Made a report on this before, but just on the bomb store. I had another wander around and looked at the taxiways and an old trashed building that I thought I had been demolished a few years ago. I really am not sure what the building was, it’s near the taxiway and you can see in its heyday it was very secure, with old barb wire still inside. Another look in the old bomb stores as well, this part was also the old firing range, with the old wall still there and the sheltered building for firing from with target levers still in situ. It’s crazy to think that Watton sat totally derelict for years on a scale of West Raynham, but way way before my exploring days. The whole technical site on the airfield side is a large housing estate. The old officers mess and restaurant and other associated building are now used for commercial use. The runways side of the site and taxiways are used by the farmer. All these shots were taken on an old Russian medium format camera with Kodak gold and Ilford 400.
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.
Starting with one of the many stores in the bomb dump.
Concrete blast walls go along were the stores are.
Tracks around the bomb dump.
Hidden up down the end is the ammo stores.
Firing range.
Indoor shooting range.
Taxiways.
Old dragline left on the track.
The old building near the taxiway.
With this camera you have to be careful as it can take double exposure photos. As can be seen here when I forgot to wind it on after taking a photo 😂.
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.
Starting with one of the many stores in the bomb dump.
Concrete blast walls go along were the stores are.
Tracks around the bomb dump.
Hidden up down the end is the ammo stores.
Firing range.
Indoor shooting range.
Taxiways.
Old dragline left on the track.
The old building near the taxiway.
With this camera you have to be careful as it can take double exposure photos. As can be seen here when I forgot to wind it on after taking a photo 😂.
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