The Wartime Memories Project

- RAF Swannington during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

RAF Swannington



   RAF Swannington opened in April 1944 and was located on land belonging to Haveringland Hall Estate near Cawston in Norfolk. It was home to 85 and 157 Squadrons which formed part of 100 Group. The airfield closed in 1947 and today the site is a country park with holiday homes.

 

1st May 1944 Bomber escort

7th May 1944 Relocated for new bomber protection role

21st July 1944 Flying bombs

21st July 1944  Anti-diver operations

28th August 1944 Return of detachment

29th August 1944 Bomber escort

1st September 1944 Mid-air collision

16th September 1944 Failed to return

28th September 1944 Two Mosquitos destroyed

29th September 1944 Shot down during sea search

6th October 1944 Mosquito shot down over Belgium

19th October 1944 Friendly fire incident

20th Oct 1944 Award

14th Apr 1945 85 Squadron Mosquito lost

1st May 1945 Seven men killed on exercise


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have served at

RAF Swannington

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Ashcroft Alfred Edward David. F/Lt (d.6th Oct 1944)
  • Fry Peter William. F/O. (d.29th September 1944)
  • Smith Harry. F/O. (d.29th September 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

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    25th Annversary

  • 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.




Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home.

If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.



Want to know more about RAF Swannington?


There are:15 items tagged RAF Swannington available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


F/Lt Alfred Edward David Ashcroft 157 Squadron (d.6th Oct 1944)

F/Lt Navigator Alfred E. D. Ashcroft, was killed in an air-crash with a Mosquito NF.MkXIX, serial number 678 of 157 Squadron, X1D: RS-A . His pilot William Vale was also killed. They were airborne at 1805 6 Oct 1944 from Swannington Airfield in support of the Main Force Dortmund operation.

Although the crash-site is unknown, my mother was a witness: it happened in Belgium, in the village of Drieslinter, Province: Vlaams-Brabant,at approximately 5 miles of the city Tienan (Tirlemont in French). I am looking for a photo of him and contact with any family members for the VVF Tienen Heritage Association.

Marc Lambeets



F/O. Peter William Fry 157 Squadron (d.29th September 1944)

Flying Officer (Pilot) William Fry was the son of Frank and Eva Frym husband of Margaret Fry of Rainham Mark, Gillingham, Kent. He was aged 25 when he died and is buried in the Oosterhesselen (Geesbrug) General Cemetery in Drenthe, Netherlands.

S Flynn



F/O. Harry Smith 157 Squadron (d.29th September 1944)

Flying Officer Harry Smith was the son of Harry and Pheobe Elma Smith of Hull. He was aged 20 when he died and is buried in the Oosterhesselen (Geesbrug) General Cemetery, Drenthe, Netherlands.

S Flynn







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    The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

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