Royal Air Force Marham

Image courtesy of Mark Young

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 1st April 1937 as a heavy bomber station. Two types of aircraft moved to Marham, Fairey Hendons and Handley Page Harrows and in December 1938 Wellington I bombers arrived. In early 1942 the Wellingtons were replaced by four-engine Sterlings. Other aircraft operating at Marham were Mosquitos and Blenheims.

Marham closed after the war for installation of concrete runways, taxiways 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-29s and B-50s of The United States Air Force (USAF).

The Jet age

In January 1956, 214 Squadron reformed at Marham with Valiant B1s. These were joined by several other Valiant squadrons over the next few months.

Valiant refueling started in 1957 and over a period of over three years trials were carried out. In 1960 Javelins, Lightnings, Vulcans and Victors were converted to receive fuel from the Valiants. In December 1964 the Valiants were grounded because of metal fatigue and all but one aircraft was scrapped.

On 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 Mks of Canberra aircraft, which operated in the target and training roles. The remaining Canberras at Marham moved in 1982 to RAF Wyton.

In 1982 Marham received its 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

In December 1993 Marham became the home to the RAF’s last squadron of Canberras when 39 Squadron move over fro RAF Wyton

Some of these aircraft were gradually retired and by 2005 there were only five aircraft on strength, four PR9s and one T4.

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 its type still flying with the RAF. After a lengthy stay outsde at Coventry the aircraft was aquired by the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre,dismantled and trucked down to her new home, and as of March 2025 is still resident at there.

Finally the remaining three PR9s, XH131, XH134 and XH135 left RAF Marham on the 31st July 2006 for the last time inbound for their new home at Kemble Airfield in Gloucestershire. XH134  still resident at Kemble with XH131 being purchased by the Ulster Avaition Society.and XH135 being cut up, with the nose section now owned by former Canberra navigtor, Ken Delve and used as a mobil exhibit

Canberra PR9 XH169, was used as a spares source to keep the other three aircraft operational,and 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 people who served on the Canbrra over the years.

New page coming soon