RAF Oulton
Former military airfield in Norfolk, England
title: "RAF Oulton" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["royal-air-force-stations-in-norfolk", "royal-air-force-stations-of-world-war-ii-in-the-united-kingdom", "military-airbases-established-in-1940", "military-airbases-closed-in-1947"] description: "Former military airfield in Norfolk, England" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Oulton" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Former military airfield in Norfolk, England ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox military installation"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | RAF Oulton |
| ensign | Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg |
| ensign_size | 90px |
| location | Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk |
| country | England |
| image | RAF Oulton - 20 Apr 1944 Airphoto.jpg |
| image_size | 250px |
| caption | Aerial photograph of Oulton airfield 20 April 1944 |
| pushpin_map | Norfolk |
| pushpin_label | RAF Oulton |
| pushpin_label_position | top |
| pushpin_map_caption | Shown within Norfolk |
| coordinates | |
| type | Royal Air Force Satellite station |
| ownership | Air Ministry |
| operator | Royal Air Force |
| built | |
| used | 1940- |
| past_commanders | |
| garrison | No. 2 Group RAF |
| No. 3 Group RAF | |
| No. 100 Group RAF | |
| elevation | 47 m |
| r1-number | 06/24 |
| r1-length | 1220 m |
| r1-surface | Concrete |
| r2-number | 12/30 |
| r2-length | 1760 m |
| r2-surface | Concrete |
| r3-number | 16/34 |
| r3-length | 1350 m |
| r3-surface | Concrete |
| :: |
| name = RAF Oulton | ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = | partof = | location = Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk | nearest_town = | country = England | image = RAF Oulton - 20 Apr 1944 Airphoto.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Aerial photograph of Oulton airfield 20 April 1944 | pushpin_map = Norfolk | pushpin_label = RAF Oulton | pushpin_label_position = top | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Norfolk | coordinates = | type = Royal Air Force Satellite station | code = | site_area = | height = | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force | controlledby = | open_to_public = | condition = | built = | builder = | used = 1940- | materials = | fate = | battles = | events = | past_commanders = | garrison = No. 2 Group RAF No. 3 Group RAF No. 100 Group RAF | occupants = | elevation = 47 m | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | WMO = | r1-number = 06/24 | r1-length = 1220 m | r1-surface = Concrete | r2-number = 12/30 | r2-length = 1760 m | r2-surface = Concrete | r3-number = 16/34 | r3-length = 1350 m | r3-surface = Concrete | website = Royal Air Force Oulton or more simply RAF Oulton is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 3 mi west of Aylsham, Norfolk and 12.5 mi northwest of Norwich, Norfolk, England.
The airfield was built over 1939 and 1940 as a bomber airfield with T2 type hangars and grass runways, the facility operating as a satellite airfield of nearby RAF Horsham St. Faith between July 1940 and September 1942 after which it operated as a satellite airfield of RAF Swanton Morley.
History
In September 1943, Oulton was transferred from 2 Group to 3 Group and closed to flying for re-construction as a heavy bomber base with concrete runways, taxiways and parking areas. The work was completed in April 1944 and the airfield transferred to No. 100 Group RAF. Flying operations ceased at the end of July 1945, after which it was taken over by RAF Maintenance Command which used it to store de Havilland Mosquitos until November 1947.
::data[format=table title="'''RAF Oulton Order of Battle'''"]
| Squadron | Aircraft | Dates at RAF Oulton |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Blenheim Mk.IV | July 1940 to March 1941 |
| 18 | Blenheim Mk.IV | April 1941 to July 1941 and November to December 1941 |
| 139 | Blenheim Mk.IV | December 1941 to February 1942 |
| 1428 Hudson Conversion Flight | Hudson Mk.III | December 1941 to May 1942 |
| 236 | Beaufighter Mk.IC | July 1942 to September 1942 |
| 88 | Boston Mk.III and IIIA | date=December 2011}} |
| 21 | Ventura Mk.I and II | April 1943 to September 1943 |
| No. 1699 (Bomber Support) Flight RAF | Fortress | date=December 2011}} |
| 214 | Fortress | May 1944 to July 1945 |
| 803rd Bomb Squadron | Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator | May 1944 to August 1944 |
| 223 | Flying Fortress and Liberator | August 1944 to July 1945 |
| :: |
;Additional Units:
- No. 18 Heavy Glider Maintenance Section
- No. 274 Maintenance Unit RAF
- No. 1428 (Ferry Training) Flight RAF
- No. 2873 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2874 Squadron RAF Regiment
Current use
The site is now farmland.
Museum
The RAF Oulton Museum is housed on the Blickling Hall estate, belonging to the National Trust.
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Bowyer, J.F. Action Stations 1: Wartime military airfields of East Anglia 1939. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, Second edition, 1990. .
- "Your Questions Answered...Oulton, Norfolk". Air Pictorial, October 1967. p. 373.
References
- ''Air Pictorial'' October 1967, p. 373.
- Bowyer 1990, pp. 171–172.
- Bowyer 1990, p. 172.
- "Oulton". [[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]].
- "Blickling Estate's RAF Oulton museum".
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