B-17s Deopham Green airfield: Pics

Yesterday saw myself and Pegasus taking a trip over to the other side of the country, Norwich to be precise.

While we were there we planned to visit some of the former WW2 airfields that abound that part of England. However, as is often the case, we got so engrosed in the first one that we visited that we ran out of time to get to anymore!

The airfield that we did visit was at Deopham Green and was the home to the 452nd Bomber Group of the USAAF. Flying B-17 bombers, the group flew a total of 250 missions from Deopham Green between Feb 1942 and April 1945 and lost 110 aircraft in the process.

The airfield was one of a number that Martin Bull recommended to us and I'm grateful to him for doing so. It was quite moving to stand at the end of what remains of the runway and imagine B-17s roaring overhead as they returned from their missions.

The runway, which is partially covered by the road


Some of the wartime buildings are still standing and are now used by local farmers


I think this was a former shower/WC block

 

Some great pics John, thanks for sharing! .....nice to see that some of the buildings are still standing.

Did you happen to find anything of interest while walking around?

 

We didn't find any relics, but then again, due to time constraints, we didn't actually have a good look around. I also suspect there isn't much to find these days.

 

I'm glad you got there, John - sorry I couldn't have been there too !

( I told you you'd run out of time.... )


OK - I'll cheat by showing a relic.....this field a few miles away is the crash-site of B-17G, 42-38145 of 730 Squadron, 452 BG (H) which collided with another B-17 soon after taking off from Deopham Green on 19th May 1944 ( the tree was damaged in the crash ) ; -



And here's a pic of a relic from that aircraft, taken on the remains of Deopham's main runway from where it departed 62 years previously....

 

It's a shame you couldn't make it, Martin, we could have done with an aviation expert with us.

There is talk of another trip to the area so maybe we can arrange to meet then?

While we were there the time went so fast and matters were made all the worse from the fact that the drive home was over 4hrs, this took a large chunk out of our day.

That is a great relic, Martin, do you know which part of the aircraft it is from?

 

It's the fairing which goes between the 'teardrop' antenna and the fuselage beneath the nose. That particular B-17G was painted olive-drab and the faded colour is still on the relic.....

 

This is a memorial to the 452nd Bomber Group which is situated on the site of the former airfield.



I wonder if there were any relics hiding below these drainage covers which are situated along the edge of the runway?

 

Is this it, Martin?

 

That's it....although the Belle is an 'F' variant. The 'G' had a chin turret so the aerial was moved farther back.....

 

I knew that!

 

Nice. Did you hear any B17 ghost planes?RAF Deopham Green - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

If you're going to hear any, Deopham Green would be as good a place as any. Although most of the old buildings have gone, the 'old airfield' atmosphere is very present. It's quite high up ( unusual in a largely flat County ) and has a very remote feeling. You'd need to be very unimaginative indeed not to be affected.....

 

Oops - sorry John ! I thought you only 'did' the German Army, circa 1944-45......

 

There have been a number of people who claim to have seen spectral apparitions around the old airfield!

One claims to have seen the ghostly figure of a serviceman pushing a bicycle along the runway, and another claims they were startled by a man dressed in flying gear and peering through the window of their parked car.

Hmmm?

HaHa! And aircraft recognition is definitely not my best subject.

 

This is one of the many defence Pillboxes that are scattered about the county of East Anglia.





The view from the pillbox towards the road junction that it was meant to defend.

 

Tres bien....I guess ww2 airfields would be a good place for haunting. Here's another recently heard about. Regarding the Dambusters...Dambusters dog ghost: Picture shows long-dead labrador at WWII memorial | Mail Online

 

I've seen a colour photo of that incident.....have to say it was a bit weird.....