RAF Attlebridge

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II and the subsequent large-scale demobilization of Allied forces. The airfield, like many others built for the war effort, was deemed surplus to the peacetime requirements of the Royal Air Force. There were no economic or accident-related factors; it was a planned military drawdown.

The site is now in private ownership and has been extensively redeveloped. The main airfield area, including the former runways and taxiways, is now home to the large-scale poultry farming operations of Bernard Matthews Foods, with numerous large turkey sheds built across the site. Remnants of the concrete runways and perimeter track are still visible, though heavily fragmented and incorporated into farm tracks. The former technical site to the northwest has been converted into an industrial estate. A memorial dedicated to the men of the 466th Bombardment Group who served at the airfield is maintained on-site.

RAF Attlebridge has significant historical importance, primarily from its service during World War II.

1. **RAF Bomber Command (1942-1943):** Opened in 1942, it was initially a satellite airfield for RAF Swanton Morley. It hosted squadrons from No. 2 Group, RAF Bomber Command, including No. 88 Squadron and No. 226 Squadron. These units flew Douglas Boston and later North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers on daylight raids against targets in occupied France and the Low Countries.

2. **USAAF Eighth Air Force (1943-1945):** In September 1943, the airfield was transferred to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and designated as Station 120. It became the home base for the 466th Bombardment Group (Heavy). The 466th BG, consisting of the 784th, 785th, 786th, and 787th Bombardment Squadrons, flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.

3. **Combat Operations:** From March 1944 to April 1945, the 466th BG flew 232 combat missions from Attlebridge. They were a key part of the strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany, targeting industrial sites, oil refineries, U-boat pens, V-weapon sites, and transportation networks. The group provided tactical support for the D-Day landings in Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the airborne crossing of the Rhine (Operation Varsity). The 466th BG was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its bravery during a perilous mission to attack an aircraft factory in Gotha, Germany, on February 24, 1944.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Attlebridge as an airport. The site is privately owned and heavily utilized for industrial and agricultural purposes, which would make restoration prohibitively expensive and complex. The original aviation infrastructure is largely dismantled or in a severe state of disrepair. Furthermore, its close proximity to the active Norwich International Airport (EGSH) makes any proposal for its reopening commercially and operationally unviable.