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Rivenhall
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1944-45
(© USAAF via Brian Gibbons, 397th Bomb Group Historian)
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RAF
Rivenhall airfield
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Airfield Today:
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Agriculture,
industry
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Tower Type:
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Watch Office for all
Commands 12779/41 with small front windows 15371/41
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Tower:
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Demolished
in the 1960s
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News:
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2009:
Currently there are plans to demolish everything remaining at Rivenhall
and build an incinerator and waste site.
Another victim of the Government's 'brownfield' scheme to build on historic airfield sites? |
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History:
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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. |
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RAF
Rivenhall
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2009
(© Gillian Westall)
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RAF
Rivenhall
airfield
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Airfield:
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Operational
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Opened:
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/1943
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Closed:
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/1945
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Code:
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RL
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USAAF Station:
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168
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Runways:
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3x - concrete, tarmac
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Hangars:
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1x - Blister, 2x - T2
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County:
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Essex
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Location:
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2 miles N of Rivenhall
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OS Ref:
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TL820206
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©:
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All
photographs copyright ©
as stated
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RAF
Rivenhall
airfield
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RAF
Rivenhall
- 363rd FG - 397th BG - 295 Sqn - 570 Sqn -
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RAF
Rivenhall airfield + control tower = www.controltowers.co.uk © robert
truman 2007 - Rivenhall 363rd FG, 397th BG -
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