RAF Swanton Morley

Royal Air Force Station Foulsham
Active October 1940 – 1995
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Flying station
Role Bomber / Special operations
Part of No. 100 Group RAF
Based near Norwich, Norfolk, England
Royal Air Force Ensign
March Royal Air Force March Past
Equipment Bristol Blenheim
de Havilland Mosquito,
Douglas Boston,
B-25 Mitchell,
Kirby Cadet Mk III,
Slingsby T61F (Venture),
Grob G103A (Viking)

The former Royal Air Force Station Swanton Morley, more commonly known as RAF Swanton Morley, was a Royal Air Force Station in Norfolk, England, located near to the village of Swanton Morley. The site is now occupied by the British Army, and is now known as Robertson Barracks in honour of Field Marshal Sir William Robertson, the first Field Marshal to rise from the rank of private and who was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1916 to 1918.

Contents

History

During World War II the station was home to the Bomber Support Development Unit (BSDU) of No. 100 Group RAF. On July 4, 1942, American and British airmen took off from this station as part of the first combined bombing raid of World War Two. Both Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower were at RAF Swanton Morley for this mission, which saw six crews from 15th Bombardment Squadron fly a raid with six crews from the RAF, using Boston aircraft belonging to the RAF's No. 226 Squadron.[1][2]

After World War II the station was home to No 1 Air Signaller's School and later to the Central Servicing Development Establishment (CSDE) and the Maintenance Analysis and Computing Establishment (MACE).

From June 1953 to 1995 the station was also used by 611 Volunteer Gliding School, when the station was listed for closure under Options For Change'[3]. The station held popular airshows during the 1980s.

The station closed in 1995 and converted to an Army base. It is currently home to the Light Dragoons.

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.[4][5]

Squadrons

References

See also