RAF Swanton Morley

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name = Royal Air Force Station Foulsham


caption = Station crest
dates = October 1940 – 1995
country = United Kingdom
branch = Royal Air Force
command_structure = No. 100 Group RAF
type = Flying station
role = Bomber / Special operations
size =
current_commander =
garrison = Norwich, Norfolk, England
garrison_label = Based near
ceremonial_chief =
ceremonial_chief_label =
colonel_of_the_regiment =
colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
nickname =
motto =
colors =
colors_label = Royal Air Force Ensign
march = Royal Air Force March Past
mascot =
equipment = Bristol Blenheim
de Havilland Mosquito,
Douglas Boston,
B-25 Mitchell,
Kirby Cadet Mk III,
Slingsby T61F (Venture),
Grob G103A (Viking)
battles =
notable_commanders =
identification_symbol =
identification_symbol_label = Station crest heraldry
anniversaries =

The former Royal Air Force Station Swanton Morley, more commonly known as RAF Swanton Morley, was a Royal Air Force Station in Norfolk, England, located near to the village of Swanton Morley. The site is now occupied by the British Army, and is now known as the Robertson Barracks.

History

During World War II the station was home to the Bomber Support Development Unit (BSDU) of No. 100 Group RAF. One June 29th 1942, American and British airmen took off from this station as part in the first combined bombing raid of World War Two. Both Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower were at RAF Swanton Morley for this mission, which saw six crews from 15th Bombardment Squadron fly a raid with six crews from the RAF, using Boston aircraft belonging to the RAF's No. 226 Squadron. [ [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART32196.html 24 Hours Museum - WW2 Events] ] [ [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/I/AAF-I-18.html HyperWar: The Army Air Force in WW2] ]

After World War II the station was home to the Central Servicing Development Establishment (CSDE) and laterly the Maintenance Analysis and Computing Establishment (MACE).

From June 1953 to 1995 the station was also used by 611 Volunteer Gliding School, when the station was listed for closure under "Options For Change"' [ [http://www.611vgs.org.uk/html/our_history.html 611 VGS History] ] . The station held popular airshows during the 1980's.

The station closed in 1995. It is currently home to the Light Dragoons.

Facilities

The station was equipped with a grass surface airfield with three main runways, a perimeter track with 31 loop hardstandings, four T-type hangars, four blister hangars and one J-type hangar. The station was also equipped with a Watch Office with Met. Section, utility buildings and barracks for a total staff of 1,968 males and 390 females. [ [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/S/Swanton_Morley.htm Control Towers - Swanton Morley] ] [ [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s29.html Bomber Command - Swanton Morley] ]

quadrons

*No. 105 Squadron RAF Blenheims, Mosquito
*No. 88 Squadron RAF
*No. 152 Squadron RAF
*No. 226 Squadron RAF

*15th Bomb Squadron (US Eighth Air Force)

*No. 1482 Flight RAF (Bombing and Gunnery Flight
*No. 1508 Flight RAF Blind Approach Training Flight

References

ee also

*Royal Air Force station
*List of RAF stations
*List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons