Sorry another load of World War Two airfield remains. But we have so much around here and this has quite a bit to see. It was threatening rain that day but none had arrived so decided to go for a drive to see the remains. I have been a few times before but not for about five years. As I arrived at the first part it started drizzling and it stayed like that for the afternoon, it started getting harder as I left. A nice relaxing wander about, but it’s spread over several bits which you have to drive between.
RAF Thorpe Abbotts was built for the RAF but was handed to USAAF and designated as station 139. It was constructed by John Laing and Son Ltd in 1942 and 1943 and was originally going to be a a satellite airfield for RAF Horham but ended up being a stand-alone airfield and used by the 13th Combat Bombardment Group flying B-17 Flying Fortresses . The airfield had two T-2 hangars and several domestic sites dotted around in woodland. The group here gained a nickname as The Bloddy Hundredth, this was due to the high amount of losses the group suffered as they carried out night time raids over Germany. Later in the war they were involved in lots of different operations over France. It was returned to the RAF in 1946 and closed completely in 1956. Most of the site was removed and returned to farmland. The tower was restored and is now a fantastic museum run by volunteers.
So staring of with the communal site. First we have the standby set house.
The sergeants shower block. Looking to the external of the tower it looks like it had a Nissen style building attached which would have been the shower block.
Next is the chlorinating and softening plant building. I have never seen one of these before. the big storage tanks at the rear were interesting to see.
Borehole pump house, it’s always a pleasure to see one of these.
Next up is a few blast shelter. Just a basic raised trench style system, constructed from bricks. These are quite common on most old airfields.
And then we have the old grocery store. It’s one very long Nissen Hut with lots of rooms.
Continued..
RAF Thorpe Abbotts was built for the RAF but was handed to USAAF and designated as station 139. It was constructed by John Laing and Son Ltd in 1942 and 1943 and was originally going to be a a satellite airfield for RAF Horham but ended up being a stand-alone airfield and used by the 13th Combat Bombardment Group flying B-17 Flying Fortresses . The airfield had two T-2 hangars and several domestic sites dotted around in woodland. The group here gained a nickname as The Bloddy Hundredth, this was due to the high amount of losses the group suffered as they carried out night time raids over Germany. Later in the war they were involved in lots of different operations over France. It was returned to the RAF in 1946 and closed completely in 1956. Most of the site was removed and returned to farmland. The tower was restored and is now a fantastic museum run by volunteers.
So staring of with the communal site. First we have the standby set house.
The sergeants shower block. Looking to the external of the tower it looks like it had a Nissen style building attached which would have been the shower block.
Next is the chlorinating and softening plant building. I have never seen one of these before. the big storage tanks at the rear were interesting to see.
Borehole pump house, it’s always a pleasure to see one of these.
Next up is a few blast shelter. Just a basic raised trench style system, constructed from bricks. These are quite common on most old airfields.
And then we have the old grocery store. It’s one very long Nissen Hut with lots of rooms.
Continued..
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