Norfolk Broads Forum

Sites across the globe linked to historical battles often retain potent emotional imprints, leading to reports of residual or spiritual hauntings. Airfields from wartime periods are particularly notable for such phenomena. These airfields were bustling centres of activity where crew members prepared for dangerous bombing missions, knowing full well they might not survive. The constant tension among officers, airmen, and controllers created an atmosphere ripe for leaving behind strong emotional imprints.

Bircham Newton Airfield, located in King's Lynn, Norfolk, stands out as a prime example. Originally constructed at the onset of World War I in 1914, the airfield fell into disrepair after the war. However, it was recommissioned at the start of World War II, serving the Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). This airfield witnessed extensive drama and tragedy, leaving a lasting imprint on its surroundings.

After World War II, the site was repurposed by a construction industry training company, CITB, which converted the officer's mess into a hotel and used part of the building as a studio for management training films. The hauntings, however, seemed to concentrate around the squash courts built at the back of the hotel.

One notable haunting account involves two men playing squash. They noticed a strange figure in a vintage RAF uniform from the World War II era staring at them from the spectator's walkway. The apparition walked along the walkway and disappeared through a doorway, leaving the men stunned. Determined to investigate further, they set up a tape recorder in the squash court overnight. Though initially spooked by loud footsteps in the corridor, they locked the building securely, ensuring no one else could enter.

The next day, the recorder revealed startling sounds: an active airfield, male and female voices, unusual pings, and groans. Aircraft sounds were also heard, despite authorities confirming no aircraft were in the area at the time. Given the squash court's nine-inch thick walls, which should have blocked out all external noises, these recordings were inexplicable.

Intrigued by the findings, a BBC engineer analysed the tape and confirmed it was genuine. This caught the attention of a BBC television program, Nationwide, which conducted its own investigation. A reporter spending the night in the squash courts experienced door bangs, intense cold, and unexplained recorder malfunctions, common in paranormal investigations.

A medium brought into the squash courts described a twin-engine British aircraft, the Anson, which had crashed near a church, killing three crew members: Dusty Miller, Pat Sullivan, and Jerry Arnold. The medium claimed these airmen's spirits remained unaware of their deaths, still haunting the airfield.

Other eerie incidents followed. One student reported having his bedclothes pulled off, while another found his curtains torn down and thrown around the room. An engineer working in the attic, previously the officer's mess, felt a tap on his shoulder three times and refused to enter the room again. Another witness saw an RAF uniformed figure walk through a brick wall where a doorway had once been, leading him to quit his course in fear.

The officer's mess window was frequently broken, and the radiators turned off inexplicably during the night, even though the switch was in a hard-to-reach spot.

The hauntings at Bircham Newton Airfield appear to be a mix of residual and spiritual phenomena, with various accounts providing substantial evidence. The emotional weight of wartime experiences seems to have left an indelible mark on this historic site, making it a fascinating case study for those interested in the paranormal.