Former RAF Shipdham

 Second World War 1939-1945, RAF - Royal Air Force, draw only border, closed / former military

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USAAF Station 115

Shipdham airfield was the first US heavy bomber base in Norfolk and was also the continuous host to B-24 Liberators longer than any other Eighth Air Force combat airfield in Britain - from October 1942 to late 1945. It was constructed 1941-42 and was assigned USAAF designation Station 115 (SH).

From 13 September 1943 though 13 June 1945, Shipdham served as headquarters for the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 2d Bomb Division.

319th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The 319th Bomb Group (Medium) was a Ninth Air Force B-25 Mitchell group which arrived at Shipdham on 12 September 1942 from Harding AAF Louisiana. The personnel of the group used the base as a staging and transshipment point for deploying to St-Leu, Algeria as part of Twelfth Air Force though 4 October 1942.

44th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
With the departure of the 319th BG, Shipdham was assigned to the 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Will Rogers AAF Oklahoma on 10 October 1942. The 44th was assigned to the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-A". It's operational squadrons were:

The group flew B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 44th was the first USAAF group to be equipped with the Liberator and the unit had helped form other groups destined to fly the type. The Group was initially under strength, one of its four squadrons having been detached in the US. In March 1943 the 506th Squadron was assigned to the group.

After the war, the airfield was used as a transit centre for German POWs a route from the United States for repatriation to Germany. Part of Shipdham was sold in 1957 and the remainder during 1962-63.

In the late 1960s, Arrow Air Services acquired the airfield from a local farmer and applied for planning permission to re-open the airfield. This was granted in September 1969 and, the following April. work began on refurbishing the facility. Two of the concrete runways were refurbished together with the approach road and perimeter track. The runway lights were found to be still serviceable although they had to be brought up to modern standards.

Shipdam was opened to private flying on 16 June 1970 and currently is the home of the Shipdham Aero Club. Its clubhouse is home to their museum. Most of the airfield buildings remain in various states of decay with part of the site being in use as an industrial estate.