📌 WWII Water Tower (Building 18) RAF Coltishall Airfield [TG 2596 2315]

This World War Two Air Ministry Works Department and Water Tower (Building 18) which formed part of the original Expansion period Station, was not brick-covered, as was characteristic of many earlier Expansion period stations, but instead was swathed in an Art-Deco style concrete sheath.

RAF Coltishall was opened in 1940 and was originally built as a Bomber Station. and was home to a variety of aircraft including Bristol Blenheims, Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfire's and after World War Two became the home of Polish Squadrons until they returned to their homeland. In later years other aircraft were based at RAF Coltishall including de Havilland Mosquito's, Gloster Meteor's, Gloster Javelin's and English Electric Lightning's and from 1963 The ''Historic Aircraft Flight'' now known as ''The Battle of Britain Flight''. The last Lightning's left RAF Coltishall in 1974 and later in the year RAF Coltishall became a SEPECAT Jaguar station with the arrival of No.54 Squadron, in fact the SEPECAT Jaguar served at RAF Coltishall without a break for over thirty years.

RAF Coltishall was also the home of the (SAR) Search and Rescue Helicopters of 22 and 202 Squadrons. When RAF Coltishall had its full complement of SEPECAT Jaguars there were four Squadrons, No.6, No.16 R, No.41 and No.54. When it was announced that RAF Coltishall was to close this was going to bring an end to this historic station, which was the RAF's last Battle of Britain base. The first SEPECAT Jaguar Squadrons to disband were No.16 R and No.41 Squadrons, who disbanded on 11th May 2005. With the final Squadrons, No.6 and No.54 departing on 1st April 2006. RAF Coltishall Airfield finally closed its gates on 30th November 2006 with a celebration which included a flypast by four SEPECAT Jaguar's from No.6 Squadron at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and a flypast and display by a Hawker Hurricane from The Historic Aircraft Collection based at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, the aircraft was flown by Squadron Leader Al Pinner OC BBMF.

Finally RAF Coltishall's two 'Gate Guardians' went to new homes, with the Hawker Hurricane going to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire and the SEPECAT Jaguar moving down the road to Norwich in the grounds of Norfolk County Council. The final curtain came down at RAF Coltishall on 30th December 2006, when a large group of enthusiasts and local people congregated outside RAF Coltishall's historic Headquarters to witness the last parade and flypast of this World War Two Fighter Station. The RAF Servicemen who took part in the parade were joined by The City of Norwich Pipe Band.

The reviewing Officer, Air Vice-Marshal David Walker CBE AFC took the salute as a Flypast of four SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft from No.6 Squadron at RAF Coningsby overflew the parade. Closely followed by The Historic Aircraft Collection's Hawker Hurricane from the Imperial War Museum Duxford which was flown by Squadron Leader Al Pinner Officer Commanding ''The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight''. As the parade marched off the Station a short ceremony was performed to lock RAF Coltishall's gate for the last time. This was followed by Squadron Leader Pinner carrying out a spirited flying display in the Hawker Hurricane just outside the Stations main gate.

www.simplyplanes.co.uk/royal_air_force_coltishall.shtml

Taken in: UK / England / Broadland / Little Hautbois (show map)

Taken on: July 28, 2016

Tags:

1939-1945

WWII

Second World War

Building 18

Water Tower

Air Ministry Works Department

Airfield Building

Airfield Structure

Military Building

Military Structure

RAF Coltishall

Airfield

Aerodrome

RAF

Royal Air Force

Norfolk « less

Sets appears in: • RAF Colishall, Norfolk.

Groups appears in: • WW II • old military buildings more » • Military • The Military • The British Military • uk water towers • The Second World War • World's Largest Aircraft Carrier - the UK 1942-45 • ww2 Airfields • World War 2 and Cold War Buildings • Military Photography • Abandoned airfields • Traces of War • Forgotten Airfields Of WW2 • Military Stuff • Second World War • RAF Station Coltishall. • WWII Archaeology • WWII Related Images You Want To Share • relics of the 2nd world war 1939--1945 « less

Camera: samsung SM-N910F, f/2.2, 1/738 sec, 4.8mm, ISO 40 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	samsung SM-N910F
Aperture:	f/2.2
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/738)
Focal Length:	4.8mm
ISO:	40
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Program AE
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