Full WW2 control tower details and photos for this wartime airfield are coming soon. Please check back later as this is work progress. If you would like to contribute information or photos please get in touch.
RAF Watton in Norfolk opened in 1937 and serves as a strong example of how an RAF station could change character during the Second World War. In its RAF Bomber Command phase it hosted bomber and training activity, but its most distinctive wartime identity came when it was turned over to the United States Army Air Forces and expanded into a major depot and reconnaissance base. This shift reflected a simple strategic truth: the air war was not only about combat units, but also about the repair, overhaul, and intelligence work that kept aircraft effective and commanders informed.
Under USAAF control Watton was developed into the 3rd Strategic Air Depot – an overhaul and repair centre for Consolidated B-24 Liberators serving with the Eighth Air Force’s 2nd Air Division. The depot complex was built adjacent to the airfield, and although it bordered the village of Griston, it was officially known by the USAAF as ‘Neaton’ (Station 505) while the flying field itself carried USAAF designation Station 376. This kind of dual naming highlights how security and administration shaped wartime geography: places were often renamed or coded to reduce the risk of intelligence leaks.
An air depot was industrial warfare in uniform. Aircraft arrived damaged by flak, worn by hard operational use, or in need of major scheduled maintenance. Teams dismantled engines, repaired airframes, replaced systems, and returned bombers to service. The scale of work at a strategic depot was vast: hangars full of parts, specialist workshops, and a steady flow of skilled labour. Every repaired Liberator returned to its group meant additional lift capacity for the next raid; every delay affected sortie rates across an entire division.
Watton also became home to the 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance), first formed as the 802nd Reconnaissance Group in February 1944 and renamed the 25th in August 1944. Its operational squadrons tell a fascinating story of mixed aircraft types and specialised missions: the 652d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) flew B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators on weather and reconnaissance work; the 653d Bombardment Squadron (Light) operated de Havilland Mosquito Mk XVI aircraft; and the 654th Bombardment Squadron (Special) flew Mosquitoes as well as aircraft such as the North American B-25 Mitchell, Martin B-26G Marauder and Douglas A-26 Invader. These units conducted meteorological flights, photographic and mapping missions, and special tasks including electronic countermeasures such as chaff (‘Window’) to confuse enemy defences during Allied attacks.
Because reconnaissance and weather information could determine whether a major raid launched, Watton’s work had an outsized impact. Accurate forecasts and timely imagery helped commanders choose targets, routes, altitudes and timings. The Mosquito element added speed and flexibility: fast aircraft that could reach into hostile airspace, collect information, and return before enemy fighters could react effectively.
In short, RAF Watton’s WW2 story is one of transformation: from an RAF bomber station into a USAAF industrial and intelligence hub. Its association with B-24 depot work and with the multi-type 25th Bombardment Group connects the airfield to the less visible but absolutely essential ‘support and know-how’ side of the Allied air campaign.