RAF Bradwell Bay

RAF Bradwell Bay
RCAF Douglas Boston Mk III taxiing at RAF Bradwell Bay in 1942
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex
Built 1940 (1940)
In use 1941-1946 (1946)
Elevation AMSL 30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates 51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°E / 51.73528; 0.90167Coordinates: 51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°E / 51.73528; 0.90167
Map
RAF Bradwell Bay
Location in Essex
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22 0 0 Concrete
10/28 0 0 Concrete
16/34 0 0 Concrete
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.

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 (5.0 km) south west of West Mersea, Essex.

History

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.[1] The station is unique as it was the only fighter station where the Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) was used.[2]

Based units

Current use

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. [19]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "RAF Bradwell Bay airfield". Control Towers. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "RAF Bradwell Bay". Wartime Memories. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 91.
  4. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 32.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 34.
  6. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  7. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  8. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
  9. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 67.
  10. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 94.
  11. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 99.
  12. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 72.
  13. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 82.
  14. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  15. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  16. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  17. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 83.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Bradwell Bay". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "RAF Bradwell Bay". English Heritage - Pastscape. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
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