RAF Foulsham
Encyclopedia
The former Royal Air Force Station Foulsham, more commonly known as RAF Foulsham was a Royal Air Force station, a military airfield, 15 miles North-West of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1942 to 1945.
in Norfolk
was built between 1941 and 1942 for No.2 Group RAF Bomber Command
and opened in May 1942 and declared operational on 26 June 1942. Foulsham was one of the few airfields to be fitted with FIDO
in 1944, a fog dispersal system which used fires at the sides of the runways.
The airfield was equipped with three tarmac and woodchip runways and 37 hardstandings. It also had 9 hangar
s, five of which were built for storing Horsa glider aircraft ready for D Day.
The first residents were No. 98 Squadron RAF and No. 180 Squadron RAF
, flying North American Mitchell bombers. The station was then used by No. 3 Group RAF
who used Short Stirling
and Avro Lancaster
bombers. No. 514 Squadron RAF
was formed at Foulsham, flying Lancasters.
The station then became the home of No. 192 Squadron RAF
, which was part of No. 100 Group RAF
, an electronic warfare
unit which had its headquarters at Bylaugh Hall. 192 Squadron was later joined by another 100 Group squadron, No. 462 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
, which operated Handley Page Halifax
aircraft.
During World War II, 45 aircraft based at RAF Foulsham were lost. Many aircraft made emergency landings at Foulsham, including USAAF
B17 F "Ruthie II", which made an emergency landing there in 1943 after an epic return flight for which co-pilot John C. Morgan
was awarded the highest U.S. medal, the Medal of Honor
. The airfield remained the property of the Ministry of Defence
until the 1980s.
Currently, the runway is occupied by two large chicken houses and a photographic and film studio producing adult movies operates from the old fire station on the east side of the airfield
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Several types of aircraft have operated out of Foulsham, among these:
History
RAF Foulsham at FoulshamFoulsham
This article is about the place. For the publishing company see W. Foulsham & Company Limited.Foulsham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The Village is miles west south west of Cromer, miles north west of Norwich and miles north east of London. The village lies...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
was built between 1941 and 1942 for No.2 Group RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
and opened in May 1942 and declared operational on 26 June 1942. Foulsham was one of the few airfields to be fitted with FIDO
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation was a system used for dispersing fog from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely...
in 1944, a fog dispersal system which used fires at the sides of the runways.
The airfield was equipped with three tarmac and woodchip runways and 37 hardstandings. It also had 9 hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s, five of which were built for storing Horsa glider aircraft ready for D Day.
The first residents were No. 98 Squadron RAF and No. 180 Squadron RAF
No. 180 Squadron RAF
No. 180 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a medium bomber unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The Squadron was equipped with Mitchells at RAF West Raynham. It then flew its first raid from RAF Foulsham and suffered heavy losses including the aircraft of the squadron...
, flying North American Mitchell bombers. The station was then used by No. 3 Group RAF
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
who used Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
and Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bombers. No. 514 Squadron RAF
No. 514 Squadron RAF
No. 514 Squadron RAF was a bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:The squadron was first formed at RAF Foulsham, Norfolk on 1 September 1943, equipped with Lancaster Mk.II bombers, as part of No. 3 Group RAF in Bomber Command...
was formed at Foulsham, flying Lancasters.
The station then became the home of No. 192 Squadron RAF
No. 192 Squadron RAF
No. 192 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron, operational during the First World War as a night training squadron, and during the Second World War as a radar countermeasure unit. After the war the squadron served again in the Electronic Intelligence role, until disbanded.-Formation in World War...
, which was part of No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group was a special duties group within RAF Bomber Command.It was formed on 11 November 1943 to consolidate the increasingly complex business of electronic warfare and countermeasures within one organisation. The group was responsible for the development, operational trial and use of...
, an electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
unit which had its headquarters at Bylaugh Hall. 192 Squadron was later joined by another 100 Group squadron, No. 462 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
No. 462 Squadron RAAF
No. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The squadron was first formed in 1942 as a heavy bomber unit and saw combat in this role in the Mediterranean area until it was disbanded in...
, which operated Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
aircraft.
During World War II, 45 aircraft based at RAF Foulsham were lost. Many aircraft made emergency landings at Foulsham, including USAAF
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
B17 F "Ruthie II", which made an emergency landing there in 1943 after an epic return flight for which co-pilot John C. Morgan
John C. Morgan
John Cary "Red" Morgan was a United States Army Air Forces pilot in World War II who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during a 1943 bombing run over Germany, which also inspired a character of the novel and film Twelve O'Clock High.-Background:Born August 24, 1914, at Vernon, Texas, and...
was awarded the highest U.S. medal, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. The airfield remained the property of the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
until the 1980s.
Currently, the runway is occupied by two large chicken houses and a photographic and film studio producing adult movies operates from the old fire station on the east side of the airfield
Foulsham aircraft
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
- Shorts Stirling
- Avro LancasterAvro LancasterThe Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
- Vickers WellingtonVickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
- de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- Handley Page HalifaxHandley Page HalifaxThe Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
Foulsham Squadrons
- No. 98 Squadron RAF
- No. 180 Squadron RAFNo. 180 Squadron RAFNo. 180 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a medium bomber unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The Squadron was equipped with Mitchells at RAF West Raynham. It then flew its first raid from RAF Foulsham and suffered heavy losses including the aircraft of the squadron...
- No. 192 Squadron RAFNo. 192 Squadron RAFNo. 192 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron, operational during the First World War as a night training squadron, and during the Second World War as a radar countermeasure unit. After the war the squadron served again in the Electronic Intelligence role, until disbanded.-Formation in World War...
- No. 462 Squadron RAAFNo. 462 Squadron RAAFNo. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The squadron was first formed in 1942 as a heavy bomber unit and saw combat in this role in the Mediterranean area until it was disbanded in...
- No. 514 Squadron RAFNo. 514 Squadron RAFNo. 514 Squadron RAF was a bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:The squadron was first formed at RAF Foulsham, Norfolk on 1 September 1943, equipped with Lancaster Mk.II bombers, as part of No. 3 Group RAF in Bomber Command...
- No. 1678 Heavy Conversion Flight RAF
External links
- http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s21.html RAF site relating to RAF Foulsham
- http://www.controltowers.co.uk/F/Foulsham.htm Details of the former airfield
- http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q51/norwichpaul/RAF%20Foulsham/ Post-closure photographs
See also
- Royal Air Force station
- List of RAF stations
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons