Shipdham flying club is a group of flyers and friends who operate at shipdham airfield. A mural by a member of the 44th319th bombardment group, painted during the second world war at what was shipdham airfield, norfolk. History of shipdham, in breckland and norfolk map and. On sunday a museum and memorial garden were opened in their memory at the former eighth air force airfield near shipdham from. This series of books provides a fresh userfriendly look at the military airfields of the british isles. Shipdham airfield is situated 490 feet southwest of shipdham airfield. A video of the control tower that i took on 15 october 2011. The story of a usaaf airfield is the history of a 600acre second world war airfield that was built on norfolk farmland in the. The club was formed in early 2000 to reopen shipdham airfield.
Airport information including flight arrivals, flight departures, instrument approach procedures, weather, location, runways, diagrams, sectional charts, navaids, radio communication frequencies, fbo and fuel prices, hotels, car rentals, sunrise and sunset times, aerial photos, terminal maps, and. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of shipdham airfield francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. I had planned to visit the mid norfolk railway at dereham. Shipdham was opened to private flying on 16 june 1970 and currently is the home of the shipdham aero club. Raf shipdham high common site, norfolk dereliction in. This site is a former ww2 installation in a field about a grid square south of the former raf shipdham, adjacent to the village of high common. The membership of eshott airfield runs from april to april every year and is mandatory for all pilots, hangar owners, student pilots and commercial users of the airfield site. Only about one third of the book s 173 pages are dedicated to this. It is a mere 10 minutes flying time from norwich between the market towns of dereham and watton.
It is such a privilege to fly a light aircraft around our island, and to revel in the fabulous scenery and sites of interest. Map of airfield industrial estate, shipdham, ip25 7, uk. Outstanding line, immaculate steam locomotives br standard 4mt 264t 80079 on my visit if you are interested and well worth a visit for the scenery alone. Raf shipdham was the first us heavy bomber base in. It became home to the usaaf 44th bomb group, the flying eightballs equipped with b24s. The american poet hyam plutzik was stationed at shipdham c.
The airfield was sold in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I wrote this history about my dad, who has been dead now 25 years, for display in the arlington public library in honor of veterans day for. None of the photos used in this fascinating book have been utilised from professional. Raf shipdham usaaf station 115 in the second world war. Shipdham airfield airport egsa located in shipdham, england, united kingdom. Airport information including flight arrivals, flight departures, instrument approach procedures, weather, location, runways, diagrams, sectional charts, navaids, radio communication frequencies, fbo and fuel prices, hotels, car rentals, sunrise and sunset times, aerial photos, terminal maps, and destination travel. Shipdham flying club summer newsletter by lauren bean issuu. Norfolk waste ltd shipdham, unit 3, airfield industrial. It was turned into a major second world war airfield in ultraquick order shortly after the start of hostilities in th.
Check norfolk waste ltd in shipdham, unit 3, airfield industrial estate on cylex and find. Discovering our aviation history, and double listings. Isbn 0955191602, stoke ferry, liberator publishing, 2006. Shipdham, a village, a parish, and a subdistrict, in mitford district, norfolk. The view from above aerial pictures from around great britain. Royal air force shipdham or more simply raf shipdham is a former royal air force station located 3 miles south of dereham, norfolk, england. Wallis days 2004 shipdham airfield, norfolk, england. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. The other two thirds of the book are in my opinion, needlessly padded out. It really is a most fascinating period in the 19th century, and has continued ever since. The airfield was the wartime base of the 44th bombardment group, known as the flying eight balls. Medal of honor ceremony for col leon johnson at shipdham airfield, 1943.
The airfield was the wartime base of the 44th bombardment group. Raf shipdham airfield 44th bomb group 319th bomb group. Perhaps the single biggest personal discovery i made in researching this book concerns the history of ballooning in the uk. This 12 page programme contains a wealth of information including a brief account of ken wallis life with autogyros, a comprehensive list of his achievements with autogyro world records, schedule of the days events, history of shipdham airfield. Being an airfield member gives you a variety of benefits. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,145 in 899 households, falling at the 2011 census to a population of 2,057 in 891 households. The 2015 shipdham appraisal will provide a comprehensive survey about the facts of our village and the opinions of our residents. Military aviation piston era 193645 aviation book centre. Meet the authors at iwm duxford at 1100 on saturday 4 april 2020 for a book signing event. The story of a usaaf airfield peter bodle fraes on. Here is a link to shipdham history group facebook page you will need to copy and paste the link below into your web browser.
Shipdham is a village and civil parish in the breckland district, in norfolk, england, approximately 5 miles 8. Check out airfield industrial estate, shipdham road map. The story of a usaf airfield tells of a 600 acre second world war airfield built on norfolk farmland in the early 1940s. An established author, he also lectures on raf history. In 19461947, the airfield was used as a transit camp for german prisoners of war. Station 115shipdham is the unique story of 600 acres of norfolk countryside in the centre of the agricultural heartland of east anglia. It was turned into a major second world war airfield in ultraquick order shortly after the start of hostilities in the early 1940s. Is this the same william george born shipdham 41781 died shipdham 121832 statements refer to shop stock, sale of livestock, seed and feedstuffs.
Journalist and author chris wadsworth collaborates with matt johnson, manager and historian at the southwest florida museum of history, to take readers on a trip back in time, as the proud history of buckingham army air field comes alive through vivid photographs and the stories of the soldiers and civilians who once called buckingham home. Robena brown nee dodd, sue dewing nee head, marlene seckernee codling and helen crane nee abbot sharing the history of shipdham, norfolk. The first part with prewar farming of the site before it became an airfield and the social history of the farm workers around shipdham at that time. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. Today, it is still operated as a general aviation airfield, and it is also home to a museum telling the story of shipdham and the 44th bomb group.
From just one of many norfolkbased bomber groups about 1,100 american airmen lost their lives during the second world war. It takes the form of a field with three large technical buildings, some concrete roads, an air raid. Robena brown nee dodd, sue dewing nee head, marlene seckernee codling and helen crane nee. Raf shipdham, in norfolk, opened in september 1942 was known as station 115. Raf shipdham usaaf station 115 geograph britain and. The story of a usaaf airfield paperbackstation 115shipdham is the unique story of 600 acres of norfolk countryside in the center of the agricultural heartland of east anglia. All powered circuits at ft to the east of the airfield. Shipdham airfield museum american air museum in britain. Shipdham was the first us heavy bomber base in norfolk during world war ii and was home to the famous b24 liberator bombers. And on the 11th july, just 15 days short of the 41st anniversary of his first flight in the glider, david ladley piloted the machine back to the skies from shipdham airfield. Constructed in 194142, shipdham airfield was the first us heavy bomber base in norfolk, and from september 1942 to june 1945 it was also the location of the headquarters of the 14th combat bombardment wing, 2nd air division, viii bomber command later. Visited shipdham on wednesday 24 july inbound from sywell and outbound to seething.
It is also known to be the longest village in norfolk. A history of the 44th bomb group fit for the 21st century. The 44th was assigned to the 14th combat bombardment wing, and the group tail code was a circlea. Thank you for taking part in the 2015 appraisal, your participation was important to the future infrastructure of shipdham. In the second world war airfields in norfolk were used by the raf and united states air forces. Shipdham bomber memorial opens military history forum. Welcome to uk airfields, this website is to show my photography of airfields, aircraft and aviation related memorials around the uk and overseas. Shipdham airfield, breckland area information, map. Raf shipdham was the first us heavy bomber base in norfolk and was also the continuous host to consolidated b24 liberators longer than any other eighth air force combat airfield in britain from october 1942 to late 1945.
Shipdham airfield at norfolk was assigned to the 44th bombardment group heavy, arriving from will rogers field, oklahoma on 10 october 1942. Plan flight to shipdham view shipdham notams view shipdham weather nearby airfields map users. Ted shuler, seen here at shipdham airfield, england, 15th july 1944. Buckingham army air field local and regional history books. We had a great welcome on our arriavl and were provided with hangarage for our motor glider. Royal air force station shipdham or more simply raf shipdham is a former royal air force station located 3 miles. The airfield was busy with visiting aircraft as it was shipdhams air day open day. Military history shipdham airfield description, history and pictures.
1183 367 1095 818 78 733 1220 1065 1123 1052 71 1549 732 1260 782 234 799 253 1133 508 1541 362 975 708 86 314 963 795 1100 416 777 972 1162 680 1233 86 543 852 851 944 627 437 902 273 325 310 1327 482