RAF Shipdham
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RAF Shipdham USAAF Station 115 | |
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Garrison information | |
Garrison | 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) |
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Royal Air Force Shipdham or more simply RAF Shipdham is a former Royal Air Force station located 3 miles south of Dereham, Norfolk, England.
The airfield now operates as Shipdham Airfield.
History
USAAF use
RAF Shipdham was the first US heavy bomber base in Norfolk and was also the continuous host to Consolidated B-24 Liberators longer than any other Eighth Air Force combat airfield in Britain - from October 1942 to late 1945. It was constructed 1941-42[1] and was assigned USAAF designation Station 115 (SJ).[2]
From 13 September 1943 though 13 June 1945, Shipdham served as headquarters for the
319th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The
The personnel of the group used the base as a staging and assembly point before moving in early October for
44th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
With the departure of the 319th BG, Shipdham was assigned to the 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
The 44th was assigned to the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-A". Its operational squadrons were:
- 66th Bombardment Squadron(WQ)
- 67th Bombardment Squadron(NB)
- 68th Bombardment Squadron(QK)
- 506th Bombardment Squadron (GJ)
The group flew Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 44th was the first USAAF group to be equipped with the Liberator and the unit had helped form other groups destined to fly the type. The Group was initially under strength, one of its four squadrons having been detached in the US. In March 1943 the 506th Squadron was assigned to the group.[6]
The 44th Bomb Group's operations consisted primarily of assaults against strategic targets in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Romania, Austria, Poland, and Sicily. Among the targets attacked were submarine installations, industrial establishments, airfields, harbors, shipyards, and other objectives, November 1942 - June 1943.[7]
The unit received a
Late in June 1943 a large detachment moved to
Before returning to England at the end of August, the detachment bombed an aircraft factory in Austria and supported ground forces in Sicily. In September 1943 the group struck airfields in the
This proved to be the 44th's last detachment and in October when several new B-24 groups were arriving in Norfolk, the 44th was fully committed to the combined bomber offensive from the UK. From November 1943 to April 1945, the group carried out operations against targets in western Europe, concentrating on airfields, oil installations, and marshalling yards.[8]
The group took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during
The 44th Bomb Group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945. During the course of hostilities, the 44th flew a total of 343 missions and its gunners were credited with 330 enemy fighters shot down; its own losses, the highest of any B-24 group in the Eighth, were 153.[citation needed] The unit returned to Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota in June 1945.[8]
- Legacy
Reassigned to
Air Ministry use
Between 1946 and 1947, the airfield was used as a transit centre for German POWs en route from the United States for repatriation to Germany.[2]
The base was also home to
Part of Shipdham was sold in 1957 and the remainder between 1962 and 1963.[6]
Current use
With the end of military control Arrow Air Services acquired the airfield from a local farmer and applied for planning permission to re-open the airfield. This was granted in September 1969, and the following April. work began on refurbishing the facility. Two of the concrete runways were refurbished, together with the approach road and perimeter track. The runway lights were found to be still serviceable, although they had to be brought up to modern standards.[6]
Shipdham was opened to private flying on 16 June 1970[2] and currently is the home of the Shipdham Aero Club.[citation needed] Its clubhouse is home to their museum and the airfield is unlicensed. Most of the airfield buildings remain in various states of decay,[citation needed] and part of the site is in use as an industrial estate.[6]
In 2012, Powererd Paraglider training operation - Ufly4fun Pilots Club moved to the airfield from Northrepps Aerodrome.
It was reported in July 2023 that the airfield would close for good in November 2023 and would be redeveloped as a solar farm.[10]
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Citations
- ^ Freeman 2001, p. 205
- ^ a b c "RAF Shipdham airfield". Control Towers. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Maurer 1980, p. 383.
- ^ Maurer 1980, p. 198.
- ^ Maurer 1980, p. 199.
- ^ a b c d e Freeman 2001, p. 206.
- ^ a b c d Maurer 1980, p. 101.
- ^ a b c d e f Maurer 1980, p. 102.
- ^ "Shipdham". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Shipdham to close". Retrieved 24 August 2023.
Bibliography
- Freeman, R. Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now. After the Battle. London, UK: Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2001. ISBN 0-9009-13-09-6.
- Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth: The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
- Maurer, M. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
External links
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