Welcome to Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial Website
The Downham Market Airfield Cairn memorial is a tribute to the brave servicemen and women who served at RAF Downham Market, Norfolk, England, a pivotal Royal Air Force Bomber Station from July 1942 to September 1945. This memorial aims to inspire pride and a sense of belonging in the community, reminding everyone of their shared history and sacrifice. The memorial, created by Chris Coverdale, seeks to inspire pride and strengthen community bonds. If you're able to donate, it would be much appreciated. You can do this with the GoFundMe page.
The airfield cairn memorial serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by those honoured at this memorial, encouraging visitors to reflect, learn more about the history, and appreciate that they gave their tomorrow for our freedom today.
On 7 July 2026, the Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial was blessed in a ceremony by R.A.F. Marham, bringing the community together and fostering a collective sense of reverence, pride, and remembrance.
The main plaques are situated on the top of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn memorial. In three separate plaques, it is first represented with the RAF eagle, with the Crest Motto in Latin (Per ardua ad astra) and in English, "Through adversity to the stars". The Middle Plaque is a tribute to all who served at the former RAF Downham Market from 1942 to 1945. To the left, in column format at the top left, No. 3 Group Crest, followed by No. 218 Gold Coast Squadron Crest, No. 623 Squadron, which has no Crest as this squadron was not formed long enough, and next is No. 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron—all of those squadrons operated with Stirling Bombers. The central part of this Plaque gives the Airfield Map Layout, showing the location of the airfield Cairn memorial at the start of the main runway. Depending on the wind direction, the squadron's aircraft would take off on bombing operations from either end, as it was the longest of the three concrete runways at 2000 yards, allowing the bombers to be fully fuelled (Full Tanks) and bombed up to capacity. On the right side of the centre cairn plaque are the No. 8 Group Pathfinder Force crest, the No. 635 Squadron crest, the No. 571 Squadron crest (which did not receive a squadron crest), and the No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron crest. All three Squadrons were formed at RAF Downham Market under the direction of Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett, C-in-C of No. 8 Group PFF. 635 Squadron with Lancasters and 57 & 608 with Mosquito bombers (Light Night Striking Force). The Third Plaque at the bottom celebrates and honours the amazing Leadership of all Station Commanders, along with the Squadron Commander of the named squadron above, while at RAF Downham Market, codenamed "Off-Strike".
Airfield memorial: A tribute to honour Victoria Cross Pilot - Flight Sergeant Arthur Louis Aaron VC DFM. RAF VR.
Airfield memorial: A tribute to honour Victoria Cross Pilot - Squadron Leader VC. DFC. RAF VR.
Eight Stainless Steel lasered plaques, each recording 20 aircrews in date order as Missing in Action, serve as a meaningful tribute, fostering respect and appreciation for their sacrifice. Explaining their significance helps readers understand why these memorials are vital to the community and veterans.
It took 16 months to compile the losses from RAF Downham Market from July 1942 to September 1945. Every effort has been made to locate Service personnel information via RAF Held Records and the location of Birth Certification, either via Ancestry.com or other means (Family records, etc.), to demonstrate our commitment to accuracy and respect for their memory.
Chris Coverdale completed the 8 Group Pathfinder data, and Mr Steve Smith completed the No.3 Group data. Both undertakings required significant time and effort, and we both understood the importance of getting this right. This dedication aims to inspire confidence and appreciation in our audience for the meticulous work involved.
A point of personal interest that both of us felt in putting this research together was indeed the young age of so many and the effects it had on the airmen to be taken as prisoners of war, and for many, only to find out that all of their crew were dead. The unbelievable sense of loss felt by those put in that position, trying to come to terms with knowing they were the sole survivor, was heartbreaking and would be forevermore throughout their life.
It's important to understand the abbreviation of outcome for each airman: KIA is Killed in Action. PoW is Prisoner of War, EvD is Evaded capture, and Safe reflects having just survived a crash landing or an incident, in reference to a training sortie. Each Aircrew is Numbered 1 to 146. (Aircrews 1 to 94 are all Stirling Aircrews and 95 to 146 Lancaster & Mosquito Aircrews).
The Poem on the 8th losses plaque "Bomber Boys" was written and produced by Chris Coverdale and is copyrighted
BLESSING CEREMONY PHOTOS 7TH JULY 2026
A massive, heartfelt thank you to Group Captain Leonie Boyd and the RAF Marham service personnel, who all made the blessing service for the airfield cairn memorial so amazing. "Now, at last, the Bomber Boys can finally rest in peace".
Commander. RAF Marham. Group Captain Leonie Boyd. OBE. ADC. MENG(HONS) MDA. CENG. MRAES. RAF who took command of RAF Marham on 27 September 2024
F-35 B- Lighting Jets, opening Blessing Service Flyby
Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II is the result of decades of development, starting with the US Navy's 1983 Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) program to replace the A-6 Intruder and DARPA's Advanced Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) project, aimed at creating a supersonic successor to the Harrier. The ASTOVL and ATA programs evolved, merging into the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program by 1996.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin were chosen to produce demonstrators for a competitive fly-off. In 2001, Lockheed Martin won the contract with its X-35, which became the F-35 Lightning II. The UK joined as a key partner, selecting the F-35B STOVL variant for its Harrier replacement and its Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.
The UK received its first F-35B in 2012 and made RAF Marham the primary base for the aircraft. Squadron Leader Steve Long became the first British pilot to fly an F-35 on 26 January 2010, and in July 2012, the government announced its decision to purchase an initial batch of 48 aircraft. The first of these was delivered on 19 July 2012, for trials work, a task 17 (Reserve) Squadron assumed in 2014.
The first operational squadron, 617 Sqn, arrived in 2018. US Marine Corps F-35Bs joined UK jets for training ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth's first operational cruise in 2021, marking the start of joint UK-US carrier operations.
Two F-35B Lightning jets from 617 Squadron performed a flyby over the memorial, emphasising the ongoing connection and pride in our history. They continued along the former location of the Main Runway, now a wheat field. The Memorial, situated on the freehold of the Main runway, marks the day, 84 years ago, when four-engine Stirling bombers of No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron of No. 3 Group Bomber Command arrived at the airfield, having been transferred from RAF Marham, on 7 July 1942.
Memorial Creator Chris Coverdale going over the order of service with The Reverend (Flt Lt) Jeanine Bossy (Chaplain / RAF Marham.
Group Captain Jim Calvert OBE. MA. RAF Marham discusses the order of Service with The Reverend (Flt Lt) Jeanine Bossy (Chaplain / RAF Marham). Across from them is Padre Craig Bentley, Chaplain, RAF Marham.
Squadron Commander of the Lightning Air Wing: Group Captain Jim Calvert OBE. MA. RAF Marham starts the proceedings with an amazing introduction, the memorial dedication.
Station Commander. RAF Marham. Group Captain Leonie Boyd. OBE. ADC. MENG(HONS) MDA. CENG. MRAES. RAF attended the airfield Cairn memorial blessing service at former RAF Downham Market on 7 July 2026.
