Our Airfield
We operate Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Ridgewell Airfield when the field is dry enough approximately from April until October, and then from Wattisham through the winter on days when the weather is good enough to fly.
We no longer fly from North Weald Airfield. We now fly from Wattisham during the winter months, weather permitting.
Location: N52°03.1 E000°33.2 For more information: How to Find Us
Ridgewell is the main summer site that we operate from. The main grass runway (05/23) is 2950ft long and enables both winching and aerotowing with our Piper Pawnee Tug Plane. We also have a new grass runway (09/27) which is 2300ft (not in picture) now enabling cross-wind operation.
Ridgewell is mainly in operation from April - October when the grass is dry enough for use.
Ridgewell Airfield was originally the home of RAF 90 Squadron flying Stirling bombers during the Second World War. The airfield was handed over to 381st Bomb Group (USAF) in 1943 who flew B17s (Flying Fortresses) until the close of hostilities in 1945.
Ridgewell History
Ridgewell Airfield was first established in 1942 when the runways were laid down. Ridgewell was constructed for the USAF but was temporarily assigned to RAF No. 90 Squadron of No.3 Group who arrived at the airfield in December 1942 before construction had been fully completed. RAF No. 90 Squadron consisted of Stirling bombers.
The first official operation from Ridgewell took place on January 8 1943 and the Squadron continued to operate at Ridgewell until late May 1943 when a new airfield at West Wickham (later renamed Wratting Common) had been completed.
Unfortunately losses were very high during No. 90 Squadron's temporary stay at Ridgewell. Some 24 Stirling bombers failed to return during the course of the raids in WW2 and another three were lost during non-operational accidents.
Ridgewell was handed over to the US Eighth Air Force in June 1943 whereupon the 381st Bombardment Group and its four B-17 (Flying Fortresses) Squadrons took residence. The 381st Group remained at Ridgewell until the end of WW2 in 1945. During the time that the 381st Group were at Ridgewell they flew 296 missions and incurred 131 losses. Ridgewell was later handed back to the RAF where it remained under the care of 94 and 95 maintenance units dealing with munitions disposal, until March 1957.
For more information on the RAF Bomber Command please click here
For more information on No. 3 Group please click here
For more information on No. 90 Squadron please click here
For more information on 381st Bombardment Group please click here
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