Record Details

NHER Number:4937
Type of record:Monument
Name:Methwold World War Two airfield

Summary

This World War Two airfield was built as a satellite airfield for RAF Feltwell (NHER 4942) in 1939 before the outbreak of war. The surviving concrete runways were laid in 1944 and the airfield was closed in 1945. Anti glider ditches were built nearby to defend the airfield. For related crash sites, see NHER 45351 and 45357.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TL 729 930
Map Sheet:TL79SW
Parish:FELTWELL, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK
METHWOLD, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

November 1975. Visit. Airfield.
Only a couple of runways survive, used as access roads. A few ruined buildings. At least one hangar in good condition, used as warehouse.
E. Rose (NAU), 21 November 1975.

World War Two, on site of night landing ground NHER 1916.

Present airfield constructed 1939 as satellite for Feltwell, before outbreak of war. Concrete runways laid in 1944. Closed 1945.
Full history given in (S1).
E. Rose (NAU), 25 October 1989.

To the east of the airfield are a number of fields shown on 1946 air photographs as crossed by lines of mounds, which K. Sussams (SAU) takes to be anti glider ditches. See discussion of similar features under site NHER 4942.
E. Rose (NLA), 25 July 1997.

For further information on the operational history of the airfield and photographs of remaining buildings, see (S2).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 January 2010.

Monument Types

  • AIRCRAFT HANGAR (TYPE T2) (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • AIRCRAFT OBSTRUCTION (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • BATTLE HEADQUARTERS (11008/41) (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • GYMNASIUM (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

---Aerial Photograph: TL7293 A,B; TL7393 A-C; TL7394 E-G,K-M.
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Monograph: Methwold History Group. 2010. RAF Methwold 1938-1958..
---Website: Simon Purcell. 2011. Battle Headquarters.
<S1>Article in Serial: 1973. Airfields of Norfolk and Suffolk. Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. Part 6; pp 15-22.
<S2>Monograph: McKenzie, R.. 2004. Ghost Fields of Norfolk. pp 67-70.

Related records

63283Related to: Possible Second World War anti-glider obstacles (Monument)
63282Related to: Possible Second World War anti-landing obstacles (Monument)

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