NHER 3685 (Monument record) - West Raynham airfield

West Raynham airfield. World War Two.
German aerial photograph on display in Battle of Britain Museum, Hendon.
E. Rose (NAU).

Still in use in 1979.
E. Rose (NAU).

(S1) in file.

Very full history in (S2).
Opened 1939.
RAF Bomber Command until 1943, Free French until 1944 when Bomber Support Group 100 took over.
1946 Fighter Command.
E. Rose (NLA) 3 March 1993

(S3) in file by source [1], who adds that at TF 8557 2463 is the original command bunker, later converted to ROC lookout with another such adjacent.
E. Rose (NLA) 10 August 1994.

Base closed 1994.
Gates presented to Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum.

World War Two anti aircraft artillery.
See file.
D. Gurney (NLA) 28 January 1997.

(S4) notes that the ROC station (founded 1959, closed 1968) was intended to be inside the Battle HQ, hence the pipes etc but was in effect built to one side. Surface features intact, interior only accesible by rope, vandalised.
Aircraft post also on top of the battle HQ.
E. Rose (NLA) July 2000.

1 October 1996. NLA air photography.
Part of airfield photographed (hangars and hard standing visible plus additional buildings etc).
H. Clare (NLA), 23 October 2001.

2001.
Cold War MPP assessment identifies this as a site of national importance, and it is to be listed or scheduled.
See file and (S5) for details and report on CD ROM.
D. Gurney (NLA), 27 December 2001.

One Bloodhound Missile has been removed to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Its base is to be scheduled and a sculpture may replace the missile.
E. Rose (NLA) 29 November 2005.

For further information on the operational history of the airfield and photographs of remaining buildings, see (S6).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 January 2010.

March 2010.
A developer plans to create a low-carbon energy plant on the site.
See (S7) for further details,
H. White, (NLA), 31 March 2010

Small arms range is located at TF 8433 2453.
A. Cattermole (HES), 1 July 2015.

2011.
Conversion of redundant storage buildings (Buildings 512 and 513) to provide storage, workshop and office accommodation in association with adjoining orchard [2].
See file for associated documents including basic elevation drawings of Building 512 and photograph taken prior to commencement of conversion works.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 October 2017.