RAF Foulsham

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RAF Foulsham at Foulsham in Norfolk was built between 1941 and 1942 for No.2 Group RAF Bomber Command and opened 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 concrete runways and 37 hardstandings. It also had 9 hangars, 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 of No. 100 Group RAF, a special operations organisation based at Bylaugh Hall. 192 Squadron were later joined by the Halifax bomber aircraft of No. 462 Squadron RAF.

45 aircraft were lost from RAF Foulsham. 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.