Arrived at RAF Bradwell Bay 22/09/1944
Departed RAF Bradwell Bay 03/03/1945
Aircraft Flown at Bradwell Bay Tempest V
Squadron Code SD
© IWM CH 2825
Tempest V’s came to Bradwell for a 2nd visit, this time with 501 Squadron, and were to stay for almost 6 months.
The main work of 501 Squadron was flying operational patrols from RAF Bradwell Bay, including a few scrambles. Most of the patrols were called anti-diver patrols.
The Germans were carrying out last ditch reprisals with the Vengeance weapons known as the V1 and V2, which started just a few days after the invasion of Normandy started on d Day.
501 Squadrons role was to try to shoot down the V weapons enroute over England.
RAF Bradwell Bay did get hit by a V2 in January 1945 which put Runway 2 out of action.