RAF Attlebridge

RAF Attlebridge USAAF Station 120
Located Near Norwich, Norfolk in England
Aerial Photo of Attlebridge Airfield - 15 April 1946
RAF Attlebridge Shown within Norfolk
Coordinates	52°41′32″N 001°06′37″E / 52.69222°N 1.11028°E / 52.69222; 1.11028Coordinates: 52°41′32″N 001°06′37″E / 52.69222°N 1.11028°E / 52.69222; 1.11028
Type	Royal Air Force station
Code	AT
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces
Controlled by	RAF Bomber Command (1941-1942; 1943-1944) Eighth Air Force (1942-1943; 1944-1945) RAF Maintenance Command (1945-1956)
Site history
Built	1941 (1941)
In use	1941-1950 (1950)
Battles/wars	Second World War * Air Offensive, Europe
Airfield information
Elevation	60 metres (197 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 01/19 1,025 metres (3,363 ft) Concrete 08/26 1,830 metres (6,004 ft) Concrete 16/34 985 metres (3,232 ft) Concrete

Royal Air Force Attlebridge or more simply RAF Attlebridge is a former Royal Air Force station located near Attlebridge and 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Norwich, Norfolk, England.

Attlebridge airfield had runways of 1,220, 1,120 and 1,080 yards length but, when the base was earmarked for USAAF use, these were extended and the airfield was enlarged to meet heavy bomber requirements. The main E-W runway was increased to 2,000 yards and the others to 1,400 yards each. The perimeter track was also extended and the number of hardstands was increased to fifty. In enlarging the airfield, several small, country roads were closed in the parish of Weston Longville, in which the larger part of the airfield was sited.

Attlebridge was an early wartime station, laid out for use by No. 2 Group RAF light bombers, and was completed in August 1942. The airfield was used by No. 88 Squadron RAF from August 1941 to September 1942 using Bristol Blenheim IVs and Douglas Bostons.

Attlebridge was assigned to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force's 2nd Bomb Wing on 30 September 1942. It was given USAAF designation Station 120.

USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Attlebridge were:

Regular Army Station Units included:

The first American flying units at Attlebridge were squadrons of the 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) flying Martin B-26 Marauders which arrived at Attlebridge on 12 September 1942 from Harding Field, Louisiana.