- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 5,606
- Reaction score
- 11,273
1. The History
RAF Wendling, also known as Station 118, situated near the Norfolk town of Dereham. It was first opened in 1943 as a bomber airfield originally to be used by the RAF. It was the most northerly of the 8th Air Force heavy bomber fields and was built by Taylor-Woodrow Ltd in 1942 featuring a 1,800m long main runway angled on a NE-SW axis. The domestic sites were near Beeston to the west of the airfield while the bomb dump and ammunition stores were in Honeypot Wood to the south-east.
However, after completion, it was handed over the USAAF, who took command of the airfield and build two T2 hangars. 392nd Bombardment Group was stationed there flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the 8th Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.
Post-war it was given back to the RAF and used as a standby airfield by RAF Maintenance Command’s No. 258 Maintenance Unit. It finally closed in 1961, but found a new lease of life when the Americans used it as a radio facility until 1964. It was then returned to agriculture and part of it became a Turkey farm.
2. The Explore
Relaxed explore on the way back from an earlier explore. Would have liked to have a look at other parts of the base which are still left, including the bomb store but was a bit pushed for time so just had time to check out these remaining bits of the domestic site. Nothing spectacular but as nice way to while away half-an-hour or so.
3. The Pictures
The first Nissan hut is empty:
Some nice colours still remain:
And an old Aga:
Facilities still in situ!
Looks like this old Nissan hut is still in use as a storage facility:
That's all folks!!!
RAF Wendling, also known as Station 118, situated near the Norfolk town of Dereham. It was first opened in 1943 as a bomber airfield originally to be used by the RAF. It was the most northerly of the 8th Air Force heavy bomber fields and was built by Taylor-Woodrow Ltd in 1942 featuring a 1,800m long main runway angled on a NE-SW axis. The domestic sites were near Beeston to the west of the airfield while the bomb dump and ammunition stores were in Honeypot Wood to the south-east.
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/bf5/bf5acb4be5d98e708106cab3c4e28757.jpg)
However, after completion, it was handed over the USAAF, who took command of the airfield and build two T2 hangars. 392nd Bombardment Group was stationed there flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the 8th Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.
Post-war it was given back to the RAF and used as a standby airfield by RAF Maintenance Command’s No. 258 Maintenance Unit. It finally closed in 1961, but found a new lease of life when the Americans used it as a radio facility until 1964. It was then returned to agriculture and part of it became a Turkey farm.
2. The Explore
Relaxed explore on the way back from an earlier explore. Would have liked to have a look at other parts of the base which are still left, including the bomb store but was a bit pushed for time so just had time to check out these remaining bits of the domestic site. Nothing spectacular but as nice way to while away half-an-hour or so.
3. The Pictures
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/efc/efc14ac5ec1622fb8f4e757bb361a237.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/6f9/6f909e58e3995d66373340131ac56084.jpg)
The first Nissan hut is empty:
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/77c/77cba32e3b35f8fea6389ad1230dd513.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/2f9/2f9d63eb3c7707fec4c4169dbfa4902f.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/0fe/0fe5b1fcaeef9c6d27d51bfa8d875955.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/8c9/8c91785853b120b4ae669288230f28f0.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/f50/f502d977c314075f61e4c2f06bcf7e9f.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/60e/60e5ddbd6a37ec32eccf4eb7ccac6914.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/31e/31e98609956d4fa1af4e0bf5aca1530f.jpg)
Some nice colours still remain:
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/67f/67f491e01e1cf793bdb04006326c8671.jpg)
And an old Aga:
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/85a/85a25c858545b917e7117dfae0a647b6.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/78b/78b58971cdc8d31242ed5d1c8f842fc9.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/ca4/ca4cef6be5933c3752f83bde496cf632.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/c1c/c1c3f01bcc4845960e41b4f9e2459c98.jpg)
Facilities still in situ!
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/209/2094db0251efa84277528dbdc3fd169a.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/52e/52e749a5115741a366edd23d17d4c37d.jpg)
Looks like this old Nissan hut is still in use as a storage facility:
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/882/882990f26d4446af2200071e58664e8d.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/301/30102fcc7e7a438aa3c0a5850fcf1db9.jpg)
![](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/97b/97b50c9a7ee7438b64dd84875de8dd5a.jpg)
That's all folks!!!