Downham Market

Downham Market, Norfolk

Downham Market / Bexwell

Opened :
Closed :
Current use :
IATA :
ICAO :
EDOFBID :
This page updated :
USAAF Sta No :
Website :

1942
1946
Agriculture / Light Industry / Housing
N/A
N/A
e21984
25 July 2025
N/A
www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com
www.bexwellstmarys.org/bexwell-aerodrome

AIRFIELD SITE : Aerial Views of RAF Downham Market Airfield

AIRFIELD SITE : Aircraft Hardstand 'W'

This hardstand was dug up between 2016 and 2018.

AIRFIELD SITE : Runway 09/27

The last remaining section of the 09/27 runway was dug up between 2016 and 2018.

AIRFIELD SITE : Taxiways

BUILDING 1 & 42 : Guard Room (1) & Fire Party (42)

According to the Record Site Plan (RSP) these were originally built as two seperate buildings next to each other. At some point they were joined together, it is not known when this was.

BUILDING 3 : Combined Lubricant & Inflamable Store

BUILDING 12 : Armoury

BUILDING 19 : Crew Room

BUILDING 21 : Drying Room & Lockers

BUILDING 24 : Link Trainer Building

BUILDING 26 : W/T & Maintenance Office

Was later used as the Gunnery & Signals Training Building

BUILDING 32 : Transformer

BUILDING 53 : Armoury Maintenance Unit

BUILDING 54 : Flight Equipment Store

BUILDING 71 : Battle Headquarters

LOCATED AT : 52.613662, 0.401468
EDOFBID : e31545

BUILDING 109 : Crew Locker & Drying Room

BUILDING 113 : Stores, Workshop & Office Block

BUILDING 115 : Main Workshops

BUILDING 116 : Main Workshops

BUILDING 117 : Main Stores

BUILDING 119 : Gas Respirator Store

BUILDING 135 : Station Maintenance Unit 'Block B'

BUILDING 146 : Free Gunnery Trainer

BUILDING 151 : Fuzing Point (Ultra Heavy)

BUILDING 188 : Hangar (Site of)

BUILDING 723 : Airmens Dining Room

MEMORIAL SITE : Church of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Bexwell.

MEMORIAL SITE : Downham Market Cemetery

Buried in this Cemetery are:
Pilot Officer Haroold James Andrews (Royal Australian Air Force)
Sergeant Peter Anselm Dorman (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve)
Pilot Officer James Clark Greenwood (Royal Canadian Air Force)
Member Evelyn Irene Murrell (Women's Royal Air Force)
Flying Officer Walter Thomas Olyott (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve)
Flight Sergeant Robert Sadler (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve)
Aircraftman 1st Class Edward Watson (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve)
Flight Sergeant Stanley Wharton (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve)

MEMORIAL SITE : Downham Market War Memorial

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial

Further information on the Airfield Memorial can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/airfield-memorial

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 1)

Further information on Panel 1 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-1

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 2)

Further information on Panel 2 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-2

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 3)

Further information on Panel 3 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-3

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 4)

Further information on Panel 4 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-4

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 5)

Further information on Panel 5 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-5

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 6)

Further information on Panel 6 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-6

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 7)

Further information on Panel 7 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-7

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Memorial (Panel 8)

Further information on Panel 8 can be found here : www.downhammarketairfieldmemorial.com/plaque-8

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Downham Market Victoria Cross Memorial

MEMORIAL SITE : Road Names

Lancaster Crescent and Stirling Close on the Retreat Estate are named after the Lancaster and Stirling aircraft based at RAF Downham Market. While the sign for Lancaster Crescent is visible on streetview, it was missing when I visited in April 2025.

MISCELLANEOUS : RAF 100 Heritage Arts Trail

MISCELLANEOUS : The Rectory, Bexwell

During the Second World War, airmen from RAF Downham Market were billeted in buildings around Bexwell. The Officers accomodation was in the Rectory, located next to Bexwell Church which is now a private residence. Throughout the war the Church of St. Mary was used by the airmen from RAF Downham Market as a place of worship and also to provide a place of solace and calm throughout the difficult war years.