This was my last outing with my camera before the lockdown. I have been a few times before. But was bored one weekend and wanted somewhere local to go for a few hours. After all the rain it was a very wet and muddy visit on a very foggy day.
RAF Watton was first opened in 1937 as a light bomber airfield for RAF bomber command. In 1943 it was handed over to the US eighth air force. The airfield was expanded upon then and a new concrete runway was constructed, a new concrete premier track and lots of new buildings. After the war it served quite a lot of years. It was handed back to the RAF and used by the signals and lots of other squadrons. In the latter years it was used by the RAF regiment and for training and radio signals use. A lot of the airfield was sold in the mid 90s and housing built. The hangars were used by farmers before being demolished. The rest was used by the air cadets and gliding club before finally all bring sold. The airfield with runways are still there but used by the farmers and slowly bring lost. This really is the last substantial bit left now.
The stores are pretty much of a standard design for that era.
To the side of the stores is the remains of the old firing range, the main firing pavillion still has the target raising levers in situ. The range wall still intact opposite. Because the land between the butt wall and firing positions is sunken slightly it's pretty flooded here.
A bit further back is what I think is an indoor firing range
RAF Watton was first opened in 1937 as a light bomber airfield for RAF bomber command. In 1943 it was handed over to the US eighth air force. The airfield was expanded upon then and a new concrete runway was constructed, a new concrete premier track and lots of new buildings. After the war it served quite a lot of years. It was handed back to the RAF and used by the signals and lots of other squadrons. In the latter years it was used by the RAF regiment and for training and radio signals use. A lot of the airfield was sold in the mid 90s and housing built. The hangars were used by farmers before being demolished. The rest was used by the air cadets and gliding club before finally all bring sold. The airfield with runways are still there but used by the farmers and slowly bring lost. This really is the last substantial bit left now.
The stores are pretty much of a standard design for that era.
To the side of the stores is the remains of the old firing range, the main firing pavillion still has the target raising levers in situ. The range wall still intact opposite. Because the land between the butt wall and firing positions is sunken slightly it's pretty flooded here.
A bit further back is what I think is an indoor firing range
