Airfields Used By NZ Squadrons During WW 2, RAF Langham

RAF Langham

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52^56’23” N, 00^57’43” E

RAF Langham was located 27.2 miles [43.8 km] North West of Norwich. Norfolk, and was in use from 1940 to 1961.

This was the most northerly of the Norfolk wartime RAF Airfields, and its position, being just 3.3 miles [5.3 km] from the North Sea made it a desirable location to be used by Coastal Command, which had come into prominence since the outbreak of WW2.

Originally the Station was built as a dispersal and satellite station to RAF Bircham Newton, during the first few months of the war, and it became operational, in its own name in mid 1940.

Originally it had 3 grass runways while a satellite to RAF Bircham Newton, when it became a Station in its own right, 3 concrete [tar covered] runways were laid.

There was also 3 T2 type and 4 blister hangers, encircling perimeter track and 36 spectacle shaped hard standings, a normal type 12779/41 control tower and Mk 2 approach lights for night operations.

The airfield re-opened for business in February 1944.

The first operational units to arrive from 8th April to 24th October 1944, was No 489 [NZ] Squadron, flying Bristol Beaufighters at RAF Langham.

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Bristol Beaufighter

They were joined on 14th April to 20th October 1944, by No 455 RAAF Squadron and together formed the very successful 2nd Strike Wing, that was tasked with mounting anti-shipping operations over the North Sea,

On the 2nd October 1944, 6 Beaufighters took off from Langham to carry out a night patrol along the Frisian Islands off the Coast of the Netherlands.

During their stay they were credited with sinking 4 U Boats and 36 surface vessels.

The combination of nose mounted cannons and under wing rockets proved a deadly adversary for the flak ships and merchant vessels of the German Navy.

One of the Aircraft, NT 909, was piloted by NZ Warrant Officer Douglas Mann, with his English Navigator Flight Sergeant Donald Kennedy.

Close to the island of Borkum the aircraft went into attack a convoy, but, in the poor visibility the aircraft struck an unknown obstacle, causing Mann to lose control.

The Convoys flak ships opened fire on the stricken aircraft and shot it down.

After some difficulty, both Mann and Kennedy took to their rescue dingy.

After several abortive rescue attempts the airmen were finally rescued by the High Speed Launch No 2679, stationed at Gorleston-on-Sea, on the 10th October, after being at sea for 8 days.

When rescued both airmen were suffering from acute htpothermia and immersion foot.

They were taken to Great Yarmouth Navel Hospital, where both men made a full recovery.

Mann finally returned to 489 [NZ] Squadron and was awarded the DFC.

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Re-arming a No 489 [NZ] Squadron Torbeau.

After 2nd Strike Wing left, Vickers Wellingtons of No 524 and 612 Squadrons attacked German E-Boats, at night, until the end of the war.

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Vickers Wellington

From October 1944 to November 1945, the Station became noteworthy for meteorological reconnaissance as No 521 Squadron, flying a wide variety of aircraft, ranging from the elderly Gloster Gladiator biplanes to Lockheed Hudsons, and Boeing B 17 Fortresses.

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Gloster Gladiator

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Lockheed Hudson

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B 17

The airfield closed for flying in May 1946, but was used by a Technical Training School for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

It was placed on ‘Care and Maintenance in September1947.

It was reactivated during the Korean War, and later used as an emergency landing strip for RAF Sculthorpe.

It was also used between March 1953 to November 1958 for Beaufighter and Mosquito Target Towers of No 2 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation Unit,

Assisting Army firing camps by towing drogues for the gunners to aim at.

‘The ‘Dome Trainer’, is a concrete hemisphere dating to 1943 and one of about 40 originally built and only one of a handful to survive. The dome was a training aid for ground-to-air gunnery. Projection equipment inside the structure played film of aircraft making mock attacks and which moved around the interior via cameras and mirrors – all with realistic sound. The serviceman sat at a mock anti-aircraft gun and had to shoot at the plane, while an instructor could measure the accuracy of the shooter by the presence of yellow lights projected onto the interior of the dome. Once gunners became proficient, they moved onto real targets being towed by aircraft elsewhere on the North Norfolk coast.”
This dome has being restored and is open for public viewing.

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Some De Havilland Vampires introduced jet aircraft to the area towards the end of this period.

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De Havilland Vampire

There was also limited American Military use during the 1950’s as US Army model aircraft were used here, again as targets for gunnery practice

The Station was closed and sold in October 1961, and bought by Bernard Mathews for uses as a Turkey farm.

In 2011 a Memorial commemorating the personnel Stationed at Langham was erected by the Airfields Of Britain Conservation Trust beside the Dome trainer, a new information has been added since.

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