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RAF Station
Wattisham |
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| Opened on the 5th April 1939 Wattisham was a medium bomber base for the RAF. In October 1942 it was transferred to the USAAF. Work started in building three concrete runways for heavy bomber use however plans changed and only the E-W runway was completed with the other two only completed in short sections. It was used as a air depot with a fighter group also stationed here until the end of the war. Handed back to the RAF in 1946 it was a dedicated fighter station until stood down in 1992. Meteors, Hunters, Lightnings and Phantoms have all served at this base at one time. Today it serves as an Army Air Corps base with Apaches and Lynx helicopters. 22 Sqn RAF is also based here in the SAR role as well as a Suffolk police helicopter unit. Special mention should go to the Anglia Gliding Club which also uses the airfield and is in fact the oldest serving operation at Wattisham. | ||