RAF Matlaske

RAF Matlaske
RAF Matlaske
Matlaske, Norfolk in England
	Aerial photograph of Matlaske airfield looking north, Matlaske village is at the top, 27 June 1946.
	RAF Matlaske Location within Norfolk
Coordinates	52°51′38″N 001°11′22″E
Type	Satellite Station
Code	MK
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force; United States Army Air Forces; British Army
Controlled by	RAF Fighter Command; 1940-43 & 1944-45
Site history
Built	1940
In use	October 1940 – October 1945
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	50 metres (164 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
00/00	1,463 metres (4,800 ft) Grass
00/00	1,188 metres (3,898 ft) Grass
00/00	1,188 metres (3,898 ft) Grass

Royal Air Force Matlaske or more simply RAF Matlaske is a former Royal Air Force satellite station to RAF Coltishall, situated near Matlaske in Norfolk, England.

History

There was a small aerodrome, details of which are not known, at Matlaske before the war started, then the site was approved for requisition by the Air Ministry in August 1939, with construction works beginning in the summer of 1940. RAF Matlaske became operational in October 1940[2] as a satellite station to RAF Coltishall when Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron were briefly dispersed there. The airfield was grass-covered throughout its life and had two main landing runs, of which one was 1,600.00 yards (1,463.04 m) with the other being 1,300.00 yards (1,188.72 m).[2]

Luftwaffe attack

Memorial near the site

On 29 October 1940[2] the Luftwaffe attacked the airfield at Matlaske. This attack followed the bombing of RAF Coltishall two days before which had necessitated the re-location of some of the Spitfires of 72 Squadron to Matlaske. Five Dornier[3] aircraft carried out the attack, strafing the base and causing damage to parked aircraft as well as inflicting several casualties to personnel. On 12 May 1941[2] the Luftwaffe attacked the base again but this time they bombed using Incendiary bombs. The attack had limited success with only minor damage caused and no personnel casualties.

United States Army Air Force

In September 1942, the airfield was allocated to the 8th United States Army Air Forces ostensibly for use as a fighter base by Republic P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group from RAF Kings Cliffe but nothing is recorded of any use by that unit.

Royal Air Force

From November 1941 to August 1942 the base was host to No. 137 Squadron, one of only two RAF squadrons to fly the unique twin-engine fighter, the Westland Whirlwind, when it was engaged on East coast convoy patrols and anti-shipping tasks. It was supported by the Air Sea Rescue squadron No. 278, Matlaske-based from October 1941 to April 1942.

Nos. 56, 195, 245, 266 and 609 Squadrons flying Hawker Typhoons, plus Nos. 19, 222, 229, 453, 602 and 611 Squadrons flying the Supermarine Spitfire, and No. 601 Squadron – the only one flying the Hawker Hurricane from here, were based or detached here at various times between October 1940 to April 1945.

From April to May 1943, No. 1489 Flight RAF conducted target towings with Hawker Henleys, Westland Lysanders, M.25 Martinets and M.9 Masters, which were based at RAF Coltishall and RAF Sutton Bridge and detached to Matlaske as required.

In August 1943, the airfield was transferred to Care and Maintenance and the facilities improved. Reopened in September 1944 it was used further by 3, 19, 56, 65, 122, 229, 451, 453, 485, 486 and 602 Squadrons at various times until April 1945, the RAF vacating the site in October 1945.

Units

The following Royal Air Force units served at Matlaske at one point or another during the Second World War:

Royal Air Force

No. 3 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Tempest V
No. 19 Squadron RAF[4] – Supermarine Spitfire II & Vb
No. 56 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Typhoon 1b, Tempest V
No. 65 Squadron RAF[4] – NA Mustang iii
No. 72 Squadron RAF[4]
No. 122 Squadron RAF[4] – NA Mustang III
No. 137 Squadron RAF[4] – Famous for its use of the Westland Whirlwind fighter
No. 195 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Typhoon 1b
No. 222 Squadron RAF[4] – Supermarine Spitfire II
No. 229 Squadron RAF[4] – Supermarine Spitfire IX
No. 245 Squadron RAF – Hawker Typhoon 1b
No. 266 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Typhoon 1a
No. 278 Squadron RAF[4] – Westland Lysander IIIa, Supermarine Walrus II
No. 486 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Tempest V
No. 601 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Hurricane 2b
No. 602 Squadron RAF[4] – Supermarine Spitfire XVI
No. 609 Squadron RAF[4] – Hawker Typhoon 1b
No. 611 Squadron RAF[4] – Supermarine Spitfire IX & Vb
No. 658 Squadron RAF[4]
No. 659 Squadron RAF[4]
No. 12 Group Target Towing Flight RAF[4]
No. 1489 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight RAF[4]
No. 1489 (Target Towing) Flight RAF[4]
No. 2738 Squadron RAF Regiment[4]
No. 2741 Squadron RAF Regiment[4]
No. 2765 Squadron RAF Regiment[4]
No. 2805 Squadron RAF Regiment[4]
No. 2811 Squadron RAF Regiment[4]
Air Sea Rescue Flight RAF, Matlaske (1941) became No. 278 Squadron RAF [5]

Royal Australian Air Force

No. 451 Squadron RAAF[4]
No. 453 Squadron RAAF[4] Supermarine Spitfire LFXVI

United States Army Air Forces

56th Fighter Group (allocated)

Aircraft

The following aircraft types served at the base:

References

Citations

Falconer 1998, p. 62.
Smith, Graham (2007). Norfolk Airfields in the Second World War. p. 164. ISBN 9781853063206. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
"Matlaske – (Matlask)". Reference to the type of German Aircraft used in the attack. Control Towers .co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
"Matlaske". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
Lake 1999, p. 22.

Bibliography

Falconer, J (1998). RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2175-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.

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[FOOTNOTEFalconer199862-1] Falconer 1998, p. 62.

[NASWW-2] Smith, Graham (2007). Norfolk Airfields in the Second World War. p. 164. ISBN 9781853063206. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

[TOWER-3] "Matlaske – (Matlask)". Reference to the type of German Aircraft used in the attack. Control Towers .co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2014.

[ABCT-4] "Matlaske". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

[FOOTNOTELake199922-5] Lake 1999, p. 22.