World War II RAF Airfields in Norfolk by Martin Bowman

Author:Martin Bowman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783460946
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

Crews of 139 Squadron beside Mosquito IV DZ470 N-Nuts on compass swing at Marham in the spring of 1943. (via Peter Pereira)

Flight Lieutenant C. Vernon Pereira, a Trinidadian, of 139 Squadron, on the tail of his Mosquito B.IV DZ421 at Marham in the spring of 1943. He flew 80 operations on Mosquitoes on 139 and 105 squadrons and was awarded the DFC and Bar. (via Peter Pereira)

On 1 June 1943 Marham came under the control of 8 Group and 105 and 139 Squadrons were the first Mosquito units to join the specialist Pathfinder Force (later 8 (PFF) Group). On 4 July 139 Squadron left for Wyton, being replaced the same day by 109 Squadron, which flew Mosquito IVs and IXs. Within 8 Group 105 and 109 Squadrons flew on night operations and as pathfinders for the main force of bombers, using the Oboe blind bombing device. The first use of Oboe by 105 Squadron was on the night of 9/10 July 1943 when two aircraft bombed Gelsenkirchen. On the night of 25/26 July 1943, nine Mosquitoes of 109 squadron dropped markers on the Krupps armament works at Essen for the main force of 600 bombers, which caused severe damage to the target. Other targets included the ball-bearing works at Elberford, storage dumps and fighter airfields. On 23 March 1944 105 Squadron left for Bourn while in April 109 Squadron left for Little Staughton. With the departure of these squadrons, Marham closed to allow concrete runways, perimeter track and dispersals to be laid and this marked the end of its use as a wartime airfield. In January 1946 the runway was completed and flying began again.

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