Wethersfield
WETHERSFIELD: Military aerodrome later gliding site (Initally Satellite for RAF RIDGEWELL)
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Note: Picture by the author.
Military users: 1941 to 1944: RAF Fighter Command 12 Group
Bomber Command 30 Group
38 (Airborne Forces) Group
196 & 299 Sqdns (Short Stirlings)
1 & 2 Glider Servicing Echelons (Horsas)
April to September 1944: USAAF (Dakotas for the Rhine crossing operation)
Post 1945:
April-July 1946: RAF Transport Command HTCU
1952 to ?: USAF 20th TFW (Tactical Fighter Wing)
55 & 77 Sqdns (North American F-100 Super Sabres)
1975: USAF satellite for McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantoms
2000: MoD Police
614 VGS (Volunteer Gliding School)
Location: E of B1053, 1nm N of Wethersfield, 5nm NW of Braintree
Period of operation: Military: 1941 to 1985 and probably later
Runways: WW2: 11/29 1829x46 hard 15/33 1280x46 hard
04/22 1280x46 hard
NOTES: I have found info that a rare 1927 Blackburn Bluebird (G-EBRF) was based here in 1936, and apparently destroyed during a fire-fighting display in 1937? And yet it now seems the airfield did not open until 1941. However, this does not indicate that the informaton is incorrect. Very many later major military and civil airports were originally established as flying sites in the 1930s especially by the 'Flying Circus' operators. However, I have yet to discover one of these operating on this site. Can anybody provide confirmation?
It seems that WETHERSFIELD was established originally as a satellite to RAF RIDGEWELL in ESSEX during January 1941. Other records say it opened in 1943. It appears that it didn’t become a base in it’s own right until January 1944 when Bomber Command took it over. To add further confusion it seems the RAF let the USAAF use it from April to September 1944 and from November that year two RAF squadrons using Stirlings were based here on both ‘Special Operatons’ and glider towing practice. During the Rhine crossings episode in WW2 it is said that no fewer than 81 USAF Dakotas took off from here carrying paratroopers.
After WW2 this was a disposal site for Horsa gliders. Presumably being set fire to?
JUST A THOUGHT
As a sprog and 'spotter' at LAP, (London Airport later Heathrow), roughly around the early 1960s, I seem to recall learning through magazines such as Air Pictorial that major airshows took place here.
In an article published in the September 2009 issue of Light Aviation magazine Peter White described a visit here many years ago whilst a sprog in the ATC and amongst the Super Sabres was a red Aeronca 7AC Champion used by the Station flying club. Presumably on the US register?
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
According to author Jim Wilson in his book 'Britain on the Brink', in October 1962, at least for part of the time, the USAF F-100 Super Sabres were capable of carrying a 1.1 megaton nuclear weapon, and these were armed and poised to attack the Soviet Union at a moments notice. Two other F-100 bases were BENTWATERS and LAKENHEATH.
The RAF were also in a state of instant readiness - as were the Soviets of course, and yet the British public had no idea. And indeed, the chain of bunkers and their associated telecommunications system, built at huge expense for just such an eventuality, sat idle and unoccupied. So what was that all about?
Robert Armstrong
This comment was written on: 2016-05-15 15:19:07Type your text here....Hello there. I am currently helping out with a small internet-based TV company, Braintree TV. We cover sporting events, local news to the area and other events of interest; just of late though we have started to toy with the ideas of doing features/ mini documentaries of interest surrounding the town and were wondering if you would be interested if we did a feature on you and the gliding club and any open days that you have coming up in the summer. Look forward to hearing from you, Robert Armstrong
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Robert, I shall leave your comment posted and hope that somebody reads it and responds. this said, it might be better idea to visit the gliding club in person. Regards, Dick
Dave Saunders
This comment was written on: 2020-04-30 09:41:13I remember as a child/youth tow jets from Wethersfield colliding one crashing near Braintree Cemetery but cant find any info. About 1950s early sixty's, can you help
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