Up and running !

The TFC Gladiator pictured in my Duxford post below is running again. The engine was being worked on when I was there and has since been run up successfully. Hopefully a test flight will soon follow. The aircraft has not flown in over 5 years following engine issues on a trip to a French air show.

Mautby Anti Aircraft Battery

This battery is a little west of Caister in Norfolk and was built, probably in late 1943, to protect the port of Gt Yarmouth. It is quite a rare survivor as there are very few such gun emplacements remaining and this is one of the most complete four gun emplacement batteries still extant. It also has an intact command centre and, as a result of its completeness, it is a scheduled monument with Historic England.

Access to the site is down a country lane and a narrow concrete track and it helps if you have someone to stay with the car when you abandon it on the edge of a field! A short walk along a public footpath reaches some woodland next to a farm field and the gun emplacement is within the trees. A slightly different aspect to my aircraft hobby and here are some images of what remains.

RAF Wendling

Wendling Airfield, 4 miles from East Dereham, was built in 1942 and handed to the United States Army Air Force. It was a heavy bomber field of the 8th air Force and the most northerly USAAF airfield of the 8th. The aircraft operated were B-24 Liberators. The last combat mission was flown on 25th April 1945.

At the end of the war the airfield passed to RAF Maintenance Command and became a stand by field before closing in 1961 and being sold off in 1964 after which it returned to agriculture.

Little of the airfield remains today and access is difficult although the line of the main runway is quite evident due to a tree line and rows of turkey sheds. A memorial has been erected close to the airfield.

Bristol Blenheim V5455

 This Blenheim MKIV, which had previously taken part in the first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne, departed from West Raynham for a raid on Germany on 9th June 1942. It suffered an engine failure and jettisoned the bomb load but sadly crashed at Brisley whilst trying to turn back to base and all three crew were lost. This memorial was erected in 2000.

Saxthorpe Airfiled

Saxthorpe in Norfolk, a little south of Holt, was a Home Defence landing ground in WWI that opened in 1916. It was home to 51 squadron who were operating Avro 504ks and Sopwith Camels from early 1918.

The airfield closed in 1919 and since it was only ever a grass field there is no longer any sign of its existence save the memorial at nearby St Andrews church.

RAF Trimingham

RAF Trimingham or RRH (Remote Radar Head) Trimingham is a radar station on the Norfolk coast a little south of Cromer. The station was originally established by the Bristish Army in 1942 before passing to the Air Ministry the following year. Apart from being used to detect German E-boats and low flying aircraft it also served as an Oboe station which sent signals out to help navigation of RAF aircraft on bombing raids. The site was deactivated for a while after WWII but reactivated in 1949 until being mothballed in 1965 and the site sold off in 1981.However, in the late 1980s the RAF reacquired the site and a new radar system was installed. Last year it was announced that RAF Trimingham would be moved 8 miles to RAF Neatishead due to the threat of coastal erosion and the increased interference experienced by operators from the off-shore wind turbines. The move is scheduled to be completed this year. Here is the site currently which includes derelict buildings across the road from the main site presumably dating back to WWII.

Ludham Airfield memorial

I visited Ludham airfield five years ago and there are some pictures here. However, since my visit, in fact within the last year, a memorial has been erected down the way a little in Ludham village, as I saw today.

Return of Fighter Meet

Many years ago there used to be a good airshow at North Weald that went by the name of 'Fighter Meet' and I went a few times back in the early 90's. The content was good and North Weald is only an hour and 15 minutes from me but it went by the way and the slot was effectively filled by Flying Legennds at Duxford. As noted earlier, Legends is mean to be returning this year and a good friend has pointed out today that Fighter Meet will also be returning. Given that Legends, assuming that it does happen, is a very long drive I shall be keeping tabs on Fighter Meet as it sounds quite promising.

Duxford 10.3.23

 We headed off to Norfolk today for a bit of a break after a hectic start to the year and with a little time on our hands we popped in to Duxford marking the start of actively pursuing my hobby this year. Quite a chilly day with snow showers from time to time so everything was tucked up in the hangars.

I did come across the second airworthy UK Wildcat although, unfortunately it's not currently in a position to get great pictures, especially with a Buchon parked in front of it!

Unfortunately the Conservation Hangar was closed so the newly arrived Victor and Valiant nose sections were off limit so we had a bite to eat and a wander around looking at the usual suspects. Winter maintenance was much in evidence and nothing much out of to ordinary to report although the Avenger was being dismanteled for its pending move but here are a few snaps.