Earls Colne Airfield
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| Earls Colne Airfield | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: N/A - ICAO: EGSR | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Bulldog Aviation Ltd | ||
| Serves | Halstead | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 227 ft (69 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 06/24 | 3,081 | 939 | Grass/Asphalt |
Earls Colne Airfield (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGSR) is located 1 nautical mile ("NM") (1.8 km) South-southwest of Earls Colne and 3 NMs (5.6 km) Southeast of Halstead in Essex, England. During World War II it was used by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force.
The airfield was standard Class A bomber station with three intersecting concrete runways, fifty aircraft hardstands and two T-2 type hangars. During construction, an American B-17F of the 301st Bomb Group from RAF Chelveston made an emergency landing at the unfinished field. Earls Colne was opened in August 1942 and for the first year it was operated by No. 3 Group Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force.
Contents |
[edit] USAAF use
In May 1943 the airfield was turned over to the United States Army Air Force. USAAF grouops of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces used the airfield. It was assigned USAAF designation Station 358 (EC).
From 12 June 1943 through 16 October 1943, Earls Colne (along with nearby Marks Hall) served as headquarters for the 3d Combat Bombardment Wing of the 3d Bomb Division.
[edit] 94th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The first American unit to use Earls Colne was the 94th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moved in with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, arriving from RAF Bassingbourn on 12 May 1943. The group tail code was a "Square-A". It's operational squadrons were:
- 331st Bomb Squadron (BG)
- 332d Bomb Squadron (OE)
- 333d Bomb Squadron (ET)
- 410th Bomb Squadron (QW)
Only a few operational missions were flown by the 94th as on 12 June the group was moved to RAF Bury St. Edmunds in a general exchange of bases with B-26 Marauder groups.
[edit] 323d Bombardment Group (Medium)
Replacing the 94th at Earls Colne was the 323d Bombardment Group (Medium) which arrived from RAF Horham on 14 June 1943. The group was assigned to the 3d Bomb Wing and flew Martin B-26B/C Marauders with a Horizontal white tail band for it's group marking. Operational squadrons of the 323d were:
- 453d Bomb Squadron (VT)
- 454th Bomb Squadron (RJ)
- 455th Bomb Squadron (YU)
- 456th Bomb Squadron (WT)
The group began combat operations on 16 July 1943, attacking marshalling yards, airfields, industrial plants, military installations, and other targets in France, Belgium, and Holland.
In common with other Marauder units of the 3d Bomb Wing, the 323d was transferred to Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943. Tactical missions were flown against V-weapon sites along the coast of France and attacked airfields at Leeuwarden and Venlo in conjunction with the Allied campaign against the German Air Force and aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944.
The 323d helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing coastal defenses, marshalling yards, and airfields in France and struck roads and coastal batteries on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
On 21 July the group was moved south to RAF Beaulieu in Hampshire.
[edit] RAF use
In September 1944 the airfield returned to RAF control, with No. 38 Group bomber station operating the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarles and Handley Page Halifaxes. 38 Group was used as a glider towing unit (Squadrons Nos. 296 and 297).
Both squadrons participated in Operation Varsity, the airborne part of the Rhine Crossing in March 1945.
[edit] Postwar use
The airfield reverted to a 'care and maintenance' station in 1946 and, as there was no further military use for Earls Colne, the base was abandoned. When de-requisitioned in 1955 much of the airfield was returned to agricultural use, with most of the runways, hardstands and perimeter track being removed and the concrete ground into aggrigate for road construction projects in the area. The control tower was used as a house for many years, eventually being demolished in 2003.
Much of the airfield today is being used as a golf course. The technical buildings are now an industrial park, and parts of the old wartime runways remain in use as an active airfield for general aviation and flight training.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- United Kingdom AIP
- Freeman, Roger A., UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now, 1994
- Freeman, Roger A., Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now, 1978
- www.controltowers.co.uk Earls Colne
- mighty8thaf.preller.us Earls Colne
- Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
