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((Use dmy dates|date=December 2023))
((Use British English|date=May 2013))
((More citations needed|date=March 2013))
((Infobox military installation
|name= RAF Shipdham<br />USAAF Station 115
|ensign=[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]]
[[File:Eighth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).png|60px]]
|location= Located Near [[Dereham]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]]
|coordinates = ((coord|52.62|0.92|type:landmark|display=inline))
|image= Shipdham-31jan46.png
|image_size= 300px
|caption= Shipdham Airfield - 31 January 1946
|map_type = Norfolk
|pushpin_label_position = none
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Location in Norfolk
|type= [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]]
|code=SJ
|built=((Start date|1942))
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used=1942-((End date|1957))
|demolished=
|condition=
|ownership=[[Air Ministry]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]]
| controlledby =[[Twelfth Air Force]]<br>[[Eighth Air Force]]
| garrison = [[319th Operations Group#World War II|319th Bombardment Group (Medium)]]<br>[[44th Fighter Group#World War II|44th Bombardment Group (Heavy)]]
|battles= [[European Theatre of World War II]]<br />Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945
))
[[File:44bg-b24-1.jpg|thumb|Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group on a parachute drop.]]
[[File:44bg-b24-2.jpg|thumb|B-24 of the 44th Bomb Group hit by enemy fire on a mission over enemy territory.]]
[[File:Shipdam-moh-ceremony.jpg|thumb|Medal of Honor Ceremony for Col Leon Johnson at Shipdham Airfield, 1943.]]
[[File:Shipdham Airfield final approach.JPG|thumb|Final approach on NE-SW runway, September 2008.]]

'''Royal Air Force Shipdham''' or more simply '''RAF Shipdham''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|station]] located 3 miles south of [[Dereham]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]].

The airfield now operates as Shipdham Airfield.

==History==

===USAAF use===
RAF Shipdham was the first US heavy bomber base in Norfolk and was also the continuous host to [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]s longer than any other [[Eighth Air Force]] combat airfield in Britain - from October 1942 to late 1945. It was constructed 1941-42<ref name="Freeman2001p205">((Harvnb|Freeman|2001|p=205))</ref> and was assigned USAAF designation Station 115 (SJ).<ref name="CT">((cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/S/Shipdham.htm |title=RAF Shipdham airfield |publisher=Control Towers|access-date=24 February 2013))</ref>

From 13 September 1943 though 13 June 1945, Shipdham served as headquarters for the [[14th Combat Bombardment Wing]], [[2d Air Division]], [[VIII Bomber Command]] (later [[Eighth Air Force]]).<ref name="Maurer1980p383">((Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=383.))</ref>

====319th Bombardment Group (Medium)====
The '''[[319th Bombardment Group]] (Medium)''' was a [[Twelfth Air Force]] [[Martin B-26 Marauder]] medium bomber group<ref name="Maurer1980p198">((Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=198.))</ref> which arrived at Shipdham on 12 September 1942 from [[Harding Army Air Field]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name="Maurer1980p199">((Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=199.))</ref>

The personnel of the group used the base as a staging and assembly point before moving in early October for [[RAF Horsham St Faith]] in Norfolk.<ref name="Freeman2001p206">((Harvnb|Freeman|2001|p=206.))</ref> From there the unit moved to [[Algeria]] in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] (MTO) in November as part of the [[Operation Torch]] invasion forces.((Citation needed|date=February 2013))

====44th Bombardment Group (Heavy)====
With the departure of the 319th BG, Shipdham was assigned to the '''44th Bombardment Group (Heavy)''',<ref name="Maurer1980p101">((Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=101.))</ref> arriving from [[Will Rogers Field]], [[Oklahoma]] on 10 October 1942.<ref name="Maurer1980p102">((Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=102.))</ref>

The 44th was assigned to the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-A". Its operational squadrons were:
* [[66th Bombardment Squadron]] (WQ)
* [[67th Bombardment Squadron]] (NB)
* [[68th Bombardment Squadron]] (QK)
* [[506th Bombardment Squadron]] (GJ)

The group flew [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]s as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 44th was the first USAAF group to be equipped with the Liberator and the unit had helped form other groups destined to fly the type. The Group was initially under strength, one of its four squadrons having been detached in the US. In March 1943 the 506th Squadron was assigned to the group.<ref name="Freeman2001p206"/>

The 44th Bomb Group's operations consisted primarily of assaults against strategic targets in [[France]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Romania]], [[Austria]], [[Poland]], and [[Sicily]]. Among the targets attacked were submarine installations, industrial establishments, airfields, harbors, shipyards, and other objectives, November 1942 - June 1943.<ref name="Maurer1980p101"/>

The unit received a [[Distinguished Unit Citation]] (DUC) for an extremely hazardous mission against naval installations at [[Kiel]] on 14 May 1943: Its B-24's flew in the wake of the main formation and carried incendiaries to be dropped after three [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] groups had released high explosive bombs, thus the group's aircraft were particularly vulnerable lacking the protection of the firepower of the main force. This vulnerability increased when the group opened its own formation for the attack; but the 44th blanketed the target with incendiaries in spite of the concentrated flak and continuous interceptor attacks it encountered.<ref name="Maurer1980p101"/>

Late in June 1943 a large detachment moved to [[Libya]] to help facilitate the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] by bombing airfields and marshalling yards in Italy. The detachment also participated in the famous [[Tidal Wave (1943)|low-level raid on the Ploesti oil fields]] on 1 August 1943. The group was awarded a DUC for its part in this raid and its commander, '''[[Colonel]] [[Leon W. Johnson]]''', was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his daring and initiative in leading his men into smoke, flame, and alerted fighter and antiaircraft opposition over the target, which already had been bombed in error by another group.<ref name="Maurer1980p101"/>

Before returning to England at the end of August, the detachment bombed an aircraft factory in Austria and supported ground forces in Sicily. In September 1943 the group struck airfields in the [[Netherlands]] and France and convoys in the [[North Sea]]. Also in September, a detachment was sent to North Africa to support the [[Operation Avalanche (World War II)|Salerno operations]].<ref name="Maurer1980p102"/>

This proved to be the 44th's last detachment and in October when several new B-24 groups were arriving in Norfolk, the 44th was fully committed to the combined bomber offensive from the UK. From November 1943 to April 1945, the group carried out operations against targets in western Europe, concentrating on airfields, oil installations, and marshalling yards.<ref name="Maurer1980p102"/>

The group took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during [[Big Week]], 20–25 February 1944. The group flew support and interdictory missions. Struck airfields, railroads, and V-weapon sites in preparation for the [[D-Day|Normandy invasion]]; supported the invasion in June 1944 by attacking strong points in the beachhead area and transportation targets behind the front lines. The group aided the [[Caen]] offensive and the [[Saint-Lô]] breakthrough in July. Dropped food, ammunition, and other supplies to troops engaged in the [[Operation Market-Garden|airborne attack on the Netherlands]] in September. The group also helped to check the enemy offensive during the [[Battle of the Bulge]], December 1944-January 1945, by striking bridges, tunnels, choke points, rail and road junctions, and communications in the battle area. The group attacked airfields and transportation in support of the advance into Germany, and flew a resupply mission during the [[Operation Varsity|airborne assault across the Rhine]] in March 1945.<ref name="Maurer1980p102"/>

The 44th Bomb Group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945. During the course of hostilities, the 44th flew a total of 343 missions and its gunners were credited with 330 enemy fighters shot down and its own losses. highest of any B-24 group in the Eighth, were 153.((Citation needed|date=February 2013)) The unit returned to [[Sioux Falls Army Airfield]] [[South Dakota]] in June 1945.<ref name="Maurer1980p102"/>

'''Legacy'''

Reassigned to [[Great Bend Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]] 25 July 1945. In preparation for [[Operation Downfall]] - overall Allied plan for the invasion of Japan the group was redesignated the '''44th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)''' in August 1945 in preparation for receiving [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]es.  Assigned to [[Strategic Air Command]] on 21 March 1946. Reassigned to [[Smoky Hill Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]], 14 December 1945. Inactivated 12 July 1946.<ref name="Maurer1980p102"/>

===Air Ministry use===
Between 1946 and 1947, the airfield was used as a transit centre for German POWs en route from the United States for repatriation to Germany.<ref name="CT"/>

The base was also home to [[No. 258 Maintenance Unit RAF]]<ref name="ABCT">((cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/shipdham/ |title=Shipdham |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|access-date=12 April 2020))</ref>

Part of Shipdham was sold in 1957 and the remainder between 1962 and 1963.<ref name="Freeman2001p206"/>

==Current use==
With the end of military control Arrow Air Services acquired the airfield from a local farmer and applied for planning permission to re-open the airfield. This was granted in September 1969 and, the following April. work began on refurbishing the facility. Two of the concrete runways were refurbished together with the approach road and perimeter track. The runway lights were found to be still serviceable although they had to be brought up to modern standards.<ref name="Freeman2001p206"/>

Shipdham was opened to private flying on 16 June 1970<ref name="CT"/> and currently is the home of the Shipdham Aero Club.((Citation needed|date=February 2013)) Its clubhouse is home to their museum and the airfield is unlicensed. Most of the airfield buildings remain in various states of decay((Citation needed|date=February 2013)) with part of the site being in use as an industrial estate.<ref name="Freeman2001p206"/>

In 2012, Powererd Paraglider training operation - Ufly4fun Pilots Club moved to the airfield from Northrepps Aerodrome.

It was reported in July 2023 that the airfield would close for good in November 2023 and be redeveloped as a solar farm <ref name="pilotweb">((cite web|url=https://pilotweb.aero/news/shipdham-airfield-to-close-in-november-2023/ |title=Shipdham to close |access-date=24 August 2023))</ref>

==See also==
((Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation|War|World War II))
* [[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]
* [[List of airports in Norfolk]]

==References==
((Air Force Historical Research Agency))

===Citations===
((Reflist))

===Bibliography===
* ((wikicite|ref=((harvid|Freeman|2001))|reference=Freeman, R. ''Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now. After the Battle''. London, UK: Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2001. ((ISBN|0-9009-13-09-6)).))
* Freeman, Roger A. (1991) ''The Mighty Eighth: The Colour Record''. Cassell & Co. ((ISBN|0-304-35708-1))
* ((wikicite|ref=((harvid|Maurer|1980))|reference=Maurer, M. ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980. ((ISBN|0-89201-092-4)).))

==External links==
((Commons category|RAF Shipdham))
* [http://mighty8thaf.preller.us/php/1Loc.php?Base=Shipdham mighty8thaf.preller.us Shipdham]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060306114356/http://mighty8thaf.preller.us/gallery/Shipdham Photos of Shipdham Airfield]
* [Website - https://www.cityofgroveok.gov/building/page/united-states-air-force-44th-bomb-group-flying-8-balls]
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/S/Shipdham_B-24.htm B-24D "Calaban"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061013020456/http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/shipdham.html The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Shipdham]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061114133516/http://www.modern-ruins.com/shipdham/shipdham.html Shipdham Bomber Base, 1991]

((Royal Air Force))
((USAAF 12th Air Force World War II))
((USAAF 8th Air Force UK))

((DEFAULTSORT:Shipdham))
[[Category:Airfields of the VIII Bomber Command in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Shipdham|RAF]]

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