Rivenhall Airfield in World War Two

The airfield was built to accommodate a US P51B Mustang squadron in December 1943 when the US entered the war.  There were several such airfields in East Anglia.  They were built quickly and the most important building material was concrete!  Three runways (2,000 yards plus two of 1,400 yards arranged in a standard triangle; two hangers; accommodation; control tower and storage.

 

The Rolls-Royce powered Mustangs of 363 Fighter Group took to the air in January 1944 and very soon the inexperienced pilots were escorting bombers of the US 8th Air Force as they attacked targets in Germany, most notably Berlin.  The inexperience of the pilots was sadly tested on their second day when eleven aircraft failed to return - shot down by a crack Me 109 group.  Before long, in April, the Mustangs were moved to the South Coast to prepare for the Allied Invasion of Europe.

The Mustangs were replaced by the US 397 Bomber Group, equipped with B26 Marauders.  These were twin engined medium bombers used for tactical attacks into occupied Europe.  In April and May 1944 the Group, along with other US and RAF aircraft attacked the launch sites (near Pas de Calais) for the much hated "Doodlebugs".

As preparations proceeded for the invasion of Europe the Marauders were used to bomb bridges, railways, viaducts &c in order to paralyse the German armies.   In June they played their part in the invasion of Europe.  On 6th June the Group attacked defensive batteries inland of Utah Beach.  After two months of intensive support for the Allied invaders they left Rivenhall and moved to an advanced landing ground in France.  There they built up their considerable reputation destroying bridges and became called the "Bridge Busters".

 In October 1944 two squadrons (Nos 295 and 570) of Short Stirling bombers arrived at Rivenhall.   These aircraft had been converted to tow Airspeed Horsa Gliders.  The Horsa could carry 29 fully loaded infantrymen or a 75mm Howitzer!

 

An unconverted Stirling bomber

The Horsa

In March 1945 the Stirlings took part in operation "Varsity" - a successful glider landing on the east bank of the Rhine.  This was the last large scale glider landing of the war.

The Stirlings were involved in several operations without the gliders.  They dropped supplies to resistance groups in Occupied Europe; they delivered close support bombing to support US forces in Europe; they even carried high octane fuel to Allied airfields in Europe. 

As the war drew to a close the Stirlings were used to ferry Allied prisoners back to England and later they transported goods and spares to Allied troops on the continent.  The airfield was very busy until in January 1946 the two Stirling squadrons were disbanded and the airfield waas closed.

This is an aerial photo taken in 1944:

 

The Control Tower (below) was demolished in the 1960s.

Rivenhall Airfield - Recent Planning History (Summary)

In March 2007 a waste management facility plan was granted (but never implemented).  Ref: ESS/38/06/BTE. At the time both the developer and Essex County Council said this would not involve any waste incineration and no waste would come from outside Essex.

In 2008 permission was granted for the extraction of sand and gravel with access via an improved junction onto the A120.  Also a processing plant. This has been implemented and aggregate will be extracted until 2021 when it will be restored to low level agriculture.  Ref: ESS/07/08/BTE.  For Bradwell Quarry.

Also, in 2008 a variation of ESS/07/08/BTE was granted subject to a legal agreement which has not yet been signed.  This was also for the Quarry, to allow amended restoration levels.  

In effect, then, the current application relating to the "call in" is a successor to the first, unimplemented, waste planning application above. The Community Group believes that the current proposal is radically different from the 2007 proposal. It is much larger in scale (about 50% higher capacity) and includes industrial proposals (a 360,000 tonne per annum paper pulping plant) and an incinerator (also 360,000 tpa) that did not form part of the 2007 plan. The latest plan is very much a "regional" rather than a "county" or "local" scheme.

The Airfield Today

The airfield retains many features characteristic of such World War Two constructions.  The three runways are clearly visible.  The two hangers can be seen (one to the left; one to the right).  While not intact the control room remains, as do many other structures - see pictures below.  The airfield is adjacent to the quarry works which inevitably impinge upon it but one needs to bear in mind that in 2021 the quarry will close and the land will be reinstated.  This will improve the ambience of the airfield site.

Not so many years ago this was a thriving airfield which played its part in the liberation of Europe and the destruction of National Socialism (Nazism).  Today, much of it is used for agricultural purposes while some of the old buildings are in use by local businesses.

Two hangers remain; both are in decent condition and used by local businesses. . . .

In July 2009 much of the land is growing wheat . . . . 

And, of course, there are footpaths. . . . .

Were you to ask the dogs "Incinerator or Footpath?" we have little doubt that they would opt for the footpath and say  NO TO THE INCINERATOR.