The land for Oulton airfield was requisitioned early in 1940, and lay to the west of the hamlet of Oulton Street near Blickling. It started life as one of the hastily acquired satellite landing grounds on which aircraft from a main station could be dispersed to lessen the risk of loss through air attack. It was an all grass airfield and remained so until 1943. The first airmen stationed here were billeted in old farm buildings at Green Farm, which stands north of the crossroads where the memorial is sited. Their first job was to defend the site as there were fears of an imminent German invasion.

For Oulton the main station was Horsham St.Faith, outside Norwich and home of No.114 Squadron. Their Blenheims were dispersed here in August 1940 after St.Faiths was bombed and hangars and aircraft were damaged. The personnel now had to refuel aircraft, and push or tow them with a farm tractor to disperse them round the edge of the site. Loading a plane with ammunition and bombs could take several hours, and the ground crew were also responsible for repairing battle damage.

Some of the aircrews were initially accommodated in civilian property including Blickling Hall. Later this was reserved for the officers.

           Arial view of the airfield (multimap.com)

Oulton was home for various squadrons serving different roles between then and September 1943 when work began on upgrading the airfield to Class A. From 1941 there had been a programme of improving airfields; each station was given a main runway 2000 yards long and two subsidiaries 1400 yards long. They were also given perimeter tracks to link the ends of the runways and give access to the dispersal standings, nearly all of six inch thick concrete. A standard system of lighting was also provided, called Drem after the airfield where it was first introduced. At Oulton the road between Oulton Street and Cawston had to be closed to extend the main runway to 2000 yards. 

Four relocatable T2 hangars (3653/42) were built by Prestige & Company, one on each side of the southeast end of the main runway, one on the edge of the technical site and one near Manor House Farm. Two of these remain in situ and in use, of which the pictured one which stood near the southeast end of the main runway, is beside the lane to Docking Farm. This public road follows the route of the perimeter track here. 

The technical site was established just west of the village street where the main entrance was- and still is. The airmen's mess and other communal facilities were east of the village, with three accommodation sites beyond, close to the lane to Abel Heath Farm.  These housed 1352 men and 250 women. Today this site is mostly covered by the woodland The Leaselands. The sick bay was at the northern end of the site beyond Green Farm. All the designs were from standard Air Ministry drawings as listed on the schedule of buildings on the airfield plan.

The implements and stock of Malthouse Farm were sold when it was incorporated into the airfield. The thatched farmhouse still stands at the north end of the village street, and clearly on the airfield site.

Oulton Airfield reopened on 16 May 1944 under No.100 Group when 214 Squadron moved there from Sculthorpe which was then closing for major reconstruction.

Malthouse Farm

T2 Hangar still in use

After the war Oulton passed to Maintenance Command, and was closed in 1947. The following year the road crossed by the main runway was reopened. Most of the runways survive, including part of the main one where it crossed the road; others formed suitable foundations for poultry sheds. As well as the T2 hangers a number of buildings survive in use, together with some ruins. Part of the Technical Site remains in agricultural use, including two large Nissen style General Purpose huts and a Flight Office.  On the west side of the village street are the overgrown remains of the Crew Locker and Drying Room, WT/Bowser Store, and Squadron Office.

Overgrown remains

Technical site

North of Oulton Street at the crossroads is a memorial to the men and women of the British Commonwealth and American air forces who were killed while based at Oulton.  When it was operational the buildings extended north of the crossroads, and here north of Green Farm was the sick bay. The concrete track at the entrance to the Bomb Dump also survives on the north side of the road to Oulton church.

Leslie's sister and her son David at the Memorial

Watch Office at Little Snoring

Remains of another 31 Norfolk airfields exist, including Norwich Airport. Little Snoring is still in use, but its historic remains, two more T2 hangers, and the Watch Office, can be easily seen from the former perimeter track which is now a public road. Finally Bexwell at Downham Market can easily be explored as the western perimeter track is a public footpath, and many buildings survive  in some form on the industrial and trading estate.

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