View source for Sculthorpe Training Area

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station, now military training site in Norfolk, England}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name         = Sculthorpe Training Area<br>''{{Nobold|previously}}''<br><small>RAF Sculthorpe</small>
|ensign       = [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|110px|Ensign of the Royal Air Force|alt=]] [[File:SAC Shield.svg|60px|Shield of the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC)|alt=]] [[File:United States Air Forces in Europe.svg|60px|Shield of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE)|alt=]]
|ensign_size  =
|partof       = 
|location     = 
|nearest_town = [[Fakenham]], [[Norfolk]]
|country      = England
|image        = RAF Sculthorpe - 31 Jan 1946 Airphoto.jpg
|image_size   = 300px
|alt          = 
|caption      = 1946 aerial photograph of RAF Sculthorpe
|type         = Royal Air Force flying station (former),<br>relief military training airfield (current)
|coordinates  = {{Coord|52|50|54|N|000|45|38|E|type:airport_region:GB-NFK|display=inline,title}}
|gridref      = {{Ordnance Survey coordinates|TF8599331439_region:GB_scale:100000|TF 85993 31439|name=Sculthorpe Training Area airfield}}
|pushpin_map  = Norfolk#UK
|pushpin_mapsize= 300px
|pushpin_map_caption= Location in Norfolk
|pushpin_label= RAF Sculthorpe
|pushpin_label_position= right
|ownership    = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD)
|operator     = [[Royal Air Force]] (1943–1945)<br>[[United States Air Force]] (1952–1992)
|controlledby =
|open_to_public= airfield & MOD training areas closed to public
|site_other_label=
|site_other   = 
|site_area    = {{Convert|539|ha|0}}<ref name=DEDP>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/33240/DEDP09_annex_a.pdf|title=Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 - Annex A – Estate Baseline - 2009|date=3 July 2009|website=GOV.UK|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]|page=16|access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
|code         = SCTH ([[SPEC (UK MoD classification)|SPEC]] 024 Code)<ref name=DEDP/>
|built        = {{Start date|1942|df=y}}
|used         = {{Start date|1943|01|15|df=y}} – {{End date|1992|10|02|df=y}}<ref name=ABCT>{{Cite web|url=https://abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/sculthorpe/|title=Sculthorpe|website=ABCT.org.uk|publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|date=n.d.|access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
|builder      = [[Bovis Construction]]
|materials    = 
|height       = {{Convert|65|m|0}}<!--height of tallest part, not above sea level-->
|length       = <!--for border fences or other DMZs-->
|fate         = airfield retained by MoD; now known as Sculthorpe Training Area;<ref name=DEDP/> technical and administrative buildings, and base housing sold off
|condition    = airfield in continued (limited) military use
|past_commanders=
|garrison     =
|occupants    =
|website      = 
|footnotes    =
|IATA= <s>ZXE</s>
|ICAO= EGUP
|LID = 
|GPS = 
|WMO = 
|elevation =
|r1-number = 06/24
|r1-length = {{Convert|2743|m|-1}}
|r1-surface= [[asphalt concrete]]
|r2-number = 13/31
|r2-length = {{Convert|1829|m|-1}}
|r2-surface= [[concrete]]
|r3-number = 18/36
|r3-length = {{Convert|1829|m|-1}}
|r3-surface= asphalt concrete
|airfield_other_label=
|airfield_other=
}}
'''Sculthorpe Training Area''',<ref name=DEDP/><ref name=SI2015-1492>{{Cite web|last=Lancaster|first=Mark (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)|date=18 June 2015|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1492/contents/made|title=The Sculthorpe Training Area Byelaws 2015 – UK Statutory Instruments → 2015 No. 1492 – Defence|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], [[Government of the United Kingdom]]|access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> previously '''Royal Air Force Sculthorpe / (RAF Sculthorpe)''', is a [[Military training area|military training site]] administered by the [[Defence Training Estate]], part of the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD). It is approximately {{Convert|3|mi|abbr=off}} west of [[Fakenham]] in the [[Counties of England|county]] of [[Norfolk]] in [[England]].

The training area occupies the larger part of the former '''RAF Sculthorpe''', a military [[airbase]] used by [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] bombers in the later stages of the [[World War II|Second World War]] (1942–45), by [[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa|United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE) units from 1952 to 1962, and thereafter temporary visiting airmen and support crews of both the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) until its closure as an active airfield on {{End date|1992|10|02|df=y}}. In 1997, the Ministry of Defence sold the technical, domestic and administrative site, but retained the airfield itself, including the runways, taxiways, dispersal areas and the adjacent [[Dispersal (military)|dispersed]] secure [[weapon storage area]].<ref name=SI2015-1492-maps>{{Cite web|last=Lancaster|first=Mark (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)|date=18 June 2015|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1492/schedule/made|title=The Sculthorpe Training Area Byelaws 2015 – UK Statutory Instruments → 2015 No. 1492 – Schedule – Byelaws maps and location map|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], [[Government of the United Kingdom]]|access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=YT-ZJ221>{{Cite AV media|author=Into the Sky Aviation Videos|date=20 October 2022|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yya-psG0Zc|title=RAF Sculthorpe - Apaches on base (October 2022)|place=Sculthorpe Training Area|access-date=21 August 2023|via=YouTube|quote=Whilst its usual purpose is to facilitate training for the USAF; primarily the CV-22 Ospreys and C130 Hercules' based at RAF Mildenhall, this week we have had the British Army Air Corps up at RAF Sculthorpe with their Apaches. The one in this video is specifically ZJ221, a Westland WAH-64 Apache built in 2002 and based at Wattisham.}}</ref>

==History==
===Second World War===
RAF Sculthorpe was built between the villages of [[Sculthorpe, Norfolk|Sculthorpe]] (to its east) and [[Syderstone]] (to its west-north-west) as the second satellite [[airfield]] of [[RAF West Raynham]] (itself a few miles to the south), the first satellite airfield being [[RAF Great Massingham]].  Work began on Sculthorpe in the spring of {{Start date|1942|df=y}}, and the airfield was laid out as one of only two [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) [[heavy bomber]] airfields (the other was the nearby [[RAF Marham]]), with the familiar wartime [[Class A airfield|triangular three runway layout]] expanded by {{Nowrap|50 per cent}}, the main [[runway]] being {{Convert|9000|ft|0|abbr=off}} long (compared to the standard {{Convert|6000|ft|0|abbr=off}}) and the subsidiary runways being 6,000&nbsp;feet (compared to around {{Convert|4000|ft|0|abbr=off}}).  The work involved construction of the [[concrete]] runways, [[Dispersal (military)|dispersals]] site, [[mess]] facilities, and accommodation.  Much of the work was completed by [[Irish people|Irish]] labour working for the company [[Bovis Construction]].

[[File:Bombardier du groupe Lorraine.jpg|thumb|left|Douglas Boston, 342 'Lorraine' (Free French) sqdn, RAF]]
As work was drawing to a close in {{Start date|1943|05|df=y}}, the first [[List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons|aircraft squadrons]] started to arrive.  The first was [[No. 342 Squadron RAF|No. 342 Squadron (''Lorraine'')]] of the [[Free French Air Forces]] within [[No. 2 Group RAF]] from RAF West Raynham.<ref>{{cite web |title=New chapter in history of RAF Sculthorpe |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21005671.new-chapter-history-raf-sculthorpe/ |website=Eastern Daily Press edp24.co.uk |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref>  This [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] operated two [[List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights|flights]] of the [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|Douglas Boston]] aircraft, along with the related Douglas Havoc aircraft for training.  No. 342 Squadron stayed until 19 July 1943, when they moved to [[RAF Great Massingham]].

[[File:487 Squadron RNZAF Mosquito aircrew briefing Sculthorpe 1943 IWM HU 81327.jpg|thumb|left|487 Squadron RNZAF Mosquito aircrew briefing Sculthorpe 1943]]
On {{Start date|1943|07|20|df=y}}, the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF) and [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) moved in with [[No. 487 Squadron RNZAF]] and [[No. 464 Squadron RAAF]] taking up residence, with their [[Lockheed Ventura]] aircraft having moved from [[RAF Methwold]], before converting at Sculthorpe onto the [[de Havilland Mosquito]].  On 20 September 1943, [[No. 21 Squadron RAF|21 Squadron]] moved in from [[RAF Oulton]], also with Mosquitos, to form the Sculthorpe Wing ([[No. 140 Wing RAF]]).  The [[List of wings of the Royal Air Force|wing]] stayed at Sculthorpe, completing more than 100&nbsp;missions, before departing for [[Hunsdon Airfield|RAF Hunsdon]] in [[Hertfordshire]] on 31 December 1943.

In January 1944, [[No. 214 Squadron RAF]] of  [[No. 100 Group RAF|100 Group RAF]] moved in with [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|Boeing Fortress II]] aircraft for use in [[electronic warfare]] support of [[RAF Bomber Command]], to be joined by crews from the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) [[96th Bomb Squadron|96th Bomb Group]] from [[RAF Snetterton Heath]], known at Sculthorpe and thereafter as the [[803d Aero Squadron|803rd Bomb Squadron]] of the USAAF.  In April 1944, the 803rd and 214 Squadron departed for RAF Oulton, leaving Sculthorpe empty for its redevelopment as a 'very heavy bomber base', with the work not being completed until the spring of 1946.

A number of units were also posted here:<ref name=ABCT/>
*No. 11 Heavy Glider Maintenance Section RAF
*[[No. 140 Airfield Headquarters RAF]]
*[[No. 1699 (Fortress Training) Flight RAF]]
*[[No. 2755 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
*No. 3207 Servicing Commando RAF
*Mosquito Conversion Flight RAF

===Cold War===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}
I was sent to RAF Sculthorpe the summer of 1968 and left in 1969 after 1 and 1/2 years duty there.

The base had no planes. No usable buildings and only about 25 personnel. As a detatchment (36 support group) we were assigned to a dorm at RAF West Raynham. 

The majority or personnel were security police and Fire department. As a member of the fire department we would be driven to RAF Sculthorpe each day to the base to provide a response if there was an emergency. We had one truck for fire response. No bunker room to sleep in. So two quonset huts were provide for the three man response team required at night.That changed after four months and all the single enlistes were moved to RAF Sculthorpe from RAF West Raynham.

As there was not chow hall, the fire department was the first building that had cooking facilities. Contractors and base personnel would check with the fire department as to the meal for the day. Those who wished to share that days meal would chip in to buy the food and share the meal.

After about 6 to 8 months the base dorm and chow hall opened and all those living at RAF West Raynham were moved to RAF Sculthorpe. 

During my assignment there we never had any aircraft land at RAF Sculthorpe as the runway had be damaged by those wishing to remove the copper wire from it. The buildings had also been robbed of wire and anything else one thought would be of value or useful.

By the time I left we had approximately 150 personnel on base.

Information provided by: Chris Grant, MSGT retired [[File:47th bombardment wg-patch.jpg|left|125px|47th Bombardment Wing patch|alt=]]
[[File:B-66b-55-309-scul.jpg|thumb|[[Douglas B-66 Destroyer|Douglas B-66B-DL Destroyer]], serial 55-0309, of the [[84th Bombardment Squadron|84th Bomb Squadron]], at [[RAF Wethersfield]], May 1959|alt=]]
[[File:KB-50J-sculth.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing B-50 Superfortress|KB-50J Superfortress]] of the [[420th Air Refueling Squadron]] from RAF Sculthorpe refuelling two 36th TFW [[Republic F-105 Thunderchief|Republic F-105D]] fighter jets over [[West Germany]], circa 1961-63|alt=]]
RAF Sculthorpe was refurbished for use by the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) during the [[Berlin Blockade|Berlin Crisis]] in 1949, and then later, in 1952, it became home for the [[49th Air Division|49th Air Division (Operational)]] (49th AD) and the [[47th Bombardment Wing]] (47th Bomb Wg), who were to stay for a decade.  The 49th Air Division maintained operational control of the 47th Bomb Wg and the [[20th Fighter Wing|20th Fighter-Bomber Wing]] (20th FB Wg), which provided [[tactical nuclear weapon]]s support to the [[Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] (SACEUR).  Later, the [[81st Training Wing|81st Fighter-Bomber Wing]] (81st FB Wg) was provided a nuclear capability and assigned to the operational control of the 49th Air Division.

The [[Soviet Union]]'s enormous conventional force in [[eastern Europe]] posed a major problem for [[NATO]], due to the Soviets' maintaining high personnel levels after [[World War II]], when most of the American and [[British Armed Forces|British forces]] had demobilised.

To counter this Soviet threat to Western Europe, NATO decided to expand their tactical nuclear force by introducing the [[North American B-45 Tornado]] to the United Kingdom.  The U.S. [[Tactical Air Command]] had about 100 of these four-engine jet bombers, each capable of delivering five tactical nuclear bombs.  In the summer of 1952, [[The Pentagon]] decided to forward-deploy the 47th Bomb Wing to Sculthorpe in Norfolk, from its then home base of [[Langley Air Force Base]] in [[Virginia]], USA.  The movement of the 49th AD, 47 Bomb Wg and the 20th FB Wg was the first unit deployment since World War II.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+[[47th Bombardment Wing]] squadrons and their aircraft based at RAF Sculthorpe
!unit!![[Lists of military aircraft of the United States|aircraft]]!!from!!to
|-
|[[84th Bombardment Squadron]]||[[North American B-45 Tornado|B-45]], [[Douglas B-66 Destroyer|B-66]]||{{Date table sorting|1952|11|17|format=dmy}}||{{Date table sorting|1962|06|22|format=dmy}}
|-
|[[85th Bombardment Squadron]]||B-45, B-66||{{Date table sorting|1952|11|17|format=dmy}}||{{Date table sorting|1962|06|22|format=dmy}}
|-
|[[86th Flying Training Squadron|86th Bombardment Squadron]]||B-45, B-66||{{Date table sorting|1954|03|23|format=dmy}}||{{Date table sorting|1962|06|22|format=dmy}}
|-
|[[19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]]||[[North American B-45 Tornado|RB-45C]]||{{Date table sorting|1954|05|07|format=dmy}}||{{Date table sorting|1958|12|01|format=dmy}}
|-
|[[420th Air Refueling Squadron]]||[[KB-29]], [[Boeing B-50 Superfortress|KB-50]]||{{Date table sorting|1955|09|25|format=dmy}}||{{Date table sorting|1962|03|23|format=dmy}}
|}
Due to a shortage of space at Sculthorpe, the 86th BS operated from [[RAF Alconbury]] as a detachment of the 47th.  In addition to the B-45 squadrons at Sculthorpe, the 47th's sister wing, the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing with the nuclear capable [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet|North American F-84G Thunderjet]] were transferred to [[RAF Wethersfield]] in [[Essex]].

From 1954 to 1958, the [[19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]] (19th TRS) also flew the [[aerial reconnaissance]] version of the [[North American B-45 Tornado]] known as the RB-45.  The 19th TRS was assigned to the 47th Bomb Wing from May 1954 to December 1958.  When the 19th TRS began to re-equip with [[Douglas B-66 Destroyer|Douglas RB-66's]] in 1957, its RB-45's were transferred to other squadrons of the 47th Bomb Wing.

Three USAF reconnaissance squadrons conducted [[Ferret mission]]s during the 1950s.

By 1957, hosting 10,000 personnel it was the biggest [[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa|United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE) base in Europe.  In May 1958, the re-equipping of the 47th Bombardment Wing began and [[Douglas B-66 Destroyer]]s began to replace the B-45s.  With this equipment change, the 47th's squadrons were redesignated 'Bombardment Squadron (Tactical)'.

During 1960 to 1962, the 47th performed [[Aerial refueling|aerial refuelling]] missions assigning [[Boeing B-50 Superfortress|Boeing KB-50J tankers]] to the [[420th Air Refueling Squadron]] from 15 March 1960 to 22 June 1962.  The KB-50s were specially equipped with two [[General Electric J47]] turbojet engines that enabled the tanker aircraft to match the speed of the faster [[jet fighter]]s during refuelling; however most of the KB-50s were more than fifteen years old, and were too slow to refuel the faster tactical jets of USAFE.  The 420th ARS was inactivated on 25 March 1964.

In 1962, [[Project Clearwater]] halted large scale rotational bomber deployments to Britain with Sculthorpe, along with [[RAF Fairford]], [[RAF Chelveston]], and [[RAF Greenham Common]], being turned over to USAFE for tactical air use.  As a result, the 47th Bomb Wing was inactivated on 22 June 1962.  A number of the aircraft were reassigned to the [[42d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]] (42nd TRS), [[10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing]] at [[RAF Chelveston]], and modified with the [[electronic counter-measures]] tail system.  With the inactivation of the 47th, Sculthorpe was put under the command of the [[List of United States Air Force Groups#Inactive Groups|7375th Combat Support Group]], the 7375th was later replaced by the Detachment 1, [[48th Tactical Fighter Wing]].

===Temporary Deployments (1962 - 1992)===
[[File:Dassault Mystère IVA -83- ‘8-MS’ (50263971978).jpg|thumb|This French AF Dassault Mystère IVA passed through RAF Sculthorpe 1978]]
Following the inactivation of the 47th BW in 1962, no aircraft were permanently based at RAF Sculthorpe, although it regularly hosted visiting units. These frequently included aircraft flown over from the US and remaining at Sculthorpe for several weeks, e.g. as part of the Coronet series of exercises such as Coronet Castle / Checkered Flag, March 1983.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search = RAF Sculthorpe, 1983 |url=https://nara.getarchive.net/search?created_date_to=1983&q=%23raf%2Bsculthorpe |website=U.S. National Archives NARA & DVIDS Public Domain Archive |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

The annual [[Joint Combined Exchange Training|JCET Exercise Flintlock]] has frequently involved RAF Sculthorpe, for instance Flintlock V (1972),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baldwin |first1=Jim |title=Sculthorpe opens for the third time |url=https://jimbooks.co.uk/assets/downloads/Sculthorpe-Opens-For-Third-Time.pdf |website=jimbooks.co.uk |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref> Flintlock 86,<ref>{{cite web |title=Flintlock 86 T-shirt |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4642566842461905&set=pcb.4642566912461898 |website=RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre - facebook, 17 October 2021 |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref> Flintlock 88.<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Commons, Written Answers, 17 May 1988, Exercise Flintlock |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1988/may/17/exercise-flintlock |website=Hansard api.parliament.uk |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

Between 1976 and 1978, numbers of French AF [[North American F-100 Super Sabre]]s, [[Dassault Mystère IV]]A, and [[Lockheed T-33]]A originally financed under the American [[Mutual Defense Assistance Act|Mutual Assistance Program]] were returned to US ownership and flown to Sculthorpe for de-commissioning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Line up of French AF F-100F Super Sabres at RAF Sculthorpe, 1978 |url=https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1152021 |website=Air-Britain (abpic.co.uk) |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

Between May and June 1978, 18 [[Republic F-105 Thunderchief|Republic F-105D Thunderchief]]s from [[465th Air Refueling Squadron|465th TFS]], Tinker AFB, Oklahoma were deployed to Sculthorpe under Coronet Oriole.<ref>{{cite web |title=465th TFS F-105Ds at RAF Sculthorpe, June 1978 |url=https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1016079 |website=Air Britain abpic.co.uk |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

In 1979, [[Handley Page Victor]] aerial tankers from [[No. 55 Squadron RAF|55]] and [[No. 57 Squadron RAF|57 Squadrons]], and Canberra target towing aircraft of [[No. 100 Squadron RAF|100 Squadron]] operated from Sculthorpe when the [[runway]] at [[RAF Marham]] was re-surfaced.<ref>{{cite web |title=PHOTO of 55 sqdn Victor Tankers at RAF Sculthorpe, 1979 |url=https://www.facebook.com/forgottensculthorpebase/posts/a-superb-photo-from-the-late-jack-friell-collection-of-55-squadron-victor-tanker/3882239971827933/ |website=facebook.com |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

In spring 1982, units from [[RAF Coltishall]] in north-east Norfolk moved to Sculthorpe while the Coltishall runway was resurfaced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coltishall Jaguar air-to-air photo over RAF Sculthorpe |url=https://www.facebook.com/forgottensculthorpebase/posts/3954262534625676/ |website=RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

In March 1983 24 A-7Ds from Ohio ANG were deployed to Sculthorpe as part of Exercise Coronet Castle.<ref>{{cite web |title=LTV A-7 Corsair II, Ohio ANG, 1983 |url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/676317/80-0293/AF80-293 |website=airhistory.net |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

During the spring and summer of 1983, units of the [[48th Tactical Fighter Wing]] deployed to RAF Sculthorpe because their home station, [[RAF Lakenheath]] was having its runway resurfaced.

During the summer of 1984, the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]] [[List of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II variants#Variants|F-4E]] and F-4G squadrons from [[Spangdahlem Air Base]], [[West Germany]], operated from RAF Sculthorpe to allow runway re-surfacing at Spangdahlem to take place.<ref>{{cite web |title=52nd TFW (SP) F-4G Phantom at RAF Sculthorpe, August 1978 |url=https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1331552 |website=Air Britain abpic.co.uk |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

In June/July 1986 24 A-7Ds from Ohio ANG were deployed to Sculthorpe as part of Exercise Coronet Miami.<ref>{{cite web |title=LTV A-7 Corsair II, Ohio ANG, 1986 |url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/161564/72-0180/AF72-180 |website=airhistory.net |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

During most of 1988 and part of 1989, USAF [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] units from the [[314th Airlift Wing]], [[317th Airlift Group]], and [[463rd Tactical Airlift Wing]], on TDY rotation in Europe, re-located to RAF Sculthorpe due to runway resurfacing at [[RAF Mildenhall]].

In June 1989 A-7Ds from Ohio ANG were once again deployed to Sculthorpe, Exercise Coronet Pine.
During June - August 1989, the [[Lockheed U-2#Variants|Lockheed TR-1A]] squadron from [[RAF Alconbury]] operated from RAF Sculthorpe whilst Alconbury's runway was re-surfaced.<ref>{{cite web |title=RAF Sculthorpe, Lockheed TR-1B |url=https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1410924 |website=Air-Britain abpic.co.uk |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

==Post RAF use==
[[File:Air commandos exercise quick reaction, rapid mobility 150304-F-VG050-425.jpg|thumb|USAF Air Commandos operating from CV-22B at Sculthorpe Training Area, March 2015]]
[[File:16-5839 adsb data Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II.png|thumb|ADSB data showing USAF MC-130J activity at RAF Sculthorpe, April 2024]]
[[File:ZM416 flight 7th March 2025.png|thumb|ADSB data showing RAF activity at Sculthorpe on 7th March 2025]]
Royal Air Force Sculthorpe was officially closed on {{End date|1992|10|02|df=y}}.<ref name=ABCT/> However, the airfield itself, together with the [[Dispersal (military)|dispersed]] secure [[weapon storage area]], was retained by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD), and continues to be used by the USAF [[352nd Special Operations Wing]] based at [[RAF Mildenhall]], to perform training in low flying [[airdrop]]s and rescue and recovery missions. These [[Military exercise|exercises]] are conducted by [[Lockheed MC-130]] Hercules and [[Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey|CV-22 Osprey]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=RAF Sculthorpe 31/03/14 (photos of MC-130 dropping supplies by parachute) |url=https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=95493 |website=fightercontrol.co.uk |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> In October 2022, a [[AgustaWestland Apache]] AH.1, military registration ZJ221, operated by the [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]] (AAC) from [[Wattisham Airfield|Wattisham Flying Station]] (formerly known as [[RAF Wattisham]]) in Suffolk was witnessed conducting exercises, including ground refuelling on the airfield.<ref name=YT-ZJ221/> During the week commencing 3 March 2025 aircraft tracking sites evidenced ZM416, an Airbus A400M Atlas, doing circuits at the base.

During the mid-1990s the entire technical and domestic site was sold to Roger Byron-Collins' Welbeck Estate Group by [[Defence Estates]].  The domestic married quarters site included a number of single storey 'tobacco houses'.  The housing estate was renamed [[Wicken Green Village]] and, after refurbishment, the houses were sold on the open market.  The remaining technical site including [[Barracks|barrack blocks]], post exchange (PX), church, guardroom, gymnasium, community centres, and extensive storage and industrial units were sold, and are now known as Tattersett Business Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=£270k windfall for Norfolk tyre mountain owner / A long and winding road |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23157920.270k-windfall-norfolk-tyre-mountain-owner-roger-gawn/ |website=Eastern Daily Press edp24.co.uk |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Film studio planned for former RAF Sculthorpe site |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-62060889 |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref>

The only military buildings on the airfield that had remained were the [[control tower]], the fire station (next to the control tower) and a small half-moon concrete shelter, now used by a farmer for machinery and equipment storage.  As of week commencing 21 February 2022, demolition of the control tower had begun.<ref>{{Cite AV media|last=Nicholson|first=Mark|date=9 June 2022|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WikjlY-kaYo|title=RAF Sculthorpe. 'one last look.' May 2022|access-date=21 August 2023|via=YouTube}}</ref>  The fire station is to be retained, for USAF use.

===Heritage centre===
RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre opened in a room at Green Park Rural Centre, Wicken Green Village, in August 2019.  It features many Sculthorpe-related items and has parts of a [[Douglas B-66 Destroyer|Douglas RB-66 Destroyer]] including its [[Allison J71]] jet engine, which is the only known surviving example in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Farmer|first=Matthew|date= |url=https://www.fakenhamtimes.co.uk/news/raf-sculthorpe-heritage-centre-opening-flypast-forgotten-cold-war-base-1-6124990|title=Former RAF base brought to life as heritage centre opens|website=FakenhamTimes.co.uk|publisher=Fakenham and Wells Times|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref>  [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] made a private visit to the centre and met the curator and volunteers in February 2022.

As of January 2023, the Heritage Centre is moving into its new home in the former Chapel building.
This will include the UK's only B-29 wreckage on public display.

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation|History}}
*[[List of Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[United States Air Forces in Europe]]
*[[United States Air Force in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
<references/>

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|date=1984|title=Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977|publisher=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency|Office of Air Force History]]}}
*{{Cite book|last=Endicott|first=Judy G.|date= |title=USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995|publisher=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency|Office of Air Force History]]}}
*{{Cite book|last=Menard|first=David W.|date= |title=Before Centuries. USAFE Fighters 1948-1959|publisher= }}
*{{Cite book|last=Martin|first=Patrick|date=1994|title=Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings|publisher= }}
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html|title=USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF aircraft serial numbers – 1908 to present|website=JoeBaugher.com|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-date=22 May 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220522031710/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html|url-status=dead}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.rafsculthorpeheritagecentre.org RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre]
*[http://www.americanairmuseum.com/place/319 Sculthorpe – 1940s plans and aerial photos] — at the [[American Air Museum]]
*[http://www.47thbombwing.org/bomber-units/ 47th Bombardment Wing – bomber units]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725035623/http://www.tactankers.com/tactanker_420.htm 420th Refueling Squadron] — archived in July 2008 via Archive.org
*[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ministry-of-defence-byelaws Ministry of Defence: byelaws review] — at GOV.UK
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100106131126/http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/byelaws/Internet/Intro.php Ministry of Defence Byelaws Website] — from [[Defence Estates]], archived in January 2010 via Archive.org
;Videos (YouTube)
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTWHt4dYqxc Sculthorpe memories]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzQbwSQ4q08 US Air Secretary at Sculthorpe (1952)] — from [[British Pathe]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T03dF00qxKg US airmen return (1963)] — from [[British Pathe]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLeEeiLNp8w Norfolk Uncovered: wartime relics: RAF Sculthorpe (part 1)] — 6 minute documentary video on 21 Nov 2010
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oX9on2EiFE Norfolk Uncovered: wartime relics: RAF Sculthorpe (part 2)] — 6 minute documentary video on 21 Nov 2010
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWLbn2OhMoc RAF Sculthorpe - Norfolk] — 31 minute documentary video on 24 January 2020 of the former technical site by IKS Exploration
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwPXRK7tU_w RAF Sculthorpe (2001 - 2005)] — 10 minute photo-video montage by Mark Nicholson, showing (amongst others) the remote weapons storage area

{{Royal Air Force}}
{{USAF Bases in the UK}}
{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sculthorpe}}
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Norfolk|Sculthorpe]]
[[Category:Installations of the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Military training facilities]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1943]]
[[Category:North Norfolk]]<!--ref name=DEDP-->