RAF Swanton Morley

Coordinates: 52°43′41″N 0°58′01″E / 52.728°N 0.967°E / 52.728; 0.967
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

RAF Swanton Morley
Near Swanton Morley, Norfolk in England
The entrance to former RAF Swanton Morley during 2014
The entrance to former RAF Swanton Morley during 2014
RAF Swanton Morley is located in Norfolk
RAF Swanton Morley
RAF Swanton Morley
Location within Norfolk
Coordinates52°43′41″N 0°58′01″E / 52.728°N 0.967°E / 52.728; 0.967
TypeRoyal Air Force flying station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940–6 September 1995 (1995)
FateTransferred to British Army and became Robertson Barracks.

Royal Air Force Swanton Morley or more simply RAF Swanton Morley, is a former

Queen's Dragoon Guards
.

History

Swanton Morley was a new station planned under the RAF expansion scheme but not completed before the start of the Second World War. It was part of 2 Group, RAF Bomber Command until December 1944 when it was given over to 100 Group – the RAF unit responsible for countering German defences against the British strategic bombing – as they needed another airfield close to their HQ at Bylaugh Hall.

On 4 July 1942, American and British airmen took off from this station as part of the first combined bombing raid of World War II.

Boston light bombers belonging to 226 Squadron. The raid was made at low level against German airfields in the Netherlands.[1][2] During the Second World War the station was home to the Bomber Support Development Unit (BSDU) of 100 Group
.

After the Second World War the station was home to No. 1 Air Signallers' School, and the

Radio Warfare Establishment RAF, which later moved to RAF Watton
. At a later date Swanton Morley became home to the Central Servicing Development Establishment (CSDE) and the Maintenance Analysis and Computing Division (MACD), formerly known as the Maintenance Analysis and Computing Establishment (MACE) and Maintenance Data Centre (MDC).

From June 1953 to 1995 the station was also used by 611 Volunteer Gliding School, when the station was listed for closure under

airshows
during the 1980s.

On 6 September 1995 the station was transferred to the British Army and renamed Robertson Barracks.[4][5]

Facilities

The station was equipped with a grass surface airfield with three main runways, a perimeter track with 31 loop hardstandings, four T-type hangars, four blister hangars and one J-type hangar. The station was also equipped with a Watch Office with Met. Section, utility buildings and barracks for a total staff of 1,968 males and 390 females.[6][7]

Squadrons and other units

The following squadrons were here at some point:

The following units were here at some point:

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ 24 Hours Museum – WW2 Events
  2. ^ HyperWar: The Army Air Force in WW2
  3. ^ 611 VGS History Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ISBN 1-899808-06-X
    .
  5. ^ "Future of mid Norfolk barracks secured, but Light Dragoons will leave Norfolk". edp24.co.uk. Archant.
  6. ^ Control Towers – Swanton Morley
  7. ^ Bomber Command – Swanton Morley Archived 8 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Swanton Morley". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  9. ^ Lake 1999, p. 160.
  10. ^ Lake 1999, p. 23.
  11. ^ Lake 1999, p. 14.
  12. ^ Lake 1999, p. 113.
  13. ^ Lake 1999, p. 115.

Bibliography

External links
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