STATION 143
492nd Bomb Group - April 1944 to August 1944
491st Bomb Group - August 1944 to July 1945
Location:
North Pickenham Airfield was situated two miles south-east of Swaffham between the B1077 road to Watton and the Swaffham-North Pickenham Road.
All sites are now private property and permission must be obtained prior to visiting. Please contact Memorial Library staff.
Remaining buildings, etc.:
None of the buildings on the airfields site itself remain. However, on some of the dispersed sites in and around North Pickenham Village a few of the war-time buildings can still be found, including the old headquarters block.
Most of the runways and perimeter track remain and like several other former 2nd A.D. airfields have become partly occupied by the turkey houses of Bernard Matthews Limited.
In the late 1950's the airfield was chosen as a Thor missile site. The pads for these rockets are still largely intact.
Memorials:
A memorial stone in honour of the two Bomb Groups that flew from North Pickenham was dedicated during a 2nd A.D. reunion in 1987. It is situated at the entrance to the old mess site, site 4.
On November 11th 1990 a quartz clock was presented to the villagers of North Pickenham by the 492nd B.G. It hangs in the sanctuary of the parish church. A plaque in the church at Metfield was dedicated in 1992.
A memorial Bench in honour of the 491st Bomb Group stands adjacent to the North Pickenham Village sign.
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Revised 12 July 2007
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