Record Details

NHER Number:7364
Type of record:Monument
Name:Oulton Airfield

Summary

The site of a World War Two airfield, opened in 1940 and used by both RAF and USAAF bomber squadrons. It was closed after the war, and the runways were used as foundations for battery farm sheds. Some of the buildings remain, including the control tower. A large portion of the runways was removed in 1979 and used as hardcore for the Aylsham bypass.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TG 1453 2736
Map Sheet:TG12NW
Parish:CAWSTON, BROADLAND, NORFOLK
OULTON, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

17 August 1977. Visited.
Airfield from World War Two. Most of runways remain, some under battery farms. The rest has been returned to agriculture. Road crosses it. Hangar remains to the southeast. Several Nissen huts visible.
E. Rose (NAU).

July 1940 to November 1941; Satellite to Horsham St Faith. 114 Squadron, bomber Command, flying Blenheims.
September 1942 to September 1943; satellite to Swanton Morley.
May 1944 to July 1945 USAAF.
October 1945 to November 1947 storage satellite to Swannington. There was a World War I field at Oulton. Its site is not known but may possibly be the same.
E. Rose (NAU).

1979. Large portions of runways taken up and used as hard core for Aylsham bypass.
E. Rose (NAU).

The Control Tower remains west of road. The old canteen is used as a Village Hall.
(S1) in file.
World War Two anti-aircraft artillery (S2).
D. Gurney (NLA) 28 January 1997.

For further information on the operational history of the airfield and photographs of remaining buildings, see (S3).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 January 2010.

During World War Two, the Officers Mess was at Blicking Hall (NHER 5115).
D. Gurney (HES), 08 March 2013.

Monument Types

  • AIRCRAFT HANGAR (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • BUILDING (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • CONTROL TOWER (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • MILITARY AIRFIELD (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Unpublished Contractor Report: Penn, K. 2008. Blickling Estate, An Archaeological and Historical Landscape Survey. NAU Archaeology. 1399.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1995. We lived near an airfield. 24 May.
<S2>Serial: Dobinson, C.S.. 1996. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England.. Vol I.4, p 615.
<S3>Monograph: McKenzie, R.. 2004. Ghost Fields of Norfolk. pp 80-83.

Related records - none

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