page_title: RAF Watton
section_title: Current use
hierarchical_section_title: RAF Watton / Current use
caption_attribution_description: English: A memorial to airmen at the entrance to the former Watton RAF base, Washington Drive, Watton, Norfolk, UK
context_page_description: Royal Air Force Watton or more simply RAF Watton is a former Royal Air Force station located 9 mi southwest of East Dereham, Norfolk, England.
  Opened in 1937 it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber airfield, being the home of RAF Bomber Command squadrons until being used by the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force as a major overhaul depot for Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and as a weather reconnaissance base.
  After the war, it was returned to RAF use until being turned over to the British Army in the early 1990s. It was closed then put up for sale.
context_section_description: A large part of the site has been developed into the Blenheim Grange housing estate, which is actually officially part of Carbrooke. All of the roads are given names with links to air force history, such as Wellington Road and Canberra Road. History has not been forgotten on the estate and at the entrance there are two monuments, one is a propeller in memory of the British airmen and the other is a more traditional monument in memory of the Americans.
  The Runway has been mostly overgrown by crops from farmers, however you can access Stans Walk to view the remains.
  The airfield is now mostly used by farmers and is for farmland use only, with some parts of the runway being swept away from crops and grass.
caption: A memorial to airmen at the entrance to the former Watton RAF base, Washington Drive, Watton, Norfolk, UK
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