Record Details
| NHER Number: | 59093 |
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| Type of record: | Building |
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| Name: | Fighter Pen/Salvage Compound, Former RAF Coltishall (Building 93) |
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Summary
The fighter pen lies at the north west boundary of the runway perimeter track, and includes the attached air-raid shelter and two hardstandings. The fighter pen is known as a type A which was constructed in accordance with Air Ministry drawing 11070/40 and housed two single-engine fighters such as Spitfires or Hurricanes. The Coltishall fighter pen is a very unusual example constructed of sand-bags, now vitrified. In later years the fighter pen was used as a salvage compound. This area is a Scheduled Monument.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 2678 2337 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG22SE |
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| Parish: | SCOTTOW, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
The fighter pen lies at the north west boundary of the runway perimeter track, and includes the attached air-raid shelter and two hardstandings. The fighter pen is known as a type A which was constructed in accordance with Air Ministry drawing 11070/40 and housed two single-engine fighters such as Spitfires or Hurricanes. It is the only remaining fighter pen at the base to remain substantially intact, and unusually, without associated earthworks. The roughly E-shaped pen comprises a single tarmac floor for two single-engine fighters, a central wall and enclosing walls in an arc which stand some 3m high. The Coltishall fighter pen is a very unusual example constructed of sand-bags, now vitrified. It has an opening width of 20m, an air-raid shelter and former brick storage shed to the front.
This area is a Scheduled Monument.
In later years the fighter pen was used as a salvage compound.
A. Cattermole (HES), 21 May 2013.
The aggregate used for the sandbags was from the coast/marine, so probably has a high salt content.
Some bags were removed from the pen around 20 years ago by 41 Squadron to build a barbeque (still extant) in a small coppice just west of the track to Building 139.
D. Gurney (HES), 15 May 2015.
Monument Types
- AIR RAID SHELTER (World War Two to 21st Century - 1940 AD to 2006 AD)
- DISPERSAL PEN (World War Two to 21st Century - 1940 AD to 2006 AD)
- HARD STANDING? (World War Two to 21st Century - 1940 AD to 2006 AD)
- SCRAP YARD (Mid 20th Century to 21st Century - 1960 AD? to 2006 AD?)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2015. Inscription may have been the last words of a wartime pilot. 5 January. |
| --- | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2016. Wartime heritage is preserved. 20 July. |
Related records
| 7697 | Part of: RAF Coltishall (Monument) |