Second World War Airfields in Essex

During the mid 1930's, it was realised by the Royal Air Force that it needed to build larger and better equipped airfields if another War with Germany was going to be a possibility. After the severe cutbacks of the 1920's and with government policy being not to fight another major war for at least ten years, it would be a large expansion indeed. Many purpose built airfields were established, and these were to be on a permanent basis. Built with brick barrack blocks and other permanent buildings, they were also to include bigger aircraft Hangars for servicing and maintenance, comfortable Officers and airmen’s quarters and dining halls, in fact they were as modern as could be at the time. The design and architecture gave the impression of being older than they were, benefiting from the ideas of one of the great architects of the time, Sir Edwin Lutyens.
By the latter part of the decade, it was realised that even more airfields would be needed. After many potential airfield sites were surveyed, a period of increased building took place on suitable sites with agricultural land being requisitioned under the Emergency Powers Act of 1939. Landowners and Farmers had no immediate recompense, nor grounds for appeal, and many did not get their land back until long after the war was over.
These airfields were for hostilities only, born out of the need to expand quickly, their standard of build was not at all like the large permanent airfields. Most buildings were of temporary brick construction with many types of huts employed to serve different purposes. Their life was not expected to be that long, probably ten years or so. The level of luxury at these airfields was non-existent, cold and damp with sparse heating and mud everywhere. It was no easy life on these temporary wartime airfields.
After the war many were abandoned, and quickly fell into disrepair, although some did continue for some time in one form or another. Many of the buildings were removed if no other use could be found for them. The miles of concrete from the perimeter tracks and runways was lifted over the post war decades, and was used to supply the hardcore hungry road building market and releasing land once more to agricultural use.
Below is a list of airfields that were located in Essex. Some had been constructed during the First World War to combat the Zeppelin threat and others were requisitioned by the RAF when war broke out in 1939. An example of the latter is Stapleford Tawney which opened as Essex Aerodrome in 1933 as a base for Hillman's Airways, which provided a service to Paris and other European cities using De Havilland DH.84 Dragon and DH.89 Dragon Rapide biplanes. Requisitioned by the RAF in 1940.

RAF Andrews Field 1942 - 1945. USAF
RAF Birch 1942 - 1945 RAF and USAF
RAF Boreham 1944 - 1945 USAF
RAF Boxted 1943 – 1947 USAF
RAF Bradwell Bay 1940 – 1946 RAF
RAF Chigwell 1938 - 1964
RAF Chipping Ongar 1943 – 1959 RAF and USAF
RAF Debden 1937 – 1975 RAF
RAF Earls Colne 1942 – 1955 RAF and USAF
RAF Fairlop 1941 – 1945 RAF
RAF Gosfield 1943 – 1955 RAF and USAF
RAF Great Dunmow 1943 – 1948 RAF and USAF
RAF Great Sampford 1942 – 1948 RAF
RAF Hornchurch 1915 – 1962 RAF
RAF Little Walden 1944 – 1958 RAF and USAF
RAF Matching 1944 – 1946 RAF and USAF
RAF North Weald 1916 - RAF
RAF Ridgewell 1942 – 1957 RAF and USAF
RAF Rivenhall 1944 – 1946 RAF and USAF
RAF Rochford 1914 - RAF
RAF Stansted Mountfitchet 1943 – 1958 RAF and USAF
RAF Stapleford Tawney 1940 - RAF
RAF Stow Maries 1914 RAF
RAF Wethersfield 1944 – 1970 RAF and USAF
RAF Wormingford 1917 – 1920 & 1943 – 1962 RAF