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Old Buckenham Airfield , formerly
RAF Old Buckenham Royal Air Force Old Buckenham (RAF Old Buckenham) is a former Royal Air Force station located south east of Attleborough, Norfolk, England which was used during the Second World War by the United States for the strategic bombing campaign aga ...
, is located southwest of
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
,
East Anglia East Anglia is an area in the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, a people whose name originated in Anglia, in ...
, England. Old Buckenham Aerodrome has a
CAA CAA may refer to: Law * Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 of India ** Citizenship Amendment Act protests, Protests regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act * Copyright transfer agreement, Copyright assignment agreement, to transfer copyright to ...
Ordinary Licence (Number P907) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Buckenham Aviation Centre Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use.


History

The airfield was under
Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the Secretary of State ...
control as a satellite for maintenance units until it was closed on 20 June 1960. After a period of uncertainty about the airfield's future, it was announced on 23 August 2011 by the ''Eastern Daily Press'' that the airfield was under new management. In previous years the then operating company had reported a consistent loss-making position, caused by the economic downturn. At this time the airfield manager changed to Matt Wilkins, a property consultant retained by the owners. It was announced on 2 July 2013 that the airfield had been sold to a company belonging to local aviation enthusiast, Geoffrey Lynch, by
Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment management and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. With offices in more than 41 countries and more than 75,000 employees, the fir ...
for an undisclosed price. Morgan Stanley had become the owners when they purchased the portfolio of loans which owned the airfield from the Irish
National Asset Management Agency The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA; ga, Gníomhaireacht Náisiúnta um Bhainistíocht Sócmhainní) is a body created by the government of Ireland in late 2009 in response to the Irish financial crisis and the deflation of the Irish pr ...
. Wilkins was retained by Lynch following the purchase and continues to manage the airfield. Lynch has stated that he intends for the airfield to continue in use and plans expansions. Three new hangars and additional office space were built in 2013/14. Two new
Nissen huts A Nissen hut is a prefabricated steel structure for military use, especially as barracks, made from a half-cylindrical skin of corrugated iron. Designed during the First World War by the American-born, Canadian-British engineer and inventor Majo ...
, housing a Museum and Facilities Block, were built in 2015. A two-storey office building followed in 2017


Electric Flight

The airfield was the first in the UK to install and commission an electric aircraft charging point, available for public use from July 2021, and is the home of the NUNCATS project which aims to manufacture an electric Zenith CH701 for use in the developing world, powered by a network of solar chargers at small unmade landing strips. The factory is planned to be based in a
World War 2 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
building at the airfield. The charger and project have been the subject of an official visit by
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport The Minister of State for Transport is a mid-level ministerial position in the Department for Transport of the Government of the United Kingdom who deputises for the Secretary of State for Transport. There is also a list of Parliamentary Under ...
Robert Courts Robert Alexander Courts (born 21 October 1978) is a British politician and barrister who served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport from 2020 to 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Member of Parliam ...
.


Old Buckenham Airshow

In December 2011 it was announced that the Old Buckenham Airshow would return in 2012. The show had not gone ahead in 2011 due to the financial climate and management issues. It was later confirmed that the headline act would be the Old Flying Machine Company Spitfire and Mustang Duo of MH434 and Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" both of which belonged to the late
Ray Hanna Raynham George Hanna, (28 August 1928 – 1 December 2005) was a New Zealand-born fighter pilot who emigrated to England to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). During his RAF career he was a founding member of the Red Arrows aerobatics display tea ...
. The airfield management declared the 2012 Airshow a success and announced that the Airshow would once again become an annual event. On 25 October 2012, it was announced that the 2013 Airshow would be a two-day event. Subsequent announcements from the airfield indicated that the main acts would be the return of the Spitfire and Mustang Duo, together with a
World Record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...
attempt by Brendan O'Brien. O'Brien was attempting a new world record; the shortest distance truck top landing recorded. Wind conditions on the day meant that O'Briens chances of success were slim and he came within inches of achieving his goal on the 5th attempt. On landing, it was agreed that the record would be attempted again in 2014. The 2014 Airshow took place on 26 and 27 July 2014. The Airshow was the lead item on the second bulletin of Mustard TV, a recently launched terrestrial TV channel for the greater Norwich area. The 2014 show was declared a success and described as the "Biggest yet" The 2015 Airshow was announced in the press on 17 September 2014. The Airshow featured the reunion of
Honor Blackman Honor Blackman (22 August 1925 – 5 April 2020) was an English actress, known for the roles of Cathy Gale in '' The Avengers''Aaker, Everett (2006). ''Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 58. (1962 ...
who played
Pussy Galore Pussy Galore is a fictional character in the 1959 Ian Fleming James Bond novel '' Goldfinger'' and the 1964 film of the same name. In the film, she is played by Honor Blackman. The character returns in the 2015 Bond continuation novel ''Trigg ...
in the
James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...
film Goldfinger with the
Hiller Aircraft Hiller Aircraft Company was founded in 1942 as Hiller Industries by Stanley Hiller to develop helicopters. History Stanley Hiller, then seventeen, established the first helicopter factory on the West Coast of the United States, located in Berkele ...
UH12 Helicopter G-ASAZ which she starred with in the movie. The 2016 and 2017 Airshow were reported as being a success and featured Sally B.


Tourism Award

The Old Buckenham Airshow was named the EDPHoseasons "Family Event of the Year" in 2016.


War memorial

The memorial consists of a large stone of black granite, carved into the form of a tailplane from the
Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models des ...
s which were based at the airfield and was installed on 29 July 1990. In October 2012 work started to relocate the memorial stone commemorating the 366
USAAF The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
personnel who died serving from RAF Old Buckenham. The new garden was officially opened by Pat Ramm who officiated at the
Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in Nov ...
service attended by over 400 people. The memorial garden features flagpoles which usually fly two
American Flag The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the c ...
s. During large events and Remembrance Sunday the poles fly a large American Flag and
Union Jack The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. Although no law has been passed making the Union Flag the official national flag of the United Kingdom, it has effectively become such through precedent. ...
. The memorial stone is at the end of a path cut in the form of a figure 8 to symbolise the
Eighth Air Force The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Force ...
. The figure 8 path is made from large blue slate chippings. A commemorative plaque at its base reads "This Memorial Garden was opened on 11 November 2012 by Pat Ramm. It was created by Shaun Hindle, Steve Garrett, Scott Cooper, Lee Belcher & Matt Wilkins" In 2013 the airfield changed its logo to a shield, originally carved by a serving USAAF officer during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The shield appears on the War Memorial and is now used by the airfield in all its activities. The memorial is described by the airfield as being the main focal point of the airfield. The airfield management have said that they are fostering links with Memorial Groups in the United States.


453rd Bomb Group Museum

In February 2015, it was announced that the airfield has applied for permission to erect a museum at the site. The plans are for the erection of two Nissen Huts, one of which will house items described as having the potential to be the largest collection of 453rd Bomb Group memorabilia in existence. The 453rd Bombardment Group Museum opened on
Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in Nov ...
2015.


The 8th Air Force Heritage Gallery

An additional Museum, said to complement the 453rd Museum, was opened on
Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in Nov ...
2017 by
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
Captain (United States O-6) In the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), captain is the senior-most commis ...
Poston, whose Great Uncle served in the 453rd Bombardment Group at
RAF Old Buckenham Royal Air Force Old Buckenham (RAF Old Buckenham) is a former Royal Air Force station located south east of Attleborough, Norfolk, England which was used during the Second World War by the United States for the strategic bombing campaign aga ...
. The new museum covers the wider subject of the
Eighth Air Force The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Force ...
of which the 453rd were a part.


Military & Vintage Revival & Battlefront Military Museum

In June 2012 Battlefront, The East England Military Museum, moved to hangars at Old Buckenham Airfield. Their base at the airfield contains over 5,000 exhibits, currently not on display to the public. In October 2012 it was announced that the airfield and museum would collaborate on a new show called Military Revival Promotional videos were released, showing a Citroen Van being destroyed by a
FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor The FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor or C.E.T. is an amphibious specialist armoured vehicle of the British Army and has been in general service since 1976. A tracked, lightly armoured vehicle, with amphibious capability, the CET is used by Royal En ...
and a lawn mower being flattened by an unexploded
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
German bomb. The first Military Revival took place on 5 and 6 October it was announced that the show would be run again in 2014. Following Military Revival, it was announced that several of the main exhibits would be placed on permanent public display at the airfield by Battlefront. Machines on display include a Russian
T-55 The T-54 and T-55 tanks are a series of Soviet main battle tanks introduced in the years following the Second World War. The first T-54 prototype was completed at Nizhny Tagil by the end of 1945.Steven Zaloga, T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks ...
tank which was used in the 1995
James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...
film ''
GoldenEye ''GoldenEye'' is a 1995 spy film, the seventeenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Directed by Martin Campbell, it was the first in the ser ...
'', a
Multiple Launch Rocket System A multiple rocket launcher (MRL) or multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is a type of rocket artillery system that contains multiple launchers which are fixed to a single platform, and shoots its rocket ordnance in a fashion similar to a volle ...
and a
MGM-52 Lance The MGM-52 Lance was a mobile field artillery tactical surface-to-surface missile (tactical ballistic missile) system used to provide both nuclear and conventional fire support to the United States Army. The missile's warhead was developed at La ...
nuclear missile. The 2014 Military Revival event was deemed a success, and it was confirmed that the show would run again in 2015, with a joint military and vintage theme. In January 2015, the airfield confirmed the inclusion of a Vintage theme by announcing a new name for the show, including a new website.


''A Celebration of the Life of Wing Commander Ken Wallis''

On 4 September the airfield announced that it had been asked by the Wallis family to host a day of celebration for
Ken Wallis Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis (26 April 1916 – 1 September 2013) was a British aviator, engineer, and inventor. During the Second World War, Wallis served in the Royal Air Force and flew 28 bomber missions over Germany; after the war ...
. Wallis had been a regular visitor to the airfield for thirty years, last attending during the 2013 Airshow and had been given lifetime membership as member number 007, celebrating his contribution to the airfield, aviation and marking his appearance as
James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...
in ''You Only Live Twice'' with the autogyro ''Little Nellie'' which Wallis had designed and built. The airfield's Blister Hangar was cleared and ''Little Nellie'' was put on display on a stage in the centre. The rear wall of the hangar featured a 40-foot banner showing pictures from Wallis' life. Local planning regulations were lifted to allow autogyros to fly in. It was anticipated that 500 people would attend but actual attendance was estimated as 3–4,000.


Aero Engineering Centre

In March 2014 the airfield announced the opening of a new Engineering Centre. The new centre incorporates a CAA Part M Engineering service by The Light Aircraft Company, avionics maintenance by Avitronics, and aircraft painting and interiors by Custom Air.


Tenants and non-aviation activities

Aircraft engineers, classic car restorers, a race team, aircraft broker and TV company are based at the airfield. There are also areas for TV filming and buildings and land occupied by Battlefront. The airfield operates a fleet of specially modified Honda Gyro Canopy scooters. The Airfield is also home to a Flight Simulator Centre


Accidents and Incidents

* 14 July 1991 –
Piper PA-23 The Piper PA-23, named Apache and later Aztec, is an American four- to six-seat twin-engined light aircraft aimed at the general-aviation market. The United States Navy and military forces in other countries also used it in small numbers. Origin ...
G-BCBM landed with its undercarriage retracted and was damaged beyond economic repair. * 1 August 2004 – Stearman biplane, G-BAVO, known as "Two-Six" belonging to TV star
Martin Shaw Martin Shaw (born 21 January 1945) is an English actor. He came to national recognition as Doyle in ITV (TV network), ITV crime-action television drama series ''The Professionals (TV series), The Professionals'' (1977–1983). Further notable ...
crashed on takeoff. Shaw who was not at the controls bought the salvage and rebuilt the aircraft as documented by the TV series '' Martin Shaw: Aviators''. * 29 April 2006 – David Crowcroft, suffering from an obsessive condition, committed
suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
by cutting his
parachute A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...
cords during a training jump. * 25 March 2007 – Whilst conducting parachute dropping,
Piper PA-32 The Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six is a series of single-engine, fixed landing gear, light aircraft manufactured in the United States by Piper Aircraft between 1965 and 2007.Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', page 63. Werner & Werner Co ...
G-BAXJ suffered an engine failure and landed short of the airfield. There were no reported injuries. * 9 May 2010 – Mooney M20 G-JDIX crashed while making an approach to the airfield; the pilot was killed. * 22 April 2015 – Edge 360 G-EDGJ a fatal accident occurred as the aircraft was being flown as part of an Aerobatic display. David Jenkins, a skilled and respected pilot, died. * 11 June 2016 – Piper Pa-24 Comanche, G-ARLB suffered damage after a heavy landing. There were no reported injuries. * 11 June 2017 – Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe, G-BRGF crashed on landing after its landing gear made contact with a rapeseed crop close to the end of the runway. There were no reported injuries. * 19 July 2018 – Auster 6A Tugmaster, G-APRO Stalled and impacted with the ground on landing.


References

*


External links


Old Buckenham Aero Club Limited, a flying school based at the airfieldOld Buckenham AirshowOld Buck Shots Photo GalleryTouchdown Engineering Limited
{{authority control Airports in England Transport in Norfolk Airports in Norfolk