Royal Air Force Marham
Panavia Tornados at Royal Air Force Marham. Photo by Bob Franklin
Royal Air Force Marham history
Marham was first opened in 1916 as a military night landing ground. Construction started on the present day site in 1935. The Aerodrome opened on the 1st of April 1937 as a heavy bomber station. There were two types of Aircraft moved to Marham, Fairey Hendons and Handley Page Harrows and in December 1938 Wellington 1 bombers arrives. In early 1942 the Wellington's were replace by four engine Sterlings. Other Aircraft operating at Marham were Mosquitos and Blenheims.
Marham closed after the war for installation of Concrete runways, taxi-ways and dispersals. In January 1946 Marham reopened as a Lancaster base, also moving to Marham were Lincolns, Ansons and Proctor Aircraft. Over the next few years other types of Aircraft were also moved to Marham, including B-29 and B-50's of the United States Air Force (USAF).
The Jet age
In January 1956 214 Squadron reformed at Marham with Valiant B1's. These were joined by several other Valiant Squadron's over the next few months.
Valiant refueling started in 1957 and over a period of over three years trials were carried out. In 1960 Javelin's, Lightning's, Vulcan's and Victors were converted to receive fuel from the Valiant's. In December 1964 the Valiant's were grounded because of metal fatigue, and all but one Aircraft was scrapped.
On the 24th May 1965 55 Squadron arrived at Marham with a Victor Mk BK1 Aircraft. Soon followed by 57 and 214 Squadrons. In 1976 Marham became the home to various Mk's of Canberra Aircraft, which operated in the target and training roles. The remaining Canberra's at Marham moved in 1982 to RAF Wyton.
In 1982 Marham received it's first Squadron of Panavia GR1 Tornados which were housed in some of the twenty four new hardened shelters which were built each end of the Airfield. In 1982 Marham's Victors were involved in the Falklands War where they gave sterling service refueling Aircraft from the UK out to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. As the Victor force was gradually run down Marham's Victor Squadrons were disbanded, starting with 57 Squadron and finally with 55 Squadron which disbanded in 1993.
Photo Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press
Photo Ian Haskell
In December 1993 Marham became the home to the RAF's last Squadron of Canberra's when 39 Squadron arrived from RAF Wyton with it's PR9, PR7 and T4 Aircraft.
Photo Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press
Photo Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press
Some of these Aircraft were gradually retired and by 2005 there were only five Aircraft on strength, Four PR9's and one T4.
Photo Chris Cannon
On 9th November 2005 Marham said goodbye to the RAF's last Canberra T4 WJ874/VN799. The Aircraft having been acquired by Coventry based Air Atlantique was crewed by Flt Lt Mike Leckey (pilot) and Wing Commander Clive Mitchell OC 39 Sqn (navigator). The T4 was retired from RAF service in September being the last Canberra of it's type still flying with the RAF and hopefully will be seen gracing the skies along side Canberra B2/6 WK163 in the future.
Finally the remaining three PR9's XH130, XH134 and XH135 left RAF Marham for the last time inbound for their new home at Kemble Airfield in Gloucestershire which left Marham with it's resident Tornado Squadrons, 2 Squadron, 9 Squadron, 13 Squadron and 31 Squadron.
Photo Stephen Reglar
Photo Stephen Reglar
Canberra PR9 XH169 which was retired from service in 2006 and was used as a spares source to keep the other three Aircraft operational. The Aircraft was repainted in a grey gloss colour scheme with the same tail art as XH134 and was moved to and mounted on a purpose built plinth next to the inner perimeter road at Marham, and on 4th February 2008 was unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen as a fitting memorial to the aircrew that served on the Canberra over the 55 years that the Aircraft was in service with the RAF.
Photo Lynn News
Photo Chris Cannon
A show of force - Tuesday 26th January 2010
Panavia Tornado GR4
Photo Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press
RAF Marham hosted a press and media event on Tuesday 26th January. This event was arranged to introduce the media to Number 31 Squadron, who have just returned from a three month tour in support of operation Herrick in Afghanistan. The object of the event was to demonstrate the Tornado GR4 and the weapon systems and personnel who use them.
Marham's Station Commander, Group Captain Peter Rochelle was on hand talk to the media as was the officer commanding 31 Squadron Wing Commander Ian Gale. Other members of the Squadron were also on hand including 31 Squadrons lady pilot Flt Lt Juliette Fleming.
Members of the ground forces who support the Tornados gave a demonstration of how the information is interpret back on the ground in one of their mobile units.
Wing Commander Gale described how the Tornado was used in Afghanistan which included over flying insurgents over 500 MPH at 100ft, which forces them to take cover. This policy means that the RAF is using the minimum amount of munitions which has reduced the possibility of killing innocent civilians. The Tornados also use their sophisticated equipment to detect the presence of IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices) and mortar firing positions.
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Many thanks to Squadron Leader Jenny Dennis Media Communications Officer and her staff for organising the event.
RAF Marham families day 2009 - Thursday 23rd July 2009
RAF Marham has it's annual families day in July and like most other RAF stations it's a chance for service personnel to bring their families and friends on station to enjoy an afternoon of leisure activities and fly-pasts and flying displays, including Marham's own base Tornado's and other types such as the Red Arrows and Typhoon, as well as a mix of civilian owned Ex-military Aircraft including the Vulcan, Meteor and Sea Venom.
Images courtesy of Bruce Martin
25th anniversary of the Tornado - July 2007
The 25th anniversary of the Tornado was celebrated on July 2007 at RAF Marham during Marham's annual friends and families day, which including static and flying displays and sideshows and exhibits. Several Tornados were on static display including 95th anniversary Aircraft with their tail art. There was also an Aircraft with the fin painted with the 25th anniversary of the Tornado tail art.
Images courtesy of Ginge Little
Tornado's at RAF Marham
RAF Marham is home to part of the RAF's GR4 Tornado force. Having four Squadron's of Tornado GR4's on strength, 2, 9, 13 and 31 Squadron's. Marham is one of the busiest RAF bases in the area. The other GR4 Tornado's are operated in Scotland at RAF Lossiemouth.
Images courtesy of Bruce Martin
PR9 practice displays at RAF Marham
As the impending retirement of 39 Squadron's last three PR9 Aircraft loomed even closer on 28th July 2006, Squadron Leader Terry Cairns and his navigator Squadron Leader Roger Newton started their work up display practices for Waddington and Fairford Air shows and Marham's families day later in the summer.
Over a few weeks period Terry and Roger could be seen putting XH134 through it's paces. The clean lines of this Aircraft gracing the skies overhead Marham, with the PR9's final fly past and blue note reverberating around the Airfield at the end of each display.
Images courtesy of Bruce Martin
The culmination of these practices were the four displays over the weekends of Waddington and Fairford's air displays with the last ever RAF Canberra display being carried out at RAF Marham's families day on 27th July 2006.
Photo Bob Franklin
Photo Bob Franklin
After landing Terry taxied XH134 back into the dispersal and shut the Aircraft down, which for him was going to be the last time as this was his last flight in a Canberra before his retirement. After over 30 years of flying Canberra's and over 7,000 hours on type he was met with applause from fellow members of the Squadron and family and friends and a well deserved glass of champagne.
39 Squadron returns from it's last detachment - Friday 23rd June 2006
Two PR9 Canberra Aircraft XH131 and XH135 from 39 Squadron arrived back at RAF Marham in Norfolk from the Squadron's last detachment at Seeb in Oman. The Canberra's were escorted back to the station by two GR4 Tornados from Marham. The five months detachment was supported by ground and Aircrews rotating every few weeks.
On their arrival the two Aircraft were met on the dispersal by Air-Vice Marshal Chris Harper Chief of Staff Operations, Group Captain Greg Bagwell RAF Marham Station Commander and Wing Commander Clive Mitchell Officer Commanding 39 Squadron, colleagues from 39 Squadron and family members, TV crews and local media. The Aircraft were flown by Flt Lt Mike Leckey, Flt Lt Colin Fryer and Flt Lt Ronnie Fairbrother and Sqn Ldr Gary Winwright.
Images courtesy of Bruce Martin
The following images were taken from video footage
The RAF's last Canberra T4 training Aircraft WJ874/VN799 - last operational flight 1st September 2005
On 1st September 2005 the blue Canberra WJ874 from 39 Squadron at RAF Marham made it's last operational flight (A round robin), starting from RAF Marham over flying Airfields and RAF stations throughout the Country which have had Canberra connections over the last 54 years.
The crew of the Canberra for this unique flight, Squadron Leader Terry Cairns (pilot), Wing Commander Clive Mitchell (navigator) and their passenger Air Officer Commanding Number 3 group Air Vice Marshall Andy White. With good weather conditions the press and TV cameras were out in force to witness the Aircraft take-off and then return some time later after it's trip around the Country.
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon
Canberra 50th anniversary - 1999
On the 13th May 1949 Wing Commander Roland 'Bea' Beaumont carried out the first flight in the prototype Canberra at Warton in Lancashire.
To celebrate this anniversary 39 Squadron at RAF Marham have had Canberra T4 WJ874 painted in a new gloss blue paint scheme, similar to the original Aircraft. During the week leading up to the anniversary Squadron Leader Terry Cairns (pilot) and Squadron Leader Brian Cole (navigator) did several practice displays in WJ874 in readiness for a busy display season at Air shows throughout the Country.
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon