First World War airfield, Shenfield (EHER 19360)

The site of a First World War airfield at Shenfield operational from 1916 to 1919. The airfield was a Third Class night landing ground allocated to 39 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The site covered 60 acres and was equipped with tented accommodation, landing flares, grounds signals and a windsock.

A Third Class night landing ground of 60 acres allocated to RFC 39 Sqn and operational from 1916 to 1919. The facilities provided were minimal: tents for personnel manning the landing flares and ground signals, and a windsock. <1> The land has been in arable farming since WWI and due to the nature of its wartime use there is little archaeological potential in this site relating to this period. Doyle reports that a rubbish pit may have existed on the northern edge of the landing field containing the landing flare holders, and presumably sundry farm rubbish. The field boundaries from the WWI landing ground period survive. <2> NRHE data transfer: The site of a First World War airfield at Shenfield operational from 1916 to 1919. The airfield was a Third Class night landing ground allocated to 39 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The site covered 60 acres and was equipped with tented accommodation, landing flares, grounds signals and a windsock. <3> Palmers Farm (Shenfield) operational January 1917 - June 1919 (relinquished). <4>