Rushford bombing range, norfolk

[Greg Bloomfield]

I have just read a reference to this range in Iredale's 'The Pathfinders'. I have lived in Norfolk for most of my life and had never heard of this place before. A quick Google search told me where it was, but not much else. Can anyone tell me anything of this place? I have found it on the map and there were several active airfields dotted all around it, so was it a 'live' range throughout the war, or did it wind down when the US 8th began operating in the area. And how big was it? I'm still finding it surprising that I had never been aware of it's existence.

[Resmoroh]

Greg,
Ordnance Survey maps will have the answer? There was an immediate post-WW2 set of maps. And - probably - even if nothing is printed on the actual published map there will be details in the OS HQ files?
Best I can do!
Peter Davies

[Greg Bloomfield]

Peter. I have a grid reference for it but it doesn't seem to make much sense. The book says the ranges were 'vast', but that location is sandwiched between several settlements that, to my knowledge, were not evacuated during the war. The town of Thetford is mere miles away and Honington and Knettishall airfields weren't too far distant either. I can be there in twenty minutes, that's how close it is and why I am surprised I have never ever heard of this place. I feel a little run out in the car tomorrow could be in order.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

From Michael Bowyer's, Air Raid!

That night (3/4 October 1944), some effort was wasted against USAAF Gosfield where HEs and three SD2 loads fell in fields. Metfield also received a group of 'butterflies' which damaged four aircraft. Nine HEs dropped from 12,000 ft landed in fields at Knettishall at 23:35, possibly intended for nearby Rushford Heath bombing range which was still in use at the time.

See:
Air Raid! The enemy air offensive against East Anglia 1939-45.
Bowyer, Michael J. F.
Wellingborough:Patrick Stephens Limited,1986.
p.286

Col.

[PNK]

Rushford was opened in 1942 to replace Berners Heath which had been taken over by the army in the early part of the war. Ironically Berners Heath replaced Rushford post war. Rushord's main target was at TL 90683 80870 which was a pre-war style circle and cross and it also had a low level target and a square target. As Berners Heath had a ship target this, I suspect, is why Rushford also sported one. Rushford was cleared for live bombing up to 6,000ft but only with bombs up to 500lb. It was also cleared for TI dropping. It was probably out of use from 1949 and wasn't fully cleared by bomb disposal until around 1959.

Confusion about Rushford often arises because it was sighted on the remains of the WW1 airfield of Snarehill and this name is often used to describe the range. and indeed the extant bombing quadrant shelter (TL 90068 81402) has sometimes been described as the WW1 control tower. In some Google Earth historical layers the larger post war direction arrow, in front of the extant shelter, can be made out. As it was made of concrete it is probably still intact. No other remains on the range exist as it has been ploughed up so many times since closure. A look at the target remains at Berners Heath will give you an idea of what Rushford would have looked like but better still look at the area on Google Earth's '1945' layer.

[Lyffe]

Contemporary photos of the bombing range at http://www.ukairfields.org.uk/thetford-snarehill.html

Brian

[Resmoroh]

The Canberras from Wittering (et al) used Berners Heath as their 'local' bombing range in the mid-1950s. Can't remember if their predecessors at Wittering (the Lincolns) also used it - I was too young/junior a Met Asst at the time to know these things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Davies.

[Andy Mitchell]

Here is a link to a 1950 OS map (published 1953) covering the hamlet of Rushford - https://maps.nls.uk/view/101584292

[PNK]

Forgot to mention that the danger radius around the target was 900 yards so it was a largish range but not vast. Also of interest is that during the late forties 39 tons of 0.303 ammunition was transported to Rushford and buried in a deep crater in accordance with Air Ministry instructions. This seemed to have been a common practice and no doubt the relevant Air Publication will produce recommended depths. I also assume it would be unlikely that anyone would get to that depth in the course of, say, house building as it seems unlikely the hoard would have been moved at a later date. It does make you wonder if the "experts" who deal with bomb sites, would actually trawl through the records of 6219 BD Flight or rely purely on this post?

[Greg Bloomfield]

Many thanks to all for the responses, especially to PNK. I am still baffled though as to how I have never heard of this place, bearing in mind how close I live to it. I know the area fairly well and will have a trip out that way tomorrow with my OS and silva and try to see what I can find.

Many thanks

Greg