Stappleford Tawney Airfield During World War Two

In the last newsletter we looked at the history of Stapleford Tawney during the years leading up to 1939, when it was a busy commercial airfield. Our story continues with its role during World War Two.

In 1938 a flying school, No 21 Elementary and Reserve Flying School, was established at Stapleford Tawney to train the ever-increasing number of pilots that were needed by the RAF. Reid and Signist Ltd who were under contract to the Air Ministry carried out the flying training. One trainee who went on to have an illustrious career with the RAF, retiring in 1966 as an Air Vice Marshal, was J.E. ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, who became the top-scoring pilot with 38 ‘kills’ to his name. Johnson at the time was a civil engineer living in Loughton who learnt to fly at the weekends.

Shortly after the outbreak of war work was carried out to enlarge the airfield and by the end of March 1940 it was considered ready and was handed over to 11 Group and became a satellite for North Weald.

Squadron No151 was the first to operate regularly from the airfield and during its short stay it lost six aircraft and two pilots, one of which was the commander – Squadron Leader Eric King. No 151 Squadron was replaced by 46 Squadron, which had recently seen action in Norway and had lost all its aircraft and may of its personnel when the aircraft carrier Glorious was sunk. The pilots went straight into action. On the 3rd September when North Weald was attacked the squadron lost five aircraft whilst accounting for two enemy aircraft. The following day three more Hurricanes were lost. During their first month of operations the squadron claimed 19 victories for the loss of twenty aircraft with eight pilots killed.

During August a highly secret unit (No 419 Flight) moved into North Weald, but due to heavy raids it was moved to Stapleford in September. The unit was the operational air-arm of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). The flight was responsible for dropping agents and supplies into enemy occupied territory, but by October had moved to Stradishall.

In April 1941 No 242 Squadron flew in form Martlesham Heath. The squadron got off to a bad start for on their first operational flight (20th April) three Hurricanes collided over the Channel killing all three pilots, including the CO, Squadron leader Paddy Treacy. They were followed by 3 Squadron. Its motto ‘The third shall be first’ commemorated the fact they were the oldest squadron in the RAF, having been formed in 1912.

Towards the end of 1941 an Air Sea Rescue Squadron was formed at the airfield – No 277. This was to be their base for the next 12 months and there was no operational flying from the airfield. The squadron’s HQ was at Dudbrook Hall, Navestock.

In March 1943 the airfield was taken out of Fighter Command and handed over to No 34 Wing of the Army Co-operation Command, and it became a satellite of Sawbridgeworth. No 656 squadron which was an air observation post unit also moved in, but by August they were on their way to India.

No 34 Wing was disbanded in June 1943. They were replaced by a large number of ground personnel, including Signals, RAF Regiment and two Repair and Salvage units. However the majority of these left for the south coast in preparation for the D Day Landings.

The airfield suffered a number of attacks, the most serious being when a V2 rocket fell on the main camp site on 23 February 1945, killing 17 and injuring another 50.

In April 1945 the last few ground units left and Stapleford was reduced to a care and maintenance status under North Weald.

In 1953 the Herts and Essex Aero Club took over the airfield and it remains to this day a popular venue for light aircraft.