RAF Oulton
Royal Air Force Oulton is located to the west of the market town of Aylsham in Norfolk and was built over 1939 and 1940 as a bomber airfield with T2 type hangars and grass runways, the facility operating as a satellite airfield of nearby RAF Horsham St. Faith between July 1940 and September 1942 after which it operated as a satellite airfield of RAF Swanton Morley.
In September 1943 Oulton was transferred from 2 Group to 3 Group and closed to flying for re-construction as a heavy bomber base with concrete runways, taxiways and parking areas. The work was completed in April 1944 and the airfield transferred to No. 100 Group RAF.[1] Flying operations ceased at the end of July 1945, after which it was taken over by RAF Maintenance Command which used it to store de Havilland Mosquitos until November 1947.[2]
| Squadron | Aircraft | Dates at RAF Oulton |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Blenheim Mk.IV | July 1940 to March 1941[2][3] |
| 18 | Blenheim Mk.IV | April 1941 to July 1941 and November to December 1941[1] |
| 139 | Blenheim Mk.IV | December 1941 to February 1942[2][1] |
| 1428 Hudson Conversion Flight | Hudson Mk.III | December 1941 to May 1942[1] |
| 236 | Beaufighter Mk.IC | July 1942 to September 1942[1] |
| 88 | Boston Mk.III and IIIA | September 1942[1] to March 1943[citation needed] |
| 21 | Ventura Mk.I and II | April 1943 to September 1943[1] |
| 1699 (Bomber Support) Flight | Fortress | May 1944[1] to June 1945[citation needed] |
| 214 | Fortress | May 1944 to July 1945[1] |
| 803rd Bomb Squadron USAAF | Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator | May 1944 to August 1944[1] |
| 223 | Fortress and Liberator | August 1944 to July 1945[1] |
[edit] References
- Bowyer, J.F. Action Stations 1: Wartime military airfields of East Anglia 1939. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, Second edition, 1990. ISBN 1-85260-377-1.
- "Your Questions Answered...Oulton, Norfolk". Air Pictorial, October 1967. p. 373.
[edit] External links
- Aerial photo of RAF Oulton. Other map and aerial photo sources.
