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Old 25th Feb 2021, 21:22
  #20043 (permalink)  
OUAQUKGF Ops
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NORFOLK UK
Age: 76
Posts: 2,863
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Well done Jenkins. RAF Docking Norfolk it is. Active 1939-1945. Originally Decoy Aerodrome and subsequently Satellite for nearby Bircham Newton. Became a very busy Coastal Command Aerodrome being more suited for Night Operations than Bircham Newton. Longest runway (Grass) N/E-S/W 1730yds. Hosted Shipping Strike Squadrons, Met Reconnaissance Flights, Air Sea Rescue Units and a Beam Approach Flight (this last 1942-45). Proximity to coast meant that crippled aircraft returning from Ops over Europe, short of fuel, or weather diversions would sometimes land at Docking. My clue alluded to the latter:







42-30263 Pregnant Portia at Docking October 30th 1943. Also suffering similar fate at Docking on the same day B17s 42-30250 and 42-30171. All 385 BG (Great Ashfield) on Ops Recall. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

(Observed by ATC at Docking to have landed long.)




Crews of 206 Squadron at Docking in 1940. The Squadron suffered heavy losses in that year. Photo credit Bircham Newton Heritage Centre.

Flying Officer J.B. Gordon and his 1041 Met Flight Gladiator at Bircham Newton. The location of this photo is sometimes given as Docking from where this aircraft operated.
Photo credit Imperial War Museum.




Photo credit Airfield Research Group.

Further reading: Up In all Weathers By David Jacklin published by Larks Press.

Over to you Jenkins

Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 27th Feb 2021 at 13:59.
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