RAF Marham

Encyclopedia : R : RA : RAF : RAF Marham

RAF Marham is a Royal Air Force station near the village of Marham in Norfolk, England. It houses the Tornado GR4A and Canberra PR9 fleets, two Tornado GR4 squadrons, and No. 138 Expeditionary Air Wing

Contents

1 History
2 Squadrons

2.1 Tornado GR4
2.2 Tornado GR4A
2.3 Canberra PR9

3 Former squadrons
4 External links

History

Marham aerodrome was opened in 1916 as a night landing ground within the boundary of the present day aerodrome. The aerodrome was closed in 1919 when the last units moved out.

In 1935 work started on new airfield, this became active in April 1937, with a resident heavy bomber unit from within 3 Group, RAF Bomber Command. The first squadron, No 38, arrived in May 1937 with Fairey Hendon bombers. In June No. 115 Squadron RAF re-formed at Marham with Handley Page Harrows while 38 Sqn received Wellington I bombers in December 1938, followed in 1939 by 115 Squadron.

Post World War Two the airfield was home to RAF units operating the Washington aircraft, the Vickers Valiant and Handley Page Victor. The station is also one of the few large enough for the operation of the Boeing B-52 and a number of these aircraft visited on exercise in the 1970's and 1980's.

No. 138 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) formed at Marham on 1st April 2006 encompassing all of the flying units at the station. The station commander is dual-hatted at the commander of the wing.

Squadrons

Tornado GR4 as operated by 2, 9, 13 and 31 Squadrons Royal Air Force from RAF Marham

RAF Canberra PR9 from 39 Squadron RAF

Tornado GR4

No. IX Squadron RAF - Tornado GR4
No. 31 Squadron RAF - Tornado GR4

Tornado GR4A

The GR4A is the reconnaissance variant of the Panavia Tornado.

No. 2 Squadron RAF - Tornado GR4A
No. 13 Squadron RAF - Tornado GR4A

Canberra PR9

No. 39 Squadron RAF

Former squadrons

During the 1950s the English Electric Canberra B1 was operated by No.s 35, 90, 115 and 207 squadrons.

No. 27 Squadron RAF disbanded 1993
No. 55 Squadron RAF operating Handley Page Victor K2, disbanded 1993
No. 57 Squadron RAF
No. 214 Squadron RAF operating Vickers Valiant and Handley Page Victor.
No 232 OCU operating Handley Page Victor K2
No. 617 Squadron RAF operating Tornado GR1

External links

[RAF Marham official site]

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