RAF Sculthorpe
52^50’54” N, 00&45’38” E
RAF Sculthorpe is situated 3 miles [4.8 km] West of Fakenham, Norfolk.
Construction was commenced in the Spring of 1942, and the Airfield was intended to be a second satellite airfield for RAF West Raynham, a few miles to the South.
Originally, the airfield was laid out as one of two RAF Heavy Bomber Stations, with the familiar triangular 3 runways being extended by 50%.
The main runway was 9,000 feet long compared to the usual 6,000 feet, and the two subsidiary runways being 6,000 feet instead of the usual 4,000 feet.
The work involved laying the concrete runways, dispersal sites, mess facilities and accommodation.
Much of the work was completed by Irish labour working for the construction company called Bovis.
As work neared completion in May 1943 the first Squadrons started to arrive, the first was No 342 [Lorraine] Squadron of the Free French Air Force, within No 2 Group from West Raynham, flying two flights of Douglas A 20 Boston’s along with some Douglas Havoc’s for training.
Douglas A 20 Boston
Douglas Havoc
They stayed until 19th July 1943, when they were moved to RAF Great Massingham.
On 20th July 1943 No 487 [NZ] Squadron and No 464 RAAF Squadron, both flying Lockheed Ventura aircraft, moved in from RAF Methwold.
A 487 [NZ] Squadron Lockheed Ventura being re-armed.
Both Squadrons converted to De Havilland Mosquito’s while at Sculthorpe and on 20th September 1943 No 21 Squadron, also flying Mosquitos arrived on the Station.
De Havilland 487 [NZ] Squadron Mosquito Vb
Together the three Squadrons formed No 140 the Sculthorpe Wing, and completed more than 100 missions before departing for RAF Hunsdon on 31st December 1943.
In January 1944, No 214 Squadron, 100 Group RAF moved in flying B 17 Boeing Flying Fortress aircraft for use in electronic warfare support of Bomber Command.
Boeing Fortress Mk 111
They were joined by crews from the USAAF 96th Bomb Group, and they were renumbered as the 803rd Squadron
In April 1944 both Squadrons, RAF and USAAF, departed for RAF Oulton, leaving the Station empty for its development into a “Very Heavy Bomber Base”. with the work not being completed until the Spring of 1946.
There is a suggestion that the Very Heavy Bomber that the Station was being made ready for was the B 36 Convair.
However the USAAF decided that these would be at too much risk in Eastern England, so they were depolyed to Brize Norton, Fairford and Upper Heyford instead
Convair B 36 Peace Maker
The Airfield was refurbished for the USAF use during the Berlin Crisis in 1949, and again in 1952, to become home for the 49th Air Division [operational] and the 47th Bombardment Wing, who stayed for a decade.
This was the first deployment for the USAF since the war.
RAF Sculthorpe is a now military training base for the UK’s MoD [Ministry of Defense],
In 1997 the MoD sold the entire technical, domestic and administrative site previously occupied by the USAF to the Welbeck Estate Group, but they retained the airfield.
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner