Rivenhall
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1944-45 (© USAAF via Brian Gibbons, 397th Bomb Group Historian)
RAF Rivenhall airfield
Airfield Today:
Agriculture, industry
Tower Type:
Watch Office for all Commands 12779/41 with small front windows 15371/41
Tower:
Demolished in the 1960s
Other Buildings:
Not known
History:
01/44 to 04/44, 380th, 381st, 382nd and 383rd Fighter Squadrons of the 363rd Fighter Group from Keevil with P-51B Mustangs. First mission 24/02/44, the 363rd FG flew 20 missions from Rivenhall losing 16 P-51's in action before moving to Staplehurst.
04/44 to 08/44, 596th, 597th, 598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons of the 397th Bombardment Group from Gosfield with B-26 Marauders. First mission 20/04/44, the 397th Bomb Group flew 86 missions from Rivenhall losing 16 B-26's in action before moving to Hurn.
10/44 to 01/46, RAF 295 Sqn Stirlings, flew night operations to Holland and Denmark in support of resistance units and
04/45, took part in Operation Varsity, the Rhine crossing. 04/45 to 01/46, 570 Sqn Stirlings.
Post-war the airfield was used to house ex-PoW Polish soldiers and by Marconi.
RAF Rivenhall
RAF Rivenhall airfield
Airfield:
Operational
Opened:
/1943
Closed:
/1945
Code:
RL
USAAF Station:
168
Runways:
3x - concrete, tarmac
Hangars:
1x - Blister, 2x - T2
County:
Essex
Location:
2 miles N of Rivenhall
OS Ref:
TL820206
©:
All photographs copyright © as stated
RAF Rivenhall airfield
RAF Rivenhall - 363rd FG - 397th BG - 295 Sqn - 570 Sqn -
RAF Rivenhall airfield + control tower = www.controltowers.co.uk © robert truman 2007 - Rivenhall 363rd FG, 397th BG -