I noticed I have done reports here from the bomb stores and tower, also from the bulk fuel storage. I have done a few film shots as well, but never covered the main site in some depth which is the technical, domestic and admin side. Sculthorpe is a place i have been many times, more than I care to remember. I have a strong affection for it, being my first ever explore, and my love for military sites. And this being one of the biggest American airbases in Europe I think it’s got quite a history to it. The place is looking a bit worse for wear now but holds a certain charm. It’s still quite photogenic, and a great place to go if starting out as it’s relaxed and a lot to see still. It’s not all about photogenic corridors as many think though, there is still a lot of remnants of the Cold War when tensions was high and Sculthorpe was at the front. I visited with my mate Ian in September as he had not been for years. Then I went to finally see the heritage centre as never been before, got there nice and early to cover more bits before I went in. Ironically I ripped a good pair of combats on a sticky out bit of fence and had a great rip in them. Not wanting to go in the heritage centre with a big rip up my trousers I had to drive to Fakenham to get some new ones in Tescos then get changed and come back.
Here is my report from the bulk fuel storage.
www.28dayslater.co.uk
And report from the bomb stores and tower.
www.28dayslater.co.uk
WORLD WAR TWO
RAF sculthorpe started life as a satellite airfield to RAF West Raynham, Great Massingham had already been constructed as the first satellite airfield from Raynham. So when Sculthorpe was designated as the second satellite then this would make the triage of airfields as was quite common. Even though it was the second satellite it went on to become the biggest and most secretive base in Norfolk. Work began in 1942 with concrete runways being constructed and it to be designated as a class A heavy bomber airfield. The work was done mainly by Irish labourers who lived in tents on site. The Irish built many airfields in East Anglia. The work was completed in October 1943, but the site ceased to be a satellite and became independent. The airfield had two runways and 36 hard standings. Two T2 hangars and the standard communal and domestics sites which could house over 2000 men and women. In 1944 it was designated as a VHB (very heavy bomber) airfield, the original runways were ripped up and new ones were constructed which were wider and longer. Roads had to be adjusted to accompany the extension,and Irish labourers were used again who worked night and day. The contractor was John Laing who was one of the contractors involved in the original construction. The airfield expansion was still not completed by the end of the war.
THE COLD WAR
With rising tensions after the war with the soviets who now occupied large areas of Eastern Europe, the British and Americans were debating on letting the Americans use the various VHB sites to host the USAF, as was other countries in Europe. When the Berlin crisis erupted in 1948 this was accelerated. Sculthorpe was to become a permanent base for the USAF, and in 1949 saw intense activity to get the base ready for the first visitors. A year earlier had seen a massive reconstruction effort with new buildings and stores. The Z blocks were being constructed to house the single airmen. Many of the facilities on site were still from the war, and the base not being used for four years were in very poor condition. Various hotels around Norfolk were used to house the service men as the facilities were that poor. Accommodation for married couples was an even bigger problem. Eventually new facilities were being built to house the married couples. The first planes to arrive at Sculthorpe was the B-29s, these were based at various other airfields including Lakenheath and Marham. Many RAF personnel were based at Sculthorpe and shared the faculties with the Americans, like the officers mess. Tensions were quite high between the RAF and USAF as can be guessed. These tensions only got worse as time went on, with the British complaining about arrogance and arrogance from the American personnel based there. But tensions were rising with the Soviets and with the Korean War kicking off, this increased more. The American and British governments were debating on which bases would be given to the Americans on a permanent basis. Sculthorpe was a dead cert to be an official American base. It was finally handed over to the Americans on the 1st February 1951, the remaining RAF personnel were moved out except a few liaison officers and the base became basically American soil. Lakenheath and Mildenhall were also handed over around this time for American use, and are still in use to this day. Various squadrons used the base over the next few years with various planes being based here. Even the B-36 peacemakers visited Sculthorpe. But they never had a permanent role in the UK, as the infrastructure needed to maintain and service the biggest bomber in the world was too much. The next use for the base was when the 91st reconnaissance unit arrived in 1951. This saw a lot more secretive planes entering into Sculthorpe, the main use of these were to plot the terrain in Europe for NATO forces, so they knew were to fight if the Soviet Union ever invaded. The RB-45c tornado was tasked with this mission often flying ten hour missions a day. These were the first four engines jet powered bombers seen in Europe and were the equivalent of the B-45 bomber but used for spying and reconnaissance work. Sculthorpes heyday was from 1953 to 1956 with a massive build up of American USAF personnel building up in the UK. Sculthorpe at its peak hosted over ten thousand personnel and dependants at the base, and was the largest in the uk. The bulk of the planes based here during them years were the B-45 tornado bombers, these would be the ones to carry nuclear payloads to Russia if war broke out and Russia launched a nuclear attack. Lots of other units were based at Sculthorpe, including search and rescue planes. The B-45s were starting to age and these were replaced by the newer B-66, the KB- 50 would also be based here to refuel the bombers. These started arriving in 1957 and the B-45s would be replaced. Technology was moving on rapidly though, with the development of the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) this would have a massive effect on Sculthorpe. Nuclear bombs could be launched without the use of bombers, THOR missile sites were springing up around the country. In 1962 the 47th bomb wing finally left Sculthorpe, the last bomb squadron to be based there. The air refuelling fleet stayed this 1963 unit they finally departed the base. 1962 saw the number of personnel go from 8,500 to 2,500 As the base seemed to winding down to a potential closure. The base was handed back to the ministry of defence and was used as a standby base for storage. The technical side was going to be sold off and the housing kept as an overspill for families based at RAF West Raynham. But in 1966 the French decided they did not want US nuclear bombs on French soil and they would withdraw from NATO. The base was to reopen from 1967 as a storage site, then as a standby base to RAF Lakenheath. The problem was that after a few years laying dormant the runways had overgrown. The buildings lay empty and neglected. The Americans had stripped stuff of use, looters had been in a stripped the place. The kids from the married quarters had smashed windows and famed the buildings badly, so when people say kids doing damage is a new thing, it’s total rubbish. A lot of buildings were demolished and some were restored ready for use again. About two thirds were demolished, but new ones were built. The base carried on for twenty years in this status. But with the Cold War coming to and end in the late eighties. it was finally wound down and in 1992 the American flag was lowered and the base was finally closed. The airfield was handed back to the ministry of defence and the technical and domestic site was sold off and now hosts some industrial units. The accommodation is still there but in a very derelict state. The married couples housing at Sydersone was sold off and now private housing. The airside is still military and is part of the STANTA training area. Exercises are regularly practiced on here throughout the year. American special forces from Mildenhall do regular night training here and often do parachute drops. Ospreys and Hercules can often be seen flying here.
LIFE ON THE BASE
The base catered for all the American needs. A gymnasium with squash court and roller skating. A two lane bowling alley, baseball court, football pitch, nine hole golf course. There was also two chapels and cinema. And several social clubs, with the NCOs club being very popular and known as one of the best. Shops would provide the Americans with all there needs like drinks and chocolate and cigarettes. The Americans did like to use the local pubs, and the landlords relished this, with the Americans spending large amounts of money. They would often travel to Norwich for the pubs and dance halls. But any trouble was soon stopped by the airforce police and they would be bundled in a truck and taken back to base. Housing was tight on base so many Americans rented places all over Norfolk much to delight of property owners. Many servicemen met local women and lots got married. My auntie married a serviceman from Sculthorpe and moved to America when she was sixteen, sadly like many the marriage did not last, she still lives over there though. Many locals were employed on the base and the Americans paid them well. They were employed as cleaners, office workers, drivers and in the social clubs. Sadly racism was still a problem with the American. After many issues during World War Two when Americans were based in various countries in Europe, segregation was still a thing and caused many problems. This resulted in several riots and deaths in various towns across different countries. Segregation was abolished in 1948 but his did not stop problems on base. With blacks and whites sitting at differnt tables, and often fights would break out in the clubs.
INCIDENTS
One night on Saturday 31st 1953 a storm caught the east coast of the uk off guard. High tides and hurricane force winds caused the worst flooding this country has seen. Over 300 people died, 100 of them in Norfolk. 16 Americans lost their lives in the storms, these were families of people working at the base. Many personnel were rushed from the base and helped in the rescue, this was to cement friendship the American contingent basedin Norfolk. One serviceman stood out from the rest, airman second class Reiss L. Leming rushed in the water. But despite being a none swimmer braved the tides three times towing an inflatable raft. He was working in darkness and often up to his neck in water. After his third attempt he had to abandon it after he nearly collapsed with exhaustion and hypothermia. But he managed to rescue 27 people and was awarded the soldiers medal from the American government and the George Medal from the British government. He became a hero in Hunstanton and when he married a local girl the town organised his wedding and he was lavished with gifts. He made several visits back to the uk with his wife and met the queen and queen mother in 1993 at Sandringham. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 82. Many other servicemen were awarded medals for bravery, and many more would have perished that night if it had not been for the help of the Americans from Sculthorpe. The army cooks of the 38th anti aircraft artillery brigade from Sculthorpe even cooked up 1400 meals the next morning. And tankers brought fresh water as everything had been contaminated with sea water.
In 1959 a major incident happened at the base. General B.C Harrison of the air force said in a secret meeting in the pentagon “gentleman we have a problem”. On the 30th of October 1958, master sergeant Leander V. Cunningham decided to lock himself in a building and threaten to shoot himself with a 45 pistol. His wife, senior officers, chaplains and senior officers spent 8 hours trying to persuade him to put down his weapon. He finally gave up and was taken into medical care. Cunningham was a nuclear weapons technician, and rumours soon circulated that he was in a nuclear store and threatened to fire the weapon at nuclear material or prime a bomb. The authorities played this down and said he was in an old parachute store and that he it was mental health breakdown due to family problems. The US officials denied that priming devices were in the building, and that it was impossible for one man to set of a nuclear explosion, let alone get in the heavily guarded building. But that still did not stop the rumours flowing. Many civilians were on base and was told to stay in buildings and told to keep there heads down. The base was locked down for hours, till the all clear was given and people could leave the base. The press had a field day with it, but officials still denied it. But in 1962 it came out that the sergeant had intended to fire his weapon at a nuclear bomb and was suffering from mental delusion. One American source said that admitting the event could have knocked them out of England. Even then the Americans still denied he had not locked himself in a building with fissionable materials, but could not deny that he was going to detonate a bomb. After this the authorities screened people for psychological behaviour. No one was allowed in alone and had to have someone with them, and new rules to guard stocks were introduced.
A murder occurred at Sculthorpe. Forty three year old Mary Helen Marymount was taken to hospital on the base on June 9th 1958. She had been for lunch in Kings Lynn and suddenly collapsed. Her husband had been informed that she was dying but did not seem particularly bothered by this. She died that night despite the efforts of the doctors to save her. The doctors on the base had suspicions that she had been poisoned. They told Master Sergeant Marcus Marymount that they would need to do an post mortem, which he agreed to but then later changed his mind over consent. Acting on suspicions about his strange behaviour, the military authorities then started an investigation into her death. They found that he had tried to buy arsenic in Maidenhead, and also asked civilian cleaners were he could get arsenic from. It also turned out he was having an affair with a 23 year old woman, who was married but separated. He lied and said he was married but his wife and children lived in America. His objection to the post mortem was over ruled by the authorities and it was found that she had ingested arsenic around 24 hrs previous. He was found guilty of nursery and misconduct with his mistress and sentenced to life till he passed a way in 2000
The Airfield
Starting off with gate No1. This was the main gate into the site. With all the roads leading from this road. All the roads had names, like army road, flag street, chapel road, Sculthorpe boulevard and so on. I remember these signs all being present on my first few visits. Several have been saved by the museum.
Stores and workshops. This building is not in use now but sealed tight.
Looking down Army Road to the stores and gatehouse. I think I may have been stood on the old football pitch.
The baseball court.
Heading to the strategic air command and operations and briefing block. This was one of the main heartbeats of the base, here you had the military police offices, and plotting room. This is one of two gate houses into the compound and to get airside.
The large telephone exchange.
Sime very solid looking doors around here as well. One almost looks like it’s for a cell room.
Very rusty light switch.
The plotting and operations room.
Once a plush office next to the plotting room.
Here is my report from the bulk fuel storage.
Report - - RAF Sculthorpe Bulk Fuel Installation..Norfolk, June 2024 | Military Sites
I have made many, many visits to Sculthorpe over the years and have seen all that can be seen. Except for this one little bit which sits on land on the old airfield side. I have passed it many times knowing what it was, but wondering what lay in it, not a lot I thought at first. I decided to...
www.28dayslater.co.uk
And report from the bomb stores and tower.
Report - - RAF Sculthorpe bomb dump and tower..Norfolk December 2019 | Military Sites
I know this place has been done to death many times. But thought I would post some shots from the bomb storage area what not many do and the tower. I have been here many times, and was my first explore ever in early march 2013. I had covered the site extensively but never seen the bomb stores...
www.28dayslater.co.uk
WORLD WAR TWO
RAF sculthorpe started life as a satellite airfield to RAF West Raynham, Great Massingham had already been constructed as the first satellite airfield from Raynham. So when Sculthorpe was designated as the second satellite then this would make the triage of airfields as was quite common. Even though it was the second satellite it went on to become the biggest and most secretive base in Norfolk. Work began in 1942 with concrete runways being constructed and it to be designated as a class A heavy bomber airfield. The work was done mainly by Irish labourers who lived in tents on site. The Irish built many airfields in East Anglia. The work was completed in October 1943, but the site ceased to be a satellite and became independent. The airfield had two runways and 36 hard standings. Two T2 hangars and the standard communal and domestics sites which could house over 2000 men and women. In 1944 it was designated as a VHB (very heavy bomber) airfield, the original runways were ripped up and new ones were constructed which were wider and longer. Roads had to be adjusted to accompany the extension,and Irish labourers were used again who worked night and day. The contractor was John Laing who was one of the contractors involved in the original construction. The airfield expansion was still not completed by the end of the war.
THE COLD WAR
With rising tensions after the war with the soviets who now occupied large areas of Eastern Europe, the British and Americans were debating on letting the Americans use the various VHB sites to host the USAF, as was other countries in Europe. When the Berlin crisis erupted in 1948 this was accelerated. Sculthorpe was to become a permanent base for the USAF, and in 1949 saw intense activity to get the base ready for the first visitors. A year earlier had seen a massive reconstruction effort with new buildings and stores. The Z blocks were being constructed to house the single airmen. Many of the facilities on site were still from the war, and the base not being used for four years were in very poor condition. Various hotels around Norfolk were used to house the service men as the facilities were that poor. Accommodation for married couples was an even bigger problem. Eventually new facilities were being built to house the married couples. The first planes to arrive at Sculthorpe was the B-29s, these were based at various other airfields including Lakenheath and Marham. Many RAF personnel were based at Sculthorpe and shared the faculties with the Americans, like the officers mess. Tensions were quite high between the RAF and USAF as can be guessed. These tensions only got worse as time went on, with the British complaining about arrogance and arrogance from the American personnel based there. But tensions were rising with the Soviets and with the Korean War kicking off, this increased more. The American and British governments were debating on which bases would be given to the Americans on a permanent basis. Sculthorpe was a dead cert to be an official American base. It was finally handed over to the Americans on the 1st February 1951, the remaining RAF personnel were moved out except a few liaison officers and the base became basically American soil. Lakenheath and Mildenhall were also handed over around this time for American use, and are still in use to this day. Various squadrons used the base over the next few years with various planes being based here. Even the B-36 peacemakers visited Sculthorpe. But they never had a permanent role in the UK, as the infrastructure needed to maintain and service the biggest bomber in the world was too much. The next use for the base was when the 91st reconnaissance unit arrived in 1951. This saw a lot more secretive planes entering into Sculthorpe, the main use of these were to plot the terrain in Europe for NATO forces, so they knew were to fight if the Soviet Union ever invaded. The RB-45c tornado was tasked with this mission often flying ten hour missions a day. These were the first four engines jet powered bombers seen in Europe and were the equivalent of the B-45 bomber but used for spying and reconnaissance work. Sculthorpes heyday was from 1953 to 1956 with a massive build up of American USAF personnel building up in the UK. Sculthorpe at its peak hosted over ten thousand personnel and dependants at the base, and was the largest in the uk. The bulk of the planes based here during them years were the B-45 tornado bombers, these would be the ones to carry nuclear payloads to Russia if war broke out and Russia launched a nuclear attack. Lots of other units were based at Sculthorpe, including search and rescue planes. The B-45s were starting to age and these were replaced by the newer B-66, the KB- 50 would also be based here to refuel the bombers. These started arriving in 1957 and the B-45s would be replaced. Technology was moving on rapidly though, with the development of the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) this would have a massive effect on Sculthorpe. Nuclear bombs could be launched without the use of bombers, THOR missile sites were springing up around the country. In 1962 the 47th bomb wing finally left Sculthorpe, the last bomb squadron to be based there. The air refuelling fleet stayed this 1963 unit they finally departed the base. 1962 saw the number of personnel go from 8,500 to 2,500 As the base seemed to winding down to a potential closure. The base was handed back to the ministry of defence and was used as a standby base for storage. The technical side was going to be sold off and the housing kept as an overspill for families based at RAF West Raynham. But in 1966 the French decided they did not want US nuclear bombs on French soil and they would withdraw from NATO. The base was to reopen from 1967 as a storage site, then as a standby base to RAF Lakenheath. The problem was that after a few years laying dormant the runways had overgrown. The buildings lay empty and neglected. The Americans had stripped stuff of use, looters had been in a stripped the place. The kids from the married quarters had smashed windows and famed the buildings badly, so when people say kids doing damage is a new thing, it’s total rubbish. A lot of buildings were demolished and some were restored ready for use again. About two thirds were demolished, but new ones were built. The base carried on for twenty years in this status. But with the Cold War coming to and end in the late eighties. it was finally wound down and in 1992 the American flag was lowered and the base was finally closed. The airfield was handed back to the ministry of defence and the technical and domestic site was sold off and now hosts some industrial units. The accommodation is still there but in a very derelict state. The married couples housing at Sydersone was sold off and now private housing. The airside is still military and is part of the STANTA training area. Exercises are regularly practiced on here throughout the year. American special forces from Mildenhall do regular night training here and often do parachute drops. Ospreys and Hercules can often be seen flying here.
LIFE ON THE BASE
The base catered for all the American needs. A gymnasium with squash court and roller skating. A two lane bowling alley, baseball court, football pitch, nine hole golf course. There was also two chapels and cinema. And several social clubs, with the NCOs club being very popular and known as one of the best. Shops would provide the Americans with all there needs like drinks and chocolate and cigarettes. The Americans did like to use the local pubs, and the landlords relished this, with the Americans spending large amounts of money. They would often travel to Norwich for the pubs and dance halls. But any trouble was soon stopped by the airforce police and they would be bundled in a truck and taken back to base. Housing was tight on base so many Americans rented places all over Norfolk much to delight of property owners. Many servicemen met local women and lots got married. My auntie married a serviceman from Sculthorpe and moved to America when she was sixteen, sadly like many the marriage did not last, she still lives over there though. Many locals were employed on the base and the Americans paid them well. They were employed as cleaners, office workers, drivers and in the social clubs. Sadly racism was still a problem with the American. After many issues during World War Two when Americans were based in various countries in Europe, segregation was still a thing and caused many problems. This resulted in several riots and deaths in various towns across different countries. Segregation was abolished in 1948 but his did not stop problems on base. With blacks and whites sitting at differnt tables, and often fights would break out in the clubs.
INCIDENTS
One night on Saturday 31st 1953 a storm caught the east coast of the uk off guard. High tides and hurricane force winds caused the worst flooding this country has seen. Over 300 people died, 100 of them in Norfolk. 16 Americans lost their lives in the storms, these were families of people working at the base. Many personnel were rushed from the base and helped in the rescue, this was to cement friendship the American contingent basedin Norfolk. One serviceman stood out from the rest, airman second class Reiss L. Leming rushed in the water. But despite being a none swimmer braved the tides three times towing an inflatable raft. He was working in darkness and often up to his neck in water. After his third attempt he had to abandon it after he nearly collapsed with exhaustion and hypothermia. But he managed to rescue 27 people and was awarded the soldiers medal from the American government and the George Medal from the British government. He became a hero in Hunstanton and when he married a local girl the town organised his wedding and he was lavished with gifts. He made several visits back to the uk with his wife and met the queen and queen mother in 1993 at Sandringham. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 82. Many other servicemen were awarded medals for bravery, and many more would have perished that night if it had not been for the help of the Americans from Sculthorpe. The army cooks of the 38th anti aircraft artillery brigade from Sculthorpe even cooked up 1400 meals the next morning. And tankers brought fresh water as everything had been contaminated with sea water.
In 1959 a major incident happened at the base. General B.C Harrison of the air force said in a secret meeting in the pentagon “gentleman we have a problem”. On the 30th of October 1958, master sergeant Leander V. Cunningham decided to lock himself in a building and threaten to shoot himself with a 45 pistol. His wife, senior officers, chaplains and senior officers spent 8 hours trying to persuade him to put down his weapon. He finally gave up and was taken into medical care. Cunningham was a nuclear weapons technician, and rumours soon circulated that he was in a nuclear store and threatened to fire the weapon at nuclear material or prime a bomb. The authorities played this down and said he was in an old parachute store and that he it was mental health breakdown due to family problems. The US officials denied that priming devices were in the building, and that it was impossible for one man to set of a nuclear explosion, let alone get in the heavily guarded building. But that still did not stop the rumours flowing. Many civilians were on base and was told to stay in buildings and told to keep there heads down. The base was locked down for hours, till the all clear was given and people could leave the base. The press had a field day with it, but officials still denied it. But in 1962 it came out that the sergeant had intended to fire his weapon at a nuclear bomb and was suffering from mental delusion. One American source said that admitting the event could have knocked them out of England. Even then the Americans still denied he had not locked himself in a building with fissionable materials, but could not deny that he was going to detonate a bomb. After this the authorities screened people for psychological behaviour. No one was allowed in alone and had to have someone with them, and new rules to guard stocks were introduced.
A murder occurred at Sculthorpe. Forty three year old Mary Helen Marymount was taken to hospital on the base on June 9th 1958. She had been for lunch in Kings Lynn and suddenly collapsed. Her husband had been informed that she was dying but did not seem particularly bothered by this. She died that night despite the efforts of the doctors to save her. The doctors on the base had suspicions that she had been poisoned. They told Master Sergeant Marcus Marymount that they would need to do an post mortem, which he agreed to but then later changed his mind over consent. Acting on suspicions about his strange behaviour, the military authorities then started an investigation into her death. They found that he had tried to buy arsenic in Maidenhead, and also asked civilian cleaners were he could get arsenic from. It also turned out he was having an affair with a 23 year old woman, who was married but separated. He lied and said he was married but his wife and children lived in America. His objection to the post mortem was over ruled by the authorities and it was found that she had ingested arsenic around 24 hrs previous. He was found guilty of nursery and misconduct with his mistress and sentenced to life till he passed a way in 2000
The Airfield
Starting off with gate No1. This was the main gate into the site. With all the roads leading from this road. All the roads had names, like army road, flag street, chapel road, Sculthorpe boulevard and so on. I remember these signs all being present on my first few visits. Several have been saved by the museum.
Stores and workshops. This building is not in use now but sealed tight.
Looking down Army Road to the stores and gatehouse. I think I may have been stood on the old football pitch.
The baseball court.
Heading to the strategic air command and operations and briefing block. This was one of the main heartbeats of the base, here you had the military police offices, and plotting room. This is one of two gate houses into the compound and to get airside.
The large telephone exchange.
Sime very solid looking doors around here as well. One almost looks like it’s for a cell room.
Very rusty light switch.
The plotting and operations room.
Once a plush office next to the plotting room.
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you are getting some good use out of that 8-16mm, such a great range.
