RAF Watton

RAF Watton

Issue 98 Jun 2002
Norfolk Section
The Britannia and Castle

Click images to enlarge

RAF WATTON
There is a majestic website at www.rafwatton.info dedicated to the memory of those of the Royal Air Force, The Commonwealth Air Forces and the United States Army Air Force who lost their lives whilst operating from Watton and Bodney. It has snapshots from the history of the airfields from 1937 to the present day, a time-line and space for your contributions.
Whatever you civilian or service experience, do send them in to julian@rafwatton.info
The Wartime Watton Exhibition, in the former Officers' Mess at RAF Watton, was visited by around 10,000 people during its lifetime of 11 years. Several thousands of pounds were collected for RAFA and the Aircrew Association who provided the man and woman power to open it to the public. It was entirely privately funded and all money raised went to those two causes.
Before it was dismantled a photographic record was made of it with the intention of providing the RAF Watton site with a "virtual tour".
Now part of the Stanford Training Area, the airfield at Watton is still operational but the RAF have vacated the base, which has been sold, and the houses are now privately owned. Some views of RAF Watton in 2000 may be seen by a click here.

There have been several mentions in the B&C of RAF Watton:

B&C 89 Dec 97
TRI-SERVICE GOODWILL
In 1967, on the notice board in the Officers’ Mess at RAF Watton, appeared an Admiralty Order:
‘It has come to our attention that some Royal Naval officers are calling Army officers "Pongoes".
In future all Pongoes are to be referred to as Army Officers.’

B&C 93 Dec 99
WARTIME WATTON EXHIBITION -
The Wartime Watton Exhibition is in the former Officers' Mess at RAF Watton. Founded by Paul Lincoln and Julian Horn, the Wartime Watton museum is a splendid testament to the servicemen and civilians who served in and around Watton. Run entirely by volunteers, no formal entry charge is made. The contributions are split 60% to RAFA and 40% to The Aircrew Association.
Some of the Guard at RAF Watton were 70th Bn Royal Norfolk soldiers before they embarked for Singapore.
A Firecrew diary gives an account of a "short soldier" shooting down a Junkers 88 at Scoulton!
(Could this be the late James Exall? See his obituary below. Click here for more on this Ed.)
Opening times are Wednesdays and Sundays 2-5 pm, May to the end of September.
Note: The Museum closed in 2001 on the sale of the site.

B&C 93 Dec 99
OBITUARY
James Exall on 11 Aug 1999, aged 77. He served with A Coy, 70th Bn and with 2 Royal Norfolk in Burma. In 1941 James received a citation from the Area Commander for shooting down a hostile aircraft while on guard duty at an airfield in Britain.
(Click here for more on this, below) James was discharged in 1946 due to his war wounds. A member of the London Branch, he is survived by his wife, 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Bill Seymour

B&C 94 Jun 00
SHORT SOLDIER SHOOTS DOWN A JUNKERS 88
Some of the Guard at RAF Watton in WW2 were Royal Norfolk soldiers before they embarked for Singapore. A Firecrew diary in the "Wartime Watton Exhibition" gives an account of a "short soldier" shooting down a Junkers 88 at Scoulton! B&C 93 Dec 99 queried if this was the late James Exall whose obituary on p N27 stated that James received a citation from the Area Commander for shooting down a hostile aircraft while on guard duty at an airfield in Britain. Bill Seymour confirms this was indeed James Exall.
And see a reminiscence in B&C 98 Jun 02 by Alan Solomon of that incident, also copied below.

B&C 98 JUN 02
ALAN AND ROSE SOLOMON IN 2002
B&C 93 Dec 99 mentioned that some of the Guard at RAF Watton were 70th Bn Royal Norfolk soldiers before they embarked for Singapore.
A Firecrew diary reported a "short soldier" shooting down a Junkers 88 at Scoulton!
This was the late James Exall whose obituary stated that James had received a citation from the Area Commander for his deed.
Alan arrived on the scene an hour after the crash and provided a copy of the unique Battle Honours of the 70th Bn - right - including Bodney and Watton!
For reminiscences of the 70th Bn, click here.

Nowhere, it seems, does the RAF Watton site mention the name of the webmaster. It is Julian Horn, who founded the museum with Paul Lincoln. Julian should be congratulated on keeping the memory alive. He was co-editor with Hazel Taylor of the Attleborough and District News and also of Wayland News, which covers the parishes around Watton.

Editorial Rule
To qualify for inclusion there is only one rule - something described must have been said to have happened.
The authority is the Editor, British Army Review No 114 Dec 96, `If the facts don`t fit the legend, print the legend’.

Rule Britannia!

Site edited and maintained by Major JL Raybould TD
Editor, Norfolk Section, The Britannia and Castle

B&C Norfolk Editor