Great Massingham
GREAT MASSINGHAM: Military aerodrome later private airfield
Note: These pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Another very good example of a WW2 airfield which can still be seen, almost intact, some seventy years later.
Military users: WW2: RAF Bomber Command 2 Group
18 & 139 Sqdns (Bristol Blenheims)
107 Sqdn (Bristol Blenheims, later Douglas A-20 Bostons)
100 (Special Duties) Group
23, 169 & 515 Sqdns ( De Havilland Mosquitos)
180 Sqdn (North American B-25 Mitchells)
BSDU (Avro Ansons)
Post WW2
1694 (B) DTF (Spitfires)
1692 (BS) Training Unit (Avro Ansons & Mosquitos)
Operated by: Post 1945: Mr O C Brun
Location: 7nm WSW of Fakenham, 10nm E of Kings Lynn, and fairly near RAF MARHAM
Period of operation: Military 1940 to 1958. Civil much later (from 1990?) but with limited use
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 04/22 1280x46 hard 10/28 1829x46 hard
14/32 1280x46 hard
1990/2000: 04/22 900x20 hard 10/28 450x20 hard
14/32 400x15 hard
NOTES: 18 Squadron based here also formed part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) which went to France to vainly attempt to halt the German advance. RAF historians detest the notion of ‘suicide’ missions but, quite frankly, many of the RAF sorties flown in that campaign can only be regarded as such. For example, on the 17th May 1940 eleven out of twelve Blenheims were lost. On some missions, especially those squadrons flying Fairey Battles, every aircraft was shot down. It is highly recommended to read The Reich Intruders by Martin Bowman to get the full history of this episode.
In keeping with Japanese practice much later in WW2 when ‘volunteers’ for suicide missions were asked to step forward out of line, the RAF had employed the same tactic. To quote from Bomber Crew by John Sweetman, regarding a planned low-level attack on a bridge over the Albert canal in Maastricht, but in this instance involving Fairey Battle crews: “Stressing that the target ‘was to be destroyed at all costs’, the Officer Commanding 12 Squadron called for volunteers. Every three-man Battle crew stepped forward, and six were chosen by lot.” I would defy anybody to now deny these aircrew knew, almost for certain that their chances of surviving were virtually nil.
“One aircraft and the reserve machine each suffered a mechanical failure, though. So only five took off. ‘As anticipated,’ the post-operational report ran, ‘exceptionally intense machine-gun and anti-aircraft fire was encountered, and the bridge area was heavily defended by enemy fighters. In spite of this the formation successfully delivered a dive-bombing attack from the lowest practicable altitude and British fighters in the vicinity reported that the target was obscured by the bombs bursting on it and in its vicinity. The bridge had been breached, and a French general signalled their squadron, ‘Messieurs, je vous remercie’. However, success had been achieved at a truly dreadful cost. The leading bomber, piloted by Flying Officer Edward Garland with Sergeant Thomas Gray as his observer, LAC E. Reynolds the wireless operator, and three others did not return. Only one badly damaged Battle survived the carnage, the pilot and wireless operator receiving the DFC and DFM respectively.” (My note: So why didn’t the observer get a ‘gong’?)
“For their ‘coolness and resource’ in leading the attack, Garland and Gray were both posthumously awarded the VC, the only time two members of a bomber crew would be so decorated on the same operation.” But….hold on, why wasn’t Reynolds awarded the VC also? Quite possibly because he was not an officer? Therefore virtually below contempt in RAF circles which was, if anything, as equally concerned with preserving an utterly rigid class structure as fighting a war.
Without any doubt, many senior officers in the RAF were mortified that ‘working class’ people had to become aircrew under duress in fighting the thoroughly pesky and inconvenient Nazi regime. But at least they could be segregated at meal times and banned from dining in the officers Mess.
107 SQUADRON
Originally equipped with Bristol Blenheims, it wasn't until 1942 that they converted onto Douglas A-20 Bostons. A vast improvement on the Blenheim, without any doubt, but the duties assigned to them, invariably very low level missions, meant that the casualty rate was still very high.
FIGHTER COMMAND BOMBERS
It came as quite a surprise to me to learn that in WW2 Fighter Command were also heavily involved in bombing operations later on. The distinction being on the type of aircraft operated. I imagine many people today would not suspect the Spitfire was used in a bombing role towards the end of WW2? But indeed, Spitfire bombers were certainly used to attack V.1 and V.2 missile bases
THE MOSQUITO
The classic and hugely successful multi-purpose aircraft of WW2 was the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito. It is surely utterly shameful that the ‘Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ does not have an example. It can now be argued that the success of a few daring precision bombing raids during 1944/45 by Mosquitos might well have had an equal effect on the eventual outcome of WW2, and possibly equivalent to fleets of heavy bombers attacking area targets such as cities.
SPOTTERS NOTES
In 1977 it appears that two aircraft were based here, Auster J/5G Autocar G-ASFK listed as belonging to North Denes Aerodrome Ltd in a 1977 register. It might have been sold of course, and the Piper PA-30 Twin Commanche 160 G-ATXD.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
In May 1993 flying with my good pilot friend Guy Browning on one of several flights to explore Norfolk, and having obtained permission, we landed here in the Cessna 172 G-AXBH. It was deserted and on shutting down we stepped out from the aircraft into utter tranquillity. I’m not sure we even heard insects buzzing around. We booked in and paid our landing fee in the ancient road-menders type ‘caravan’ used as the ‘Control centre’, took a couple of pictures and took off again - to LITTLE SNORING if memory serves.
Some people love only visiting busy aerodromes, (as I do too of course), but exploring the backwaters of England by air on a summers day, landing occasionally at deserted places like this in between is a privilege rarely equalled elsewhere.
To just stand for a few minutes in silence looking out over the aerodrome, and to try and envisage that busy history in WW2 and pay respects to honour those that died, soak in the atmosphere and history, to relish the freedom of even being able to even do this - it takes some beating! I just love this sort of flying - no ATC, nothing bar at best a windsock hanging limp. A thoroughly peaceful summers day in England.
'Hornchurch'
This comment was written on: 2020-09-03 06:07:45Enjoyed reading your article on Great Massingham, as it's very near where I'm typing this. It really is a lovely village & a rather magical former airfield (alright, it's still a 'strip', but !) Several famous 'sports personalities' were based here (2 x cricketers & a famous BBC Sports commentator "Some people ARE on the pitch, They think it's all-over, IT IS NOW !"). In fact only last year, I unbeknowingly stood next to his Kiwi Gunner's grave, not knowning that he'd had his head blown-apart, in his Blenheim's turret, whilst on one of those near-suicidal '2 Group' Anti-Shipping strikes. A nun, Sister Laurence, was responsible & very active in looking after the RAF Massingham photo' collection & memorabilia. Whilst alive & back in 1995, myself & my daughter visited the beautiful Gt.Massingham church, got chatting at length to Sister Laurence, who most kindly gave me several photographs (duplicates), most notably of a guy who served there & later flew Wellingtons. (The sharp photo' is of a White Distempered Wellington B.X over it's original camo') I'm also friends/friendly with St.Mary's Reverend, Judith (she's really lovely !) who takes the services there, as both she & St.Mary's church are also part of our benefice. More to say, but this post is already long enough ! Cheers for both your site AND the article...
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