RAF Matlask

RAF · Norfolk · England · United Kingdom

RAF Matlask

Construction began in the summer of 1940 and when completed, the airfield was all grass with two main runways. To alleviate flooding problems, the entire central landing area was covered in Sommerfeld wire netting. RAF Matlaske became operational in October 1940 as a satellite station to RAF Coltishall and part of 12 Group RAF Fighter Command, when Spitfires of 72 Squadron were briefly dispersed there following the bombing of RAF Coltishall. Barely operational, it was attacked by the Luftwaffe on 29 October 1940, apparently to hit the Spitfires of 72 Squadron. Five Dornier aircraft carried out the attack, strafing the base and causing damage to parked aircraft as well as inflicting several casualties to personnel. On 12 May 1941 the Luftwaffe attacked the base again but this time they bombed using incendiary bombs. The attack had limited success with only minor damage caused and no personnel casualties. Between November 1941 to August 1942 the station hosted 137 Sqn, one of only two RAF squadrons to fly the unique (and then still secret) twin-engine Westland Whirlwind fighter. 137 Sqn was engaged in East coast convoy patrols and anti-shipping tasks, supported by 278 Air Sea Rescue squadron, based at Matlaske from October 1941 to April 1942. The airfield was allocated to the USAAF's Eighth Air Force as a fighter base in September 1942. Many huts were built in the area to accommodate American troops. The USAAF's 56th Fighter Group (flying P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers) - perhaps better known as "Zemke's Wolf Pack", after Colonel Hubert Zemke, the group commander - used the base only briefly in March and April 1943. In February, while still stationed at RAF King's Cliffe, the 56th was to undertake gunnery practice on RAF ranges, using (amongst others) the aerodrome at Matlask. From April to May 1943, 1489 Flight (RAF) conducted target towing with Hawker Henley's, Westland Lysanders, M.25 Martinets and M.9 Masters, based at RAF Coltishall and RAF Sutton Bridge, but detached to RAF Matlaske as required. By 1 June 1943, the Air Ministry had the construction of fighter fields well underway. 10 out of a total of 22 of them were allocated to exclusive US use. In August 1943, RAF Matlask was transferred to Eighth Air Force USAAF control and its status changed to Care and Maintenance to allow the facilities to be improved. Among others, a new control tower was built. The airfield did not re-open (in September 1944) under USAAF control, though. When Matlaske did reopen, it featured a new control tower (type: Watch Office for All Commands 343/43), one T2 hangar and 5 Blister hangars. Vacated the site in October 1945.

RAF Matlask

Am Site Plan 126/45 luckily very detailed and shows all that was there in 1945. Comments about the airfield were that "Every time I landed, it was down hill". The slope is very prominent. Used early in the war as a relief landing ground for RAF Coltishall (a fighter station). So it gradually morphed into a fighter station of its won, first used by the RAF with every fighter type that the RAF owned, to Air Sea Rescue with Lysanders, Walrus and Anson’s. The Westland Whirlwind was used here for coastal patrols and later Typhoon and Tempests for attacks on Northern France, Belgium and Holland. Then handed to the USAAF and they used mostly P-47 Thunderbolts. A very heavy machine to be used on a wet sloping airfield. In its last configuration, it only lasted about a year, only to be closed down in October 1945. The last layout was for a squadron of fighters thus the six fighter pens for 12 aircraft and 21 fighter circular dispersals. The Americans had about 21 double oblong dispersals added, there were also four Blister hangars and one T2 hangar. Three Petrol installation (aviation) 24000galls, two is usual so I suppose and extra one for the fuel hungry P-47's. On the south side was a shooting in Butt to align the aircraft’s machine guns and cannon. .

Am Site Plan 126/45 - 27 June 1946

RAF Matlask

Perimeter track north.

TB - Temporary Brick.
PB - Permanent Brick.
N - Nissen huts.
L - Laing hut.
R - Romney hut.
T - Timber.
AS - Air-raid shelter.
EWS - Emergency Water Supply.
GP - Gun Pit.
PB - Pillbox.
EWS - Emergency water supply.
AS - Air-raid shelter.
Circular dispersals fighter RAF type.
Oblong dispersals - USAAF type.

26 November 2025

AS - Trianco type of air-raid shelter. One of many types.

RAF Charmey Down Petrol pump house 13083/41.

RAF Matlask

AS - Air-raid shelter.
129 - Aircraft dispersal pen - 7151/41.
130 - Petrol Installation (Aviation) 24000galls - 33/43.
131 - Over Blister hangar - 12512/41.
132to134 - Sleeping shelters - N- ?
135/136 - Latrines - TB - ?
137to139 - Army defence - N - ?
140 - Picket post - TB - ?
141/142 - Petrol installation (aviation) 24000galls - ?
PB - Pill box.
GP - Gun post.

Record Site Plan 126/45

RAF Matlask

Camp main gate, south. The site of the T2 hangar can still be seen up this track and most of the administrative site is in the field on the left.

Google

RAF Matlask

1 - Guard house - TB - 4377/40.
2 - Lubricant 7 inflammable store - TB - 4377/40.
3 - Fire equipment store - TB - ?
4 - Medical inspection block - TB - ?
5 - Link trainer - TB - 10040/41.
6 - Gas defence centre - TB - 46/40.
7to9 - Defence huts- N - ?
10 - Fuel compound - BK - 176/41.
11to20 Air Ministry Works huts - TB - SAT23.
21 - Sub-station - BK - 1268/40.
22 - M&E plinth.                                                                 .
23 - Cine camera workshop - N - 10825/42.                  .
24 Parachute store - TB - 9026/42.
25 - Technical latrine - TB - 9026/41.
26/27 - Link trainers - N - 10837/42.
28 - Maintenance unit - N - 5387/43.
29/30 - Bulk oil installations (3500galls) - 11270/40.
31/32 - Main workshops - R - 827/43.
33 - Office & rubber store - TB - 12409/41.
34/35 - Main Stores - R - 8271/43.
36 - Gas respirator store & workshop - TB - 12409/41.
37 - Loading dock - Local.
38 - Technical latrine - TB - 9026/41.
39 - Operations block - N - 5187/3.
40 -Crew briefing room - N - 5187/3.
41 - Armoury - N - 5503/43.
42 - M.T. Petrol installation (5000galls) - 4728/40.
43 M.T. Office - N - 12778/41
44 - Over Blister hangar - 12512/41
45 - M&E plinth -..
46 - Blister hangar - ?
47 - Armoury & N.F.E. store - TB - 14376/40.
50 - Squadron Offices - TB - 14376/40.
51 - M&E Plinth.
52 - Technical latrine - TB - 14375/40.
53 - Crew locker & Drying room - N 5367/43.
54 - Over Blister hangar - 12512/41.
58 - Watch office - PB - 343/43.
60 - Technical latrine (W.A.A.F.) - TB - 9026/41.
61 - Hangar - T2 - 3653/42.
GP - Gun position.
63to66 - Army defence personnel - L - 2966/42.
70to73 - Army defence personnel - N - ?
74 - Picket post - TB - ?
75 - Cook house - T - ?
76 - Ablutions - T -?

85/86 - Army defence - L -

Record Site Plan 126/45

RAF Matlask

Pillbox (TYPE FW3/22): S0005696 (Deprecated). Location: RAF Matlask, Matlaske Condition: Fair from eDOB online. Many Type 22 Pillboxes are so crudely built that Loopholes are little more than holes in the wall, wider on the outside than on the inside eDOB online. This was one of several that ringed the original landing ground in 1940. There seems on the site plan, a large amount of defence huts, gun posts and pillboxes. The RAF right up until D-Day saw a real threat from German paratroop landings on airfield, either to disrupt or try an all out invasion. For D-Day al RAF aerodromes came to their highest alert with airmen/troops out on guard and AA defences manned.

26 November 2025

RAF Matlask

Pillbox (TYPE FW3/22) embrasure. This looks just a rifle embrasure.

26 November 2025

RAF Matlask

Pillbox (TYPE FW3/22).

26 November 2025

RAF Matlask

Perimeter track.

26 November 2025

Private branch exchange - telephone system plan.

Petrol Installation (Aviation) 24000galls - 12939/42.

RAF Matlask

74 - Picket post - TB - ?
75 - Cook house - T - ?
76 - Ablutions - T - ?
77 - PBX - PB - 13727/41. (Private branch exchange - telephone system).
78 - Petrol Installation (Aviation) 24000galls - 12939/42.
PB - Pill box.
79to81 - Defence post - ?
82 - M&E plinth -.
83 - S.A.A. store - N - 2169/43.
84 - Army defence hut - L - 2966/42.

Record Site Plan 126/45

RAF Matlask

The types of aircraft that would have used RAF Matlask.
Supermarine Spitfire.

RAF Matlask

The types of aircraft that would have used RAF Matlask.
Hawker Typhoon.

RAF Matlask

The types of aircraft that would have used RAF Matlask.
Colonel Hubert "Hub" Zemke, commanding officer of the 56th Fighter Group, was photographed in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt at RAF Manston May 1944 who commanded them here.

RAF Matlask

26 November 2025