F for Freddie was the name of one of the gunposts/pillboxes protecting RAF Watton during WW2, this site was also home to a parachute and cable anti-aircraft defense site also known as fizzing onions, it comprised of steel cables that were fired into air in the path of enemy aircraft up to 500ft, with the intention of bringing them down.
At 0755 on Tuesday 18th February, a Nazi plane identified as a Heinkel HE111 H3 of 4/KG 53, TheCondor Legion, attacked RAF Watton from the South side of the airfield travelling North.The aircraft machine gunned the airfield and the Blenheim aircraft parked thereon. It also attacked the
line of hangars and the areas where our brave boys were housed but fortunately no one was injured. A machine gun emplacement on top of the Airman’s Mess on the northern side of the Norwich road valiantly returned fire but to no avail. The enemy plane flew into the forest of cables fired from F for Freddie and, being badly damaged, was brought down on farmland at Ovington about one and a half miles north of the camp.
This is one of the only (if not the only) recorded shoot downs using this system, so is our own little bit of history.
If you walk down past the front of the petrol station you will spot the entrance to a public bridleway on the right hand side of the MOT bay, its very muddy so wellies are advised, about 200ft along this track you will find the decaying remains of F for Freddie, the cache is a small box with log inside it with room for some treasures as well, good luck. F for Freddie has recently been restored by NCC and the footpath improved, and there should be a plaque errected soon to mark its place in history, it has also now been added to the Norfolk historical register.
You will need to bring your own pen or pencil.
you can not access this cache from the maid Marrion housing estate. Congratulations to DanAliMat for FTF :-)