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North Creake

Major
Decoy
Also known as: Egmere / Egmere Airfield Solar Park / No 111 Storage Sub-Site / North Creake Airfield Business Park / RAF North Creake
County: Norfolk
Current Status: Farmland / Housing / Industry / Solar farm
Date: 23 November 1943 - September 1947; (decoy) opened by 1 January 1942 - closed by 18 June 1942
Current Use: Disused
Used By: RAF
Landing Surface Types: Paved
Decoy Type(s): Q
Decoy Number(s): 149(a)

North Creake opened on 23 November 1943 but was almost immediately placed on Care and Maintenance for a time. Although proposed as a Very Heavy Bomber airfield for future advanced aircraft these plans were dropped in the spring of 1944. The airfield’s isolated location, however, made it perfect for the radio countermeasures work and bomber support carried out by squadrons of the RAF’s new No 100 Group.

No 199 Squadron reformed at North Creake in May 1944, flying Short Stirlings to confuse enemy radars by using ‘Mandrel’ jamming equipment which proved vital to the bomber offensive.

On D-Day the squadron played a crucial role by simulating a large collection of ships heading towards the Pas-de-Calais area, so drawing enemy forces away from the actual Allied invasion area in Normandy. The simulation was achieved through the flying formation which gave the impression of a large convoy, showing up as huge ships on enemy radar screens.

‘C’ Flight of No 199 Squadron was detached to form the nucleus of No 171 Squadron in September 1944, mainly using Handley Page Halifaxes for yet more countermeasures operations, also dropping ‘Window’ tin foil strips to jam enemy radar. No 199 Squadron was the last operational RAF Bomber Command Stirling unit, only replacing its aircraft with Halifaxes in March 1945. Both squadrons disbanded in July 1945.

The airfield was later used by No 274 Maintenance Unit to store and then scrap many de Havilland Mosquitoes until closure in September 1947. Today the site is a mixture farmland and an industrial estate. Sadly the runways are largely gone but many buildings survive.

 

The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/07/2013):

  • ABN
  • Blue Storage
  • Idol Composites
  • Holkham Hall and Estate
  • North Creake Parish Council
  • Training and Development Group
  • Walsingham Parish Council
  • Wighton Parish Council

Notable Past Associated Organisations:

  • Fakenham and District Model Flying Club

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 171 Sqn
  • No 199 Sqn
  • No 274 MU

Photographs from the unveiling of the ABCT memorial marker on 26 February 2011:

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001Aerial View of RAF North Creake Airfield - 15 March 2009.png

Aerial view of North Creake, 15 March 2009. © Richard Flagg

002Air Ministry Bombing Teacher Building - 13 July 2010.png

Air Ministry Bombing Teacher Building at North Creake, 13 July 2010. © Richard Flagg

003Runway 01:19. Looking south from the runway 19 threshold - 13 July 2010.png

Runway 01:19, looking south from the runway 19 threshold, 13 July 2010. © Richard Flagg

004DSC00087.JPG

The converted control tower at North Creake, 26 February 2011.

005DSC00090.JPG

Support buildings at North Creake, 26 February 2011.

006DSC00093.JPG

A B1 hangar at North Creake, 26 February 2011.

008geograph-4106719-by-Evelyn-Simak.jpg

Second World War RAF buildings at North Creake, 3 August 2014. © Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

009geograph-4106753-by-Evelyn-Simak.jpg

A T2 hangar at North Creake, 3 August 2014. © Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

010geograph-4106703-by-Evelyn-Simak.jpg

Former RAF workshops at North Creake, 3 August 2014. © Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

011geograph-4135104-by-Evelyn-Simak.jpg

A mural depicting Stirling MK III LJ525 EX-R "Jolly Roger" of No 199 Squadron, which was stationed at North Creake, 23 August 2014. © Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

012geograph-4160367-by-Evelyn-Simak.jpg

Second World War motor transport sheds at North Creake, 10 September 2014. © Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s):

Docking / Swannington

Associated Airfield(s):

Burnham Sutton

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