RRH Neatishead

RRH Neatishead
Near Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 8YB in England
RRH Neatishead communications masts
Caelum Tuemur
(Latin for 'We Watch over the Sky')[1]
RRH Neatishead is located in Norfolk
RRH Neatishead
RRH Neatishead
Shown within Norfolk
Coordinates52°42′51″N 001°28′15″E / 52.71417°N 1.47083°E / 52.71417; 1.47083
TypeRemote Radar Head
Area11 hectares (27 acres)[2]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Boulmer, No. 1 Group (Air Combat)
Open to
the public		No, except for the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
Conditionoperational
Site history
Built1941; 83 years ago (1941)
In use1941 – present
Garrison information
OccupantsRadar Flight (South)

Remote Radar Head Neatishead (/ˈniːtɪshɛd/ NEE-tis-hed),[3] and commonly abbreviated RRH Neatishead, is an air defence radar site operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF). It is located approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) north-east of Norwich in the county of Norfolk, England.

Originally known as Royal Air Force Station Neatishead, or commonly RAF Neatishead,[4] it was established during the Second World War, and consists of the main technical site located at Neatishead, together with a number of remote, and sometimes unmanned sites.

The station motto is Caelum Tuemur, meaning 'We Watch over the Sky'. The station badge depicts the lowered head of a horned bull; and relates to the origins of the word 'Neatishead', meaning 'the vassal's household'.[5]

RAF Neatishead was previously 'parented' (for administrative and support functions) by the nearby RAF Coltishall (a fighter station latterly operating four squadrons of the ground-attack SEPECAT Jaguar). Following the closure of RAF Coltishall in 2006, RRH Neatishead became parented by RAF Marham in West Norfolk.

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London, England: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 28. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "Annex A - Estate Baseline - 2009" (PDF). Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009. GOV.UK (Report). Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 15. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  3. ^ British Broadcasting Corporation (1971). G.M. Miller (ed.). BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names. London, England: Oxford University Press. p. 108. ISBN 9780194311250. OCLC 251996308. [NEET-stəd] is the traditional village pronunciation. [NEET-is-hed] is used by Service personnel for the local R.A.F. Station.
  4. ^ "The Cold War is over but the task remains". RadarMuseum.co.uk. Neatishead: RAF Air Defence Radar Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Neatishead". Survey of English Place-Names, University of Nottingham. Retrieved 18 February 2022.