Raydon - UK Airfield Guide

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Raydon




RAYDON: Military aerodrome

Raydon in 2015
Raydon in 2015
Aerial view
Aerial view

Note: The first picture, taken by the author (through perspex) in July 2015, clearly shows the WW2 site, and, on the north side of the airfield - the RAYDON WINGS site (see below) can also be clearly seen. 

The second picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©


 

Military user: WW2: 8th & 9th USAAF      (Fighter air base)

357th Fighter Group     (Moving in on the 30th November 1943)

362nd, 363rd & 364th Sqdns   (Republic P-47D Thunderbolts)


358th Fighter Group      (Moving in on the 31st January 1944)

365th, 366th & 367th Sqdns   (North American P.51D Mustangs)

66th Fighter Wing

353rd Fighter Group    (Moving in during April 1944)

350th, 351st & 352nd Sqdns   (North American P-51D Mustangs) 

 

Location: E of B1070, NE of Raydon, NW of Great Wenham, 3nm SE of Hadleigh

Period of operation: 1943 to 1958
 

Runways: WW2: 09/27   1829x46   hard          17/35   1280x46   hard
                         05/23   1280x46   hard




A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for researching what is freely available to illustrate this location.

WW2 airfield layout
WW2 airfield layout
Aerial vertical c.1943
Aerial vertical c.1943
Local area map c.1961
Local area map c.1961


The 1943 aerial vertical photo is from the American Air Museum, (AAM).







Photo One
Photo One
Photo Two
Photo Two
Google Earth © view
Google Earth © view

Photo One shows P-47D Thunderbolts being maintained by the 378th Air Service Squadron. (AAM). Photo Two, also from the AAM, shows a Thunderbolt fitted with rocket launchers.

 

These being very effective at attacking small ground targets, such as trains, small ships, airfield hangars, etc.

 


THE MUSTANG ERA

Photo Three
Photo Three
Photo Four
Photo Four
Photo Five
Photo Five



All three of these pictures are from the American Air Museum.





Photo Six
Photo Six
Aerial vertical c.1946
Aerial vertical c.1946
Photo Seven
Photo Seven


Photos Six and Seven are also from the American Air Museum, the aerial vertical is from Wikipedia. 





 

YES INDEED, IT KEPT FLYING


Photo Eight
Photo Eight


Clearly and sensibly, the pilots of this B-17 Flying Fortress decided to get it back on the ground, in England, ASAP!  RAYDON being fairly close to the coast being, with the main (09/27) runway quite long enough, a good choice. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress soon earned a reputation for being able to absorb considerable damage to its airframe, and still keep flying. Many photos exist depicting just how much battle damage it could withstand.





Local area view
Local area view
Local map c.1971
Local map c.1971
Area view
Area view



The local area and area views are from my Google Earth © derived database.





 

NOTES: In late WW2 the 8th USAAF typically posted about 2900 personnal at their bomber bases, but in this case even though it was a fighter base, 2842 personnel were based here in late 1944. I suppose this makes sense to somebody but I would expect many more people were needed to look after bombers. Is the answer obvious in that the USAAF fielded many more fighters at each fighter base than bombers at bomber bases? There is another interesting aspect apparently contained in some notes of the period. These state the main runway could be widened to 400 yards, (366 metres), and the others to 250 yards, (229 metres). But why I would ask - were runways of such huge widths even considered at that time? It seems the likely answer is that it was considered to be used, (possibly?), by the largest USAF bombers during the build-up to the "Cold War". 

This said, I have noted that the USAF Bomber Command soon had other ideas. Thinking, lets put the Brits on the front line, while we shall retreat much further inland. (BRIZE NORTON, UPPER HEYFORD for example). Doubt they'll object or even notice? 


 

RAYDON WINGS: Private airfield
 

Operated by: Raydon Wings Ltd

Location: 2.5nm SE of Hadleigh, 4nm SW of Ipswich

Raydon Wings in 2000
Raydon Wings in 2000

Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.

Runway: 09/27   820x27   grass
 

NOTE: Several years ago I made this note: "I’d place a pretty hefty bet, (up to £1 in fact), that this grass strip is situated on the WW2 RAYDON military aerodrome." In 2015 I could confirm this.  

It appears that the Vans RV-4, G-MAXV, was based here from May 2021 until May 2023. I wouldn't normally mention such a short stay, but, according to the register, the ownership status was given as chartered. From memory, (which is far from perfect), I cannot recall any other home-built aircraft being available for charter.



 

 


 
 

Valerie Stabenow

This comment was written on: 2019-06-13 05:45:39
 
My dad was Senior Flight Control Officer at Raydon for the duration of the war. Thank you for posting this!
 

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