RAF Oulton dump

Oulton is quite the most smelly old airfield I’ve ever been on! And I’ve been on a few.

Re the possible dump, I’ve written to the farm, so I’ll wait and see what comes back. Watch this space.

Thanks for the replies.

Regards,

Tim

Time Team

RAF Oulton sounds like a job for Channel 4’s Time Team. NT have allowed them to dig previously.

The Americans buried alot of gear at the end of war,often near local villlages,I know of 2 near Podington one is underwater and the other on grazing land,so nigh impossible to inspect.

RAF oulton dump

Hi again.
My father is unable to confirm anything buried at Oulton. But knows for sure that there are such pits, containing tracked vehicles and other bits and pieces at Foulsham and Flixton. Not sure how he knows about Flixton, but know that the pits at foulsham were discovered around the late sixties, when he was digging a trench to put in a water pipe, the equipment is still there as far as I know.
He did however tell me another story about when he was working at Flixton.
he must have be between 16 an 17 at the time, so the facts may be hazy. But the story goes that the airfield was operational, and was being extended, he was filling in an old gravel pit, they did not pump the water out in those days before filling in, they just pushed the earth in and let it drain naturally.
so you can imagine that ground was soft, where he had already filled in. He said that he had nearly completed the job when he heard a plane (believes it was a mustang) approaching and appeared to be in some kind of trouble, the next minute it had landed right in the middle of the pit and the only thing visible was the top of the tail fin. Crash crews had already scrambled and rushed to the scene. Not sure how long it took but they managed to connect some wire hawsers to the tail of the plane and with the recovery trucks managed to haul the plane from the mud, and on removing the canopy, The pilot calmly got out with out a scratch.

Oulton Dump recce

Thanks for the replies folks.

A recce would be interesting, but as it is NT property (or is it? )any kind of investigation seems unrealistic. However, I’ll write a few letters and see what happens.

There have been so many airfield dump stories over the years, but I can’t reiterate enough just how adamant those two blokes were. Time will tell. Watch this space!

Meanwhile the info from Richard’s dad re Oulton/Shipdham etc would be truly fascinating. Let the whisky flow Richard!

T.W.

I’m new here so, happy new year, and sorry if this topic has already been “done”!

Some years ago I did the photography for a Bomber Command related book, (it’s “Then and Now” format is a clue). At the former RAF Oulton, the farmer and an older employee spoke at length of a huge pit full of Mosquitoes. They also pointed out that the land was National Trust property (?) and as such the pit could not be touched.

It’s well known that Oulton was used to scrap Mossies, but a pit full of them seems a bit unlikely, especially as burning predominantly wooden aircraft was surely an easier option. However, the two fellows were adamant. Has anyone else heard of this pit?

T.W.

Hi Tim It could be possible this is true, I have heard my father say that at the end of the war to get rid of surplus equipment big holes were dug on airfields and filled with the equipment, (some of it hardly used) then just covered over and left. One he quotes is Shipdham. Will have a word with him ASAP. as he is sure to know about Oulton, as he worked for the father of the farmer at oulton. Mind you it will take a few whiskies to get him talking about the war years. Have been trying to get his story for years.
Until being called up in 1944/45 he had been involved with the construction of airfields in East Anglia. He has an interesting story in how he covered for an Irishman, who went AWOL for a week, to visit his sick wife in Ireland. They were leveling the ground with D4 bulldozers, constructing RAF woodbridge at the time. No one on the site at the time knew that the Irishman had even left the site. will write the full story another time.

Regards Richard.

Last time I went to Oulton there wasn’t all that much left to see, I have a few photos here;
http://www.airfields.fotopic.net/c1077499.html
However, I’d be interested to find out more.

Richard

RAF Oulton Norfolk? If so I’m up for a recci

Years ago i checked the ORB at Kew, for No 274 MU which stored Mossies at Oulton airfield as a No 119 Sub Storage site to RAF Swannington.
There were 65 aircraft at Oulton 2/46 reducing to 44 in 5/47. The MU closed in June 1947 and Oulton had 14 a/c flown out by 3 Ferry Pool in 8/47 and had 29 a/c being prepared for ferrying.
26 a/c left Oulton 10/47 having collected some from North Creake.The last 4 a/c left Oulton on 08/10/47.Oulton closed on 28/10/47, No 274 MU was wound up at Swannington in 11/47.
Most of the stored Mossies were PR.34/B.35 versions . I doubt if any were left although there may have been some spares. It might warrant further investigation although it could turn out to be discarded station furniture !