RAF Swanton Morley

RAF Swanton Morley
Near Swanton Morley, Norfolk in England
The entrance to former RAF Swanton Morley during 2014
RAF Swanton Morley Location within Norfolk
Coordinates	52°43′41″N0°58′01″E / 52.728°N 0.967°E / 52.728; 0.967
Type	Royal Air Force flying station
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Condition	Closed
Site history
Built	1940 (1940)
In use	1940–6 September 1995 (1995)
Fate	Transferred to British Army and became Robertson Barracks.

Royal Air Force Swanton Morley or more simply RAF Swanton Morley, is a former Royal Air Force station in Norfolk, England, located near to the village of Swanton Morley. The site, now known as Robertson Barracks, is occupied by the Queen's Dragoon Guards.

History

Swanton Morley was a new station planned under the RAF expansion scheme but not completed before the start of the Second World War. It was part of 2 Group, RAF Bomber Command until December 1944 when it was given over to 100 Group – the RAF unit responsible for countering German defences against the British strategic bombing – as they needed another airfield close to their HQ at Bylaugh Hall.

On 4 July 1942, American and British airmen took off from this station as part of the first combined bombing raid of World War II. 226 Squadron RAF had been tutoring the US 15th Bombardment Squadron. 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 light bombers belonging to 226 Squadron. The raid was made at low level against German airfields in the Netherlands. ^{[1] [2]} During the Second World War the station was home to the Bomber Support Development Unit (BSDU) of 100 Group.

After the Second World War the station was home to No. 1 Air Signallers' School, and the Radio Warfare Establishment RAF, which later moved to RAF Watton. At a later date Swanton Morley became home to the Central Servicing Development Establishment (CSDE) and the Maintenance Analysis and Computing Establishment (MACE), formerly known as the Maintenance Data Centre (MDC).

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.

On 6 September 1995 the station was transferred to the British Army and renamed Robertson Barracks. ^{[4] [5]}

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. ^{[6] [7]}

Squadrons and other units

The following squadrons were here at some point:

• No. 3 Squadron RAF ^[8]
• No. 88 Squadron RAF – Douglas Boston III, Boston IIIA (July 1941 – August 1943)
• No. 98 Squadron RAF ^[8]
• No. 105 Squadron RAF – Blenheims, Mosquito (October 1940 – December 1941)
• No. 107 Squadron RAF ^[8]
• No. 110 Squadron RAF ^[8]
• No. 152 Squadron RAF – Supermarine Spitfire IIA (August – December 1941)
• No. 180 Squadron RAF ^[8]
• No. 226 Squadron RAF – Blenheim, Boston, Mitchell (December 1941 – February 1944)
• No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron ^[8]
• No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF ^[8]
• No. 464 Squadron RAAF ^[8]
• No. 487 Squadron RNZAF ^[8]
• No. 613 Squadron RAF ^[8]
• 15th Bombardment Squadron (US Eighth Air Force) ^[8]

The following units were here at some point:

• No. 1 Gliding Centre RAF ^[8]
• No. 2 Group Communication Flight RAF ^[8]
• No. 4 Radio School RAF ^[9] became No. 1 Air Signallers School RAF ^[10] became No. 1 Air Electronics School RAF ^[11]
• No. 5 Air Experience Flight RAF ^[8]
• No. 10 Air Navigation School RAF ^[8]
• No. 15 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF ^[8] became No. 1515 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (October 1941 – November 1943)
• No. 17 Heavy Glider Maintenance Section RAF ^[8]
• No. 100 Group Communication Flight RAF ^[8]
• No. 102 Gliding School RAF became No. 611 Gliding School RAF ^[12] became No. 611 Volunteer Gliding School RAF ^[13]
• No. 206 Maintenance Unit RAF ^[8]
• No. 228 Air Stores Park RAF ^[8]
• No. 228 Maintenance Unit RAF ^[8]
• No. 1482 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight RAF ^[8] became No. 2 Group Support Unit RAF
• No. 1508 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (September – October 1941)
• No. 1508 (Gee Training) Flight RAF ^[8]
• No. 2715 Squadron RAF Regiment ^[8]
• No. 2749 Squadron RAF Regiment ^[8]
• No. 2770 Squadron RAF Regiment ^[8]
• No. 2809 Squadron RAF Regiment ^[8]
• No. 2836 Squadron RAF Regiment ^[8]
• No. 4199 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment ^[8]
• No. 4214 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment ^[8]
• Pilot-Navigation Instructors Course RAF ^[8]
• Radio Warfare Establishment RAF ^[8]

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. 24 Hours Museum – WW2 Events
2. HyperWar: The Army Air Force in WW2
3. 611 VGS History Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
4. March, Peter R. (1998). Brace by Wire to Fly-By-Wire – 80 Years of the Royal Air Force 1918–1998. RAF Fairford: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises. p. 164. ISBN   1-899808-06-X.
5. "Future of mid Norfolk barracks secured, but Light Dragoons will leave Norfolk". edp24.co.uk. Archant.
6. Control Towers – Swanton Morley
7. Bomber Command – Swanton Morley Archived 8 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
8. "Swanton Morley". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 26 May 2020.
9. Lake 1999, p. 160.
10. Lake 1999, p. 23.
11. Lake 1999, p. 14.
12. Lake 1999, p. 113.
13. Lake 1999, p. 115.

Bibliography

• Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN   1-84037-086-6.

External links

• Documentary on the first US/UK air raid of World War 2, flown from this station.
• "RAF Stations – S", Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
• "Swanton Morley", Bomber Command 60th Anniversary, archived from the original on 8 October 2008