RAF Horsham St. Faith/Norwich Airport

Lots of the 458BG history at Horsham St Faiths here http://www.458bg.com/

Spotted Ape,

Thank you so much for the plan and No.74 Squadron logo. I visited the excellent City of Norwich Airport museum in 2009 and was surprised to see my father in a display photograph of No.74 Squadron. Also great display on No.100 Group. If you have any information on Swannington particularly No.274 MU storing Mosquito’s would be most grateful.

Hello spotted ape………

Welcome to the Forum. Should provide you with hours of fun and access to a bunch of individuals with an unbeleivable fund of knowledge which they are very willing to share, well that is my experience, anyway.

Planemike

I’ll second that .

T-21,

Great stories, I believe many an aircrew spent thier time removing the ‘Barrel’ over the years of the station. Now to be found opposite the church, Old Catton.

Have included a dispersal plan of the 458th. You may have to copy then zoom in to get the names.

I’d agree with the above listings with the following corrections:

The Sabre is in fact a Sabre Dog.

B-29 is a B-50

What a great pic, it’s a “live” aviation museum.

Anon

Sorry I’m a bit late with this! It’s a KB-50J of the 420th Refueling Squadron which was based at Sculthorpe.

Thank you for the aerial photographs. My parents met at Horsham St.Faiths . My father was a Sergeant pilot on Meteor F.8s with No 74 Squadron. My mum worked in Engineering HQ as a WAAF. Can anybody provide a plan of where the 458th BG B-24 squadrons were dispersed around the airfield ?
My father and his best friend held their Meteors down low after take off and went across the speedway track causing the riders to fall off . Both got grounded but were soon back on flying after overturning a Land-Rover ! The pilots used to pinch the barrel from the Cat & Barrel pub down Fifers Lane ? They also were always hard up so pawned their aircrew watches behind the bar until pay-day.

View of HSF taken in 1946. Have highlighted area occupied by the museum.

Also of note are the hangar complex bottom right off fifers lane and the Firs speedway track bottom left.

Grass area between the two now occupied by the terminal, car park, hotel etc.

And very easy to locate in Google Earth / Google Maps / Bing.

Just look for the big tin triangle

Moggy

The museum is on the north side of the airfield, opposite the hangars with the runway between it and the area shown on the images posted on this thread.

re;

where abouts is the museum site?

Airways Diner location

Overhead shot of the hangars/ technical site, undated. Shows the location of what is now Airways Diner a little clearer! 20+ years of driving past the diner, with quite a few visits too. Along with the water tower which was demolished a few years ago. Same applies regarding photographer/copyright.

Regards

Dave

Can’t remember wether I have mentioned this before, But some interesting stories here,
http://www.oldcatton.com/archive/featured_articles/featured_articles_pg01.htm
A B24 A Dogs life crashed at old Catton after taking off from St faiths.

Nostalgic pictures all. I have fond memories of Piper flights up the East Coast to Aberdeen, sometimes stopping en route at Hull, Edinburgh ansd Dundee, if memory serves. It was Air Anglia after Rig Air was merged with two other companies, I think.

I saw all these pots and pans on the Norwich apron a while back.

re;

these pictures are fantastic, I look forward to seeing any more.

I was just about to say the airways isn’t in any of those photos!

I am currently on the Kingston University/KLM UK course and was sat in the airways earlier having lunch!

As previously said, google maps is a good comparison to modern times.

2 of KLM’s hangars are slap bang in the middle of the original photo now! And the big building to the far right (the one closest to us) is their other hangar

Radarsdesk in particular i think — i noted your comments about having a disc full of pics higher up the thread ………I am interested in any pictures of HSF around 1959 – 1962 especially any showing maintenence personnel. My Dad (instrument technician) was stationed at HSF for those years (in between coming back from a posting to Aden and before a posting to Singapore) and remembers posing for various official pics, one in particular for a recruitment poster with him sat on (he thinks) a hunter. Small details like squadrons / units / flights etc sadly he cannot recall………

If any pics appear to fit the bill i would appreciate seeing them …
Many thanks
Ian

Conclusion that it was possibly a skeet range.

Yes certainly looks like a clay pigeon skeet.

Thanks again Radardesk, and fantastic images.

Oh Dear !!

More, but un-dated

Un-dated one of HSF, Same applies about copyright/photographer
There are quite a few more, and am happy to carry on posting, and as Pagen has suggested will post some over at AiX

Rigga……I’m sure the Airways Diner is there somewhere failing that see the 2nd picture!! (458th BG Christmas Meal date unknown) Although no smell of a fry up as you go past Airways by looking at the screen.

Regards
Dave