North Creake
NORTH CREAKE: Military aerodrome (also known as EGMERE)
Note: These pictures were both obtained from Google Earth ©
Evidence of the three runways can still be clearly seen, but, the perimeter track still appears to be intact around the entire airfield site. One thing is certain, and that is that farmers taking over disused airfields appreciated the usefulness of 'peri-tracks' to serve their own needs. And indeed these still serve, mostly more or less intact, some seventy or more years after WW2.
Military users: WW2: RAF Bomber Command 100 (Special Duties) Group
171 Sqdn (Handley Page Halifaxs & Short Stirlings)
199 Sqdn (Halifaxs & Stirlings)
Location: 2nm NW of Little Walsingham
Period of operation: 1943 to 1948
Runways: 06/24 1829x46 hard 13/31 1280x46 hard
01/19 1280x46 hard
NOTES: This site, it appears, started off in 1941 as a decoy airfield for DOCKING about 7nm to the west. In 1942 construction started and this airfield was originally intended to be a satellite for FOULSHAM.
BOMBER COMMAND ARRIVE
In December 1943 it was completed and taken over by Bomber Command 100 Group, who were operating heavy bombers, and, surprise, surprise, therefore requiring additional work to the runways and perimeter track. Nice to see the English were so focused on the task in hand, (I don’t think!), considering a pretty serious war was happening at that time.
GIVE IT A YEAR
With typical British efficiency in January 1944 the airfield was then put to Care & Maintenance duties and from April used for training by a Mobile Signals Unit. But, by mid April a Station Flight was formed using a Tiger Moth. Gawd bless the RAF!
On the 1st May 199 Sqdn arrived with Short Stirling Mk IIIs. On D-Day they assisted by simulating a large force of aircraft and surface vessels ‘invading’ Calais. As a ‘reward’ the Station Flight Tiger Moth was replaced by an Airspeed Oxford.
SPECIAL TASKS
The Short Stirlings of both 171 and 199 Sqdns were replaced by Handley Page Halifaxs during 1944 through to early 1945. It can only be wondered what the aircrews thought at that time operating obsolete types? This said, although the two squadrons did fly ‘normal’ bombing operations, their aircraft were fitted out with special counter-measure equipment such as ‘Window’ and ‘Mandrel’.
AFTER WW2
I suppose I should mention that soon after WW2 ended both 171 and 199 Sqdns were disbanded in July 1945 and in October 1945 the station was transferred to 41 Group Maintenance Command becoming No. 111 Sub-Storage Site of 274 Maintenance Unit based at SWANNINGTON.
It seems that their task was long-term storage of Mosquitos and eventually these were taken out of storage, flight tested and delivered to other RAF units, and, the Turkish Air Force.
Alan Richardson
This comment was written on: 2019-10-30 00:16:59I have spent many hours on google earth looking for old airfields, and had often thought “I wonder what that one was called, and what flew from there” ? And then, a few weeks ago, just by chance, I discovered your website ! Wow, what a ‘labor of love’ that must have been, and probably still is. You have done a truly magnificent job. You have made ‘airfield hunting’ so much more pleasurable and interesting with the names and histories for each airfield. Many many thanks, and keep up the splendid work. Alan Richardson
Dick Flute
This comment was written on: 2019-11-01 23:18:38Hi Alan, Many thanks - praise indeed and most welcome. Although I am of course the author of this 'Guide, I owe a great deal of debt to so many others. Without whom this 'Guide' would be next to nothing by comparison. Best regards, Dick
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