NHER 2455 (Monument record) - Downham Market World War Two airfield

World War Two bomber airfield. Opened in 1941, from July 1942 it was home to Pathfinder bomber squadrons, flying Stirling bombers, and later, Lancasters and Mosquitoes. In sporadic civilian use after the War, until most of the concrete runways were taken up and used as hardcore for the Downham Market bypass in the late 1970s. Information from (S1).
P. Aldridge (NLA) 15 September 2005.

Proposed to establish reservoir here.
E. Rose (NAU).

Downham Market airfield (known locally as Bexwell) was built slowly in 1941 and 1942. In 1943 it acquired an unusual feature, Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation (FIDO), a system by which vaporised petrol was burnt alongside the main runway, lifting the fog and enabling take-off and landing in zero visibility conditions.
For further information on the operational history of the airfield and photographs of remaining buildings, see (S2).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 January 2010.

A number of associated satellite sites to the south of the airfield are now recorded separately as NHERs 63351, 65670 and 66474-66483. These are all visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946 and include a number of probable accommodation areas and two sewage works. These sites were dispersed across a wide area and several had been constructed adjacent to existing woods, presumably to help reduce their visibility from the air. Many of the buildings were still present when a revised Ordnance Survey Six-inch map was published in 1952 (S3), although most of the more ephemeral Nissen hut-type structures had already been removed by this time. The majority of the remaining buildings were demolished during the latter half of the 20th century. There are however some notable survivals, including a group of accommodation blocks and an associated water tower at TF 6245 0283 (NHER 66474) and similar structures to the north-east at TF 6315 0324 (NHER 66483). Where the sites reverted to arable land there is little evidence for surviving sub-surface remains. Several areas were however planted with trees or have remained scrubby waste ground, resulting in the survival of structural remains associated with a number of the demolished structures. Most notably, the recent felling of trees within plantations at TF 6309 0252 (NHER 63351) and TF 6250 0242 (NHER 66480) has exposed the remains of at least five brick-built surface air raid shelters. The concrete footings of other buildings also survive at these locations and at least one other site. Various extant access roads and areas of hard standing were also constructed during World War Two.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 November 2022.

16 February 1977. Visit.
Downham Market airfield.
Mostly returned to arable land, but traces of some runways. New road crosses it and factories built on part. Council depot on south using some original buildings. Some huts and bunkers remain on east; a considerable number of buildings remain complete behind Bexwell church (which contains a memorial listing all the squadrons to use the airfield) and to southeast are substantial remains of concrete buildings.
E. Rose (NAU).

October 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline.
This survey saw the examination of a narrow north-to-south aligned strip within the large field immediately west of the A10. A number of the larger anomalies recorded clearly correspond with known former elements of Downham Market airfield. These include runways, a tie-down area and a taxiway.
See report (S1) and NHER 66441 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 November 2022.

March-April 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Grantham to Bexwell pipeline.
The survey saw the examination of the southern end of the field west of the A10.
A substantial north-north-east to south-south-west aligned band of magnetic disturbance corresponds with one of the former runways associated with Downham Market airfield. This was bounded by two linear anomalies likely to represent associated drains or gullies.
An area adjacent to the A10/Bexwell Road roundabout was also examined, although here the survey results were dominated by the magnetic disturbance caused by a large spread of ferrous debris. This material was presumably the result of activity taking place close to what would have been the perimeter of the World War Two airfield. An area of concrete hardstanding noted during the survey was presumably also related to the airfield.
See NHERs 66441 and 66443 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 November 2022.

September 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline.
Five trenches excavated at the southern end of the field west of the A10 revealed no additional evidence for surviving remains associated with Downham Market airfield
See NHER 66441 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 November 2022.

November 2021-March 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on route of Anglian Water Grantham to Bexwell pipeline.
Six trenches additional trenches excavated in the field west of the A10 also revealed no evidence for surviving remains associated with Downham Market airfield.
See NHER 66441 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 November 2022.

According to the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust website (S4) the Royal Flying Corp operated an emergency landing ground at Bexwell during 1915. The exactly location of this World War One airfield is unknown, although it is believed to have been separate from the World War Two airfield. See NHER 66656.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 January 2023.