Summary
Royal Air Force Oulton or more simply RAF Oulton is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Aylsham, Norfolk and 12.5 miles (20.1 km) northwest of Norwich, Norfolk, England.
RAF Oulton | |||||||||||
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| Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk in England | |||||||||||
 Aerial photograph of Oulton airfield 20 April 1944 | |||||||||||
  RAF Oulton Shown within Norfolk | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°47′57″N 001°10′53″E / 52.79917°N 1.18139°E | ||||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force Satellite station | ||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||
| Built | 1940 | ||||||||||
| In use | 1940-1952 | ||||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||||
| Garrison | No. 2 Group RAF No. 3 Group RAF No. 100 Group RAF | ||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||
| Elevation | 47 metres (154 ft) AMSL | ||||||||||
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The airfield was built over 1939 and 1940 as a bomber airfield with T2 type hangars and grass runways, the facility operating as a satellite airfield of nearby RAF Horsham St. Faith between July 1940 and September 1942 after which it operated as a satellite airfield of RAF Swanton Morley.
History edit
In September 1943, Oulton was transferred from 2 Group to 3 Group and closed to flying for re-construction as a heavy bomber base with concrete runways, taxiways and parking areas. The work was completed in April 1944 and the airfield transferred to No. 100 Group RAF.[1] Flying operations ceased at the end of July 1945, after which it was taken over by RAF Maintenance Command which used it to store de Havilland Mosquitos until November 1947.[2]
| Squadron | Aircraft | Dates at RAF Oulton |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Blenheim Mk.IV | July 1940 to March 1941[2][3] |
| 18 | Blenheim Mk.IV | April 1941 to July 1941 and November to December 1941[1] |
| 139 | Blenheim Mk.IV | December 1941 to February 1942[1][2] |
| 1428 Hudson Conversion Flight | Hudson Mk.III | December 1941 to May 1942[1] |
| 236 | Beaufighter Mk.IC | July 1942 to September 1942[1] |
| 88 | Boston Mk.III and IIIA | September 1942[1] to March 1943[citation needed] |
| 21 | Ventura Mk.I and II | April 1943 to September 1943[1] |
| No. 1699 (Bomber Support) Flight RAF | Fortress | May 1944[1] to June 1945[citation needed] |
| 214 | Fortress | May 1944 to July 1945[1] |
| 803rd Bomb Squadron | Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator | May 1944 to August 1944[1] |
| 223 | Flying Fortress and Liberator | August 1944 to July 1945[1] |
- Additional Units
- [4]
- No. 18 Heavy Glider Maintenance Section
- No. 274 Maintenance Unit RAF
- No. 1428 (Ferry Training) Flight RAF
- No. 2873 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2874 Squadron RAF Regiment
Current use edit
The site is now farmland.[4]
Museum edit
The RAF Oulton Museum is housed on the Blickling Hall estate, belonging to the National Trust.[5]
See also edit
References edit
Citations edit
Bibliography edit
- Bowyer, J.F. Action Stations 1: Wartime military airfields of East Anglia 1939. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, Second edition, 1990. ISBN 1-85260-377-1.
- "Your Questions Answered...Oulton, Norfolk". Air Pictorial, October 1967. p. 373.
External links edit
- Map and aerial photos