Castle Camps
CASTLE CAMPS: Military aerodrome
Note: This picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©
The outline of the WW2 airfield can still be clearly seen.
Military user: RAF Fighter Command 11 Group
65 Sqdn (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
Note: It appears the Station 'hack' was a Miles Magister.
25, 157* & 605 Sqdns (DH Mosquitos)
Activities: WW2: Originally Forward airfield, later night fighter
Location: NW of Helions Bumpstead, S of Castle Camps, 6nm NE of Saffron Walden
Period of operation: 1940 to 1946
Runways: 06/24 1783x46 hard 13/31 1463x46 hard
10/28 978x46 hard
NOTES: This airfield was a satellite of RAF DEBDEN.
*157 Squadron based at DEBDEN were the first, (from December 1941), to operate the new Mosquito NF.MkII and indeed it seems the first dual-control Mk.II arrived here on January 26th 1942. It appears they had been fitted with the new A1 Mk.V radar which was supposed to be an improvement on the previous A1 Mk.IV, but it now seems it was not better.
It also appears that by April 1942 157 Squadron had nineteen NF. Mk.IIs, three of which were not equipped with radar. So, what purpose did they serve?
It appears that the first successful attack by night-fighter Mosquitos didn’t occur until June 1942 and that was by 151 Squadron based at WITTERING (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE).
Mark Surridge
This comment was written on: 2018-12-13 13:10:30I think it would be interesting to include eye witness statements , like that of Len Hayes, resident in nearby Steeple Bumpstead who says, ‘ We used to cycle up to Castle Camps, despite the roads being closed as they said a ‘top secret new plane’ was being tested, and doing ‘circuits and bumps’ and that’s where I saw the new Mosquitoes circling overhead and taxiing round the perimeter.’
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Mark, Yes indeed - many thanks. Regards, Dick
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Mark, Yes indeed - many thanks. Regards, Dick
Roy Brazier
This comment was written on: 2020-07-01 21:23:29Hope you dont mind a correction. 85 sqn were first in, not 65 sqn, flying Hurricanes.
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