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| RAF Rackheath USAAF Station 145  .png) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NearNorwich,Norfolk in England | |||||||||||
 Labeledaerial photo of RAF Rackheath, showing the typicalclass A airfield layout, July 1946 | |||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||||
| Code | RK[1] | ||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces | ||||||||||
| Condition | airfield returned to agriculture, technical site now known as Rackheath Industrial Estate[1] | ||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||
  RAF Rackheath Shown within Norfolk | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°40′28″N01°22′43″E / 52.67444°N 1.37861°E /52.67444; 1.37861 | ||||||||||
| Grid reference | SU 270 703 | ||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||
| Built | 1943; 82 years ago (1943) | ||||||||||
| In use | 1944 – 1945 (1945) | ||||||||||
| Fate | closed | ||||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||||
| Occupants | 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th AF, USAAF | ||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||
| Elevation | 31 metres (100 feet)[2]AMSL | ||||||||||
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Royal Air Force Rackheath, more commonly known asRAF Rackheath, is a formerRoyal Air Force station located near the village ofRackheath, approximately 6 miles (9.7 kilometres) north-east ofNorwich, in thecounty ofNorfolk inEngland.
Laid out on agricultural land between the two settlements of Rackheath Parva and Rackheath Magna, construction on theairfield began in 1943; 82 years ago (1943), for theUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAF)Eighth Air Force (8th AF). Constructed to theAir Ministry requirements for aclass A airfield, it followed the typical layout of otherheavy bomber bases, with a mainrunway of 2,000 yards (1,800 metres) and two auxiliary runways of 1,400 yards (1,300 metres) each. The perimeter track was 2.7 miles (4.3 kilometres) in length, and this and the runways had aconcrete screed finish. Mark II airfield lighting was installed, two T2hangars were erected for major aircraft maintenance, and dispersed temporary building accommodation provided for some 2400 personnel in the wooded countryside of the estate to the south-west of the airfield. Adispersedweapon storage area was constructed to the north of the airfield. During construction, 556,000 cubic yards (425,000 cubic metres) of soil were excavated, 14,000 yards (13,000 metres) of soak-away drains installed, and 504,000 yards (461,000 metres) of concrete laid. A major overhead power line had to be put underground to clear the aircraft flying approaches.
The airfield was given USAAF designationStation 145.[1][3]
The airfield was opened on 11 March 1943; 82 years ago (1943-03-11), and was used by the467th Bombardment Group (Heavy),[3] 'The Rackheath Aggies', of theUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAF),[1][2] arriving fromWendover AAF atUtah. The 467th was assigned to the96th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the grouptail code was a 'Circle-P'. FlyingConsolidated B-24 Liberators, its operational squadrons were:[1][3]
The group flew theConsolidated B-24 Liberator as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 467th began operations on 10 April 1944, with an attack by thirty aircraft on an airfield atBourges in central France.
In combat, the unit served chiefly as a strategic bombardment organisation, attacking the German navy harbour atKiel, chemical plants atBonn, textile factories atStuttgart, power plants atHamm, steel works atOsnabrück, the aircraft industry atBrunswick, and other objectives.
In addition to strategic operations, it was engaged occasionally in support and interdiction missions. It bombed shore installations and bridges nearCherbourg onD-Day, 6 June 1944. It struck enemy troop and supply concentrations nearMontreuil on 25 July 1944 to assist theAllied drive across France.
In September, over two weeks the bombers flewpetrol from Rackheath to a forward base atClastres in France for use by the US mechanised forces. Attacked German communications and fortifications during theBattle of the Bulge, December 1944 to January 1945. To assist theAllied assault across the Rhine in March 1945 it attacked enemy transportation.
The group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945, and then returned to the US toSioux Falls AAF inSouth Dakota during June and July 1945. Subsequently, the 467th was re-designated as the 467th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), withBoeing B-29 Superfortresses in preparation forthe planned invasion of Japan. The 467th was inactivated on 4 August 1946.[4][5]
The airfield was returned to theRoyal Air Force, and a number of units were posted here:[3]
With the end of the war, the airfield was closed permanently in late 1945; 80 years ago (1945) and the airfield site was returned to farming use.[3] Only a very small section of the main runway, small sections ofperimeter track, and a solitary pair of formerdispersed aircraft hardstandings on the south-west of the airfield still exist; the remainder of the former airfield concrete infrastructure has been removed and broken up for re-use asconstruction aggregate. Muck Lane, which was previously closed when the airfield was constructed, was subsequently restored and re-opened to vehicular traffic, and alongside a small race track created forremote control car racing, used by Norfolk Buggy Club.
The former admin site is now a small development of new private houses and the former barracks site is now new commercial buildings. The former main technical site is now known as Rackheath Industrial Estate,[3] with several of theWW2-era buildings having been modified or extended and used for light industry (including engineering, logistics, construction, automotive maintenance, and communications),[3] with many new additional modern industrial buildings constructed. The primary access road on the estate was named Wendover Road to commemorate theairbase in the United States where the 467th Bomb Group was formed. Other estate roads carry related names including: Albert Shower Road after base commanderColonel Albert J. Shower;[1] Ramirez Road after ground crew chief M/Sgt Joe Ramirez; Witchcraft Way (which leads to the formercontrol tower) after an individual aircraft of the group; and Hudson Close and Liberator Close.
Thecontrol tower still exists, though after many years of neglect, was renovated during 2006 and 2007;[6] it has been converted to use as an administrative building, currently occupied by a software company. The west T2hangar is virtually beyond recognition, as compared to its appearance in 1943. The former aircraft hangar doors have been removed, replaced by modern brickwork and aluminium cladding, with smaller rolling shutter doors added to the front, and it has been repainted cream and green. Inside the building, the roof girders appear to be original and identical to those seen in photographs taken in 1944. The other T2 hangar, on the eastern side of the airfield near theSalhouse railway station, was dismantled many years ago and two new small industrial buildings constructed on its former southern dispersal.
Amemorial to the 467th Bomb Group consisting of a plaque and a pair of benches was dedicated in 1983. Thememorial plaque, flanked by the two benches, is situated in front theRackheath village sign on the Salhouse Road, adjacent to theHoly Trinity Church at 52°39'46"N 01°22'42"E.
A further memorial stone was erected in 1990 on the corner of Bidwell Road and Liberator Close. Flanked by two flagpoles with United States and United Kingdom flags hoisted, the polished black granite stone, with inscription detailing the operations of the467th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the2nd Air Division,Eighth Air Force, USAAF at RAF Rackheath, was dedicated on 29 July 1990 by the Four Hundred And Sixty Seventh Bombardment Group Heavy Association Ltd.[7]
Site 6[where?] was a small part of the airbase comprising, amongst others, Commanding Officer's (and his deputy's) quarters, officers' club, shower blocks, dining rooms, cinema, kitchen areas, and several blast shelters. The site is bisected by Newman Road.
In March 2020, a volunteer group (The Pathfinders) was formed to help manage and 're-claim' the site. A Facebook Group has been formed to enable people to follow the volunteers progress.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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