(click to enlarge) Between 1937 & 1939 land was purchased by the government near Wattisham village, four type " C " hangers were erected and a grass landing area was formed. On the 6th April 1939 Wing Commander O R Gayford DFC AFC took command of the station. Bristol Blenheim bombers of 107 & 110 Squadrons arrived under No.2 Group Bomber Command on the 11th May 1939. Aircraft from both squadrons made the first Wartime bombing raid on the 4th September 1939, against German battleships anchored at Keil. For his part in the raid Flight Lieutenant Doran, was awarded the DFC.  Both squadrons flew many missions over Norway and Denmark during the German offensive in April 1940 and later flew tactical missions against German forces invading France. In the next 3 years their aircraft and those of No's18 and 226 Squadrons together with Beaufighters of No.236 Squadron attacted enemy troops, shipping and U Boats, also taking part in night intruder raids and daylight sweeps over France. Aircraft from Wattisham took part in the first 1000 bomber raid. During this time the Luftwaffe caused damage and many casualties attacking the airfield.   In mid 1942 Wattisham Airfield was handed over to the United States Army Air Force. Its first duty was to assemble P-38 Lightnings for North Africa. (click to enlarge) For the next two years it was use as a central supply depot and maintenance base for United States air formations in Britain. In May 1944 its role changed with the arrival of 479th Fighter Group from America. The Group consisted of 3 Squadrons, the 434th,435th and 436th. The Group was led by Lt Col. Kyle L. Riddle and were known as " Riddle's Raiders ". Initailly they flew the P-38J Lightning but later converted to the P51 Mustang. When Riddle was shot down the group came under the control of Col. Hubert Zemke. (click to enlarge)  The Groups achievements for the war was very impressive, 432 enemy aircraft destroyed in one year of operation. History was made on the 29th June 1944 when Captain Jeffrey in his P-38 became the first pilot in the world to shoot down a Messerschmidt 163 Jet aircraft. The Group also earned two Distinguished Unit Citations, one for attacks on French airfields in August 1944 and the second for combat during a raid on Munster in the September. (click to enlarge) Wattisham was finally handed back to the RAF on the 6th January 1946.   In November 1946, 56 and 266 Squadrons flying Meteor F3's moved to Wattisham, but left after a short while as the airfield was unsuitable for jets. (click to enlarge) The Air Ministry purchased more land and a longer hardened runway was constructed. In October 1950, 257 and 263 squadrons arrived equipped with the Meteor MK 8.By May 1954 they had been joined by 152 squadron equipped with the Night Fighter, Meteor NF12's and 14's.   By February 1955 both Squadrons hand replaced their Meteor Mk 8's with the new Hunter Mk 2. In March 1957 , 257 Squadron disbanded and by August 1957, 263 Squadron had moved to Stradishall. In 1958 Wattisham became the home of Treble One Squadron " The Black Arrows " display team. At about the same time 56 Squadron arrived to take up the post of the second Day Fghter Squadron. Treble One Squadron became the first and only aerobatics team to loop 22 aircraft in formation, aided with aircraft from 56 Squadron. (click to enlarge) The Night Fighter position was filled by the now reformed 41 Squadron flying the Javelin MK 4.  In 1960, 41 Squadron re-equipped with Javelin Mk 8's and stayed at Wattisham until its disbandment in 1963. (click to enlarge) In 1960 both 56 and 111 Squadrons replaced their Hunters for the English Electric Lightning F1A and by 1965 had re-equipped with the Lightning F3. 56 Squadron left Wattisham in 1967 for Cyprus and were replaced by 29 Squadron also equipped with the Lightning F3. (click to enlarge)  In  September 1974,111 Squadron moved to Leuchars to start flying the Phantom FG1 and in the December 29 Squadron, also departed for Coningsby to start training on the Phantom FGR2.In January 1975, 56 Squadron returned from Cyprus to Wattisham equipped with the Lightning F6 and by the May had been joined by 23 Squadron. (click to enlarge) Both Squadrons replaced their Lightning's in June 1976 for the Phantom FGR2.   (click to enlarge) Wattisham was left without a second fighter Squadron when in October 1983, 23 Squadron moved to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. In October 1984, 74 (Tiger) Squadron reformed and moved to Wattisham, equipped with the American F4J Phantom. (click to enlarge) With the "Collapse of the Warsaw Pact", many Phantom Squadrons disbanded or converted to the Tornado F3. Surplus Phantoms were stored at Wattisham ready for re-sale or to provide a pool of air frames for the remaining Squadrons.   (click to enlarge) 74 Squadron swapped it's F4J's in early 1991 for the standard FGR2. In July 1992, 56 Squadron was stood down to reform as Operational Conversion Unit for Tornado F3 at RAF Coningsby.  On the 1st October, 74 Squadron left to become one of the training Squadrons at No 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley. (click to enlarge) On the 31st October 1992 RAF Wattisham stood down as a fighter base.