Work has begun on the demolition of a Second World War airfield control tower at a former Norfolk airbase.

Earlier this year Falcon Tower Crane Services announced plans to demolish the former United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) control tower at RAF Shipdham, which will be replaced with a replica.

Now work has started to bring it down, as the area has been cordoned off and is now secure - with machinery on site ready to bring the building down.

A Falcon spokesman said: “We have started the process of dismantling the control tower with specialist external contractors due to its unsafe structure.

“The extent of how derelict the building had become was evident when unexpected areas of the tower crumbled.

"We will continue to preserve bricks from the building to use within the rebuild and museum. Our plans to honour the history of Shipdham Airfield will continue.”

Dereham Times: Work has begun on the demolition of the former United States Army Air Force (USAAF) control tower at RAF ShipdhamWork has begun on the demolition of the former United States Army Air Force (USAAF) control tower at RAF Shipdham (Image: Submitted)Speaking in August, Robena Brown, chairwoman of Shipdham History Group, said her reaction to losing the tower was "pure sadness".

Falcon Crane bought the site at Airfield Industrial Estate in 2019 and immediately applied for planning permission to build offices and refurbish the control tower.

Towards the end of 2022, the company moved its focus onto refurbishing the existing tower, however, after extensive structural analysis it was determined that the structure could not be saved.

The plans will see the demolition of the remainder of the former control tower and replace it with a new building designed to replicate the original, complete with windows, external walkways and balustrading.

Dereham Times: Falcon Tower Crane Services are based at the Shipdham Airfield Industrial EstateFalcon Tower Crane Services are based at the Shipdham Airfield Industrial Estate (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2015)Falcon said its plan included turning the ground floor into a museum with plans to install a sculpture of a B-24 Liberator at the site, along with a memorial plaque.

Constructed in 1941 to 1942, the RAF base in Shipdham was initially home to the USAAF's 319th Bombardment Group during the Second World War.

When they were replaced by the 44th Bomb Group in 1942, RAF Shipdham became America's first heavy bomber base in Norfolk using B-24 Liberator bombers - instrumental throughout the conflict.