history airfield abroad airfield building types, no. The late fred shaw was the navigator of a lancaster serial number nf973 based in methwold. A brief history of the raf station at wymeswold, 194278 tony jarram.
Royal air force methwold or more simply raf methwold is a royal air force station located 2. Prison wayland and raf watton airfield operated by the usaaf. There is a shot of the airmen lined up with the aircraft in the background. There may be some people that were unaware of the airfield at bexwell, but there must be many more who do not know that there was another local airfield at methwold. In october 1945 the station became the radio warfare establishment. The allied food dropping aprilmay 1945 is also in english. Wymeswold raf station officially opened on 16 may 1942 as a new operational training unit 28otu, which was part of 93 group, raf although it had been in use since 14 april 1942.
The main runway was 0321 at 2,030 yards, the 1432 runway at 1,400 yards and 1129 at 1,430 yards. Holiday at methwold old vicarage in methwold, norfolk. Raf spilsby is located three miles east of the market town of spilsby in lincolnshire. Ken delve looks at the key role suffolks many airfields played in the defence of the. It really is a most fascinating period in the 19th century, and has continued ever since. Phil, a member of the methwold history group allowed me to view their documents and photos, to which i am very grateful. A book on military airfield architecture written by me was published by haynes in 1996 which was based on the 1994 research carried out for english heritage, although at the time and outside of arg there was still very little interest in airfield architecture and history. Formed in 2009 they are active in collecting and building a much treasured archive of anything connected with methwold areas history. These superbly detailed maps provide an authoritive and fascinating insight into the history and gradual development of our cities, towns and villages. In the latter part of 1943 the airfield was upgraded to class a standard.
The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. Blyton airfield was constructed in 1942 between the blyton and northorpe villages and is now bordered by the b1205 to the south and the a159 to the west side. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of kings. Methwold had been a bomber base since it opened in 1939, initially being used as a satellite for the wellingtons at feltwell. The village is situated on a sloping site on the edge of the chalk land which rises out of the surrounding lowlands of the fens. An old map of norfolk, handdrawn in 1840 for the renowned cartographic publisher samuel lewis. Three runways were laid and t2 hangers erected bringing the airfield to a class a station. Discovering our aviation history, and double listings. Jun 01, 20 my family history research had hit a brickwall but within the last few days april 2016, a stroke of luck and a report in national newspapers of 24. The six years of almost continuous conflict from late 1939 to 1945 are of course the major period of interest but the command also saw active employment during the 1950s, albeit on a very small scale in places such as malaya and egypt suez. Raf spilsby opened on 20 sep 1943 as no 55 substation satellite to east kirkby in 5 group. Find all the transport options for your trip from cambridge to methwold right here. Suffolk has a comprehensive military aviation history, from coastal bases in. Work was begun in the spring of 1942 and the airfield was laid out as a standard raf heavy bomber airfield with concrete runways, dispersals site, mess facilities and accommodation.
Methwold hythe photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Phil, a member of the methwold history group allowed me. As a parish includes the villages of methwold itself, methwold hythe to the west and brookville to the northeast. Join facebook to connect with stephen williams and others you may know. Flying and notable nonflying units based at raf lakenheath. In combat the 2nd air division gunners claimed 1,079 enemy fighters destroyed against losses of 1,458 b24s missing in action and many others lost in accidents. The parish of methwold also includes the hamlets of methwold hythe, approximately 1 mile 1. The parish comprises 1844 acres, whereof 72 are common or waste. In 2008 an area was converted to become methwold s post office and 2014 a mpc office was created serving the needs of the council as a base. Obelisk memorial to both 94bg and 323bg on airfield site.
Methwold airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Raf methwold opened as a dispersal airfield for raf feltwell in the winter of 1938. Feltwell, fersfield, foulsham, great massingham, horsham st. Placed under the jurisdiction of viii fighter command of eighth air force, it was primarily the home of the 352d fighter group, the blue nosed bastards of bodney. Raf methwold was opened in september 1939 initially as a dispersal landing ground for raf feltwell. The crucial role of suffolks airfields people eadt.
The site was first used during the first world war and received the largest british bomber of the time, the handley page v1500. I had the pleasure recently of having a guided tour around former raf methwold by mr phil barnes. Methwold middle forest is a civil parish in the english county of norfolk, on the edge of the norfolk fens and breckland. A veteran broadcasting and media research professional, he is an internationally known expert on glenn miller who has been featured in the pbs television series history detectives, the series mysteries at the museum, twobbc radio productions. The application is for full planning permission for a poultry unit on land within methwold airfield, off brandon road, methwold. Raf methwold opened as a dispersal airfield for raf feltwell in the winter of. Methwold had been a bomber base since it opened in 1939, initially being used.
It was the first major raid of the war with the steelworks escaping damage. Airfield publications publish books on uk airfields, recent publications include raf kirton in lindsey, burtonwood, woodvale and 611 west lancashire squadron, royal auxiliary air force, raf brampton and raf waterbeach. Each airfield has been explored and photographed in the then and now style of roger freemans previous books for after the battle on the us eighth and ninth air forces. Bircham newton, norfolk genealogy familysearch wiki. The medieval church was renovated by the victorians who replaced the orignial hammer beam roof. Nov 04, 2004 a great book for reference or brousing. Just south of the village there used to be an airfield, in use between 1938 and 1945. The settlement appears to have begun beside a river or stream on the lower edge of sloping chalk land, overlooking the fen. Phil very kindly gave up his time to show me what remains of this former bomber airfield.
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