SUFFOLK'S SUPERBASE

摘要

In March 1939 as the darkening clouds of war built up over Europe, it is unlikely that the newly appointed station commander to RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, Wg Cdr O R Gayford, thought 'his' airfield would still be providing military service 80 years later. Wattisham's active history began with the very first RAF bomber raid of World War Two on September 4, 1939 when ten Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVs from 107 and 110 Squadrons launched to strike shipping in the area of Wilhelmshaven on Germany's North Sea coast - including the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer. The raid, however, was an utter failure with heavy losses - five of the attacking aircraft were shot down.