RAF Rackheath 1.33

Royal Air Force Rackheath or more simply RAF Rackheath is a former Royal Air Force station located near Rackheath, north east of Norwich, Norfolk, England.HistoryAirfield construction began in 1943 for the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force and followed the lines of other heavy bomber bases with a main runway of and two auxiliary runways of each. The perimeter track was 2.7mi in length and this and the runways had a concrete screed finish. Mark II airfield lighting was installed, two T-2 hangars were erected for major aircraft maintenance, and dispersed temporary building accommodation provided for some 2.400 men in the wooded countryside of the estate to the south-west of the airfield. During construction, 556000cuyd of soil were excavated, of soakaway drains installed and super of concrete laid. A major overhead power line had to be put underground to clear the flying approaches.USAAF useThe airfield was laid out on agricultural land between the two settlements of Rackheath Parva and Rackheath Magna.The airfield was given USAAF designation Station 145.467th Bombardment Group (Heavy)The airfield was opened on 11 March 1944 and was used by the 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Wendover AAF Utah. The 467th was assigned to the 96th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-P". Its operational squadrons were: 788th Bombardment Squadron (X7) 789th Bombardment Squadron (6A) 790th Bombardment Squadron (Q2) 791st Bombardment Squadron (4Z) The group flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 467th began operations on 10 April 1944 with an attack by thirty aircraft on an airfield at Bourges in central France.