Stapleford opened as Essex Aerodrome in 1933 as a base for Hillman's Airways (See Journal 70 for further details). In 1938 No 21 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School was established at the airfield. The airfield was requisitioned shortly after the start of the Second World War as RAF Stapleford Tawney. A long perimeter track and dispersal points were built and some accommodation buildings were erected, and by the end of March 1940 the airfield was ready to become a satellite station for North Weald.
The first squadron to make regular use of Stapleford was No. 151 Squadron, making patrols from the base from August 1940. Six aircraft were lost and two pilots, including squadron leader Eric King, killed in action on 30 August. After a short stay, the squadron was moved to RAF Digby, Lincolnshire. No. 46 Squadron arrived in September, having lost all their Hurricane fighters when the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious was sunk while evacuating the squadron from Norway.
Other units to use Stapleford included the secret No. 419 Flight, formed in August 1940 as the operational air-arm of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). They were intended to use Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys to drop agents and supplies behind enemy lines. Westland Lysanders would be used to pick up agents as well as other important people.
Because of heavy Luftwaffe attacks on North Weald, the flight moved to Stapleford on 4 September. The Whitley was a rather large aircraft to use Stapleford's grass runways, and the flight then moved to RAF Stradishall, Suffolk, on 9 October.
Other squadrons at Stapleford were No. 242 Squadron and the RAF's oldest, No. 3 Squadron and, in 1941, a new Air Sea Rescue squadron was formed at Stapleford - No. 277 Squadron.
In March 1943, Stapleford was taken out of Fighter Command and placed under the command of No. 34 Wing of the Army Co-operation Command.
Stapleford played an important part in the preparations for D-Day.
On 20 November 1944 a V-2 rocket landed in the middle of the airfield leaving a crater 60 feet in diameter.
Tragedy Strikes
On the 23rd January 1945 the airfield was again hit by a V2 rocket, when one fell on a hangar, sadly resulting in the deaths of 17 personnel and injuring 50. 10 of those killed were RAF personnel, including 2 women.
The names of the RAF personnel killed are;
Ft. Lt. Henry Keatch Clifford , RAF Regt, aged 40 years.
Ft. Lt. (Pilot) John Douglas Pearson, RAF, aged 27years.
L.A.C. Kenneth William Robson Sadler, RAF Regt, aged 22 years.
L.A.C. Thomas Jones, RAF Regt., aged 24 years.
L.A.C. Arthur James Turner, RAF Regt., aged 25 years.
L.A.C. Albert James McAuley, RAF Regt., aged 33 years.
A.C. 1st Class Reginald William Metherall, RAFVR, aged 19 years.
L.A.C.W. Beryl Baynes-Cope, RAF Regt., WAAF, aged 20 years.
L.A.CW. Joan Edna Turner. WAAF, aged 21 years.
Those named above who were in the RAF Regiment served in 2839 (Anti-Aircraft) Squadron RAF Regiment. They were posted to Stapleford Tawney in late 1944.
They are all buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at St Andrew’s North Weald.
L.A.C. Anthony Brodribb, RAF Regt., aged 23 years, who was also killed was buried at Ashby De La Zouch Cemetery.
Civilian Personnel
William Henry Bird, aged 40 years. He lived at Rose Cottage, Toot Hill, Stanford Rivers. He is buried in St Margaret’s churchyard.
Henry John Card, aged 38 years. He lived at Gidea Park.
These are the only 2 names on the WWII Civilian Deaths database that I have been able to find.
The Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in North Weald is situated at St. Andrew’s church and adjoins North Weald Bassett Aerodrome, a Royal Air Force Operational Station during the 1939-1945 War. The churchyard was used for war time burials by this station and also by the R.A.F. Station at Stapleford Tawney. There are now a small number of 1914-1918 and nearly 50, 1939-1945 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The Cross of Sacrifice was unveiled by the R.A.F. Station Commander, North Weald and District, and dedicated by the Assistant Chaplain-in-Chief R.A.F., on Sunday, 24th October, 1954.
Martyn Lockwood