Military and Aviation Norfolk
The Station
RAF Marham is the home of the F-35 Lightning a 5th Generation, multi-role, stealth fighter.
The Station is also home to a range of engineering support functions from maintenance to frontline support. Over 3600 Service Personnel, civil servants and contractors work at RAF Marham.
Who's based here
6 RAF Police (Lightning) Squadron
Key dates
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1916 - Marham opened as a training establishment and night landing ground.
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1937 - RAF Marham re-opened as a heavy bomber unit.
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1957 - The Atom Bomb arrived at RAF Marham.
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1977 - Her Majesty the Queen became the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Marham.
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1982 - Victor aircraft from RAF Marham took part in the Operation BLACK BUCK.
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1990 - Tornado aircraft deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation GRANBY.
History
RAF Marham was first opened in 1916 to defend Norfolk from raids by the German Zeppelin airships during World War One.
After being mothballed between the wars, Marham re-opened as the RAF began expanding in 1937. By the time war broke out in 1939, it was home to a fleet of Wellington bombers, which flew on some of the first raids of the war.
Twin-engine Mosquitos and Stirling heavy bombers were also based at Marham during the war. Through the 1950s and 1960s, it was home to a succession of flying tanker units, as the RAF pioneered air-to-air refuelling.
During the Falklands conflict, a Vulcan bomber was re-fuelled in-flight on its way to bomb Port Stanley airfield to deny it to the Argentines.
In 1990 the Tornado Squadrons of RAF Marham deployed to the Middle East in what was the start of over 25 years of continuous operations in the region.
In March 2011, Tornado aircraft flew direct from Marham to attack Col Gaddafi's air defences, as the Libyan conflict flared.
for more information about this station please go to https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-marham/
