Rackheath – WW2 Base and Home to Friars Pride
In preparation for National Fish and Chip Day’s collaboration with D-Day this year, Friars Pride discovered that Rackheath Industrial Estate in Norwich, the home of one of our depots, was involved in WW2!
National Fish and Chip Day 2024
This year, NEODA have announced that in celebration of D-Day’s 80th Anniversary, National Fish and Chip Day will be moved to Thursday 6th June 2024.
The D-Day landings was the largest naval, land and air operation in history and began the liberation of France. Its significance in the WW2 efforts is why NEODA has decided to honour the day by changing the date of National Fish and Chip Day to the 6th June.
Fish and chips were a critical dish during the war. The meal was crucial in maintaining morale. More can be found about this in our blog post here.
RAF Rackheath
Rackheath Industrial Estate, Norwich, is the former Royal Air Force station which was used in WW2. It also happens that our Friars Pride Norwich Depot is based on this very estate and is just round the corner from its memorial (pictured below).
The airfield was first established in 1943 for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). It followed the usual layout of other heavy bomber bases. There was also temporary accommodation for around 2400 personnel to the south-west of the airfield. It was home to the 467th Bombardment Group under the command of Colonel Albert J. Shower.
The group flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator and began operations in April 1944 with attacks on airfields in occupied France. The bombardment group attacked enemy factories and enemy troops. They also supplied concentrations to assist the Allied forces across France.
They attacked enemy communications and fortifications during the Battle of the Bulge, 1944-45.
Overall, the group flew 212 combat missions and suffered losses of 235 airmen. Their sacrifice and efforts in WW2 helped the Allied forces by assisting in the Allied attack across France.
It is an honour to have our depot on the same grounds as the former Royal Air Force Station.
Buy your National Fish and Chip Day Box Now!
Our partnership with NEODA for National Fish and Chip Day with our packaging brand, Hook & Fish, hopes to reflect the importance of the war efforts that facilitated D-Day and the Allied victory!
As one of the sponsors of the day, we have specially created Lite Bite Corrugated Box! Read more about National Fish and Chip Day, as well as our exclusive box here.
The box is a fantastic way to show your support for the day! Don’t forget that NEODA also have National Fish and Chip Day Merch available too, along with downloadable National Fish and Chip Day material!
We hope you will celebrate this important day with us, and we look forward to seeing the nation celebrate D-Day’s 80th anniversary with the meal that was a key feature of WW2.