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RAF Massingham |
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The airfield was sold in 1958, one of the first done so in this way, and although the present owner farms the land he still uses the runways. It is a private airfield but visiting aircraft are allowed (see Pooley's Guide for airfield information. PPR)
ROLL OF HONOUR Dedicated in 1998 at a Memorial Service in St Andrews Church, Little Massingham, it contains the names of all crewmen and residents including details of operations and Place of Burial, lost in all operations 1940 - 1945. Seven crewmen are buried to the left of the East Window in the Graveyard. A printed version of the Roll of Honour is now available by post at a cost of £10 including postage, giving all details including Prisoners of War. Contact Anthony Robinson at Massingham Historical Society 01485 520455 or e-mail: ant@greatmassingham.net
RAF MUSEUM A pictorial and comprehensive history of RAF Massingham, including RAF material, is now under the care of Massingham Historical Society. Contact Anthony Robinson for details 01485 520455 |
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Notes for visitors by air. Great Massingham airfield is located 10 miles to the east of King’s Lynn. N52 46.73 E000 40.35 295 ft AMSL It is an unlicensed ex WWII airfield Strictly PPR (01485 520257 or 520234) Call Marham Zone on 124.15 Check flight guides and NOTAMS for information, runway lengths etc. |
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RAF Massingham started life as a satellite grass airfield to RAF West Raynham in September 1940. Crews slept at West Raynham and cycled over every morning. It had 3 runways on the usual 'A' pattern, the longest of 2,000 yards and two others of 1,400 yards. In April 1944 it was upgraded when concrete runways were built and sufficient accommodation to house the squadrons and up to 800 ground personnel. |
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Belonging to 2 Group Bomber Command, Blenheim aircraft here played an important part in the Ruhr offensive. It had a range of 300 miles, and could easily reach Germany and coastal ports. Scant attention was paid to the work of 2 Group in the earlier part of the war, writing it off as "Cinderella" Bomber Command. Even 100 Group which replaced 2 Group at Massingham, West Raynham & Swanton Morley, have not until recently been given serious study by historians, because they were only "Bomber Support", a back-up for the main offensive against Germany. Fortunately this is being redressed, as more public records become available.
In addition to Blenheims, Mosquitoes, Bostons, and for a short while B17's, were all based at Massingham. 169 Squadron was the final squadron of aircraft which was disbanded in August 1945. Massingham was transferred to 12 Group Fighter Command at West Raynham and for a further 4 years the Central Flying Establishment continued to use the site. |
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The following squadrons were based at RAF Massingham
· 18 Squadron 9/9/1940 - 3/4/1941 · 90 Squadron 15/4/1941 - 30/8/1941 · 107 Squadron 11/4/1941 - 20/8/1941 · 342 Squadron 9/8/1943 - 6/9/1943 · 2nd Tactical Air Force 1943 - D-Day · 169 Squadron 4/6/44 - 10/8/1945
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