North Weald
| Location: | Close to the Village of North Weald Bassett and east of the M11 |
| Date opened: | As RAF North Weald 27th September 1927 |
| Operational Status: |
North
Wealds history with service flying dates from 1916 when a small airfield
to the west of the village was established by the Royal Flying Corps for
their home defence force. During the period 1916 – 1918 the airfield
improved and enlarged but after 1919 it was sadly neglected. By the middle
1920’s its potential was recognised and the airfield was bought back to
life with moderate expansion. Reconstruction work began in 1926 and on the
27th September 1927 the new station (RAF North Weald) opened.
During the 1930’s moderisation
work continued to bring it up to improved service standards. By 1939 the
airfield covered some 400 acres and was ‘E’ sector station in No 11
Group. The
airfield now supported two concrete runways 933 and 923 yards long, both
50ft wide, the airfield was provided with two C type and 8 blister hangers
as well as night landing facilities. On
the 28th September 1939 No 604 County of middlesex squadron
arrived with its Bristol Blenheim 1Fs at North Weald, they joined the two
Regular Fighter Squadrons No 56 and 151, both equipped with Hurricanes. At
the beginning of 1940 No 604 squadron was sent to RAF Digby, during this
month another squadron, No 111 arrived. During
the early weeks of the Battle of Britain it was No 56 and No 151 squadrons
that bore the brunt of the fighting from North Weald. At the end of August
1940 No 56 squadron want to Boscombe down and No 151 to Digby, these were
replaced by No’s 249 and 46 Squadrons. Like
all fighter airfields, north Weald suffered its fair share of bombings. On
24th August it received 200 bombs causing considerable damage
and a week later on the 31st, but this attack was lighter. By
far the heaviest attack was on the morning of 3rd September,
both 249 and 25 squadrons lost aircraft, and the operations room suffered
a direct hit and subsequent was moved to Blake Hall near Bobbingworth and
remained there for the rest of the war. In
September No 25 squadron converted to Bristol Beaufighters and in early
October moved to Debden. No 257 squadron with their Hurricanes replaced
them. Towards the end of the year 257 squadron moved out and No 56
squadron moved back to North Weald. In June 1941 56 squadron made a final
fair well to North Weald. Another Hurricane squadron No 242 made an
appearance in spring 1941. During
the summer of 1941 three new squadrons arrived at North Weald, the first
being No 71. By now North Wealds association with Hurricanes was coming to
an end, and the first squadron to equip with Spitfires was No 111. During
July another triple squadron No 222 with its Spitfire IIs and made North Weald
its home for the next three months. Two
Norwegian spitfire squadrons operated from North Weald, these were 331 and
332. No 331 arrived in May 1942 followed a month later by 332 squadron,
both squadrons stayed until March 1944. With
the impending invasion in Europe the two squadrons along with No 66 which
had only operated from North Weald for a short while moved on 31st
to their advanced landing ground of Bognor. Hornchurch
Sector Control had closed in February and North Wealds Operations Room was
then responsible for the following airfields, Andrews Field, Hornchurch,
Southend, Castle Comps, Bradwell Bay, and Stapleford Tawney. At the end of
April 1944 three new squadrons, No’s, 33, 74, and 127, which were all
fighter squadrons, arrived from the Middle East. However they did not stay
long and departed for Lympne in Kent by the middle of May. In August 1944
two Czech squadrons arrived, No’s 310, 312 and in the same month No 234
squadron arrived which had mainly operated within No 10 Group before. No 312 squadron left for Bradwell Bay in October and was then replaced by No 313 squadron. However by the end of the year the two Czech squadrons had also moved to Bradwell Bay. In March 1949 the airfield returned once again to fighter command and ultimately echoed to the sounds of Jet fighters from No 111 squadron. In 1958 the airfield was on a care and maintenance status until it was finally closed in 1964. |
| Airfield Closed: | As operational base, 1964 |
| Current Status: | Council owned airfield and for light industrial uses and air shows |
| Relevant Squadrons | |
| Relevant Aircraft | Information to come |
| Future Action: | Arrange a visit and photograph the area |
