Chedburgh
site map
airfield listing
usaaf listing
contact me
Photo shows post-war side extensions to the control tower - the centre six windows are the original building (© Fred Cubberley)
RAF Chedburgh airfield
Airfield Today:
Agriculture, industry
Tower Type:
Watch Office for all Commands 343/43
Tower:
Now used as offices by Yara UK
Other Buildings:
Very little of this airfield now remains
History:
09/42, Chedburgh was one of the earliest operational wartime airfields in Sufolk. Built by John Laing and Co. it was a satellite bomber station for nearby RAF Stradishall.
10/42 to 11/43, The first Short Stirlings stationed at Chedburgh belonged to No. 214 Sqn from Stradishall. The squadron was active on major bombing missions to Kiel, Mannheim, Genoa and Hamburg during 1942. During March to July 1943 No. 214 Sqn lost one Stirling during its first operation over Essen during the Battle of the Ruhr. The crew of seven were all killed. There were further losses over Bochem, Mulheim, Wuppertal and once again Essen. The worst night of the battle was 23rd/24th May over Dortmund. 826 aircraft devastated large areas of the city but four aircraft from No. 214 failed to return.
06/43 to 11/43, No. 620 Sqn was formed from ‘C’ flight of No. 214 Sqn. They were involved in raids over Remcheid during July and Hamburg in August with No. 620 mounting 37 sorties with no casualties, No. 214 lost three aircraft during the same period. On the night of 23rd/24th August 1943, during the Battle of Berlin, No. 214 lost five aircraft and No. 620 Sqn lost two aircraft.
After the third Berlin raid on 22nd/23rd November the heavy Stirling loss rate was such that Harris decided that the Stirlings were no longer effective.
12/43, No. 620 were transferred to No. 38 group and No. 214 were transferred to No. 100 group at Downham Market in Norfolk.
12/43 to 12/44, the airfield was mainly involved in aircrew training on four engined aircraft.
12/44 to 08/45, No. 218 (Gold Coast) Sqn arrived with Lancasters from Methwold in Norfolk. No. 218 participated in many of the Groups ops in daylight raids on the Ruhr bombing key industrial targets such as oil refineries and railway yards. No 3 group were involved with a number of daylight raids during 1945 on oil and Benzol plants at Wanne-Eickel, Datteln and Dortmund experiencing low casualties. They were involved in many of the last major operations of the war.
09/45 to 12/46, 301 and 304 (Polish) Sqns of RAF Transport Command with Warwicks, Wellingtons and later Halifax freighters.

Thanks to Kerry Davidge for the airfield history.

Rear of the tower today 2007 (© Kerry Davidge)
RAF Station
Airfield:
Operational bomber, Transport Command
Opened:
09/1942
Closed:
10/1952
Code:
CU
USAAF Station:
B-21
Runways:
3x - concrete
Hangars:
1x - B1, 2x T2, 3x Glider
County:
Suffolk
Location:
6 miles SW of Bury St Edmunds
OS Ref:
TL790570
©:
All photographs copyright © as stated
- 214 Sqn - 218 Sqn - 301 Sqn - 304 Sqn - 620 Sqn - 1653 HCU -
RAF Chedburgh airfield
RAF Chedburgh airfield + control tower = www.controltowers.co.uk © robert truman - Chedburgh 2007