A Unique Trip – The Control Tower B&B
By Matthew Eatough
Introduction
Earlier this year some of our Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) risk assessors made a special trip to the Control Tower Bed & Breakfast (B&B) in Norfolk. This unique B&B occupies the restored control tower of former Royal Air Force (RAF) North Creake, a World War Two (WWII) Bomber Command airfield.
Now & then – the control tower of RAF North Creake
Appointed with period furnishings and wartime memorabilia, the control tower has been styled in a 1940s modernist and art deco design. The trip provided a great opportunity for our team to unwind and explore the remnants of a WWII airfield.
Inside – complete with period furnishings and memorabilia
Historic Background – RAF North Creake
Construction of RAF North Creake commenced in October 1942 and was completed in 1943. It was built at a time when hundreds of military airfields were being constructed across Britain to accommodate the arrival of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
RAF North Creake was home to Nos. 199 and 171 Squadrons, both part of RAF 100 Group. They predominantly flew secret radio counter measure missions over Europe, flying their first sorties on the 5th June 1944 in support of the D-Day landings. Initially using Short Stirling heavy bomber aircraft, they were later upgraded to Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers.
The control tower itself was built in 1943 and was used to control all the take-offs and landings at RAF North Creake.
The Trip
Once the team arrived at the B&B and got settled down, host Nigel provided an in-depth tour of the old airfield. Like many wartime bases RAF North Creake was derequisitioned at the end of WWII. It has since been partially redeveloped for commercial and agricultural purposes, with many of the former technical buildings and old hangars remaining in situ. One notable T2 hangar is now a warehouse for a fertiliser works, and Nigel is using an old air raid shelter as his garden shed!
After walking around the former technical buildings and hangars, Nigel took the team to the former runways. These were arranged in a typical late-war Class ‘A’ design.
Exploring – taking a tour around the old runways and repurposed hangars
A main takeaway from the team was the sense of scale at the airfield. When looking at aerial photographs and wartime plans one often forgets how large and impressive these military airfields were. RAF North Creake, which was only operational for three years, has had a lasting impact on the local landscape.
After the tour Nigel showed the team his collection of records and wartime memorabilia, and shared stories about the operations at the airfield. Among the artefacts in his cabinets was an old fuze plug from a practice bomb, which had been dug up on his allotments!
Before returning home the team made sure to pick up a signed copy of Nigel’s book ‘Control Tower Calling’, which gives a comprehensive history of RAF North Creake and its operations.
Conclusion
The team would like to thank again Nigel and his wife Claire for being so generous during our stay. If you are ever in Norfolk and wish to experience a slice of wartime history, we highly recommend taking a visit to the Control Tower B&B – https://controltowernorfolk.uk/
Zetica has considerable experience assessing and mitigating UXO risks at both former and current military airfields. We have been involved in hundreds of airfield projects across the UK and beyond, from the Outer Hebrides down to the Cornish coast. To find out more about our services, visit: https://zeticauxo.com/detailed-risk-assessment/
For more about the development of military airfields during WWII, be sure to read our previous blog: https://zeticauxo.com/news/the-development-of-military-airfields-a-history/
A memorial – to the men who served RAF Bomber Command
