'World-class' RAF heritage centre opens at new Norfolk home

Around 1,000 people flocked to the opening day of a relocated RAF centre near Fakenham.

Ian Brown first launched the RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre in August 2019 inside the Wicken Green Rural Center, which was visited by the late Queen.

It has now moved to the neighbouring building, which was used as a chapel in the 1950s for those living at the airbase.

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The new RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre in a former chapel (Image: Supplied)

RAF Sculthorpe was open from 1943 until 1992 and it was one of the largest and most strategically important American airbases in the country.

The new centre opened on May 5 2024 and the Mildenhall Honor Guard was one of the special guests.

The AYA Café serves drinks, snack and cakes (Image: Supplied)

As well as new displays there is also the AYA Café, an American sweet shop and the wreckage of a B-29.

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Mr Brown said: "Visitors have described it as a world-class museum and you can learn not only about aviation but personal stories too."

Founder Ian Brown outside the new RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre in the former airbase chapel (Image: Supplied)

In 2024, it is open on the first Sunday of every month until November (excluding August) from 10am to 4pm.

Entry is £2.50 or free for under 16s and the postcode is NR21 7LX.

The site is wheelchair and dog-friendly and American Day is on August 11.