RAF Hardwick
| RAF Hardwick USAAF Station 104  .png)
|
|
|---|---|
| Located Near Bungay, Norfolk, England | |
Hardwick Airfield - 16 April 1946
|
|
 RAF Hardwick
Map showing the location of RAF Hardwick within Norfolk.
|
|
| Coordinates | 52°28′14″N 001°18′41″E / 52.47056°N 1.31139°E |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Code | HC |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| Built by | John Laing & Son Ltd |
| In use | 1942-1945 |
| Battles/wars |
European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Eighth Air Force |
| Occupants | 93rd Bombardment Group |
Royal Air Force Hardwick or more simply RAF Hardwick is a former Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Bungay, Suffolk, England.
Hardwick Airfield was one of the early heavy bomber airfields which were constructed for the RAF during 1941-42 in the East Anglian area. It was built by John Laing & Son Ltd., and required four miles (6 km) of surface drains, thirteen miles (19 km) of drains, thirteen miles (19 km) of roadways, five miles (8 km) of sewers and seven of water mains. A total of 4,750,000 bricks were used in construction of the camp.
Like other heavy bomber fields originally planned for RAF needs and begun at the same time, this airfield had three T-2 hangars grouped together on the administrative and technical site, in this case on the eastern side of the airfield. The technical site was adjacent to the hangars and bordered the country road running from Hempnall to Alburgh.
On the eastern side of this road lay the major part of the camp with domestic sites hidden amongst woodland. One site was located at Topcroft Street. All accommodation was of the temporary type, mostly Nissen huts. The bomb dump was situated off the north-west corner of the airfield in and adjacent to Spring Wood.
When assigned to the USAAF, Hardwick was designated as Station 104. From 7 November 1943 through 12 June 1945, Hardwick served as headquarters for the 20th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 2d Bomb Division.
Originally, thirty hardstands were planned, sufficient for RAF requirements, but these were increased to fifty for the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force, thirty-nine being of the early 'frying-pan' type and the remainder loops.
USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Hardwick were:
Regular Army Station Units included:
The airfield was opened in September 1942 and was first used by the 310th Bombardment Group (Medium), arriving from Greenville AAB South Carolina. Apparently the 428th Bombardment Squadron of the 310th Bombardment Group was diverted to RAF Bungay. A 12th Air Force film clip indicates that the 310th Bombardment Group was the first 12th Air Force group to leave the United States for Europe and initially arrived in Prestwick, Scotland. Flying the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber, the 310th used Hardwick as a transshipment point on its way to Telergma, Algeria as a part of Twelfth Air Force. The last elements of the 310th departed for North Africa in November.
...
Wikipedia