NHER 27862 (Monument record) - Possible World War Two practice airfield and anti aircraft trenches

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Elongated strip of heathland cleared during World War Two possibly representing a practice airfield visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1) and 1950 (S2). The area of cleared heath is centred on TG 0714 4157 and measures 485m by 95.5. Three linear ditches, with banks of up cast to the north, traverse this cleared area. The three ditches run from TG 0707 4171 to TG 0717 4172, TG 0710 4158 to TG 0719 4158 and TG 0711 4145 to TG 0720 4145. A fourth parallel stretch of bank and ditch is visible to the north from TG 0709 4186 to TG 0713 4186, which may be part of the same scheme. The ditches vary in width from 1.5-2m. A further area of cleared ground is located to the immediate north, centred on TG 0713 4184, measuring 95m by 55m. This may be related to the anti-aircraft site to the north (NHER 27863). Another group of features is visible within the northern area of this cleared strip, running from TG 0707 4177 to TG 0714 4178 are a line of eleven pits, approximately 1-2m across. This has the appearance of a line of mines, however the location seems unlikely. NHER 23129 to the east in Kelling parish records a training airfield that was created by the USAAF in one day for a pre D-Day Dakota exercise. The airfield is recorded as having been on Salthouse heath, however this has been dismissed as a mistake in the records. The site recorded in Kelling does certainly look like a landing strip. However it is possible that the cleared strip of land on Salthouse heath is a similar feature and perhaps the one referred to in the records. The clearance would have to have taken place a reasonable time before 1946 as the vegetation has started to regenerate, however the area is still distinct in 1950. Perhaps this is evidence of an earlier training exercise. The ditches cutting across the strip, plus also the possible line of mines may be a later attempt to render this area unusable as a landing strip. Another possibility is that this strip is related to the Q decoy airfield recorded on the heath during World War Two (NHER 13566), although this may have only been lights and is likely to have been on the heath to the north.
S. Massey (NMP), 13 April 2003.