MarketRAF Rackheath
Company Profile

RAF Rackheath

Royal Air Force Rackheath, more commonly known as RAF Rackheath, is a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Rackheath, approximately 6 miles north-east of Norwich, in the county of Norfolk in England.

History
, serial 44-10600, of the 788th Bomb Squadron releasing its bomb load during WWII. Based at RAF Rackheath.|alt= Laid out on agricultural land between the two settlements of Rackheath Parva and Rackheath Magna, construction on the airfield began in , for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force (8th AF). Constructed to the Air Ministry requirements for a class A airfield, it followed the typical layout of other heavy bomber bases, with a main runway of and two auxiliary runways of each. The perimeter track was in length, and this and the runways had a concrete screed finish. Mark II airfield lighting was installed, two T2 hangars were erected for major aircraft maintenance, and dispersed temporary building accommodation provided for some 2400 personnel in the wooded countryside of the estate to the south-west of the airfield. A dispersed weapon storage area was constructed to the north of the airfield. During construction, of soil were excavated, of soak-away drains installed, and of concrete laid. A major overhead power line had to be put underground to clear the aircraft flying approaches. USAAF use The airfield was given USAAF designation Station 145. 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy) The airfield was opened on , and was used by the 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy), RAF use The airfield was returned to the Royal Air Force, and a number of units were posted here: • No. 94 Maintenance Unit RAF (27 January 1948 - 16 August 1954) • No. 231 Maintenance Unit RAF ==Current use==
Current use
, 2007.|alt= renovated for use as offices, 2007.|alt= With the end of the war, the airfield was closed permanently in late and the airfield site was returned to farming use. it has been converted to use as an administrative building, currently occupied by a software company. The west T2 hangar is virtually beyond recognition, as compared to its appearance in 1943. The former aircraft hangar doors have been removed, replaced by modern brickwork and aluminium cladding, with smaller rolling shutter doors added to the front, and it has been repainted cream and green. Inside the building, the roof girders appear to be original and identical to those seen in photographs taken in 1944. The other T2 hangar, on the eastern side of the airfield near the Salhouse railway station, was dismantled many years ago and two new small industrial buildings constructed on its former southern dispersal. ==Memorials==
Memorials
memorial stone, corner of Bidwell Road and Liberator Close.|alt= A memorial to the 467th Bomb Group consisting of a plaque and a pair of benches was dedicated in 1983. The memorial plaque, flanked by the two benches, is situated in front the Rackheath village sign on the Salhouse Road, adjacent to the Holy Trinity Church at 52°39'46"N 01°22'42"E. A further memorial stone was erected in 1990 on the corner of Bidwell Road and Liberator Close. Flanked by two flagpoles with United States and United Kingdom flags hoisted, the polished black granite stone, with inscription detailing the operations of the 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the 2nd Air Division, Eighth Air Force, USAAF at RAF Rackheath, was dedicated on 29 July 1990 by the Four Hundred And Sixty Seventh Bombardment Group Heavy Association Ltd. Rackheath Pathfinders Site 6 was a small part of the airbase comprising, amongst others, Commanding Officer's (and his deputy's) quarters, officers' club, shower blocks, dining rooms, cinema, kitchen areas, and several blast shelters. The site is bisected by Newman Road. In March 2020, a volunteer group (The Pathfinders) was formed to help manage and 're-claim' the site. A Facebook Group has been formed to enable people to follow the volunteers progress. ==See also==
tickerdossier.comtickerdossier.substack.com