History
RAF Sculthorpe was constructed between 1942 and 1943 as a satellite airfield for RAF West Raynham, along with RAF Great Massingham. The runway, built by Bovis, was unusually long at 2,700 metres, around 50 per cent longer than the standard specification.
In 1944, the airfield was expanded into a heavy bomber base with an extended runway and new buildings including fuel storage and pumping facilities. This was in preparation for the arrival of B-29 Superfortresses, although these plans were abandoned with the end of the war in 1945.
After the war, the site was used by the United States Air Force until 1952, then handed back to the RAF until 1967. The USAF later returned and used the base until 1992, including during the Cold War period.
Much of RAF Sculthorpe stands derelict today. Many buildings, including the Control Tower, have been demolished, and the accommodation blocks have remained empty for years. The main runway is still in use by the Ministry of Defence for training purposes and remains MoD property. A number of industrial units are scattered across the site, but several businesses have vacated due to ongoing vandalism, anti-social behaviour and repeated issues with electricity supply caused by unpaid bills.
The site also contains two pump houses that were originally used for aviation fuel distribution. These housed fuel pumps and were connected to underground storage tanks and pipelines that supplied aircraft refuelling points across the base. An emergency water supply tank for firefighting also sits just outside the installation.
