The airfield was home to the 448th bomb group, a part of the 2nd air division of the 8th american air force, and constructed as a base for liberator bombers. Waveney river centre in burgh st peter, beccles lodges book. The town had a population of about 9,850 people around 2005. The annual beccles carnival and family fun weekend is held during the third weekend in august. Airfield diner sandpit lane, nr34 7th beccles, suffolk rated 4. Raf airfields in norfolk during the second world war. Beccles, an ancient markettown, municipal borough, and parish in suffolk. After the war the airport remained dormant until 1965 when it became beccles heliport serving north sea oil rigs until that operation transferred to norwich international airport. A paracute jumper landing at ellough airfield near beccles in suffolk, england, britain, uk. Built during the second world war, it has operated as a heliport servicing the north sea oil and gas industry and currently operates as a base for private flights and flight training. Italian restaurant in beccles prezzo italian restaurant. An academy for young gentlemen it had the capacity to. Beccles has a suburb called worlingham which has a combined population of about,580.
Located on the high street in the old cinema, convenient for local shops and bars. Raf and fleet air arm units occupied the base from 194445, providing air sea rescue support. As of the 2012 season, they are members of the anglian combination premier division. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Uk parachuting was established 25 years ago as ipswich parachute centre and operated for many years at ipswich airport. Built for the usaaf and completed in 1943 ellough airfield had the three concrete runways and a perimeter track, typical of many bomber airfields in east anglia. The field is located 6 miles sw of beccles in suffolk on the south bank of the waveney river close to the b1062 harleston to bungay road. Beccles airfield, also known as beccles airport or beccles aerodrome, is located in ellough, 2 nm southeast of beccles in the english county of suffolk.
Our lodges are available for weekly hire, as well as for. Part of the former airfield is used as a kart racetrack and as an industrial estate, including the main production site of local printing firm william clowes ltd. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Our team has over 30 years of experience and a fantastic safety record. The company now has two sites at beccles and sibson. Great yarmouth to beccles great british railway journeys. From october 1944 to october 1945 beccles was used by 280 squadron operating warwick aircraft for airsea rescue duties. Beccles also has a football team called beccles caxton.
Ellough is a village and civil parish in the east suffolk district, in the english county of suffolk. The village itself is dispersed and has few services. Built during the second world war, it has operated as a heliport servicing the north sea oil and gas industry and currently operates as a base for private flights, flight training and parachuting. The village was the site of a second world war airfield built in 1943 and operated today as beccles airport. Uk parachuting beccles airfield, nr34 7xd ellough, norfolk, united kingdom rated 4. Take a trial flight or learn to fly a light aircraft and obtain a private pilots licence. Leading aircraftman arthur heys of colne, county lancashire was executed for the murder of winifred mary evans which took place at the beccles r. Ellough park raceway is southeast of beccles on the site of the old ellough airfield. Visited beccles egsm from netherthorpe egnf on 30032017 in groly a. Is old norfolk airfield near sandringham really haunted. Anatomy of a wartime airfield rod mckenzie s book gives some intriguing detail about the typical wartime airfield and how it was built. Aircraft at beccles zenair this website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. A huge congratulations and thank you to our skydivers lucy, melissa and robin who took on a tandem skydive for star throwers today. Beccles offers a wealth of diversity, combining history with modernday culture.
Ellough airfield was completed in 1943 and served as a raf bomber command and raf coastal command. Built for the usaaf and completed in 1943, ellough airfield had three concrete runways and a perimeter track, typical of many bomber airfields. Rare photos discovered of old buckenham airfield during. First published in 1979, this book seems to a definitive account as to what took. An english translation of the urbanus magnus of daniel of beccles 1st edition. Uk parachuting is a seven day a week allyearround skydiving centre that is easily accessible greater london, cambridgeshire, essex, suffolk, norfolk. The friendly invasion began 70 years ago this spring. Events near beccles airfield norwich whats on near. Halesworth airfield museum and the cut arts centre are cultural highlights, and some of the areas attractions include henstead exotic gardens and rspb minsmere. Beccles aerodrome has a caa ordinary licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what. We have a proven excellent history with many of our pilots deciding to progress onto careers in commercial aviation, either as an airline pilot or as a flight instructor teaching the worlds future pilots the necessary skills as an aviator.
We charge flat rates for airport transfers from norwich. It really is a most fascinating period in the 19th century, and has continued ever since. The airfield is currently working on a 70th anniversary dvd and keith sowter, a local aircraft and aviation history enthusiast, has compiled a record of the aircraft flown from old buckenham. Discovering our aviation history, and double listings. The town centre provides a blend of independent shops, restaurants and other services that will make a trip to beccles memorable.
Perhaps the single biggest personal discovery i made in researching this book concerns the history of ballooning in the uk. I visit beccles for family, coming from london beccles is an idyllic special beautiful place with so much history, a peaceful harmony and lush greenery you have to visit to really appreciate. Beccles ellough beccles common bedfield bentwaters bramford hall bungay burgate wortham burgh castle bury st edmunds rougham butley chedburgh cotton covehithe crowfield cuckoo tye farm darsham debach dunwich eastern bavents elmsett elmswell eye felixstowe framingham gillingham helipad great ashfield hadleigh halesworth. The beccles drop zone is located 15 miles south west of norwich in the heart of rural east anglia. Buy raf beccles at war, 194345 2nd revised edition by holmes, malcolm isbn. Seething airfield has a rich history like many airfields in east anglia. It is possible that ellough was intended to be used by the 3rd air division, 95th. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. An established author, he also lectures on raf history. For part of the time they were joined by 278 squadron and 279 squadron. Raf beccles at war, 194345 by holmes, malcolm r and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Steven russell on a new book remembering those key airfields.
Beccles airfield events, clubs, gigs and whats on above is a selection of events near beccles airfield in norwich. This was our first visit to ma airfield cafe as we fancied a change from our usual cafe. Beccles airfield has been home to rainair since 1997 when rainer forster transferred his flight training operations from swanton morley. Beccles airfield, also known as beccles airport or beccles aerodrome icao. If youre looking for more events, why not view our events in norwich guide. The airfield is also known as flixton after the village near which it was built. Beccles college a short history by dorothy smith and james woodrow price. Find prices and booking details for waveney river centre in burgh st peter, beccles. The private beccles airfield has been on part of second world war airfield site 1997. Bomber bases of world war 2, airfields of 2nd air division usaaf. Fiona whelan completed her dphil in medieval history at the university of. Murder in beccles wartime in 1944 a murder took place in ellough, just outside of beccles.
The airfield was equipped with three concrete runways, 50 loopshaped hard standings, two t2 aircraft hangars and temporary accomodation for the airfield. Start your flight training today with rain air flying club based at beccles aerodrome in suffolk we are a friendly and professional flying school on the border of norfolk and suffolk. Beccles was built for the eighth air force in 194344 but not used. Housed in the towns stunning art nouveau former cinema, prezzo italian restaurant beccles with its warm colours and hockney prints has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It is possible that ellough was intended to be used by the 3rd air division, 95th combat wing. Browse content similar to great yarmouth to beccles.
Our reputation in the fantastic world of skydiving in the uk is second to none. Beccles airfield beccles airfield, is located in ellough, 3. The story of the local airfield during world war ii. Opened originally in 1943 for usaaf but by aug 1944 was part of raf 16 group, coastal command before it closed to military flying in nov 1945. Michael portillo discovers the grave robbing history of great yarmouth, and tries his hand at working a victorian swing bridge in reedham. It closed 1945 and reopened as beccles heliport 1965. A vital part was played by the royal air force and their other support establishments during the second world war, especially those fighter and bomber bases located throughout norfolk. Raf beccles at war abebooks abebooks shop for books. Ruth roper wyldes fourth book invites folk around the uk to reveal their apparentlysupernatural experiences. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. Industrial grain storage hoppers at beccles airfield.
The standard type was known as class a intended for heavy. This series of books provides a fresh userfriendly look at the military airfields of the british isles. You can still catch tantilising glimpses of those days on the airfield. The route had been planned however on arrival at netherthorpe there was some work going on with the fuel and we could not get an answer from beccles on the phone for ppr. Buy bomber bases of world war 2, airfields of 2nd air division usaaf. The town is surrounded by fantastic views of the southern broads and set amongst rolling countryside. Beccles airfield beccles, suffolk skydiving center.
Brock road beccles aerodrome, beccles nr34 7pj england. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Mid anglia microlights beccles 2020 all you need to know. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of beccles. Visited beccles egsm from netherthorpe egnf on 30032017 in groly a c172 based at netherthorpe. Beccles airfield stock photos and images 40 page 1 of 1. It is recorded as elgh prior to 1400 and as ellowe on a map of 1610. The station, which was locally always known as ellough airfield and in official documents is referred to as raf beccles ellough, was the last to be built in suffolk during the war and the most easterly aerodrome in wartime england.
It belonged anciently to bury abbey, and suffered severely in 1586 from fire. Airfield originally built for the usaaf, transferred to bomber command i the summer of 1944, then to raf coastal command 0844. It is the policy of the museum to support books with a local historical content, and we try to. Beccles photos, maps, books, memories francis frith.
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