Ludham
LUDHAM: Military aerodrome (HMS FLYCATCHER) later private airfield
Note: Both these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Comparing these two pictures clearly shows how evidence of the WW2 airfield is gradually fading away. The 1999 picture seems to show evidence of a grass runway orientated 13/31 and 390m? Can anybody kindly offer advice?
Military users: WW2: RN HQ Mobile Naval A/F
RAF: 167, 602 & 603 Sqdns (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) 453 Sqdn (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
Operated by: 1980s/1990s: Ludham Aviation
2001: Ludham Aerodrome
Location: W of A149, NE of Ludham & WNW of Potter Heigham, 11nm ENE of Norwich
Period of operation: 1941 to 1945. Civil: 1970s to -
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 07/25 1280x46 hard 01/19 1006x46 hard
14/32 1006x46 hard
2000: 07/25 549x46 hard
2009: 07/25 459 (LDA 420) hard
NOTES: A warning in a flight guide published in 2000 warns of a hangar built on the eastern end of the ‘old’ runway requiring an angled approach with a roughly westerly wind. I just loved places like this and missed the chance to arrange a visit.
This said LUDHAM also reflects the changing fortunes of various airfields as the years pass by because today it hardly features on the “GA circuit”. In 1977 it had more aircraft based here than many much better known airfields today had in those days. For example: The Piper PA-25 Pawnee 235s G-ASKV, G-ASLA, G-ASLK, (G-ATER?) & (G-AWFS?), G-AXFD, G-AXYO and G-BCBJ of Westwick Distributors Ltd, during the ‘big’ period of crop-spraying. Also based here was Piper PA-18 Super Cub 95 G-AXLZ.
In Light Aviation magazine published in December 2020, Henry Labouchere relates how, when he joined Westwick at LUDHAM, "We had five Pawnees, a Cub and two Tigers." (My note for younger readers - Tigers means de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths). "In the winter we would pull the aircraft apart and do a check five. The engineers, Jo Lindores and Jack Anderson, had been with Cobham and Skyways respectively, and were great mentors."
ken mackenzie
This comment was written on: 2020-09-25 03:39:33I flew there plus 2 other kiwi pilots in 1978.I was based out of seething,it was a great experience
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
