The history
RAF Coltishall was in service from 1938 to 2006. Work on the site was completed in 1940 at which point it entered service as a fighter base. During WW2 the Hurricane fighter plane flew from the site and notable pilot Douglas Bader operated from Coltishall.
Following the war the airfield continued as a fighter base right through to its closure, with various units being based there. The introduction of the Jaguar jet in 1974 saw this new piece of equipment become the only fixed wing aircraft to be based at Coltishall for the remainder of the bases time in service. The introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon meant the retirement of both the Jaguar and the airfield, which was not selected to house the new aircraft.
Post-closure, the site has been divided for a number of uses - most notably HMP Bure, at category C prison. The old officers mess was not involved in any of the redevelopment plans and has lain empty since. It sold at auction in April of this year but as of yet no works have taken place.
Our visit
After seeing Mooksters report on this site I knew I had to see it for myself so plans were made and the wife and I set off in the early hours to take a look. We arrived and parked up to take a stroll around the site and find our entrance. Once in we had the run of the building, which is almost totally free from vandalism with just the right amount of natural decay. As already stated, the residence rooms were pretty dull but there are some really great things to see here. All in, it was a great place to go and certainly worth the effort.
Thanks for looking and hope you enjoyed.
RAF Coltishall was in service from 1938 to 2006. Work on the site was completed in 1940 at which point it entered service as a fighter base. During WW2 the Hurricane fighter plane flew from the site and notable pilot Douglas Bader operated from Coltishall.
Following the war the airfield continued as a fighter base right through to its closure, with various units being based there. The introduction of the Jaguar jet in 1974 saw this new piece of equipment become the only fixed wing aircraft to be based at Coltishall for the remainder of the bases time in service. The introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon meant the retirement of both the Jaguar and the airfield, which was not selected to house the new aircraft.
Post-closure, the site has been divided for a number of uses - most notably HMP Bure, at category C prison. The old officers mess was not involved in any of the redevelopment plans and has lain empty since. It sold at auction in April of this year but as of yet no works have taken place.
Our visit
After seeing Mooksters report on this site I knew I had to see it for myself so plans were made and the wife and I set off in the early hours to take a look. We arrived and parked up to take a stroll around the site and find our entrance. Once in we had the run of the building, which is almost totally free from vandalism with just the right amount of natural decay. As already stated, the residence rooms were pretty dull but there are some really great things to see here. All in, it was a great place to go and certainly worth the effort.
Thanks for looking and hope you enjoyed.
