Visited here on a nice sunny day in the summer. I have been here a few times and looked at the few remains but was about eight years ago. As it’s up the road I thought I would go give it another look. Not a huge amount remains at this one but there are a few nice bits. This is a repost from the blip last year. But since my last visit I have been back twice to find a few outlying bits, though they are not technically anything to do with this airfield.
RAF Hethel was a former World War Two airfield situated just outside Norwich. It was built in 1942 and was designated station 114. Hethel was the HQ for the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing. Due to it being incomplete it was used as a staging airfield for a short time. When it was opened fully in June 1943 it was the 3i9th Heavy Bombardment Group that was based at the airfield. After the war finished the Americans handed the airfield back to the RAF. The airfield was used by several groups of fighter command, including RAF Polish squadrons using North American Mustangs. The base finally closed in 1948 and laid empty and abandoned for many years. Lotus cars bought the site in 1966 and used the remaining hangars and associated buildings as the workshops and such for building the cars. The factory has grown considerably, and a main part of the runway is now used as a test track. I could hear them racing around whilst there and looked through the fence to watch. The old gymnasium and chapel has been restored by volunteers and now houses a small museum.
Starting with this building which looked like it housed machinery at some point, it was near the M&E plinth so would make sense.
Next is the M&E plinth which is pretty standard on most of these airfields. These housed the mechanical and electrical transformer and switchgear to keep the electric runnig at a steady voltage.
Heading over a bit is a nice example of a borehole pump house.
Another standard feature of these airfields is the pse basic blast shelters. Just thick brick walls on either side and mostly shaped in a T design. This one was a bit too overgrown.
A pair of Stanton Shelters which are another standard feature of these airfields. A basic pre cast shelter sunk slightly in the ground and covered With solid. A brick entrance wall to stop blasts and concrete steps going down. A hatch was at the other end and a ladder going up. Most of the escape hatches have gone on thewe shelters, probably weighed in for scrap. I have only seen one shelter with an original hatch still on it.
another blast shelter what was clearer. I noticed this went away from the standard T design.
Remains of a building.
On the outside is an old pig armoured vehicle.
Away from the main airfield on the road is a large T2 hangar used by a farmer. It was not from the airfield. It was said that the farmer wanted to keep a hangar but lotus wanted them all there. So dismantled one from another local airfield and erected here on an original hard standing.
Continued…
RAF Hethel was a former World War Two airfield situated just outside Norwich. It was built in 1942 and was designated station 114. Hethel was the HQ for the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing. Due to it being incomplete it was used as a staging airfield for a short time. When it was opened fully in June 1943 it was the 3i9th Heavy Bombardment Group that was based at the airfield. After the war finished the Americans handed the airfield back to the RAF. The airfield was used by several groups of fighter command, including RAF Polish squadrons using North American Mustangs. The base finally closed in 1948 and laid empty and abandoned for many years. Lotus cars bought the site in 1966 and used the remaining hangars and associated buildings as the workshops and such for building the cars. The factory has grown considerably, and a main part of the runway is now used as a test track. I could hear them racing around whilst there and looked through the fence to watch. The old gymnasium and chapel has been restored by volunteers and now houses a small museum.
Starting with this building which looked like it housed machinery at some point, it was near the M&E plinth so would make sense.
Next is the M&E plinth which is pretty standard on most of these airfields. These housed the mechanical and electrical transformer and switchgear to keep the electric runnig at a steady voltage.
Heading over a bit is a nice example of a borehole pump house.
Another standard feature of these airfields is the pse basic blast shelters. Just thick brick walls on either side and mostly shaped in a T design. This one was a bit too overgrown.
A pair of Stanton Shelters which are another standard feature of these airfields. A basic pre cast shelter sunk slightly in the ground and covered With solid. A brick entrance wall to stop blasts and concrete steps going down. A hatch was at the other end and a ladder going up. Most of the escape hatches have gone on thewe shelters, probably weighed in for scrap. I have only seen one shelter with an original hatch still on it.
another blast shelter what was clearer. I noticed this went away from the standard T design.
Remains of a building.
On the outside is an old pig armoured vehicle.
Away from the main airfield on the road is a large T2 hangar used by a farmer. It was not from the airfield. It was said that the farmer wanted to keep a hangar but lotus wanted them all there. So dismantled one from another local airfield and erected here on an original hard standing.
Continued…
