RAF Andrews Field

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Royal Air Force Station Andrews Field
Royal Air Force Station Great Saling
USAAF Station 485

Located Near Braintree, Essex, England

Andrews Field Airfield - 26 July 1948
Type Military Airfield
Coordinates 51°53′53″N, 000°27′18″E
Location code GZ
Built 1942
In use 1942-1946
Controlled by United States Army Air Forces
Royal Air Force
Garrison Eighth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
RAF Fighter Command
Battles/wars European Theatre of World War II
Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945
RAF Andrews Field (Essex)
RAF Andrews Field
Map showing the location of RAF Andrews Field within Essex.

RAF Andrews Field (also known as Andrewsfield or Great Saling) is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 5 miles west of Braintree in Essex in the parish of Great Saling to the north of the A120, the old Roman Slane Street

Contents

[edit] Overview

Great Saling was the original Air Ministry name for the airfield when construction was begun in 1942 by the 819th Engineer Battalion (Aviation) of the US Army however on 21 May 1943 the official name was changed to Andrews Field in honour of Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews.

Frank M. Andrews was a pioneer exponent of air power and was destined to become a very high ranking figure in the history of the Second World War. Andrews was the first head of an autonomous American air force and the first air officer to serve on the Army's general staff. In early 1943, he took the place of Dwight D. Eisenhower as commander of all U.S. troops in the European Theatre of Operations.

On 3 May 1943 General Andrews took off in a B-24 Liberator from RAF Bovingdon on a trip back to the United States. A weather check would have meant a landing at Prestwick, but it seems the crew were confident that this was unnecessary. By the time the aircraft reached Iceland the weather had socked in and while searching for Meeks Field, the aircraft crashed into a hillside. Only the rear gunner survived from the 15 on board. And so it was that Frank Andrews was honoured in a little corner of England.

Andrews Field was the only named US airfield in the United Kingdom. It was the first of the fourteen Class A airfields built by American forces in the UK to be completed. The U.S. Army 819th Engineer Battalion (Aviation) commenced work on the site in July 1942. The runways were completed by November. While the basic airfield itself was declared completed by mid-January 1943, there was still much work to he done on other facilities and in March additional help was obtained from another engineer battalion.

A standard bomber airfield to Class A specification. Andrews Field had a 6,000 ft main runway aligned 09-27. and twl 4,200 ft secondaries at 02-20 and 15-33. Fifty-one hardstands consisted of 46 standard loops, four large loops and one pan. There were two dispersed T-2 hangars and accommodation for 2.841 personnel.

[edit] USAAF use

The airfield was opened in 1943 and was used both by the United States Army Air Force Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. It was designated as Station 485 (GZ). Although the name Andrews Field (or Andrewsfield) appears on RAF air maps and was widely used by that service, it is interesting to note that some USAAF agencies still referred to the base by the name Great Saling.

[edit] 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Douglas-Long Beach B-17F-25-DL Fortress Serial 42-3123 of the 95th Bomb Group at unfinished Andrews Field, 1943, Later transferred to the 381st Bomb Group at RAF Ridgewell, this aircraft crashed near Fladderlohhausen, 10 mile SE of Quakenbruck near Bremen Germany 8 October 1943. Ten crew KIA. MACR 1396
Douglas-Long Beach B-17F-25-DL Fortress Serial 42-3123 of the 95th Bomb Group at unfinished Andrews Field, 1943, Later transferred to the 381st Bomb Group at RAF Ridgewell, this aircraft crashed near Fladderlohhausen, 10 mile SE of Quakenbruck near Bremen Germany 8 October 1943. Ten crew KIA. MACR 1396

On 27 May 1943, the 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy) flying B-17 Flying Fortresses arrived from RAF Grafton Underwood. Its tail code was Square-C. The group consisted of the following squadrons:

  • 337th Bombardment (AX)
  • 338th Bombardment (BX)
  • 339th Bombardment (QJ)
  • 413th Bombardment (MJ)

The 96th appears to have only carried out one mission while based at Andrews Field. On 29 May 1943 they took part in a raid on Rennes naval storage depot from which one B-17 failed to return. The group was moved to RAF Snetterton Heath on 12 June 1943 in a general exchange of bases with B-26 Marauder groups.

[edit] 322nd Bombardment Group (Medium)

Replacing the 96th was the 322nd Bombardment Group (Medium) which arrived from RAF Bury St. Edmunds on 14 June. The group was assigned to the 3d Bomb Wing and flew Martin B-26B/C Marauders. Operational squadrons of the 322d were:

  • 449th Bombardment (PN)
  • 450th Bombardment (ER)
  • 451st Bombardment (SS)
  • 452d Bombardment (DR)
B-26 of the 322d Medium Bomb Group on the perimeter track prior to takeoff
B-26 of the 322d Medium Bomb Group on the perimeter track prior to takeoff
B-26 Marauder of the 322d Bomb Group on a mission over enemy-occupied territory, 1944.
B-26 Marauder of the 322d Bomb Group on a mission over enemy-occupied territory, 1944.

The 322nd was the first B-26 group to enter combat (in May 1943) from the UK, during which its combat performance helped to prove the effectiveness of the medium bombers flying tactical combat missions.

In common with other Marauder units of the 3d Bomb Wing, the 322d was transferred to Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943. The group attacked enemy airfields in France, Belgium, and Holland attacking the principal targets but the group also attacked secondary targets such as power stations, shipyards, construction works, and marshalling yards.

On 11 December 1943 Andrews Field was attacked by the Luftwaffe but little damage was done and beginning in March 1944 the 322d bombed railway and highway bridges, oil tanks, and missile sites in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.

On 8 May 1944, one of the 322nd aircraft, nicknamed "Mild and Bitter" (serial 41-31819) became the first B-26 flying from England to complete 100 combat missions. Another B-26, "Flak Bait" (41-31773) survived to the end of hostilities with 202 missions to its credit, the only US bomber involved in combat over Europe to pass the 200 mark.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944 the 322d Bomb Group attacked coastal defences and gun batteries. Afterwards, during the Normandy campaign, the 322d pounded fuel and ammunition dumps, bridges, and road junctions, supporting the Allied offensive at Caen and the breakthrough at St Lo in July.

From Andrews Field the 322d received a Distinguished Unit Citationfor the period 14 May 1943-24 July 1944. The group moved during September 1944, transferring to Beauvais (A-61) Airfield in northern France, and aiding the drive of Third Army across France. On the continent, the 322d BG used the following Advanced Landing Grounds:

  • A-61 Beauvais, France September 1944
  • A-89 Le Culot, Belgium March 1945
  • Y-86 Fritzlar, Germany June - November 1945

The 322d flew its last mission on 24 April 1945. After V-E Day, the group was assigned to occupation duty in Germany beginning in June 1945, engaging in inventorying and disassembling German Air Force equipment and facilities. Returned to the Camp Kilmer New Jersey in December 1945, and was inactivated on 15 December.

Legacy

During the Cold War, the United States Air Force 322d Tactical Airlift Wing, based at Rhein-Main Air Base West Germany used rotational Lockheed C-130 Hercules squadrons for tactical airlift in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In addition, the 322d conducted unconventional warfare operations in Europe. The wing was active between 1970 and 1975 and was bestowed the World War II legacy and honors of the USAAF 322d Bomb Group.

[edit] 1st Pathfinder Squadron (Provisional)

The 1st Pathfinder Squadron (Provisional) was formed at Andrews Field in February 1944 and equipped with B-26s, carrying the "Oboc" RADAR blind-bombing device. When the unit was formed the squadron consisted of 14 aircraft. At the end of hostilities the squadron strength was 36 B26's. Its fuselage code was (1H)

The squadron was attached to the 322nd Bombardment Group, but provided bad weather leads for all IX Ninth Bombing Command groups.

The first B-26 night mission was flown by the 1st Pathfinder Squadron on the night of 1 June 1944 when three B26's bombed gun positions at St Marie au Bois, France. This was purely a Pathfinder mission and no other unit participated.

On the night of 8 July 1944, using Oboe, the 322d undertook a night mission but nine of its aircraft fell victim to Luftwaffe fighters.

[edit] RAF Fighter Command use

Unlike most of the airfields vacated by the Ninth Air Force in the area, Andrews Field was immediately returned to RAF Fighter Command control on 1 October - to provide a base for Mustang squadrons escorting Bomber Command daylight operations being used by 11 Group, ADGB. At this time the airfield was also under consideration for extension of runways to house Very Heavy Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" bombers.

Within a week the HQ of No. 150 (Polish) Wing and an advance party of No. 19 Squadron moved in. By the middle of October, Nos. 19, 65 and 122 Squadrons (No. 122 Wing) had joined the Polish Wing consisting of Nos. 129, 306 and 315 Squadrons. This joining of two wings probably constituted the largest Mustang gathering on any non-American airfield in the UK.

The main task of the Andrews Field Mustangs was as escort to the increasing daylight bombing raids by the RAF's Bomber Command Avro Lancasters and Handley Page Halifaxes. However, their home defence role continued in the role of intercepting Nazi V-1 flying bombs.

At the end of February 1945 the Gloster Meteor III jet fighters of 616 Squadron arrived They stayed for a month before being replaced by a detachment of Meteor IIIs from 504 Squadron.

In addition to the combat squadrons, the Air Sea Rescue Supermarine Walruses of RAF Coastal Command 276 Squadron were resident from early June 1945. They left for foreign parts (to Kjevic, Norway) on 23 August.

With the end of the war, 303 Squadron departed in December 1945 and the airfield was placed under care and maintenance and became a satellite of RAF Great Sampford in 1946.

[edit] Civil Use

With the end of military control, Andrews Field was virtually abandoned by 1948 and soon took on an air of neglect. In common with other disused airfields, some of the buildings were taken over as temporary housing, even as late as 1953. From there on, virtually all the buildings with the exception of the two T-2 hangars and most of the ground works (runways, etc.) were removed and the land reverted to agriculture.

In 1972, aircraft again returned to Andrews Field (renamed Andrewsfield Airport) when a 3,000 foot grass strip along part of the line of the original main runway was constructed. As flying increased, a clubhouse and flying control were erected in 1975 for the Andrewsfield Flying Club. The popular airfield placed centrally in Essex was licensed by the CAA in 1976.

The Rebel Air Museum was housed in a blister hangar near the clubhouse for some time, until it moved to new premises on Earls Colne airfield.

Other than the two T2 hangars, the firing-in butts and a few Nissen huts in the dispersed sites, little remains of this once busy airfield. There are two memorials. One in the village is positioned in front of the former Sick Quarters Site and commemorates the 819th Aviation Engineer Battalion who built the airfield. The other memorial is along the lane from the A120 to Great Saling and is to the memory of the 322nd Bomb Group (M). A mural depicting a B-26 adorns an interior wall of the Andrewsfield Flying Club clubhouse. Also on display are a number of photographs showing the airfield under construction.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links