RAF Ridgewell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Royal Air Force Station Ridgewell USAAF Station 167
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| Located Near Halstead, Essex, England | |
 Aerial Photo of Ridgewell Airfield - 1945 |
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| Type | Military Airfield |
| Coordinates | |
| Location code | RD |
| Built | 1942 |
| In use | 1942-1957 |
| Controlled by | Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces |
| Garrison | RAF Bomber Command Eighth Air Force |
| Battles/wars | European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 |
RAF Ridgewell is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 7½ miles NW of Halstead in Essex. During the war, the airfield was used by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force. It was assigned USAAF designation Station 167, station code "RD".
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[edit] Overview
Ridgewell airfield was an early example of stations completed to Class A heavy bomber airfield design for the RAF, and had three intersecting runways of 6,500 ft each in length, thirty-six hardstands, two T-2 hangars and accommodation for 2,900 men in temporary buildings.
[edit] RAF Bomber Command use
The airfield was opened in December 1942 and was first used by the RAF Bomber Command 90 squadron with Short Stirling Bombers until May 1943, the station being at the time a satellite of RAF Stradishall.
[edit] USAAF use
Ridgewell was the only long-term heavy bomber base of the Eighth Air Force in Essex. For USAAF use, the number of hardstands was increased to the fifty required by a US bomb group. The station was part of the 1st Combat Wing establishment of the 1st Division and was the furthest east of its thirteen heavy bomber stations.
[edit] 381st Bombardment Group
From 30 June 1943 the airfield was used by the USAAF 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Pueblo AAB, Colorado. It's tail code was Triangle-L.. The 381st Bomb Group consisted of the following operational squadrons and fuselage codes:
- 532d Bomb Squadron (VE)
- 533th Bomb Squadron (VP)
- 534th Bomb Squadron (GD)
- 535th Bomb Squadron (MS)
After V-E Day, the 381st Bomb Group returned to Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota in July 1945 and was deactivated on 28 August.
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[edit] Air Ministry Use
After the war, Ridgewell was used for bomb storage from 15 July 1945 to 31 March 1957. It was then disposed of and sold. The United States Air Force retained the old aircraft hangars which were used by units from nearby RAF Wethersfield and RAF Alconbury for storage until both bases were closed in the early 1990s.
[edit] Civil Use
With the end of military control, the majority of the base was returned to agriculture, with the buildings and control tower being torn down. The concrete runways and hardstands were removed for hardcore, although much of the perimeter track was reused for country roads, albeit at a reduced width.
Recently the airfield has been purchased by the Essex gliding club and is their home base for gliding throughout the summer months.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
- Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- www.controltowers.co.uk Ridgewell
- mighty8thaf.preller.us Ridgewell
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
[edit] External links
- Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association
- Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Museum
- 381st Bomb Group Website
