Also known as Station 123 · Norwich Airport
History
The story of RAF Horsham St Faith
The Eighth Air Force took over in 1942 as Station 123. B-26 Marauders of the 319th Bombardment Group stayed briefly. The 56th Fighter Group flew P-47s from April 1943 until runway building forced a move to Halesworth. The 458th Bombardment Group arrived in January 1944 with B-24 Liberators. It flew 240 missions and lost 47 aircraft in combat and 18 in accidents.
Fighter Command took over in July 1945, and Meteors, Venoms and Javelins followed. The RAF left in 1963, and the field became Norwich Airport. A USAAF memorial display stands by the terminal. The City of Norwich Aviation Museum sits on a section of the old airfield.
Order of battle
Flying units
| Unit | Years | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| No. 105 Squadron | 1941–1942 | de Havilland Mosquito IV |
| No. 139 Squadron | 1941–1942 | Bristol Blenheim IV, de Havilland Mosquito IV |
| 56th Fighter Group, USAAF | 1943–1943 | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt |
| 458th Bombardment Group (Heavy), USAAF | 1944–1945 | Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
| No. 23 Squadron | 1952–1960 | Mosquito, Vampire, Venom, Gloster Javelin |
Today
What survives
- Wartime hangars and buildings within the airport industrial estate
- Most of the wartime runways and taxiways, with runway 09/27 still in use
- USAAF memorial display beside the 1988 terminal
Visit
The museum on the airfield
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Norwich Aviation MuseumNorwich, Norfolk | £9 | 33 | City of Norwich Aviation Museum at Horsham St Faith: Norfolk's largest, ~30 airframes including a Vulcan and Nimrod with bookable… |