44-537: Sutton Heath is a civil parish on the former site of RAF Woodbridge , in the East Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk , England. The parish was formed on 1 April 2012 from part of the parish of Sutton . The new parish was created following petitioning by residents to Suffolk Coastal District Council who believed it was more urban than its surrounding area in Sutton and therefore had different needs. Sutton Heath has
88-423: A base for Operation Aphrodite , a plan to strip all interior equipment and armament from well-used B-17s, pack them with explosives, and fly them to difficult targets using radio-control equipment. In early July, several B-17s, modified into BQ-7 drones, from the 562d Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group arrived at Woodbridge. No Aphrodite mission was ever flown from Woodbridge because, after one aborted attempt,
132-525: A charter by Richard the Lionheart . The town's post office and main shopping street, Mere Street, are also near the marketplace, and Diss Town Hall is located nearby on Market Hill. Early in 1871, alterations at a house in Mount Street about 100 yards (100 m) north of the parish church led workmen to remove the brick flooring of a ground-floor room and insert the joists of a boarded floor. They found in
176-506: A pub, the Dolphin , from the 1800s to the 1960s, the building now houses some small businesses. Next to Dolphin House is the town's market place, the town's geographical and social centre. The market is held every Friday (except Good Friday and other holidays, when it is rescheduled to Thursday): a variety of local traders sell fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and cheeses. It was first granted
220-558: A shop and primary school . The parish incorporates the military installation of MoD Woodbridge . RAF Woodbridge Royal Air Force Woodbridge , or more simply RAF Woodbridge , is a former Royal Air Force station located east of Woodbridge and around 7 miles north-east of Ipswich , in the county of Suffolk , England. Constructed in 1943 as a RAF military airfield during the Second World War to assist damaged aircraft to land on their return from raids over Germany it
264-543: A single code for all squadrons within a wing, such that all 81st TFW squadrons now displayed the same tail-code, "WR". In 1972, construction began on Woodbridge American High School and classes began in 1973. With the arrival of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in USAFE in 1979, the 81st TFW was expanded to six squadrons. Three of these were stationed at Woodbridge. It was decided to expand
308-457: A single runway, 9,000 ft (2,700 m) long and 750 ft (230 m) wide. (5 times the normal width) There was a further clear area of 1,500 ft (460 m) at each end of the runway. At each of the three airfields, the runway was divided into three 250 ft (76 m) lanes. The northern and central lanes were allocated by flying control, while the southern lane was the emergency lane on which any aircraft could land without first making contact with
352-452: A soda factory is still known locally as Baldry's Yard. The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum is located 4.5 mi (7.2 km) east of Diss at the former RAF Thorpe Abbotts airfield. In March 2006, Diss became the third UK town to join Cittaslow , an international body promoting a concept of "Slow Towns". However, it has since withdrawn. A railway journey from London to Diss forms
396-815: Is a market town , civil parish and electoral ward in South Norfolk , England, near the boundary with Suffolk . It had population of 7,572 in 2011. Diss railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line between London and Norwich . It lies in the valley of the River Waveney , round a mere covering 6 acres (2.4 ha) and up to 18 feet (5.5 m) deep, although there is another 51 feet (16 m) of mud. The town's name originates from dic , an Anglo-Saxon word meaning ditch or embankment. Diss has several historic buildings, including an early 14th-century parish church and an 1850s Corn Hall , which
440-414: Is managed by Greater Anglia which operates two trains an hour to Norwich and London Liverpool Street . One train per hour stops at Stowmarket, Chelmsford and Stratford although a change at one of the stations along the way may be possible to avoid waiting that long. A car park is provided to allow a park and ride service. The Class 745s serves the station with some of them using the bi-mode 755s . It
484-621: Is still in use. Under Edward the Confessor , Diss was part of the Hartismere hundred of Suffolk , It was recorded as such in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is recorded as being in the king's possession as demesne (direct ownership) of the Crown, there being at that time a church and a glebe of 24 acres (9.7 ha). This was thought to be worth £15 per annum , which had doubled by the time of William
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#1732863313016528-540: Is the only station operated by GA and one of the few in the UK to exclusively serve Intercity trains. The A1066 runs through the town with the A140 bypassing it to the east. A limited bus service is available to Norwich. The town's sporting clubs include Diss Town Football Club , and Diss Rugby Club , based in nearby Roydon . Diss has produced national and international sports stars, three footballers (see #Notable people ), and
572-1000: Is used by Army Air Corps aircraft for training and Rock Barracks are home to the newly formed 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) of the Royal Engineers . In 1943, RAF Woodbridge (initially called RAF Sutton Heath) was one of three airfields constructed along the east coast of England, set up to accept distressed aircraft returning across the North Sea from raids over Germany, and was therefore laid out with extra-long, extra-wide runways (the other two sites being at RAF Manston in Kent and RAF Carnaby in Yorkshire). These ELG (Emergency Landing Ground) airfields were intended for use by returning bombers suffering from low-fuel and suspected damage to their pneumatic (wheel brake) and/or hydraulic (undercarriage lowering) systems. All three airfields were equipped with
616-454: Is used by Army Air Corps aircraft for training and Rock Barracks are home to the newly formed 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) of the Royal Engineers . The airfield is also regularly used to host track days, managed by companies such as Javelin Track Days. During August 2016 a 1700m length of rough scrubland was cleared and a compacted earth runway created at MOD Woodbridge, for testing
660-753: The Airbus A400M Atlas . In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close by 2027. On 28 February 2019, defence minister Tobias Ellwood announces that MOD Woodbridge (Rock Barracks) would remain open, altering previous closure plans. RAF Woodbridge features as a setting in the 2017 video game Bomber Crew . RAF Woodbridge features as setting and plot element in Julian Simpson 's BBC4 2019 The Lovecraft Investigations The Whisperer in Darkness series. Diss, Norfolk Diss
704-722: The Blind Landing Experimental Unit (BLEU) was located at Woodbridge. Eventually it was closed on 14 March 1948 and put into 'care and maintenance' status. As a result of the Cold War United States Air Force (USAF) buildup in Europe, Woodbridge was made available to the Americans by the Air Ministry in early 1952. Expansion of the facility to bring it up to NATO standards commenced on 16 April 1952, with
748-598: The Republic F-84G Thunderjet . Markings for the F-84s at Woodbridge consisted of yellow lightning flashes on the fuselage and on the external wing tip tanks. The mission of the 79th was to provide escort for Strategic Air Command (SAC) Boeing B-47 Stratojet rotational deployments from RAF Sturgate . These deployments generally involved about 45 aircraft, together with about twenty Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters , which were maintained at English bases for 90 days. At
792-636: The Tacolneston TV transmitter. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Norfolk on 95.1 FM, Heart East on 102.4 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk & North Suffolk on 99.9 FM and Park Radio, a community radio station that broadcasts on 107.6 FM. The town's two local newspapers are the Diss Express and the Diss Mercury . Diss railway station is located east of the town on the Great Eastern Main Line between Norwich and Stowmarket . The station
836-658: The 79th from the 20th TFW, the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operated from the station, being transferred from RAF Shepherds Grove when the USAF turned Shepherds Grove over to the Air Ministry. Initially flying F-84F Thunderstreaks, in December they were replaced by the McDonnell F-101A/C Voodoo , and redesignated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron. Markings of the 78th TFS were a red tail with silver star pattern design on
880-461: The 81st with six A-10 squadrons distributed over both Woodbridge and Bentwaters as follows: All the A-10 squadrons were tail-coded "WR". The 91st was transferred to Woodbridge from Bentwaters on 1 February 1980. The 509th was reactivated as an A-10 squadron, previously being an F-102 unit at Clark Air Base , Philippines . At Woodbridge, USAFE activated the 509th Tactical Fighter Squadron . The 509th
924-461: The Cold War, the USAF presence at Woodbridge was gradually phased down. It was announced that the airfield would be closed, and the 81st TFW would be inactivated. Woodbridge-based squadrons were phased-down as follows: The last A-10 aircraft departed Woodbridge on 14 August 1993, and the airfield was closed as a US military facility. The 81st Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated on 1 July 1993. With
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#1732863313016968-506: The Conqueror to £30, with the benefit of the whole hundred and half belonging to it. It was then found to be a league long, around 3 miles (5 km) and half that distance wide, and paid 4 d. in Danegeld . From this it appears that it was still relatively small, but it soon grew, when it subsumed Watlingsete Manor, a neighbouring area as large as Diss, and seemingly more populated according to
1012-639: The FitzWalters, who were raised to Baron FitzWalter in 1295. In 1299, the then Lord FitzWalter obtained a charter of confirmation for a fair every year at his manor of Diss, to be held around the feast day of Saint Simon and Jude (28 October) and several days after. A grant made in 1298 to William Partekyn of Prilleston (now Billingford ) presented for homage and half a mark of silver two homesteads in Diss, with liberty of washing his wool and cloths in Diss Meer. This came on
1056-524: The airfield. The site at Woodbridge was chosen as it was 'nearly fog-free and had no obstructions for miles', although more than a million trees had to be cleared from Rendlesham Forest to take the new base. Its first use, however was in July 1943, when it was used by a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber of the United States Army Air Forces . In the spring of 1944, Woodbridge was considered as
1100-483: The centre, some 18 inches (50 cm) from the surface, a hoard of over 300 coins, all silver but for two gold nobles. From 1927 until 1982, Cambridge businessman Jack Baldry and his son Derek operated a factory in the town that produced soda water , lemonade and cola for the pubs of East Anglia . Baldry also owned soft drinks factories in Cambridge and Sawston The old brewery in Diss that Jack converted into
1144-541: The end of the Temporary Duty (TDY), they were relieved by another SAC wing that was generally stationed at a different airfield. These missions continued until 1964. In 1955, the 79th was upgraded to the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak , with the older "G" models being transferred to other NATO countries or to the Middle East. Lightning flashes were not painted on the "F" models, but the yellow squadron colour band around
1188-447: The establishment of the 3928th Air Base Squadron . The first operational USAF unit to reside at Woodbridge was the 79th Fighter-Bomber Squadron which arrived on 1 October 1952. The 79th FBS was a component of the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing based at RAF Wethersfield . Restricted space at Wethersfield compelled the 79th Squadron to move initially to nearby RAF Bentwaters on 6 June, then to Woodbridge, on 1 October. The 79th FBS flew
1232-465: The estate was acquired by the Ratcliffe family, which inherited the title of Baron FitzWalter. The family owned the land until at least 1732, styling themselves Viscounts FitzWalter. John Skelton , tutor and court poet to Henry VIII , was appointed rector at St. Mary's Church in Diss in about 1503. He retained the benefice until his death. Events there formed the subject of some of his poems, such as
1276-584: The estate. It was part of a larger estate that included Hemenhale and Diss manors, with the hundred of Diss in Norfolk, the manors of Shimpling and Thorne in Suffolk, of Wodeham-Walter (now Woodham Walter ), Henham , Leiden (now part of Leaden Roding ), Vitring, Dunmow Parva (now Little Dunmow ), Burnham (possibly the modern village of Burnham-on-Crouch ), Winbush , and Shering (now Sheering ) in Essex. Shortly afterwards,
1320-470: The express condition that the gross dye be washed off first. It seems that Diss Church was built by the same Lord, as his arms appear in the stone of the south porch of the church several times. Soon after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, Edward Plantagenet , Duke of York and Earl of Rutland, came to hold Diss manor, hundred and market, together with Hemenhale, and the title of Lord FitzWalter became attached to
1364-545: The extreme rear of the fuselage remained a squadron marking. The 79th flew the F-84F only until 1958 when the 20th was re-designated a tactical fighter wing (20th TFW), and the squadron (now 79th TFS) was re-equipped with the North American F-100 Super Sabre . In January 1970 the parent unit (20th TFW) was reassigned from RAF Wethersfield to RAF Upper Heyford , allowing the 79th TFS to leave Woodbridge and re-join
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1408-497: The geld or tax that it paid. The town includes part of Heywode, as appears from its joining to Burston, into which the manor extended. Diss was granted by King Henry I to Richard de Lucy , some time before 1135. The Testa de Neville finds it not known whether Diss was rendered to Richard de Lucy as an inheritance or for his service, but adds it was doubtless for the latter. Richard de Lucy become Chief Justiciar to King Stephen and Henry II . In 1152, Richard de Lucy received
1452-624: The humorous invective "Ware the Hauke", in which another priest goes falconing in St Mary's, barring the doors against him and causing chaos in the church. Opposite the 14th-century parish Church of St Mary the Virgin stands a 16th-century building known as the Dolphin House. This was one of the town's major buildings, as its impressive dressed-oak beams denote. It may have been a wool merchant's house. Formerly
1496-515: The inactivation, the USAF returned control of Woodbridge to the UK Ministry of Defence (The 81st was reactivated as the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base , Mississippi on 1 July 1993). On 1 September 2006, RAF Woodbridge became Ministry of Defence (MOD) Woodbridge . The site is operated by the British Army and incorporates both Rock Barracks and Woodbridge Airfield. The airfield
1540-404: The other components at the new larger base. It has been reported that the U.S. stored nuclear missiles at this site without the UK public knowing and that it was also the scene of a UFO sighting in 1980 . Beginning on 8 July 1958, Woodbridge was operated as "twin base" (twin airfield) with RAF Bentwaters , and as a single unit with Bentwaters under the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing . Along with
1584-461: The right to hold a market in Diss, and before 1161 he gave a third of a hundred of Diss (Heywood or Hewode) together with the market in frank marriage with his daughter Dionisia to Sir Robert de Mountenay. After Richard de Lucy's death in 1179, the inheritance of the other two parts of Diss hundred passed to his daughter Maud, who married Walter FitzRobert. The whole estate later fell to the Lordship of
1628-513: The subject of a poem by Sir John Betjeman : "A Mind's Journey to Diss". He also made a short documentary film in 1964, entitled Something about Diss . Diss has at least nine places of worship. They include the 13th-century Anglican parish church, the Catholic ( St Henry Morse ), and Methodist , Baptist and community churches. Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC East and ITV Anglia . Television signals are received from
1672-634: The unit moved up to RAF Fersfield , near Diss, Norfolk . On 13 July 1944, a Luftwaffe Ju 88 G-1 night fighter of 7 Staffel / NJG 2 , bearing aircraft code 4R+UR , on North Sea night patrol landed at Woodbridge. This aircraft carried recent versions of the FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar, Naxos-Z and FuG 227 Flensburg homer which were being successfully used to intercept RAF bombers. The German crew had only just completed 100 hours of flight training, and had flown by compass heading, but had proceeded in exactly
1716-576: The vertical stabilizer. In November 1965, the 78th TFS received McDonnell F-4C Phantom IIs to replace the Voodoos, with red fin caps as their squadron marking. In October 1969 the F-4C aircraft began to be replaced by the F-4D. In February 1970, USAF units adopted two-letter tail codes, with "WR" being used by the 78th, "WS" by the 91st, and "WT" by the 92nd. In 1972 this system was refined in accordance with AFM66-1, using
1760-518: The wrong direction and thought they were over their own airfield. Within days, the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) had analysed the radar equipment and devised countermeasures . About 30% of the emergency landings were caused by bad weather, especially fog which could be dispersed by Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) where up to 450,000 litres (99,000 imp gal; 120,000 US gal) of petrol per hour
1804-405: Was assigned an air rescue and special operations mission. The 67th ARRS participated in the rescue efforts of the capsized Townsend Thoresen ferry Herald of Free Enterprise outside of Zeebrugge Harbour on 6 March 1987. On 1 June 1988, they were redesignated the 39th Special Operations Wing . On 1 April 1992 they moved to RAF Alconbury as part of the closure of RAF Woodbridge. With the end of
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1848-649: Was later used by the United States Air Force during the Cold War , being the primary home for the 79th and 78th Tactical Fighter Squadrons and squadrons of the 81st Fighter Wing under various designations until 1993. For many years, the 81st also operated from nearby RAF Bentwaters , with Bentwaters and Woodbridge being known as the "Twin Bases". Since 2006, it has been known as MOD Woodbridge , incorporating Woodbridge Airfield and Rock Barracks. Woodbridge Airfield
1892-501: Was previously an F-102 squadron at and the 91st was moved to Woodbridge from Bentwaters. On 1 June 1988, the 509th was transferred to RAF Alconbury when the 10th transitioned from a Tactical Reconnaissance to a Tactical Fighter Squadron. The 67th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) moved to RAF Woodbridge from Morón Air Base , Spain, on 15 January 1970. The 67th ARRS operated Lockheed HC-130H/N/P Hercules fixed wing aircraft, and heavy duty HH-53 Jolly Green Giant helicopters, and
1936-587: Was pumped through a system of pipes along the side of the runway and burnt to produce a wall of flames which would lift the fog. Fuel was transported to Melton railway station before being piped to the airfield. By the end of the Second World War 4,200 aircraft had made emergency landings at RAF Woodbridge. After the war the airfield was used for some experimental work by the RAF with Avro Lancasters being based there, dropping Grand Slam bombs on Orford Ness , and
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