NHER 13626 (Monument record) - Possible site of World War One airfield (Sporle Landing Ground)

Airfield. Late 1916-1918. Site unknown; officially "one mile from Dunham railway station".
Details from Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum.
Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 January 2022.

Although the site of this landing ground was previously thought to be unknown the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust website (S2) places it at this location, just inside the parish of Necton. There is clearly a degree of confidence about this location as the airfield is now commemorated by a memorial at the north-east corner of this field (TF 8694 1207). This was erected in 2014 by Little Dunham Parish Council to mark the 100th anniversary of the airfield. The plaque reads "This memorial is dedicated to the men and women who served in The Royal Flying Corps, The Royal Air Force and The Royal Air Service from the landing ground located in this field during the Great War 1914-1918 - Lest We Forget." The page dedicated to this memorial (S3) records that the airfield was used by 51 Squadron and part of the 47th Wing of the 6th Brigade, Royal Flying Corp between 1916 and November 1918 as a satellite station to RAF Marham for home defence duties. It covered an area of 43 acres and as a Class 3 night landing ground facilities would have been very basic - likely limited to a pilot's hut and paraffin lighting for the landing strip itself.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 January 2022.