Raf Swannington

Royal Air Force Station Swannington, or more simply RAF Swannington, was a Royal Air Force station located south of Cawston and north west of Norwich in Norfolk, England. It was opened in April 1944, being developed from the estate of Haveringland Hall, and sold in 1957, though the Royal Air Force (RAF) left in November 1947. The site is now used for agriculture, though evidence of concrete runways and buildings remains. Part of the Brandiston-Swannington road still runs over remains of the runways. HistoryThe first squadrons to use Swannington were No. 85 Squadron RAF, which moved from RAF West Malling, and No. 157 Squadron RAF from RAF Valley; these were under the command of No. 100 Group RAF and flew de Havilland Mosquitos. These squadrons supported bombing support operations as part of RAF Bomber Command. Both squadrons were temporarily moved to RAF West Malling to counter the V-1 flying bomb threat before returning in late August 1944 to re-commence bomber support operations. On 27 June 1945 85 Squadron moved to RAF Castle Camps; and shortly after, on 16 August 1945, 157 Squadron disbanded, and the airfield was passed over to RAF Maintenance Command.

Royal Air Force Station Swannington, or more simply RAF Swannington, was a Royal Air Force station located south of Cawston and north west of Norwich in Norfolk, England. It was opened in April 1944, being developed from the estate of Haveringland Hall, and sold in 1957, though the Royal Air Force (RAF) left in November 1947. The site is now used for agriculture, though evidence of concrete runways and buildings remains. Part of the Brandiston-Swannington road still runs over remains of the runways. HistoryThe first squadrons to use Swannington were No. 85 Squadron RAF, which moved from RAF West Malling, and No. 157 Squadron RAF from RAF Valley; these were under the command of No. 100 Group RAF and flew de Havilland Mosquitos. These squadrons supported bombing support operations as part of RAF Bomber Command. Both squadrons were temporarily moved to RAF West Malling to counter the V-1 flying bomb threat before returning in late August 1944 to re-commence bomber support operations. On 27 June 1945 85 Squadron moved to RAF Castle Camps; and shortly after, on 16 August 1945, 157 Squadron disbanded, and the airfield was passed over to RAF Maintenance Command.