Rougham
ROUGHAM: Military aerodrome, later civil airfield (Known as RAF BURY-St-EDMUNDS in WW2)
Aka GREAT BARTON private airfield?
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Note: These four items were kindly provided by Mr Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide'.
Military user: WW2: 8th USAAF 4th Bombardment Wing
94th & 322nd Bomb Group
331, 332, 333 & 410 Sqdns (Boeing B.17 Flying Fortresses)
Operated by: 2010: Rougham Estate Farms
Location: S of Cottishill, SW of Burton Shrub, 3nm E of Bury-St-Edmunds
Period of operation: Military: 1942 to 1948 Civil GA use from: ? Closed for good from June 2023
Flying school: Skyward Flight Training (From 2010 to 2023)
Runways: WW2: 09/27 1828x46 hard 16/34 1280x46 hard
15/33 1280x46 hard
2010: 09/27 930x18 grass 03/21 430x18 grass
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Some time later, after sending me the maps and pics above, Mike decided to have a delve around to see if anything else could be added to this listing.
Photo one shows Aba Dolim, (far left) with the crew of 'Vie's Guys' in 1945. Photo Two is of the domestic site c.1947. Photo Three is from the Mighty Eighth War Manual by Roger A Freeman.
Photo Four is also from the Mighty Eighth War Manual. Did this airman survive? Even the ride to hospital in an ambulance on steel springs, if very seriously injured, could often prove fatal.
Plus of course, surgical techniques were still pretty basic. Assuming he survived to be physically strong and able, as we now know, the mental trauma often left 'survivors' disabled for many years, if not for life.
Suppose I should add that the local area and area views are from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: In late WW2 the runway surfaces were described as concrete, partially tarred and wood chippings. Quite often USAAF bomber bases had four squadrons with their numbers in numerical order but a few, such as this base, had three squadrons in numerical order and a fourth squadron out of sequence. It is only a tiny detail, hardly worth mentioning of course - but I cannot help wondering why?
CIVIL USE
From the 1990s (?) special one-off flying days were arranged here, possibly only once or twice a year? Bit by bit flying activities increased, including it seems, using the site for gliding. By 2010 it was announced that steps were being taken to re-establish this site as a full time aerodrome providing hangarage and other facilities. Another example of bucking the trend in the late 20th and early 21st century of closing GA sites. Unfortunately this facility was forced to close in June 2023, the site being redeveloped for housing.
It also appears, looking at these pictures, that model flying took place here for several years.
THE FARMING COMMUNITY
This seems an opportune place to mention that it also needs to be born in mind that the farming community in the UK have generally been amongst the strongest supporters of aviation in all its forms, especially since WW2. There is even a semi-secret society of ‘Flying Farmers’ to encourage members operating their own private airstrips. It is only a guess, but agreed by most I have consulted, that in recent years it is generally estimated that probably about 550 such airstrips exist in the UK, and have done so for many years.
Many if not most operating under the 28 day rule, whereby, if only used up to 28 days a year the airstrip doesn’t need planning permission. This regulation is obviously designed to disregard many safety issues, such as a pilot needing to land when encountering difficulties but nevertheless not wishing to deny the strip owner of a days flying; but then again most planning people very often appear to be anti-safety. Why this should be seems a mystery?
Jeff Carlisle-Dodd
This comment was written on: 2016-12-24 19:53:33Sadly the aviation enthusiast owner responsible for resurrecting the airfield and arranging the popular "Wings & Wheels" fly-ins and classic car events died in 2011. However, although 03/21 was then returned to agriculture, 27/09 continued to be maintained for occasional use and since 2013 Skyward Flight Training have established their small flying school close to the WW2 Control Tower now restored as a museum. Skyward Flight Training have up-dated the runway markings, handle PPR and collect landing fees on behalf of Rougham Estate Farms. Although not in the food and drink business the school offer hospitality during their operating days Wed through to Sat and on Sun during the Summer months the Tower Museum with cafe is open. There are likely to be several small scale fly-in events arranged by one of the school members - watch the aviation press!
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