RAF Bradwell Bay

Summary

Royal Air Force Bradwell Bay or more simply RAF Bradwell Bay is a former Royal Air Force station located 9.5 miles (15.3 km) east of Maldon, Essex, England and 3.1 miles (5 km) south west of West Mersea, Essex.

RAF Bradwell Bay
Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex in England
RAF Bradwell Bay, June 2023.
RAF Bradwell Bay is located in Essex
RAF Bradwell Bay
RAF Bradwell Bay
Shown within Essex
RAF Bradwell Bay is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Bradwell Bay
RAF Bradwell Bay
RAF Bradwell Bay (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°E / 51.73528; 0.90167
TypeRoyal Air Force station
CodeRB[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
* No. 11 Group RAF
RAF Second Tactical Air Force[1]
Site history
Built1940 (1940)/41
In useNovember 1941 - 1946 (1946)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation9 metres (30 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22  Tarmac/Asphalt
10/28  Tarmac/Asphalt
16/34  Tarmac/Asphalt

History

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Douglas Boston Mk III aircraft of No. 418 Squadron RCAF taxiing at Bradwell Bay, Essex, prior to a night intruder raid over France, September 1942 CH7210

The central area of the current airfield was first laid down before WW2 as a grass-surfaced landing ground for the nearby Dengie firing ranges off the coast before being rebuilt from 1940 onwards as an enlarged RAF station with concrete runways, hangars and ancillary buildings.[2] The station is unique as it was the only fighter station where the Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) was used.[3] The USAAF took aerial photographs in 1944 which were published in 2023.[4]

Based units

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Units

Current use

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The memorial to aircrews from the airfield who were lost during World War 2. The reason for the Mosquito aeroplane is that many squadrons based at the airfield during WW2 had re-equipped with the type.

An area of the northern part of the site is occupied by the remains of the Bradwell nuclear power station, the Magnox element of which is currently being decommissioned. Several of the hangars are still used as storage by the local farmers and the control tower is now a private house. Agricultural buildings, built in the '70s and '80s on runways one and two, are now home to several local businesses. [25]

Bradwell Bay Preservation Group

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The Bradwell Bay Preservation Group was created to preserve the memory of people that served at Bradwell Bay. They are a not for profit organisation run by local history enthusiasts, and are fundraising to build a museum near the current memorial.[26][27]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Falconer 2012, p. 56.
  2. ^ "RAF Bradwell Bay airfield". Control Towers. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  3. ^ "RAF Bradwell Bay". Wartime Memories. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  4. ^ "World War Two aerial photos opened to public for first time". 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 32.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 34.
  7. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 67.
  12. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 72.
  13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  14. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 82.
  15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 83.
  16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 91.
  17. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 94.
  18. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  19. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 99.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Bradwell Bay". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  21. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 75.
  22. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 321.
  23. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 323.
  24. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 55.
  25. ^ "RAF Bradwell Bay". English Heritage – Pastscape. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  26. ^ "Essex preservation group in 'David and Goliath' battle against nuclear power station plans". ITV News. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  27. ^ "RAF Bradwell Bay Preservation Group (BBPG)". Bradwell Bay Preservation Group. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

Bibliography

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  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6. OCLC 17981231.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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  • Bradwell Bay Preservation Group
  • RAF Bradwell Bay Facebook group
  • Broody's War
  • Bradwell Bay United (Local football club)