This very interesting talk was given by Stephen Pope on the History of Aviation in Norfolk.
The first recorded flight in the county was a hot air balloon ascent from Quantrell’s Gardens in 1784 and balloons became a familiar sight until replaced at the start of the twentieth century by the aeroplane. B C Hucks, with his flimsy Bleriot aeroplane, was a star attraction over Norwich in 1912 (only 3 years after Bleriot had skimmed across the Channel) and gave displays at Eaton, Hethersett and elsewhere. By 1914 he was offering joy rides to Norwich people and looping the loop. Military aviation arrived in 1911 with the first aerodrome at Scarehill, just south of Thetford. A massive built up followed with Pulham Market hosting airships which patrolled the North Sea from Margate/Dunkirk in the south to Mablethorpe/ Holland in the north, Great Yarmouth providing an important air base and Bircham Newton being ”home” to enormous four engined bombers - just about to bomb Berlin when the Armistice was declared. There was also the important part played by Boulton and Paul which manufactured aircraft such as the Sopwith Camel and flew them from Mousehold Heath. After the war the firm continued producing aircraft and also completed the metal sections for the R101 which was then assembled at Cardington and flew over Norwich as a thank you gesture. After the Great War many airfields were closed and aircraft production cut back but in the 1930s the RAF started expanding again and new and substantial airfields were built, including our own Horsham St Faiths, and later on even more airfields to accommodate the USAAF. A great many aircraft flew from these airfields. Stephen Pope mentioned one operation when Mosquito aircraft from Marham, led by Australian Wing Commander Edwards, attacked the Philips factory at Eindhoven at low level in daylight. Wing Commander Edwards was awarded the Victoria Cross. Now most of our Norfolk airfields have faded into history.
J Clarke