Mystery Airfield in Norfolk
Thread Starter
Mystery Airfield in Norfolk
OpenstreetMap shows a remarkably long runway in the village of Watton in Norfolk, at North 52.5619 East 0.8633; but does not associate an aerodrome with it. More info, anyone? Still active? Accessible?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
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It's the old RAF Watton, now closed. Was last used by the Air Training Corps up until 2012.
Watton - UK Airfield Guide
'Military' flying continued at Watton until 2012 with No 611 Gliding Squadron when it was 'paused' due to the discovery of problems in the recording of maintenance of the gliders in use; records either had not been completed or had been destroyed so every glider was 'suspect'.
611 VGS was officially disbanded in 2016 together with many more of the Air Cadet Gliding Schools.
From 1963 until 1988, a large Military/civil area radar unit operated from a site on the airfield.
Called 'Eastern Radar' and manned by both NATS and RAF controllers (some sources mention USAF controllers too) it provided services to military and civil aircraft flying above flight level 245 over a large part of the North Sea and Eastern England.
'Military' flying continued at Watton until 2012 with No 611 Gliding Squadron when it was 'paused' due to the discovery of problems in the recording of maintenance of the gliders in use; records either had not been completed or had been destroyed so every glider was 'suspect'.
611 VGS was officially disbanded in 2016 together with many more of the Air Cadet Gliding Schools.
From 1963 until 1988, a large Military/civil area radar unit operated from a site on the airfield.
Called 'Eastern Radar' and manned by both NATS and RAF controllers (some sources mention USAF controllers too) it provided services to military and civil aircraft flying above flight level 245 over a large part of the North Sea and Eastern England.
Quote: 'Military' flying continued at Watton until 2012 with No 611 Gliding Squadron when it was 'paused' due to the discovery of problems in the recording of maintenance of the gliders in use; records either had not been completed or had been destroyed so every glider was 'suspect'.
Hmmm.... sounds Watton to the core.
Hmmm.... sounds Watton to the core.
Quote: 'Military' flying continued at Watton until 2012 with No 611 Gliding Squadron when it was 'paused' due to the discovery of problems in the recording of maintenance of the gliders in use; records either had not been completed or had been destroyed so every glider was 'suspect'.
Hmmm.... sounds Watton to the core.
Hmmm.... sounds Watton to the core.
See Military section thread entitled 'Air Cadets Grounded' for further details.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,617
Received 291 Likes
on
159 Posts
sounds Watton to the core
There was an ex Israeli AF Mustang under restoration there for a while 30-odd years ago; it's now a static exhibit at the Museum of Flight, Seattle.
