Introduction
This report consists of photos from two visits within the space of a few weeks back in February. I had to return to get some externals of the buildings as it started chucking it down with rain and couldn't keep the drops off the lens. The purpose of this report isn't to cover each and every building in detail, but more to provide a decent update of the place with a primary focus on the accommodation blocks which make up the majority of the remaining site. Visited with @JakeV50.
Information & History
RAF Sculthorpe was constructed as a satellite airfield for the nearby West Raynham base. The other satellite airfield for West Raynham was RAF Great Massingham. The runway was 50% longer than the standard spec coming in at 2700 metres and was primarily built by Bovis Construction.
The site was built between 1942 and 1943 and the first squadrons to arrive at the base were 342. Later on No. 487 & 464 took up residence at the base with the twin-engine Lockheed Ventura aircraft. Later in the same year, 21 Squadron moved in creating the No. 140 Wing. This wing conducted over 100 missions and later moved to RAF Hunsdon. Another notable unit that operated at the base included No. 214 with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress amongst others. The site was also used to store the Airspeed Horsa gliders.
Later, in 1944, the airbase expanded into a heavy bomber base where the runway was lengthened and numerous new buildings were added including a fuel storage area. This expansion was in preparation for the B29 Super Fortresses but this never materialised as the war ended a year later in 1945. Once World War II ended, the base was used by the United States Air Force up until 1952 and was later returned to the UK’s Royal Air Force. This lasted until 1967 when USAF units began using the base again and acted as a standby airfield. USAF continued to use the base until 1992. There were also Cold War operations here around this time.
Much of the base stands derelict today. Quite a few of the buildings have been demolished including the Control Tower. The accommodation blocks and a few other buildings around the area have laid empty for years, but the main runway area is still used by the MoD for training purposes and is MoD property. There are also a number of industrial units dotted around the site but quite a few businesses have moved out as the landlord isn’t doing enough to tackle vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the site, and has also failed to pay electricity bills a number of times leaving businesses without power.
The Explore(s)
I try to visit Sculthorpe at least every two years as it is such a relaxed wander around and I always use it as a nice place to visit to test new camera equipment, new photo ideas etc. It has always been a chilled-out place and I have covered pretty much the entire site over the last nine years. It was also my first ever derelict site. The condition of the buildings remain pretty much unchanged, they can’t really get much worse than they are now! These two visits were fine and we managed to gain access to the site easily by car, as usual.
I usually like to include a couple of old noteworthy photos of places where I can, but there are so many for this one and lots of further information and pics can be found on the RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre website which is a great resource.
Onto the photos, starting with some externals I took primarily on my second visit this year. The majority of the accommodation consists of two-storey L-shaped blocks:
I've always liked the design of these blocks and are slightly different to the usual style seen at West Raynham and Upwood, and I love those burgandy lines as it is quite a retro feature:
The Truman Hall is the only three-storey block on the site and is probably my favourite of them all. I know these buildings are far from brutalist, but they do remind me of the dreariness of the Soviet-style tower blocks in Eastern Europe:
Truman Hall interior, this block is always good for corridor shots!
And some shots inside the L-shaped blocks:
And a selection of shots from other parts of the site to finish off:
Thanks for looking.
This report consists of photos from two visits within the space of a few weeks back in February. I had to return to get some externals of the buildings as it started chucking it down with rain and couldn't keep the drops off the lens. The purpose of this report isn't to cover each and every building in detail, but more to provide a decent update of the place with a primary focus on the accommodation blocks which make up the majority of the remaining site. Visited with @JakeV50.
Information & History
RAF Sculthorpe was constructed as a satellite airfield for the nearby West Raynham base. The other satellite airfield for West Raynham was RAF Great Massingham. The runway was 50% longer than the standard spec coming in at 2700 metres and was primarily built by Bovis Construction.
The site was built between 1942 and 1943 and the first squadrons to arrive at the base were 342. Later on No. 487 & 464 took up residence at the base with the twin-engine Lockheed Ventura aircraft. Later in the same year, 21 Squadron moved in creating the No. 140 Wing. This wing conducted over 100 missions and later moved to RAF Hunsdon. Another notable unit that operated at the base included No. 214 with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress amongst others. The site was also used to store the Airspeed Horsa gliders.
Later, in 1944, the airbase expanded into a heavy bomber base where the runway was lengthened and numerous new buildings were added including a fuel storage area. This expansion was in preparation for the B29 Super Fortresses but this never materialised as the war ended a year later in 1945. Once World War II ended, the base was used by the United States Air Force up until 1952 and was later returned to the UK’s Royal Air Force. This lasted until 1967 when USAF units began using the base again and acted as a standby airfield. USAF continued to use the base until 1992. There were also Cold War operations here around this time.
Much of the base stands derelict today. Quite a few of the buildings have been demolished including the Control Tower. The accommodation blocks and a few other buildings around the area have laid empty for years, but the main runway area is still used by the MoD for training purposes and is MoD property. There are also a number of industrial units dotted around the site but quite a few businesses have moved out as the landlord isn’t doing enough to tackle vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the site, and has also failed to pay electricity bills a number of times leaving businesses without power.
The Explore(s)
I try to visit Sculthorpe at least every two years as it is such a relaxed wander around and I always use it as a nice place to visit to test new camera equipment, new photo ideas etc. It has always been a chilled-out place and I have covered pretty much the entire site over the last nine years. It was also my first ever derelict site. The condition of the buildings remain pretty much unchanged, they can’t really get much worse than they are now! These two visits were fine and we managed to gain access to the site easily by car, as usual.
I usually like to include a couple of old noteworthy photos of places where I can, but there are so many for this one and lots of further information and pics can be found on the RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre website which is a great resource.
Onto the photos, starting with some externals I took primarily on my second visit this year. The majority of the accommodation consists of two-storey L-shaped blocks:
I've always liked the design of these blocks and are slightly different to the usual style seen at West Raynham and Upwood, and I love those burgandy lines as it is quite a retro feature:
The Truman Hall is the only three-storey block on the site and is probably my favourite of them all. I know these buildings are far from brutalist, but they do remind me of the dreariness of the Soviet-style tower blocks in Eastern Europe:
Truman Hall interior, this block is always good for corridor shots!
And some shots inside the L-shaped blocks:
And a selection of shots from other parts of the site to finish off:
Thanks for looking.
