Report - RAF Watton, Norfolk. Airfield defences, March 2016

[The_Mole]

RAF Watton.
Absolutely gutted that I never photographed any of the site in all the time I was there in the late 90s. Even found some tunnels and underground buildings that have since been built on.....
First, some history, from Wiki:

RAF Watton is a former Royal Air Force station located 9 miles southwest of East Dereham, Norfolk, England and has an active military history spaning nearly 6 decades.

RAF Watton was a permanent expansion period RAF station built by John Laing & Son and first used as a light bomber airfield. The four 1935 design C-type hangars, arranged in the usual crescent on the northern side of the airfield, were backed by the permanent buildings of the pre-war RAF camp. The construction of the airfield necessitated the closure of two public roads. Opened in 1937 it was used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the Second World War.
On two occasions in 1940, 82 Squadron (Bristol Blenheim MkIVs) sent a squadron of 12 aircraft out on raids, only for a single aircraft to return, resulting in the squadron having one of the highest loss ratios in bomber command.
In 1943 Watton was turned over to the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force for use as an air depot. The airfield was originally grass surfaced but, during the American tenure, the airfield had a 2,000 yd (1,829 m) long concrete runway constructed and a concrete perimeter track was built.

3rd Strategic Air Depot.
Under the American tenancy, Watton was expanded to become the 3rd Strategic Air Depot, which was the major overhaul and repair of the Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 2nd Air Division. The air depot complex was adjacent to Watton airfield and built in the village of Griston to the south, bordering the B1077 road. However, the depot was known officially as Neaton, given USAAF designation Station 505, a village located to the north of Watton town.
The 3rd Strategic Air Depot remained operational until the American departure in July 1945.

25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance)
Watton was also the home of the 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) which was formed at Watton as the 802nd Reconnaissance Group in February 1944. The unit was renamed the 25th on 17 July 1944.

Watton reverted to RAF control on 27 September 1945. It was used by various flying units of RAF Signals Command.

With the installation of secondary surveillance radar (SSR) at Watton, the station became one of the five units in the joint military/civil National Air Traffic Services Organisation with Eastern Radar until the 1980s. Then in the 1990s, the airfield came into use by the Army in connection with the nearby Stanford Training Area (STANTA).

Part of the camp put up for sale in 1995 was sold to a developer for the creation of a new housing estate.
A large part of the site has been developed into the Blenheim Grange housing estate, which is actually officially part of Carbrooke. All of the roads are given names with links to air force history, such as Wellington Road and Canberra Road. History has not been forgotten on the estate and at the entrance there are two monuments, one is a propeller in memory of the British airmen and the other is a more traditional monument in memory of the Americans.

The Runway is still mostly in place (apart from an area that has been taken up and a footpath to Griston has been built) at the top end of the estate and the area is set to become agricultural land. A large part of the estate is still to be developed and in many places you can still see signs with wording similar to "RAF property keep out".

Airfield Defences
In addition to two Pickett Hamilton fort pillboxes that I could not locate, supposedly around the East end of the flying field, the airfield had 5 Pillboxes to the north and just outside of its boundary. A rare pentagonal roofless one has disappeared under housing development.

Peritrack Pillbox.
Just outside the bomb stores. The only one inside the Airfield Boundary. Fairly clean, but weather worn and part hidden under vegitation. Brick shuttering.

Still complete with a bit of hardware.

Backtrack Pillbox:
Down a little track, used to access bomb stores. Full of crap, under vegitation and falling apart. Brick shuttering.

Back down the lane......

Clipbush lane:
On the edge of a field. Bit of rubbish inside. Brick shuttering, mostly fallen disappeared.

Nice clear field of fire.....

Pillbox; track by married quarters:
When I was a kid, I used to play all over this. It was in a lot worse state then and has been partially rebuilt. It has had a new pair of doors installed and locked making internal inspection impossible. I always suspected the walls on top to be from some sort of anti aircraft gun.....

Fizzing Onions. The hypocrisy of the statement "Please help preserve our heritage" whilst they vandalise and destroy a whole 1935 pattern station right in front of he box really gets me.

The Heinkel He111 that was bought down in Ovington by the cable rockets.

Complete with smiley face on the canopy!

Memorial to the AA crews, behind Tedder close.

More reports of the rest of the airfield to follow in due course......

 

[Exploring WithLiam]

Look up VPH roofing from watton.

I use to work for them and on there old Depot has a big fuck off nuclear bunker in the middle of the yard.

 

[I really don't care]

You should check out Merton and Thompson if your interested in this stuff, just try not to tresas on the battle area.

 

[gordo52]

I was born a short distance from the Griston end of the old RAF Camp, when a few years old in early 1960's a couple of us go through a hole in the chain link and find starter shells, with a little brasso they cleaned up lovely. There was also a Airfield opposite Bodney Camp on the road from Watton just past Great Cressingham. I am not sure if anything left there now but the strip is clear to see, bit hilly but only light craft were used. There are lost villages on the Battle Area, which I believe they allow trips at certain times of the year

 

[I really don't care]

I was born a short distance from the Griston end of the old RAF Camp, when a few years old in early 1960's a couple of us go through a hole in the chain link and find starter shells, with a little brasso they cleaned up lovely. There was also a Airfield opposite Bodney Camp on the road from Watton just past Great Cressingham. I am not sure if anything left there now but the strip is clear to see, bit hilly but only light craft were used. There are lost villages on the Battle Area, which I believe they allow trips at certain times of the year

To go on the tours you have to be over 18 although all the original churches that resided in the battle area when it became private property still stand, that’s what the tour goes around. All the original houses there was destroyed, they rebuilt the houses in Thompson, opposite the green. They’d resently tor down the rest of the only remaining aired houses for new houses. Some of the best places to hear the battle noises as they still fight there is standing on Merton green in the morning and evening. From personal experience living in those houses can be a nightmare. Some pillboxes still stand if you walk around that area. I sometimes worry why a 14 year old knows all this, and btw do you know a Heather? From Thompson and Merton? Or does the name Goodwin or Ayers ring any bells. If you lived in that area, it may do.

 

[gordo52]

I was born in Caston 1952. part of the old airfield was used as go kart racing before the prison was built. Most of my school mates during the 1960's were off the old camp. I moved to Ovington later and used to go to Shipdham Airfield . I believe Raf Watton was where the very first B17 landed for duty. The Blenhiem Bombers were stationed there before handing over. An old school mate opened an RAF Museum in the old officer's mess on the camp, a Julian Horn his dad was well known as one of our high school teachers. Shame so much is gone from Tottington old village. went round when I was about 12, (1964/65)

 

[Vapeexpert86]

Look up VPH roofing from watton.

I use to work for them and on there old Depot has a big fuck off nuclear bunker in the middle of the yard.

sorry to bring up such a old thread,but ive recently been trying to put to bed rumors of a underground hospital under the medical bit at raf watton and saw your post on here so was intrigued about this bunker you speak of lol,i emailed vph had no reply but could you shed anymore light on this?

 

[The_Mole]

sorry to bring up such a old thread,but ive recently been trying to put to bed rumors of a underground hospital under the medical bit at raf watton and saw your post on here so was intrigued about this bunker you speak of lol,i emailed vph had no reply but could you shed anymore light on this?

Hi Vapeexpert86:
No worries about bringing up the thread again. Havent been on here in a while.
Re the underground hospital, Ive been looking into that too. Im afraid the most likely, and almost a dead cert, is that the Decontamination block for the Station Medical center was mistaken for an underground complex. It was nothing of the sort unfortunately. The Decontamination center was behind and linked via a hallway to the Station medical center. It was also surrounded by thick blast walls with an earth embankment all around the building. It was, unfortunately, a wholly above ground building. Examples are still in place at RAF Upwood, RAF Marham (I think) and RAF West Raynham. Standard on Expansion period airfields. The one at RAF Raynham is currently for sale at 10 grand and listed as an "Underground Bunker"

Re: Rumours, I lived there through most of the 1990s. Rumours of tunnels and underground systems where common. One Hilarious rumour I heard was that there where tunnels under the runway and there where all manner or trucks and jeeps parked there with grenades and guns in boxes and stuff. I think again, distortion from the pits that the Americans dug and placed all their discarded kit in rather than face the cost of shipping it back home.
There was one rumour though that a bit nuclear bunker was dug somewhere in Watton for councilors and "The likes of Mr Bowes" I remember being quoted. Quite where or how big though, I have no idea. There is one in Dereham that I believe is still in use in some capacity, but the rumour was quite clear it was in Watton.

 

[Vapeexpert86]

Hi Vapeexpert86:
No worries about bringing up the thread again. Havent been on here in a while.
Re the underground hospital, Ive been looking into that too. Im afraid the most likely, and almost a dead cert, is that the Decontamination block for the Station Medical center was mistaken for an underground complex. It was nothing of the sort unfortunately. The Decontamination center was behind and linked via a hallway to the Station medical center. It was also surrounded by thick blast walls with an earth embankment all around the building. It was, unfortunately, a wholly above ground building. Examples are still in place at RAF Upwood, RAF Marham (I think) and RAF West Raynham. Standard on Expansion period airfields. The one at RAF Raynham is currently for sale at 10 grand and listed as an "Underground Bunker"

Re: Rumours, I lived there through most of the 1990s. Rumours of tunnels and underground systems where common. One Hilarious rumour I heard was that there where tunnels under the runway and there where all manner or trucks and jeeps parked there with grenades and guns in boxes and stuff. I think again, distortion from the pits that the Americans dug and placed all their discarded kit in rather than face the cost of shipping it back home.
There was one rumour though that a bit nuclear bunker was dug somewhere in Watton for councilors and "The likes of Mr Bowes" I remember being quoted. Quite where or how big though, I have no idea. There is one in Dereham that I believe is still in use in some capacity, but the rumour was quite clear it was in Watton.

Yea i saw the one at raynham and have been in that and the one at coltishall,i guess these rumors of underground facility's are like the rumors of under bentwaters and Woodbridge which i troed investigating and believe to be total bs lol, although i did get into the pipeline in rendlesham forest that went for four miles and was used to pump fuel to Woodbridge runways to disperse of fog was known as F.I.D.O , normally its capped but a idiot smashed the concrete so when i noticed it i had to have a look,and you can fit down it but im not crawling 4 miles lol...i wonder if this bunker is the uniter bunker building next to the old airfield?i did a land registry search on it and it came back with vph roofing,to be honest your probably on the same Facebook groups i am and i have probably spoken to you or something before

 

[The_Mole]

Haha yes, more than likeley!
The Uniter bunker I dont think is an underground facility either tbh, but have never been in, so cant confirm. It was, however, build on the site of the old Fuel silo. Watton had 2, and in the 80s with the erection of the 2nd transmitter mast, the 2nd silo was turned over for the bunker to be built on. The silo had a few big underground tanks, so would make sense to pull them out and youve got a bunker! So its not implausible!
Interesting to hear about the pipes. I know about Fido, but thought they were contained within the airfield. There is some connection between the Council dump / workshop at Ketteringham and Coltishall apparently. Possibly the same thing, but Im not aware of Colt being fitted with Fido.

 

[Vapeexpert86]

Thats the gpss pipeline i think,theres also one for sculthorpe andd mattishall

 

[Vapeexpert86]

Have a look on google earth
52°47'48"N 0°37'38"E

 

[Calamity Jane]

Something a little different, nice little pill box there, nice landscapes shots. I like old air fields, and army bases.

 

[The_Mole]

Something a little different, nice little pill box there, nice landscapes shots. I like old air fields, and army bases.

Thanks Jane. I had some Pics of the remaining fuel silo and Bomb stores, but they got lost when my Laptop broke (Frustratingly just after I posted these!), so another visit is in order methinks!

 

[Vapeexpert86]

If you fancy a tag along feel free to give me a message,i would like to head back