There was an airfield at Matlaske before the war started but it was approved for requisition by the Air ministry in August 1939. RAF Matlaske became operational in October 1940 as a satellite station to RAF Coltishall which is 10.3 miles (16.6 km) south-east of Matlaske. In 1940 the airfield had two grass runways of which one was 1,600.00 yards (1,463.04 m) with the other being 1,300.00 yards (1,188.72 m).[1]
On the 29 October 1940[1] the Luftwaffe attacked the airfield at Matlaske. This attack followed the bombing of RAF Coltishall two days before which had necessitated the re-location some of the Spitfires of 72 Squadron to Matlaske. Five Dornier aircraft carried out the attack and they strafed the base causing damage to the parked aircraft and inflicting several casualties to personnel. On the 12th May 1941[1] the Luftwaffe attacked the base again but this time they bombed using Incendiary bombs. The attack had limited success with only minor damage and no personnel casualties.
In September 1942, the airfield was allocated to the 8th United States Army Air Forces as a fighter base but was only used from March to April 1943 by P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group from RAF Kings Cliffe.
From August 1942 to July 1943, No. 56 Squadron RAF Typhoons from RAF Snailwell moved to Manston.
No. 195, 245, 266 and 609 Squadron Typhoons, No. 19 Sqn Spitfires and the USAAF's 56th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolts were detached here at various times from August 1942 to August 1943.
From April to May 1943, No. 1489 Flight RAF conducted target towings with Hawker Henleys, Westland Lysanders, M.25 Martinets and M.9 Masters, which were also based at RAF Coltishall and RAF Sutton Bridge.
Matlaske Airfield was out of action between August 1943 and September 1944 owing to major reconstruction work and some official vacillation. However the airfield became very busy once again for Tempest, Mustang and especially Spitfire squadrons, the latter performing further sweeps over Europe, even though Matlaske’s temporarily waterlogged area necessitated some operations being mounted from Swannington down the road in the autumn of 1944.
No 453 Squadron (Spitfires, October 1944-April 1945) and the two Auster artillery spotter squadrons which were present in the late summer of 1945 were the last significant units here. After this the airfield slowly but surely withered away and was on caretaker status by October 1945, though it did not officially close in RAF Fighter Command terms until May 1946.
TV presenter Raymond Baxter was based here for a short time towards the end of World War Two while serving with No 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron.
Although the airfield is still fondly remembered, hardly anything now remains amid farmland, only really sections of perimeter track and foundations – both control towers were demolished in the late 1970s.
You are looking for a camouflaged speiman container hidden in close proximity to the memorial. You will need to bring your own pen and tweezers may be helpful.
There is parking at the memorial site for several cars as this area is also used by a recycling bottle bank! I’m sure there must have been somewhere better to put the latter.