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RAF Wattisham

Former Air Force base in Suffolk, England (1939–1993)

RAF Wattisham
Summary

Former Air Force base in Suffolk, England (1939–1993)

FieldValue
nameRAF Wattisham
ensign[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg90px]] [[File:Twelfth Air Force - Emblem.png60px]] [[File:Eighth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).png60px]]
partof
locationWattisham, Suffolk
countryEngland
imageFile:McDonnell F-4J Phantom F3, UK - Air Force AN1648857.jpg
altA McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom of No. 74 Squadron which was based at RAF Wattisham.
captionA McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom of No. 74(Fighter) Squadron which was based at RAF Wattisham.
image2RAF Wattisham.jpg
image2_size100px
alt2Station badge
caption2
typeRoyal Air Force flying station
coordinates
gridrefTM025510
pushpin_mapSuffolk
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Suffolk
pushpin_labelRAF Wattisham
pushpin_label_positionbottom
ownershipMinistry of Defence
operatorRoyal Air Force (1939–1942 and 1946–1993)
United States Army Air Forces (1942–1946)
controlledbyRAF Fighter Command (1946-)
open_to_public
site_other_label
site_other
site_area409 hectares
code
built
used1939–
builderJohn Laing & Son Ltd
height
length
fateTransferred to the British Army's Army Air Corps and became Wattisham Flying Station.
conditionClosed
past_commanders
garrison
occupants
footnotes
ICAOEGUW
WMO03590
elevation89 m
r1-number05/23
r1-length2424 m
r1-surfaceAsphalt
h1-length
airfield_other_label
airfield_other

United States Army Air Forces (1942–1946) | r1-number = 05/23 | r1-length = 2424 m | r1-surface = Asphalt | h1-number = | h1-length = | h1-surface = Royal Air Force Wattisham or more simply RAF Wattisham was, between 1939 and 1993, the name of a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base, operating Quick Reaction Alert (South), before closing as an Royal Air Force station in 1993. Since 1993 it has been operated by the British Army as Wattisham Flying Station.

History

Royal Air Force use

RAF Wattisham opened on 5 April 1939 as a medium bomber station, the squadrons there being equipped with Bristol Blenheim bombers. Part of No. 2 Group, No. 107 Squadron and No. 110 Squadron were stationed there on the outbreak of war as No. 83 Wing. On 4 September 1939, just 29 hours after the declaration of war, bombers from Wattisham took off on the first attack of the war, against enemy shipping in Wilhelmshaven harbour.

In September 1942, the base was handed over to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).

United States Army Air Forces use

27 May 1944 Aerial photograph of RAF Wattisham the control tower and airfield code are in front of the four C-Type hangars on the right.
Aerial photograph of the USAAF 4th Strategic Air Depot at RAF Wattisham looking north, 3 April 1946

Wattisham was assigned USAAF designation Station 377 and Station 470, and work began on building concrete runways with the intention of adapting the airfield for heavy bomber use. However, plans were apparently changed when it was evident that there would be sufficient heavy bomber airfields available for the USAAF, and it was decided that Wattisham would remain an air depot and also house a fighter unit.

Work ceased on the runways leaving only the E-W with a concrete surface and short stretches of the other two. The main SW-NE runway was finished off with steel matting while the remaining NW-SE runway continued to be grass-surfaced for most of its length.

68th Observation Group

Between October and December 1942 the 68th Observation Group operated the Bell P-39D Airacobra from Wattisham.

4th Strategic Air Depot

The 4th Strategic Air Depot (originally the 3rd Advanced Air Depot and then 3rd Technical Air Depot) serviced many types of aircraft but, by late 1943, was concentrating on fighter types. An additional technical area with four T2 hangars, some eighteen hardstands and a taxiway loop joining the airfield perimeter track, were constructed on the south side of the airfield. An engineering complex in temporary buildings was built around this area, chiefly in the village of Nedging Tye.

The 4th Strategic Air Depot installation was officially named Hitcham, which was actually the name of a village two miles to the north-west of the site, to differentiate it from the fighter station using the same airstrip. The base was, by 1944, responsible for the maintenance of all American fighters in the UK.

479th Fighter Group

Along with the depot maintenance mission, Wattisham also hosted an Eighth Air Force fighter group, the 479th Fighter Group, arriving from Santa Maria Army Air Field, California, on 15 May 1944. The group was part of the 65th Fighter Wing of the VIII Fighter Command. Aircraft of the group had no cowling colour markings as did other Eighth Air Force fighter groups and were marked only with coloured tail rudders. The initial inventory of the Lockheed P-38 Lightnings, many of which were hand-me-downs from other groups painted in olive drab camouflage, used geometric symbols on the tail to identify squadrons, white for camouflaged aircraft and black for unpainted (natural metal finish) Lightnings.

The group consisted of the following squadrons:

The 479th FG escorted heavy bombers during operations against targets on the continent, strafed targets of opportunity, and flew fighter-bomber, area and counter-air patrol missions. Engaged primarily in escort activities and fighter sweeps until the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

North American P-51B-5 Mustang ''42-7040'' from the 434th Fighter Squadron in June 1945. This P-51B was previously assigned to the 361st FG at [[RAF Bottisham]] and was a replacement for low-hour P-51s reassigned from the group.

The group patrolled the beachhead during the invasion, strafed and dive-bombed troops, bridges, locomotives, railway cars, barges, vehicles, airfields, gun emplacements, flak towers, ammunition dumps, power stations and radar sites while on escort or fighter-bomber missions as the Allies drove across France during the summer and autumn of 1944. The unit flew area patrols to support the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July and the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September.

The 479th Fighter Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the destruction of numerous aircraft on airfields in France on 18 August and 5 September and during aerial battle near Münster on 26 September. The unit continued escort and fighter-bomber activities from October to mid-December 1944. It converted to the P-51 Mustang between 10 September and 1 October, using both types on missions until conversion was completed.

The group participated in the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945) by escorting bombers to and from targets in the battle area and by strafing transportation targets while on escort duty. From February to April 1945 it continued to fly escort missions, but also provided area patrols to support the airborne attack across the Rhine in March.

The unit returned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, in November 1945, and was inactivated in December 1945. Among the notable pilots of the 479th were its second group commander, Col. Hubert Zemke, and an ace, Major Robin Olds.

Legacy The United States Air Force (USAF) 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California, (1952–1971) was bestowed the lineage, honours and history of the World War II USAAF 479th Fighter Group. The 479th TFW deployed personnel and aircraft to Key West NAS, Florida, in response to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and deployed squadrons frequently to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Later, the 479th Tactical Training Wing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, (1977–1991) provided pilot training.

The 479th Fighter Group at Moody AFB, Georgia, (2000–2007) and since 2009 at NAS Pensacola, Florida, currently as the 479th Flying Training Group.

Back to Royal Air Force control

1946–1975

In 1946, the base was returned to the Royal Air Force. No. 266 Squadron, with the Gloster Meteor F.3, was stationed there from 4 November to 5 December 1946 and from 4 January to 16 April 1947.

The Air Ministry Servicing Development Unit formed here on 1 January 1947 with a number of aircraft including the Avro York I, Hawker Tempest V, Gloster Meteor F.4 & T.7, Avro Anson T.20 and the de Havilland Vampire F.3. The squadron disbanded on 1 June 1950 at RAF Wittering. In the mid 1950s, the Black Arrows display team 111 squadron operated out of Wattisham, flying Hawker Hunters.

English Electric Lightning F.1A]] of the Wattisham Target Facilities Flight in 1971.

In 1949, new runways were laid, and the following year No. 152 Squadron arrived with Meteor NF.12 night fighters, In 1954, Hawker Hunters, from No. 257 and 263 Squadrons, the UK's next generation fighter after the Meteor, arrived to secure Wattisham's future as a major fighter station. The Station Commander, Group Captain Edwards, had artificial legs, like Douglas Bader before him. The Wing Commander was one of the four Sowerey brothers, all of whom held senior RAF posts. The Officer Commanding No. 257 Squadron was Major Howard E Tanner, a USAF exchange pilot.

There was also a Station Flight which received and serviced visiting aircraft and also had its own aircraft for various purposes. These included a de Havilland Vampire, a de Havilland Dragon Rapide and a Hunter used by the Station Flight commander.

The Black Arrows aerobatic display team, flying the Hunter, moved to Wattisham from RAF North Weald with air displays becoming a regular feature from 1959.

In the late 1950s the Cold War had begun to intensify and so the RAF began to modernise Britain's air defence. Thus, in 1960, the station was equipped with the very latest in British fighter aircraft: the English Electric Lightning. The capabilities of this aeroplane and Wattisham's location near the East Anglian coast proved invaluable in countering the threats faced from the east. The airfield quickly became a preeminent front-line airbase. Throughout the Cold War RAF Wattisham operated 'QRA' or Quick Reaction Alert Sheds where live armed jets were on standby at all times. The station also functioned as the site of a major 'Blacktop' diversion runway.

1976–1992

On 25 February 1976, 13 McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2s of No. 23(Fighter) Squadron arrived to replace the Lightnings. No. 56(F) Squadron followed on 9 July, arriving with their Phantoms from RAF Coningsby. From Wattisham, the Phantoms continued the role of playing a major part in defending Britain's airspace which largely involved intercepting the Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear aircraft, as part of Quick Reaction Alert (South). Between 4 November and early December 1976, No. 23(F) Squadron deployed to RAF Luqa, Malta, for an Armament Practice Camp (APC). No. 56(F) Squadron deployed for an APC at RAF Luqa between 13 October and November 1977.

No. 56 (Fighter) Squadron McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 ''XT903'' at RAF Wattisham, 1992.

On 1 June 1979, Wattisham-based Phantom FGR.2 XV424 from No. 56(F) Squadron was used to re-enact the transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown, crewed by pilot Squadron Leader A. J. N. "Tony" Alcock and navigator Flight Lieutenant W. N. "Norman" Browne.

Following the Falklands War, it was decided to base Phantoms on the Falklands Islands. In March 1983, No. 23(F) Squadron relocated from RAF Wattisham to Stanley Airport, leaving the Firebirds as the sole based squadron. On 19 October 1984, No. 74(F) Squadron stood-up at RAF Wattisham equipped with the unique McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom. Delivered in three batches, the squadron was brought up to full strength of 15 jets on 5 January 1985.

In 1990, the Options for Change defence review laid out the plan to withdraw the Phantoms from RAF service. In January 1991, the Phantom F-4J(UK) was withdrawn from use, with the Tigers converting over to the Phantom FGR.2. The disbandment of No. 228 OCU on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars, saw the reformation of the Phantom Training Flight as part of No. 74(F) Squadron, operating until 31 December 1991.

No. 56(F) Squadron disbanded on 31 July 1992, reforming as the Panavia Tornado F.3 OCU at RAF Coningsby. No. 74(F) Squadron continued to operate at RAF Wattisham until disbanding on 1 October 1992.

Closure

RAF Wattisham's future hung in the balance as a major air force base and it was decided that with the Cold War threat gone it was no longer needed by the RAF. Wattisham stood down as a fighter base on 31 October 1992. The station was transferred to the control of the British Army in September 1993. The Army Air Corps soon moved in and it rapidly became a major Army airfield, operating it as Wattisham Flying Station. The Royal Air Force returned to operate Westland Sea King Search and Rescue helicopters on the site of the former QRA hangars.

Former RAF units

SquadronPresentAircraftNotes
No. XIII SquadronJuly 1941 – 1 August 1942Bristol Blenheim IVJefford2001p=28.}}
No. XVII Squadron9 September 1939 – 16 December 1939Hawker Hurricane IJefford2001p=29.}}
No. 18 Squadron9 December 1941 – 24 August 1942Bristol Blenheim IVJefford2001p=30.}}
No. 23(Fighter) Squadron25 February 1976 – 30 March 1983McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2Relocated to Stanley, Falkland Islands
No. XXV Squadron1 March 1983 – 1 October 1989Bristol BloodhoundJefford2001p=33.}}
No. 29(F) Squadron10 May 1967 – 31 December 1974English Electric Lightning F.3Jefford2001p=34.}}
No. 34 Squadron11 February 1949 – 20 July 1949Supermarine Spitfire LF.16e / Miles Martinet TT.1 / North American Harvard T.2B / Airspeed Oxford T.2 / Bristol Beaufighter TT.10url=https://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-W.htm#Wattishamtitle=RAF Wattishamwebsite=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisationaccess-date=24 February 2021}}
No. 41(F) Squadron5 July 1958 – 31 December 1963Gloster Javelin FAW.4/FAW.5/FAW.8Jefford2001p=39.}}
No. 56(F) Squadron10 July 1958 – 11 May 1967Hawker Hunter F.5/F.6 (1958–1961) English Electric Lightning F.1A/F.3 (1960–1967)Relocated to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
No. 56(F) Squadron21 January 1975 – 29 June 1976English Electric Lightning F.3/F.6Briefly relocated to RAF Coningsby to convert to the Phantom FGR.2
No. 56(F) Squadron9 July 1976 – 31 July 1992McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2Transferred to RAF Coningsby to form the Tornado F.3 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 74(F) Squadron19 October 1984 – 1 October 1992McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4J(UK) (1984–1991) Phantom FGR.2 (1991–1992)Disbanded (Included a Phantom Training Flight between 1 February 1991 and 31 December 1991)
No. 85 Squadron1 October 1989 – 1 July 1991Bristol Bloodhound'E' Flight Detachment from RAF West Raynham, disbanded
No. 86 Squadron3 March 1941 – 15 May 1941Bristol Blenheim IVJefford2001p=51.}}
No. 107 Squadron11 May 1939 – 3 March 1941Bristol Blenheim I/IVRelocated to RAF Leuchars
No. 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron11 May 1939 – 17 March 1942Bristol Blenheim IVRelocated to RAF Drigh Road
No. 111(F) Squadron18 June 1958 – 30 September 1974Hawker Hunter F.5/F.6 (1958–1961) English Electric Lightning F.1A/F.3 (1960–1974)Jefford2001p=56.}}
No. 114 (Hong Kong) Squadron31 May 1940 – 10 June 1940Bristol Blenheim IVJefford2001p=57.}}
No. 152 Squadron30 June 1954 – 18 June 1956Gloster Meteor NF.12/NF.14Relocated to RAF Stradishall
No. 226 Squadron27 May 1941 – 9 December 1941Fairey Battle (May 1941) Bristol Blenheim IV (May–November 1941) Douglas Boston III (November–December 1941)Jefford2001p=73.}}
No. 236 Squadron9 February 1942 – 3 July 1942Bristol Beaufighter IcJefford2001p=75.}}
No. 257 Squadron27 October 1950 – 10 June 1956Gloster Meteor F.8Relocated to RAF Wymeswold
No. 257 Squadron15 January 1957 – 31 March 1957Hawker Hunter F.2Disbanded
No. 263 Squadron22 November 1950 – 10 June 1956Gloster Meteor F.8 (1950–1955) Hawker Hunter F.2/F.5 (1955–1956)Relocated to RAF Wymeswold
No. 263 Squadron15 January 1957 – 31 March 1957Hawker Hunter F.6Relocated to RAF Stradishall
No. 266 Squadron4 November 1946 – 5 December 1946Gloster Meteor F.3Relocated to RAF Boxted
No. 266 Squadron4 January 1947 – 16 April 1947Gloster Meteor F.3Relocated to RAF Tangmere
No. 504 Squadron9 October 1939 – 24 December 1939Hawker Hurricane Mk.IJefford2001p=95.}}
No. 695 Squadron7 May 1947 – 11 February 1949Supermarine Spitfire LF.16e / Miles Martinet TT.1 / North American Harvard T.2B / Airspeed Oxford T.2 / Bristol Beaufighter TT.10Detachment from RAF Horsham St. Faith, disbanded
No. 8 Blind Approach Training Flight18 January 1941 – 15 February 1941Bristol Blenheim Mk.ILake1999p=37.}}
No. 17 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941Airspeed Oxford Mk.ILake1999p=38.}}
No. 1517 Beam Approach Training FlightOctober 1941 – 4 November 1941url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/wattishamtitle=Wattishampublisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trustaccess-date=14 February 2013}}
No. 1517 Beam Approach Training Flight19 May 1942 – 14 November 1942
Fighter Command School of Technical TrainingJuly 1947 – September 1949

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

  1. {{Harvnb. Bowyer. 1979
  2. "Bomber Command - No. 2 Group". [[Royal Air Force]].
  3. {{Harvnb. Freeman. 2001
  4. {{Harvnb. Bowyer. 1979
  5. {{Harvnb. Maurer. 1980
  6. {{Harvnb. Maurer. 1980
  7. (2013). "Mighty Eighth". [[Key Publishing.
  8. {{Harvnb. Maurer. 1980
  9. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  10. {{Harvnb. Lake. 1999
  11. {{Harvnb. Lake. 1999
  12. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  13. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  14. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  15. Eade, David. "The Wattisham Chronicles – Part five: Phantastic Phantom's arrival".
  16. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  17. "Armament Practice Camps – McD F-4 Phantom FG.1/FGR.2".
  18. "McDONNELL DOUGLAS PHANTOM FGR2 XV424".
  19. "No. 23 Squadron".
  20. "23 Squadron".
  21. "No. 74 (Trinidad) Squadron".
  22. Cossey, Bob. (July 2025). "The History of 74 (Fighter) Squadron".
  23. (25 July 1990). "Defence (Options for Change)".
  24. {{Harvnb. Lake. 1999
  25. "No.56 Squadron". Royal Air Force Museum.
  26. "74 Squadron".
  27. March, Peter R.. (1998). "Brace by Wire to Fly-By-Wire – 80 Years of the Royal Air Force 1918–1998". Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises.
  28. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  29. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  30. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  31. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  32. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  33. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  34. "RAF Wattisham".
  35. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  36. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  37. "No. 107 Squadron (RAF): Second World War".
  38. "No. 110 Squadron (RAF): Second World War".
  39. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  40. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  41. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  42. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  43. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 2001
  44. {{Harvnb. Lake. 1999
  45. {{Harvnb. Lake. 1999
  46. "Wattisham". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust.
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