Horsham St Faith

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Horsham St Faith airfield, 16 April 1946, taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1428. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-139.jpg RAF_106G_UK_1428_RS_4068 Aerial photograph of Horsham St Faith airfield, 16 April 1946, taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1428. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_1428_RS_4068 - Aerial photograph of Horsham St Faith airfield, 16 April 1946, taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1428. English Heritage (RAF...

Horsham St Faith was an RAF Bomber Command Station opened in June 1940. It was home to Bristol Blenheim medium-bombers, and was for a time occupied by fighters, including those of No. 19 Squadron and No. 264 Squadron. From September 1942 the airfield was used by the USAAF. Groups based here included the 319th Bomb Group, the 56th Fighter Group and the Liberator-equipped 458th Bomb Group, which operated from the airfield from early 1944. Horsham St Faith was handed over to RAF Fighter Command in July 1945, and continued to be used by the RAF well into the Cold War, home to Gloster Meteor jet fighters. The RAF left the airfield in 1967, and the site was redeveloped as an airport: Norwich International.

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English Heritage's Record Description

A World War Two military airfeld, now the civil airport for Norwich. The airfield was originally built pre-war but opened as an operational airfield called Horsham St Faith in 1940. It was initially used by Royal Air Force Bomber Command. It was provided with permanent brick buildings and five aircraft hangars (type C), though at this stage the flying field was grass. When the United States Army 8th Air Force took over in 1942 three concrete runways and a perimeter track were added, along with a number of hard standings. The Airfield was designated as Station 123. The American units using the base were 319th and 458th Bomb Groups. The airfield passed to Royal Air Force Control once more in July 1945. The east -west runway was extended in 1956. The Royal Air Force left between 1960-1967. The site then became a civil airport and an industrial estate. Some elements of the wartime defences of the airfield were noted in the 1980s and 1990s.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-710395
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-805152
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36586883
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Eight men in Air Force uniform standing in front of plane. Five men standing to the rear and three kneeling in front
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0745856
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34504576
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Jayhawker
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ginny
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
A B-24H Liberator (J3-M, serial number 41-28678) of the 755th Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group lands at Horsham St. Faith , March 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24H of 458th Bomb Group landing at Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk in late March 1944. 6 Foot Dix.' Second handwritten on reverse: '458 B.G., 8th Air Force.' Printed caption on reverse: '81779 AC - Consolidated B-24 of 458th Bomb Group arrives at air base somewhere in England after completing 200th mission, 1944. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ye Olde Hellgate
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Squat N Droppit
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record TG 21 SW 63

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978).

Horsham St Faith: Gallery (165 items)