A very brief History
The 16 August 1947 saw the closure and decommissioning of the airfield known as RAF Swannington, one of many RAF airfields based in Norfolk during World War Two operating under the command of RAF 100 Group, Bomber Command. Before becoming fully operational on 28 August 1944, it was originally to be called RAF Haveringland. However, at the intervention of Prime Minister Churchill, the name changed from Haveringland to Swannington, despite the land on which it was built being the villages of Haveringland and Brandiston. The reason for the change? Churchill’s Aunt lived on the Haveringland Estate, a place where he would regularly visit. He didn’t want the enemy to associate his family visits with the very place on which an airfield was built.
A large part of the site on which RAF Swannington was built was formerly the ancestral home of Lord de Ramsey and his family, who lived on the Haveringland Hall Estate. However, the Hall had been acquisitioned by the Ministry of War, and was used as the Officers’ Mess.
First to be based at RAF Swannington was 85 Squadron, which came from West Malling. They were followed shortly after by 157 Squadron from RAF Valley. Both Squadrons were equipped with De Havilland Mosquito aircraft, which supported bombing operations as part of RAF 100 Group.
On quite a few occasions, the airfield was strafed by enemy aircraft, and one such event was recently shared by a local resident who, at the time, was working at the Hall. She was shaking crumbs from a tablecloth when an enemy fighter came over, firing bullets all around her. Luckily, she was uninjured and lived to tell the tale! On the night of 16/17 March 1945, Luftwaffe Intruder Bombers bombed the airfield in what proved to be one of the very last attacks on a British airfield during the war.
On 27 June 1945, 85 Squadron moved to RAF Castle Camps, and shortly after that same year, on 16 August, 157 Squadron disbanded. RAF Swannington had by now passed over to RAF Maintenance Command to become the Headquarters of No. 274 Maintenance Unit. Those Mosquito aircraft not serviceable or which could not be sold to foreign powers, were taken to sites nearby and burned. Certainly, not a fitting end for an aircraft that took such an important role in bringing peace to Europe!
2017
However, all that happened over 70 years ago. Most of the concrete runways and dispersals that once felt the roar of Merlins have been torn up to make way for agriculture, while what remains is cracked and patched with grass and moss. The mighty Hall which was once home to the Officers’ Mess is now demolished, making way to accommodate Park Homes and holiday cabins. All that is left from that era is the Parish Church of St Peter, which stood in wartime, beside one of the aircraft dispersals.
The Church still stands today, looking like a ship in a sea of fields.
As the Church is all that is left of a once thriving airfield bustling with bodies and life, it became the focal point where those who wanted to remember could congregate, allowing their minds to drift back in time.
It was at the beginning of 2017, that the idea was mooted – to create what was to be, not just a period of remembrance, but to provide an opportunity for a living memory of those who served at RAF Swannington, and those who flew from there but sadly never returned home.
With most of the work carried out by the Squadrons being classified as ‘Top Secret’, and much of what remains under a 100 Year Rule today, it took many hours of research to find information about those who served at the Station, and those who didn’t return. Once that list was created, the next challenge was to search for living relatives, to inform them of the plan for a Remembrance and Commemoration Service, to take place at the very Church which had sat beside the aircraft dispersal.
Dozens of emails were sent out, inviting personnel to represent various Groups and Associations linked with the airfield in wartime, in the hope they would not just attend the service, but also lay wreaths and parade their colours.
11 November 2017
When the day arrived, and people gathered for the service, it was realised that numbers far exceeded everyone’s expectations! Approximately 300 people packed into the small Parish Church which had been well-prepared for the occasion. In addition to families of those who served at RAF Swannington, also attending were:
• The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk as Her Majesty's Representative in Norfolk,
• Corporal Philip Zandona of the Australian Defence Force,
• Major Ryan Schiffner from the American Base at Lakenheath.
Lt Col. Tom Moore, Commander of the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron, 8th Air Force, had attended the RAF 100 Group Association Reunion in May 2017, but unable to fly over again from the States, Major Ryan Schiffner kindly agreed to represent those of the USAF who served alongside RAF 100 Group in wartime.
Standard Bearers also attended from:
• Royal Air Forces Association,
• 100 Group Association,
• Royal British Legion,
• Royal Engineers Association,
• Royal Naval Association,
• Air Training Corps Squadrons from Norwich and Kings Lynn,
• Norfolk Constabulary,
• Norfolk Fire & Rescue Services,
• East of England Ambulance Service,
Wreaths were laid by relatives of those who died in Service at RAF Swannington, joined by Cadets from two Air Training Corps Squadrons representing 85 and 157 Squadrons who placed wreaths in their honour.
Two pupils in Year 6 of the local Primary School in Cawston, spoke movingly the words of the Kohima Epitaph:
'When You Go Home,
Tell Them of Us and Say,
For Their Tomorrow,
We gave Our Today.'
(John Maxwell Edmonds (1875-1958) is credited as author of these lines, and in nearly all instances the origin is cited as being the Kohima Epitaph. However, it is worth noting the words pre-date the inscription on the WWII Memorial, although it is agreed they are some of the most moving words ever written about veterans - stating what it is that each veteran gave to his fellow citizens.)
The children also recited Robert Laurence Binyon's famous words from his poem 'For the Fallen':
'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.'
It created a powerful and purposeful message to all who listened to these words, which somehow had more meaning and poignancy spoken as they were on this occasion by young children.
In commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the closure of RAF Swannington airfield in 1947 trees were planted to create an Avenue of Remembrance leading to the Church of St Peter. Two of these trees were planted by relatives in memory of Aircrew and Ground Crew of the two Squadrons in which loved ones served, and for the many supporting Ground Staff in wartime. Mrs Pauline Shepherd, shown below, planted a Tree of Remembrance for 157. She is the sister of the late Pilot Officer Harry ‘Junior’ Smith who served in that Squadron; killed in action along with his Pilot, Pilot Officer Peter William Fry on 29 September 1944. Harry was aged 20, and Peter, 25. The ‘Boys’ are buried side by side in Oosterhesselen Cemetery, Geesbrug, in The Netherlands.
A further tree was planted by Cpl Zandona of the Australian Defence Force, shown below, in memory of Australian aircrew members who flew with 157 Squadron:
A Flypast of De Havilland bi-planes dropped poppies as they flew over the Church, in salute of the fallen. These poppies were specially made by local Primary School children on which they wrote the names of those from surrounding villages who never returned home.
The following Monday morning, the farmer in whose field the poppies had dropped, took up the crop and turned the poppies into the soil as a fitting gesture of remembrance.
There are many names to thank for their help and support in making that day such a special one. I would not like to list them for fear of missing someone out. However, they know who they are, and my heartfelt thanks go to all for their dedication in making this day happen. So much went on that day that to share it all here would probably take most of the magazine. However, it is hoped that what is written will give readers an insight into what a special day it turned out to be.
May 2018
On the afternoon of Sunday 20 May 2018, during the RAF 100 Group Association Reunion weekend, the people of Haveringland would like to invite members to meet with them at the Parish Church of St Peter. For those who didn’t manage to get to the Service in November last year to see the wonderful display of photographs, stories, and information about RAF Swannington, this would be your chance to view them. There will, of course, be the obligatory home-made cakes to tempt you in, and afterwards, our aviator friends will entertain you with an aerial display of their De Havilland Bi-Planes. We look forward very much to meeting you then.
Attendance
The Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, Mrs. Adel MacNicol DL*
Air Commodore Jack Broughton (Rtd). Ex 85 Sqn * Ex DL (Liverpool)
Group Captain Ed Durham (Rtd). Ex 85 Sqn CO
Flight Lieutenant Pauline Petch RAFVR OC, 42F Sqn ATC (Parade Marshal)
Flying Officer Karen Ryan. RAFVR OC, 231 Sqn ATC
Sergeant Chris Murchison. Royal Air Force*
Corporal Phillip Zandona: Royal Australian Defence Force, on behalf of Australian High Commission*
Mr Roger Dobson, Chairman RAF 100 Group Association*
Mr Howard Rolfe, RAFA Coningsby Standard Bearer
Ian Moreland, Organiser/Treasurer 85 Squadron Association*
Miss Beth Cook, Royal British Legion
Mr Trevor Bevan Royal British Legion*
Mr Gus Honeywood, Royal Naval Association
Representative of Royal Naval Association
S/M Mike Wilkinson, Royal Naval Association*
CPSO Stephen Bridges, Norfolk Constabulary*
Mr Mark Brewster, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Services*
TBC: East of England Ambulance Service
Mr Ray Lambert, Royal Engineers Association*
Mr Paul Beauchamp, son of the late Wing Commander K.H.P. Beauchamp, CO of 157 Sqn
Cadets from 42F Squadron Air Training Corps**
Cadets from 231 Squadron Air Training Corps**
Mrs Pauline Shepherd and Family, sister of the Late Flying Officer Harry Shepherd, 157 Sqn
Mr Luke Brooker and Family, relatives of the Late Flt Lt Gregory Bernard Brooker, 157 Sqn
TBC: Mrs Joanne Gordon, relative of the Late Flt Lt Gregory Bernard Brooker, 157 Sqn (flew in from USA)
Mr David Jeal and Family, relatives of the Late Sgt John Arthur Leigh, 157 Sqn
Mr Mike Leigh and Family, relatives of the Late Sgt John Arthur Leigh, 157 Sqn*
Mr Rob Leigh and Family, relatives of the Late Sgt John Arthur Leigh, 157 Sqn *
Mr Robin Nash and Family, relatives of Late Flying Officer Thomas James Michael Nash, 157 Sqn
Mr Pat Lower and Family, relatives of the Late Pilot Officer Arthur Reginald Grimstone, 85 Sqn
Mr & Mrs Keith & Daphne Nichols, relatives of Flt Lt Thomas William Redfern, 85 Sqn
Mrs Carol Gunnell & Family, daughter of LAC Albert (Barny) Barnard & LACW Pat Barnard (nee
Peck)
Mr Martin Bowman, Aviation Author
* denotes Wreath Layers
Fly Past
Dave Reid (DH Hornet Moth) and Ian Robins (DH Tiger Moth). Felthorpe Flying Group
Last Post/Reveille
Chris Brown, Kings Lynn
Mike Hillier has also arranged for a Poppy Wreath and Poppy Spray to be laid at the graves of Flt Lt Brooker in Ohlsdorf, and PO Hamilton in Durnbach cemeteries, Germany, on behalf of families.
Hi Janine,
I have been researching four RAF Swannington crew members who were in transit, flying an Airspeed Oxford aircraft (No. HM 763). It appears they were ‘bounced’ by an American Pilot flying a P51 Mustang in a dummy attack, and sadly they lost control of their aircraft which crashed to the ground near Shropham, Norfolk, killing all four. They were all from 157 Squadron at Swannington. The airmen were:
• Flying Officer Thomas James Michael Nash, aged 26,
• Pilot Officer James Cunningham Porteous, aged 21,
• Flight Sergeant Frederick Fraser, aged 30, • Warrant Officer Peter Alfred Merrall, aged 23.
Their aircraft was piloted by Flying Officer Nash. Since finding out about the incident, I have now been in contact with a living relative of his, who joined us at the Service on 11 November.
by Mike Hillier
This article is from the Spring 2018 issue of Confound and Destroy
