Record Details
| NHER Number: | 2773 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Shipdham Airfield |
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Summary
An airfield from World War Two, which was used by the USAAF from 1942. A few small buildings remain, but the runways were taken up in 1980 and used as hardcore for the Swaffham bypass.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 985 069 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF90NE |
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| Parish: | CRANWORTH, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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| GARVESTONE, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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| SHIPDHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
Airfield (disused).
Runways taken up 1980 and used for Swaffham bypass.
E. Rose (NAU)
20 February 1989.
NAU aerial photography shows a number of features of linear form in southwest dispersal area which probably result from the airfield, but might possibly pre date it.
E. Rose (NAU) 14 May 1993.
1990.
Air photography by [1].
D. Edwards (NAU) 19 October 1990.
There are a number of military type buildings dotted around the countryside for half a mile south of the boundary of the airfield. Mostly these appear to be hutments.
E. Rose (NAU) 30 January 1998.
22 July 1996. NLA aerial photography.
Parched cropmarks are clearly visible of two trackways/roads and bomb store remains (served by tracks).
The southeast section appears to contain slight earthworks as part of the bomb store complex.
This whole area is associated with the airfield, and is the part located to the southwest of the main complex.
H. Clare (NLA) 4 January 2002.
Press cuttings (S1) to (S7) in file.
Photographs of a number of wall paintings of USAAF origin were displayed at an exhibition in the village in June 2007. The photographs were taken in the 1970s and so it is not certain that the paintings still survive.
E. Rose (NLA), 2 July 2007.
For further information on the operational history of the airfield and photographs of remaining buildings, see (S8).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 January 2010.
Article missing from file -1999 [ Jo Yates, 10 September 2010].
Monument Types
- WALL PAINTING (Early 20th Century to 21st Century - 1901 AD to 2100 AD)
- BOMB STORE (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- ROAD (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- CONTROL TOWER (World War Two - 1941 AD to 1945 AD)
- MILITARY AIRFIELD (World War Two - 1941 AD to 1945 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Aerial Photograph: TF9807 B,D-F; TF 9706 D-G. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TF 9706H - K. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1998. TF 9907A; TF 9807G - H. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1985. Museum plan progress. 15 November. |
| --- | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2012. Honest and refreshing look at US 'invasion'. 23 June. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1983. Memories take off at return to war base. 3 September. |
| <S2> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1983. US air memorial unveiled. 5 September. |
| <S3> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1986. Rescue bid for Flying Eightball memorials. 31 January. |
| <S4> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1992. History in the air for this towering project. 10 February. |
| <S5> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1993. [Photograph of Shipdham Airfield while in action]. 5 November. |
| <S6> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1998. Flight of fancy took James Bond sky-high.. 1 June. |
| <S8> | Monograph: McKenzie, R.. 2004. Ghost Fields of Norfolk. pp 94-96. |
Related records - none
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