RAF Sedgeford
Encyclopedia
RAF Sedgeford was an Royal Air Force
airfield, located in the East of England
county of Norfolk
, East Anglia
.
, as a satellite airfield (officially called "Night Landing Grounds") of RAF Great Yarmouth.
. By 1916, the Royal Flying Corps
, a precursor the current RAF, took over the facilities.
After the conclusion of the war, RAF Sedgeford was abandoned around 1919 to 1920.
, when it was classified as a 'Q-type' and 'K-type' bombing decoy.
The buildings and hangars on site made it a dummy airfield, which prevented nearby, functional airfields from being bombed by enemy bombers. At night, the airfield was lighted up, and made to look like an active airfield in order to trick the enemy, again to prevent nearby airfields from being bombed.
Official records recorded RAF Sedgeford to be in operation from June 1940 to August 1942.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
airfield, located in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
county of 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...
, East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
.
History
RAF Sedgeford was used as an airfield in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, as a satellite airfield (officially called "Night Landing Grounds") of RAF Great Yarmouth.
World War I
During World War I, the airfield was used for home defence duties, and was initially attached to the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. By 1916, the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, a precursor the current RAF, took over the facilities.
After the conclusion of the war, RAF Sedgeford was abandoned around 1919 to 1920.
World War II
RAF Sedgeford was reused during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when it was classified as a 'Q-type' and 'K-type' bombing decoy.
The buildings and hangars on site made it a dummy airfield, which prevented nearby, functional airfields from being bombed by enemy bombers. At night, the airfield was lighted up, and made to look like an active airfield in order to trick the enemy, again to prevent nearby airfields from being bombed.
Official records recorded RAF Sedgeford to be in operation from June 1940 to August 1942.