RAF Bradwell Bay

RAF Bradwell Bay
RCAF Douglas Boston Mk III taxiing at RAF Bradwell Bay in 1942
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex
Built	1940
In use	1941-1946
Elevation AMSL	30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates	51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°ECoordinates: 51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°E
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 war memorial to the crew lost during World War 2

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 airfield was first used as grass landing strip for the nearby firing ranges before being turned into a RAF station with concrete runways and hangars.^[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

• No. 418 Squadron RCAF.^[3]
• No. 23 Squadron RAF.^[4]
• No. 29 Squadron RAF.^[5]
• No. 157 Squadron RAF.^[6]
• No. 247 Squadron RAF.^[7]
• No. 56 Squadron RAF.^[8]
• No. 198 Squadron RAF.^[9]
• No. 488 Squadron RAF.^[10]
• No. 605 Squadron RAF.^[11]
• No. 219 Squadron RAF.^[12]
• No. 278 Squadron RAF.^[13]
• No. 124 Squadron RAF.^[14]
• No. 501 Squadron RAF.^[15]
• No. 151 Squadron RAF.^[16]
• No. 287 Squadron RAF.^[17]
• No. 2 Armament Practice Station.^[18]
• No. 3 Fighter Command Servicing Unit.^[18]
• No. 5 Fighter Command Servicing Unit.^[18]
• No. 111 (Transport) Wing.^[18]
• No. 134 (Czech) (Fighter) Wing.^[18]
• No. 150 Airfield.^[18]
• No. 2727 Squadron RAF Regiment.^[18]
• No. 2730 Squadron RAF Regiment.^[18]
• No. 2739 Squadron RAF Regiment.^[18]
• No. 2831 Squadron RAF Regiment.^[18]
• No. 2840 Squadron RAF Regiment.^[18]

Current use

Part of the site is currently being used by the Bradwell nuclear power station. 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

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. "RAF Bradwell Bay airfield". Control Towers. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
2. "RAF Bradwell Bay". Wartime Memories. 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. "Bradwell Bay". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
19. "RAF Bradwell Bay". English Heritage - Pastscape. Retrieved 4 May 2012.

External links