Methwold

[REF]

WWI;
The airfield was believed to have been used during World War One but the exact dates and location is not known at this time.

WWII;
Methwold airfield opened in 1939 as a satellite to nearby RAF Feltwell. Initialy as a grass airfield it was upgraded in 1943 (I think) with improved facilities including three hard runways, 36 dispersals and five T2 hangars. The airfield transferred to care and maintenance in 1946 and lay dormant for the best part of 10 years, it had a breif flurry of activity in 1955 but finally closed in June 1958. The wartime runways were; 06/24 (237) = 6000 x 150 ft, 11/29 (294) = 4800 x 150 ft, 17 (16/35 = 4200 x 150 ft

Units & Aircraft;
21 Sqn - Ventura
57 Sqn - Wellington
149 Sqn - Stirling and Lancaster
207 Sqn - Lancaster
214 Sqn - Wellington
218 Sqn - Stirling and Lancaster
320 Sqn - Mitchell
464 Sqn - Ventura
487 Sqn - Ventura

Current use;
Agriculture

Sources;
Ken Delve - The Military Airfields of Britain, East Anglia
Willis & Hollis - Military Airfields of the British Isles 1939-45
ATB Site Plans - 4544/44 and 4545/44

Surviving structures;

Battle Headquarters to Drg No 11008/41




Stanton type Air Raid Shelter;



Unknown Structure, possible the bottom half of a water tower;



Unknown type of Anti Aircraft Position;


Thanks to MoggyC and Jason for their company as well.

[PNK]

The line of trees by the southern T2 was the original southern boundry and Old Feltwell Road the eastern. There is a map in AIR 10/4039 that shows a different layout for the perimeter and this follows the old southern boundry. I suspect that map was the original version of the new runway layout before the final one was settled on. Or was it staterted like that and changed during reconstruction?

[ianbache]

The line of trees by the southern T2 was the original southern boundry and Old Feltwell Road the eastern. There is a map in AIR 10/4039 that shows a different layout for the perimeter and this follows the old southern boundry. I suspect that map was the original version of the new runway layout before the final one was settled on. Or was it staterted like that and changed during reconstruction?

Is this the T2 in question taken 5 years ago



its a bit fuzzy its scanned from my old photos

[Alastair]

This is an airfield I visit on a regular basis as a result of my work.

On the opposite side of the main road there appears to be the communal site or other period buildings (link). I'd be very interested to know where on the airfield the photos shown above were taken.

[REF]

Alastair, all these in my photos are located in and around this woodland;
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.50....9&r=0&src=msl

[PETERTHEEATER]

Methwold bomb stores 1946 'ghosted' onto GE. Original 1940 pattern BS with later 1942/43 pattern directly south and connected to the original road system.

[Bomber boy]

Today, 27/11/11 by shear luck i was fortunate enough to have a chat with a very nice gentleman who was a Lancaster rear gunner in 149 Squadron based at Methwold in the 40's. He also showed me quite a lot of old photo's taken during his time there. Unfortunately my time with him was limited on this occasion as i was working but i am hoping to go back and have a longer chat on one of my rest days. He also told me that a flight had been named after him at his Grandsons ATC and showed me the proof backed up by another photograph.

[jason]

In these trees on my OS map there appears to be 5 or more 'blips'. The could be huts or such like.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en-...10461&t=h&z=17

[PETERTHEEATER]

looking at Peters photo above, can anyone confirm if there is anything at all left of the bomb dump at Methwold? Thanks

It's quite likely that the Incendiary Bomb & Pyro Store survives being a solid PB triple structure and not located on any agriculturally useful land.

Approximately here:

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepat...z=19&oz=7&gt=1

And, possibly, one of two Fuzing Point sheds located just north of the IB&PS also in the trees.

[Alastair]

If anyone has plans of the airfield as-was, can it be confirmed that there is something here? I'm a regular visitor at the plant nursery that sits on the airfield, and I can't be sure but there does seem to be a vague outline of something in that area.