Arrived at RAF Bradwell Bay 06/03/1944
Departed RAF Bradwell Bay 28/04/1944
Aircraft Flown at Bradwell Bay Tempest V
Squadron Code JF
© IWM (CH 14095)
Another short-term visitor, very much a move with the Normandy invasion in mind. On arrival at Bradwell Bay the squadron was transitioning to the Tempest V. On 7th April the squadron flew to RAF Ayr (Heathfield) near Glasgow. This was for a armament practice course which included ground crew as well as aircrew. They left Ayr on 14th April and returned to Bradwell.
The station commander Wing Commander R.F. (Digger) Aitkin had been the squadron commander of 3 Squadron and was to go on to run 150 Airfield which was the tented camp being prepared at RAF Bradwell Bay to acclimatise squadrons to be part of a mobile tactical Airforce for what was anticipated to be a mobile war once France had been invaded at Normandy.
3 Squadron left Bradwell bay on 28th April to go to the Advanced Landing Ground at Newchurch in Kent where they remained until 21st September 1944. Providing cover for the D Day Landings.