RAF Fersfield
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2011) |
RAF Fersfield (RAF Winfarthing) USAAF Station 140,554 European Theatre of World War II "Air Offensive, Europe" July 1942 – May 1945 | |
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Garrison information | |
Garrison | 562d Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group |
Occupants | USAAF, United States Navy Special Attack Unit (SAU-1) |
Royal Air Force Fersfield or more simply RAF Fersfield (originally known as RAF
History
Built in 1943/1944, the airfield was originally a satellite of RAF Knettishall. It was constructed to Class A bomber specifications, with a main 6,000 ft (1,800 m) runway (08/26), and two secondary runways (02/20, 14/32) of 4,200 ft (1,300 m). Accommodation for about 2,000 personnel was in Nissen huts, along with an operations block and two T-2 hangars.
The facility was originally named Winfarthing when it was allocated to the
Operation Aphrodite
The airfield is most notable as the base for Operation Aphrodite, a secret plan for remote-controlled Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers (redesignated as BQ-7s) to be used against German V-1 flying bomb sites, submarine pens, or deep fortifications that had resisted conventional bombing.[1]
From July 1944 to January 1945, approximately 25 high-time Fortresses (mainly B-17Fs) were assigned to the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group stationed at RAF Knettishall, along with two Consolidated B-24 Liberators from the United States Navy (PB4Y-1), to be used in Aphrodite missions. Originally RAF Woodbridge was going to be used, however Fersfield was chosen for to its relative remoteness. The plan was to use these stripped-down war-weary bombers as explosive packed, radio-controlled flying bombs. Pilots would take off manually and then parachute to safety, leaving the bomber under the control of another aircraft to be flown to its target in Europe.
The first mission took place on 4 August 1944 against a V-1 site in
Several subsequent missions were attempted, one of them being a United States Navy
The last Aphrodite mission was on 20 January 1945, against a power station at Oldenburg: both drones missed their targets by several miles. After this last effort, the Aphrodite concept was abandoned as being unfeasible.
Royal Air Force use
One of the RAF's most secret operations, Operation Carthage, was launched from Fersfield on 21 March 1945. The target was the Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen, and de Havilland Mosquitos from No 21 Sqn, No 464 Sqn RAAF and No 487 Sqn RNZAF made the trip across the North Sea and back. The raid was led by Group Captain R.N. Bateson, and was ranked as a success in spite of many civilian casualties, mostly children.
Postwar use
Motorsport
Location | Norfolk, England |
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Opened | 1950 |
Closed | 1951 |
The
steward requested the fourth race be red-flagged (stopped) as spectators had encroached into a restricted area; but some drivers declined to obey the flag and were reprimanded for their colour blindness!Further race meetings were held in 1952 but at the end of the season, the RAC requested that certain improvements be carried out which would have cost £10,000. This being beyond the club’s resources, Fersfield was abandoned. However, the ECMC was not to be outdone and turned its attention to another Norfolk airfield, Snetterton Heath (which become
According to folklore, the RAC steward once insisted that everyone present at Fersfield should sweep the track clean of rubbish before he would allow racing to continue. As with most circuits there was always a lighter side and Fersfield was no exception, for the story goes of the road sweeper which did two laps to clean the track without the brushes working.[2][3]
Current use
Today, much of the concreted areas of the airfield have been removed for hardcore, with the airfield area being returned to agricultural uses. A surprising number of buildings exist, some on the former airfield, which are being used by agriculture, along with one of T-2 hangars. Others are in the wooded areas south of the former airfield in various states of decay. The perimeter track and runways still exist, although greatly reduced in width, being used as agricultural farm roads. Other roads in the area, identified by "Airfield Road" signs, are the last vestiges of the former airfield.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Citations
- ^ a b "Fersfield". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ http://www.dissexpress.co.uk/news/latest-news/fersfield-was-site-of-first-motor-circuit-1-426450 [dead link]
- ISBN 0 7110 3104 5, 2008)
Bibliography
- Controltowers.co.uk RAF Fersfield
- USAAC/USAAF/USAF Bomber Aircraft-Third Series (BQ-7 Drone)
- Fersfield Air Of Authority
External links
- Photographs of RAF Fersfield from the Geograph British Isles project
- Photographs of RAF Fersfield from the Geograph British Isles project (Additional)
- Photographs of RAF Fersfield from the Geograph British Isles project (Additional)
- Photographs of RAF Fersfield from the Geograph British Isles project (Additional)
- Photos of present-day RAF Fersfield