WWII (FW3/22) Type-22 Pillbox, Nr Eastmoor Road, Barton Bendish.
At the outbreak of WWII, orders were issued to all airfields across the UK to implement the ‘Scatter’ directive, a plan to relocate aircraft at various satellite airfields to disperse them away from the main airfield and possible German attack. This meant that many squadrons were spread over several airfields for short periods of time until the immediate threat, or perceived threat, had subsided. This was first seen at RAF Barton Bendish (a satellite of Marham) when Wellingtons of 115 Sqn located at nearby RAF Marham were placed here. With no cover, the protection RAF Barton Bendish offered seemed small in comparison to the main airfield at RAF Marham.
The openness and cold of RAF Barton Bendish has been noted in several scripts, and this caused problems in the winter months when starting cold engines. ‘Johnnie’ Johnson recalls in Martin Bowman’s book ''The Wellington Bomber'' how they had to start the Wellington’s engine by getting it to backfire into the carburettor thus igniting unspent fuel in the air intake. This was then allowed to burn for a few seconds warming the carburettor allowing the engine to start. careful timing was paramount, the danger being that the aircraft could catch fire if you were not cautious !
In the early part of WWII RAF Barton Bendish Airfield was also used as a 'Decoy Site' a flare path being lit at night to attract enemy bombers away from RAF Marham a few miles down the road, how effective this was, is not known, but it may well have saved one or two lives at the main airfield.
Also during 1941, 26 Squadron (RAF) flying Tomahawk IIs were stationed here for three days from the 27th – 30th September, as was 268 Squadron on several other occasions. Also flying Tomahawk IIs, they passed through here during May 1941, then again between the 21st and 25th June 1941, 28th and 30th September 1941 and then again on the 25th and 26th October 1941, 268 Sqn who were then based at RAF Snailwell, used the airfield as ‘the enemy’ in a station defence exercise, whereby they would perform mock attacks on RAF Snailwell using gas, parachute and low flying strafing attacks methods. Being little more than a field, RAF Barton Bendish provided no accommodation for the visitors, and so the aircrews slept in tents overnight, these being removed the next day after the attacks had been made.
By 1942, the Stirling Bomber was becoming a predominant feature at RAF Marham, and with RAF Barton Bendish being too small for its required take off distance, RAF Downham Market became the preferred satellite airfield, RAF Barton Bendish being sidelined for other minor uses.
Little exists about its existence or purpose other than a few mentions in the operational record books of these squadrons, or recordings in the writings of RAF Marham personnel. Rumours state a ‘huge military (HQ) bunker’ and hard standings, but these are more likely farmer’s concrete pads, abundant across the area. No physical buildings were ever thought to have been built, the only extant remains are two Type-22 Pillboxes, the airfield is listed as a satellite or landing ground of the parent airfield RAF Marham. No other signs seem to exist of the airfield. Another case of an airfield completely disappearing !
WWII (FW3/22) Type-22 Pillbox, Nr Eastmoor Road, Barton Bendish.
At the outbreak of WWII, orders were issued to all airfields across the UK to implement the ‘Scatter’ directive, a plan to relocate aircraft at various satellite airfields to disperse them away from the main airfield and possible German attack. This meant that many squadrons were spread over several airfields for short periods of time until the immediate threat, or perceived threat, had subsided. This was first seen at RAF Barton Bendish (a satellite of Marham) when Wellingtons of 115 Sqn located at nearby RAF Marham were placed here. With no cover, the protection RAF Barton Bendish offered seemed small in comparison to the main airfield at RAF Marham.
The openness and cold of RAF Barton Bendish has been noted in several scripts, and this caused problems in the winter months when starting cold engines. ‘Johnnie’ Johnson recalls in Martin Bowman’s book ''The Wellington Bomber'' how they had to start the Wellington’s engine by getting it to backfire into the carburettor thus igniting unspent fuel in the air intake. This was then allowed to burn for a few seconds warming the carburettor allowing the engine to start. careful timing was paramount, the danger being that the aircraft could catch fire if you were not cautious !
In the early part of WWII RAF Barton Bendish Airfield was also used as a 'Decoy Site' a flare path being lit at night to attract enemy bombers away from RAF Marham a few miles down the road, how effective this was, is not known, but it may well have saved one or two lives at the main airfield.
Also during 1941, 26 Squadron (RAF) flying Tomahawk IIs were stationed here for three days from the 27th – 30th September, as was 268 Squadron on several other occasions. Also flying Tomahawk IIs, they passed through here during May 1941, then again between the 21st and 25th June 1941, 28th and 30th September 1941 and then again on the 25th and 26th October 1941, 268 Sqn who were then based at RAF Snailwell, used the airfield as ‘the enemy’ in a station defence exercise, whereby they would perform mock attacks on RAF Snailwell using gas, parachute and low flying strafing attacks methods. Being little more than a field, RAF Barton Bendish provided no accommodation for the visitors, and so the aircrews slept in tents overnight, these being removed the next day after the attacks had been made.
By 1942, the Stirling Bomber was becoming a predominant feature at RAF Marham, and with RAF Barton Bendish being too small for its required take off distance, RAF Downham Market became the preferred satellite airfield, RAF Barton Bendish being sidelined for other minor uses.
Little exists about its existence or purpose other than a few mentions in the operational record books of these squadrons, or recordings in the writings of RAF Marham personnel. Rumours state a ‘huge military (HQ) bunker’ and hard standings, but these are more likely farmer’s concrete pads, abundant across the area. No physical buildings were ever thought to have been built, the only extant remains are two Type-22 Pillboxes, the airfield is listed as a satellite or landing ground of the parent airfield RAF Marham. No other signs seem to exist of the airfield. Another case of an airfield completely disappearing !