RAF Woodbridge airfield

1958 (© Robert Rowland)

RAF Woodbridge airfield

Woodbridge airfield is currently used for army air force training (AAC) (i.e. helicopters and Hercules) out of Wattisham airfield. Part of the former technical site is now new army barracks (Rock Barracks) for 23 Eng Reg.
Domestic area refurbished and back in use. Casual use of airfield for motor
vehicle events includes former HAS site to north-east end. (Control tower and airfield buildings are disused and not maintained). Airfield, excluding built area, shortly to be taken over by Defence Training Estate (DTE) for tri-service training.
Keith Marsland, Defence Estates, May 2007

Watch Office for All Commands 343/43

Other Buildings:

09/43 to 03/48, Originally opened as an emergency airfield for RAF and USAAF aircraft with runways 3,000ft longer and five times wider than normal, FIDO installed 02/44. By 08/44 over 1,000 emergency landings had taken place, 2,700 by the end of 1944 and over 4,000 by the end of the war.
Also used for experimental work by Martlesham Heath including testing Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs and blind landing experiments.
Airfield then closed and used by Ministry of Supply.
05/52 to 11/69, 79th Tactical Fighter Sqn, with F-84 Thunderjets and in 1957 F-100 Super Sabres, 1966 F-4 Phantoms, moved to Upper Heyford.
01/59 to 05/92, 78th Tactical Fighter Sqn from Shepherds Grove with F-84, F-101, F-4 Phantoms, later A-10 Thunderbolts.
12/68 to 1988, 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Sqn with Hercules transports and Jolly Green Giant helicopters. 06/88 became 67 Special Operations Group and moved to Alconbury.
1978 to 08/92, 91st TFS from Bentwaters with A-10 Thunderbolts.

RAF Woodbridge airfield

1988 (© Rick Palace)

RAF Woodbridge airfield

Operational Bomber

Bitumen and sand

1x - Blister, 1x - B1

11 miles NE of Ipswich

RAF Woodbridge airfield

RAF Woodbridge airfield
Airfield:	Operational Bomber
Opened:	09/1943
Closed:	N/A
Code:	??
USAAF Station:	N/A
Runways:	Bitumen and sand
Hangars:	1x - Blister, 1x - B1
County:	Suffolk
Location:	11 miles NE of Ipswich
OS Ref:	TM334490
©:	All photographs copyright © as stated
RAF Woodbridge

RAF Woodbridge airfield
Airfield Today:	Woodbridge airfield is currently used for army air force training (AAC) (i.e. helicopters and Hercules) out of Wattisham airfield. Part of the former technical site is now new army barracks (Rock Barracks) for 23 Eng Reg. Domestic area refurbished and back in use. Casual use of airfield for motor vehicle events includes former HAS site to north-east end. (Control tower and airfield buildings are disused and not maintained). Airfield, excluding built area, shortly to be taken over by Defence Training Estate (DTE) for tri-service training. Keith Marsland, Defence Estates, May 2007
Tower Type:	Watch Office for All Commands 343/43
Tower:	Disused
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	09/43 to 03/48, Originally opened as an emergency airfield for RAF and USAAF aircraft with runways 3,000ft longer and five times wider than normal, FIDO installed 02/44. By 08/44 over 1,000 emergency landings had taken place, 2,700 by the end of 1944 and over 4,000 by the end of the war. Also used for experimental work by Martlesham Heath including testing Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs and blind landing experiments. Airfield then closed and used by Ministry of Supply. 05/52 to 11/69, 79th Tactical Fighter Sqn, with F-84 Thunderjets and in 1957 F-100 Super Sabres, 1966 F-4 Phantoms, moved to Upper Heyford. 01/59 to 05/92, 78th Tactical Fighter Sqn from Shepherds Grove with F-84, F-101, F-4 Phantoms, later A-10 Thunderbolts. 12/68 to 1988, 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Sqn with Hercules transports and Jolly Green Giant helicopters. 06/88 became 67 Special Operations Group and moved to Alconbury. 1978 to 08/92, 91st TFS from Bentwaters with A-10 Thunderbolts.
RAF Woodbridge airfield