RAF Methwold

England — County: Norfolk

52.5121, 0.5494 — view on OpenStreetMap ↗

About

RAF Methwold opened in Norfolk near Feltwell in 1938 and served through the war as a Bomber Command station, at different times in No. 2 and No. 3 Groups. A range of squadrons flew from it — including Australian, New Zealand and Dutch-manned units — equipped in turn with Vickers Wellingtons, Lockheed Venturas, Short Stirlings and finally Avro Lancasters. Given three concrete runways in 1943, it remained in use until 1958. The site has largely returned to agriculture, with two hangars used for grain storage and others for food production.

Photographs

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0266 — AWM caption : United Kingdom: England, Norfolk. "F" FOR FREDDIE, A [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) AIRCRAFT OF NO. 464 SQUADRON RAAF, BASED AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/). MEMBERS OF THE CREW ARE: * 405106 FLYING OFFICER (FO) P. C. C. KERR, HARRISVILLE, QLD, CAPTAIN * 405107 PILOT OFFICER W. KIRK, WYNNUM, QLD * 411873 FLIGHT SERGEANT J. B. CUSACK, SYDNEY, NSW * FO J. HANNAH, ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE THE EMBLEM ON THE AIRCRAFT REPRESENTS AN EMU AND A KIWI SITTING ON A BOOMERANG INSCRIBED "PER ARDUA AD AUSTRALIAN". THE BOMBS DEPICT THE NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL FLIGHTS AND THE FIRST WAS PAINTED AFTER THE EINDHOVEN RAID ON 1942-12-06, THE SQUADRON'S FIRST BOMBING SORTIE.

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0266.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura maintenance Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0319 — AWM caption : NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 1943-07-14. DAYLIGHT RAIDS BY [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN A FEATURE OF THE RAF'S ACTIVITIES OVER ENEMY TERRITORY. EFFICIENT GROUND CREWS HAVE CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE RAIDS. GROUND CREW OF NO. 464 VENTURA SQUADRON RAAF AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/), AT WORK ARE * 14703 LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN (LAC) W. R. SHEPHARD, SYDNEY, NSW (LEFT) * 7084 LAC T. FOSTER, PERTH, WA

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_maintenance_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0319.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 UK0311 — AWM caption : United Kingdom: England, Norfolk. Aircrew members of [Ventura](/aircraft/12/) [No. 464 Squadron](/squadrons/146/) RAAF, based at RAF Station [Methwold](/airfields/33/) UK. They are being interviewed by a representative of “Sydney Truth” newspaper during a facility visit arranged for the press. Left to right: * 412306 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Max Milson Bettington, Merriwa, NSW (lost on operations over France on 3 June 1944) * 412316 Flt Sgt [Errol](/airfields/8665/) Johnston, Sydney, NSW (lost on operations over Italy on 12 April 1945) * 420679 Flt Sgt Ian Kenway, Sydney, NSW; 413678 Flt Sgt Neville Lloyd Sorensen, Leura, NSW (lost on operations over France on 1 June 1944) * Dr. Harrop * 420562 Flt Sgt William Dudley Hemmings, Newcastle, NSW * 413814 Flt Sgt Donald Thomas Walsh, Waverley, NSW (lost on operations over UK on 30 November 1943) * 420487 Flt Sgt David Allan Priddle, Narrabeen, NSW (lost on operations over the North Sea on 13 March 1944)

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_aircrew_Methwold_Jul_1943_UK0311.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0317 — AWM caption : NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 1943-07-13. CREW OF "N" FOR NUTS, A [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) AIRCRAFT OF NO. 464 SQUADRON RAAF AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/). DAYLIGHT RAIDS BY VENTURA AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN A FEATURE OF THE RAF'S ACTIVITIES OVER ENEMY TERRITORY. LEFT TO RIGHT: * SERGEANT K. MACINTOSH, ONTARIO, CANADA, ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE * FLIGHT SERGEANT (F SGT) H. S. ORRISS, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND, RAF * 413408 F SGT C. T. MCKINNON, ABBOTTSFORD, NSW * 412417 F SGT A. H. ELTON, BOMBALA, NSW

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_aircrew_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0317.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0316 — AWM caption : Norfolk, England. 1943-07-12. One of the crews of No. 464 ([Ventura](/aircraft/12/)) Squadron RAAF at RAF Station [Methwold](/airfields/33/). Note the Australian motifs in nose art on the aircraft behind them.

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_aircrew_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0316.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0315 — AWM caption : NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 1943-07-13. CREW OF "R" FOR ROBERT, A [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) AIRCRAFT OF NO. 464 SQUADRON RAAF AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/). DAYLIGHT RAIDS BY VENTURA AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN A FEATURE OF THE RAF'S ACTIVITIES OVER ENEMY TERRITORY. LEFT TO RIGHT: * 420546 FLIGHT SERGEANT (F SGT) A. D. CROWFOOT, GLOUCESTER, NSW * 420074 PILOT OFFICER E. G. SWEENEY, GLEN INNES, NSW * 412628 F SGT D. I. MACDONALD, WENTWORTHVILLE, NSW * 412314 F SGT T. W. HENNESSY, WEST KEMPSEY, NSW THESE FOUR MEN TRAINED TOGETHER IN CANADA, FORMED AS A CREW THERE AND HAVE BEEN TOGETHER EVER SINCE.

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_aircrew_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0315.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0314 — AWM caption : United Kingdom: England, Norfolk. Members of the crew of 'M' for Mother, a [Ventura](/aircraft/12/) aircraft of [No. 464 Squadron](/squadrons/146/), RAAF at RAF station [Methwold](/airfields/33/). Daylight raids by Ventura aircraft have been a feature of the RAF's activities over enemy territory. Left to right: * Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) T. D. Aitken, Dunedin, NZ * 420562 Flt Sgt William Dudley Hemmings, Newcastle, NSW * 409664 Pilot Officer Alfred Harvey Cocks, Kerang, Vic * 411435 Flt Sgt (later Warrant Officer [WO]) Gordon Ross Adam, Muswellbrook, NSW all of 464 Squadron. WO Adam was lost on operations near Bologna, Italy, on 13 April, 1945 while flying with 454 Squadron, RAAF. He is buried in the Bologna War Cemetery in Italy.

ⓘ licence & credit
Unknown photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_aircrew_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0314.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0313 — AWM caption : NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 1943-07-12. DAYLIGHT RAIDS BY [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) AIRCRAFT OF NO. 464 SQUADRON RAAF BASED AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/) HAVE BEEN A FEATURE OF THE RAF'S ACTIVITIES OVER ENEMY TERRITORY, AND THIS CREW HAD TO CRASH-LAND THEIR AIRCRAFT ON RETURN FROM AN OPERATION OVER NORTHERN FRANCE, BUT SUFFERED NO CASUALTIES. LEFT TO RIGHT: * 412021 FLIGHT SERGEANT (FLT SGT) BRYAN ALPHONSUS MCCONNELL, CLARENCE RIVER, NSW (LOST ON OPERATIONS OVER UK ON 6 JANUARY 1944) * PILOT OFFICER E. RAMSEY, LONDON, RAF * F SGT E. WATKIN, CORNWALL, RAF * 408134 FLYING OFFICER W. D. PARSONS DFC, BEACONSFIELD, TAS

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not stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:464_Squadron_RAAF_Ventura_aircrew_Methwold_Jul_1943_AWM_UK0313.jpgView source & full licence →

464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold Jul 1943 AWM UK0312 — AWM caption : NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 1943-07-12. 405054 FLYING OFFICER (FO) B. W. KLEMM OF BRISBANE, QLD, OF NO. 464 SQUADRON RAAF, BASED AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/), RECORDING LATEST DAYLIGHT RAID BY PAINTING ANOTHER BOMB ON THE [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) AIRCRAFT, WHAKATANGATA. LOOKING ON, AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MEMBERS OF THE CREW, LEFT TO RIGHT: * 412197 FLIGHT SERGEANT R. V. TAYLOR OF SYDNEY, NSW * 404931 FO G. NIMMO OF NIGHTCAPS, NZ * 403526 FO B. R. MILES OF BROOKVALE, NSW

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464 Squadron RAAF Ventura aircrew Methwold AWM UK0310 — AWM caption : United Kingdom: England, Norfolk. 251991 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (FLT LT) C. B. ANDREW, MENTONE, VIC, A PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FROM RAAF OVERSEAS HEADQUARTERS, LONDON, INTERVIEWING TWO AIRCREW MEMBERS OF [VENTURA](/aircraft/12/) NO. 464 SQUADRON RAAF AT RAF STATION [METHWOLD](/airfields/33/). LEFT TO RIGHT: * 405107 FLYING OFFICER (FO) W. KIRK, BRISBANE, QLD * FLT LT ANDREW * 405054 FO B. W. KLEMM, BRISBANE, QLD THE AIRCRAFT IN THE BACKGROUND IS "F" FOR FREDDIE, AND THE EMBLEM DEPICTS AN EMU AND A KIWI ON A BOOMERANG INSCRIBED "PER ARDUA AD AUSTRALIAN"

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Home to

No. 149 Squadron (East India) — 3 Group
No. 218 Squadron (Gold Coast) — 3 Group

People connected to this base

1 person cross-referenced to this airfield — through a posting here, a squadron based here, or aircrew who flew from it.

Name	Rank	Connection	Dates
Aaron, Arthur Louis	Flight Sergeant	Squadron served here	—