RAF North Creake

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name = Royal Air Force Station North Creake


caption = Station crest
dates = December 1943 – 1945
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 = Shorts Stirling,
Handley Page Halifax
battles =
notable_commanders =
identification_symbol =
identification_symbol_label = Station crest heraldry
anniversaries =

RAF North Creake was a world war two era RAF Heavy Bomber airfield located just to the north of the Norfolk village of Egmere, five miles north west of Fakenham.

econd World War usage

Originally used in 1941 as a decoy site for RAF Docking, construction of this Class A airfield began in October 1942, with the station being provided with accommodation for 2,951 male and 411 female staff. The airfield had three concrete runways, 04-24 (2,000 yards) and O1-19 and 13-31 (1,400 yards). There were 36 loop type hardstandings, two T2 hangars and one B1 hangar.

By December 1943 the airfield had passed to 100 Group, although it did not immediately become operational as consideration was given to upgrading the airfield to Very Heavy Bomber Standard. In the event, this did not take place, with RAF Sculthorpe being selected for upgrade.

Short Stirling III from 199 Squadron arrived in May 1944 to complete Window and "'Mandrel" operations against enemy radar tracking of Bomber Command raids. In September 1944, No. 199's `C' Flight was used to re-form 171 Squadron, who contributed to 100 Group's radio counter-measures activities.

Seventeen aircraft were lost during operations from the airfield, eight Stirling and nine Halifax.

Post-War use

After the War, the airfield was used for the storage and scrapping of aircraft, mostly Mosquitoes. The RAF relinquished the station in 1947, and the area is now used for agriculture, though some evidence of runways, buildings and facilities remains. The control tower survives, and has been converted into a house.

Operational units and aircraft

* No. 171 Squadron RAF (1944-1945) - Short Stirling III then Handley Page Halifax III
* No. 199 Squadron RAF (1944-1945) - Short Stirling III then Handley Page Halifax III

References

* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s25.html Bomber Command - RAF North Creake]
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/N/North_Creake.htm Control Towers - RAF North Creake]

ee also

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