Second World War military airfield, Castle Camps, Helions Bumpstead (EHER 16524)

A former military airfield opened in 1940 and closed in 1946. The site is situated straddling the Essex-Cambridgeshire border to the south of Castle Camps.

Construction of Castle Camps commenced in September 1939, as a satellite for Debden, and it began as a fighter airfield during the Battle of Britain. Concrete runways and better accommodation were added in 1941. In January 1942 the de Havilland Mosquito joined its first RAF Squadron at Castle Camps. The station closed in 1946. <1> The three concrete runways were joined by an irregular shaped perimeter track around which were placed aircraft dispersals. 1960s APs show 6 protected pens, 13 frying-pan dispersals, 8 Blister hangars hardstandings and 10 other hardstandings. A bomb store may have been located at TL64024233. The main buildings were located on the southside of the airfield with the control tower (TL6265 4169) and approx. 8 other buildings located around 'Wigmore Pond Earthwork', which are no longer extant. A domestic site comprising approx. 25 buildings was located at TL6284 4128 of which one building remains extant. A track led off from the perimeter south-east to a Bellman hangar at TL6382 4116 on a concrete apron. 5 Blister hangars were dispersed along this track. The outline of the airfield is still discernible by the narrowed perimeter track and NW-SE runway. All the dispersals and buildings have gone with one exception noted above. 1960s AP's show possible dispersed sites at: TL6200 4204; TL6150 4205. SITE ASSESSMENT Only one building remains: Importance *. <2> Aerial photos: <3> <4> NRHE data transfer: A former military airfield opened in 1940 and closed in 1946. The site is situated straddling the Essex- Cambridgeshire border to the south of Castle Camps. The airfield was used for fighter and night fighter operations. Initially it had only grass runways and tented accommodation, intended as a satellite of Debden Airfield. It was used during the Battle of Britain by B Flight of 85 Squadron, and 73 Squadron (both flying Hurricanes) During December 1942 and 1943, the airfield was upgraded with tarmac runways, permanent dispersed accommodation and 8 blister aircraft hangars and one Bellman aircraft hangar. The airfield housed the very first Mosquito night fighters in the RAF (flown by 157 Squadron). The base was then used by a number of Mosquito squadrons, including 605 Squadron and 410 (Canadian) Squadron. Other using the airfield included 527 Squadron and 486 (New Zealand) Squadron (the latter flying Typhoons). In 1945 the use of the base was wound down. In 1946 it was closed to flying, when it passed to War Office control and was used as a storage depot. In 1948 it was disposed of altogether, returning to agricultural use. For details of a surviving pillbox associated with the airfield's perimeter defences please see TL 64 SW 47. Use in 1985 stated to be "agriculture". <5> The airfield was used for fighter and night fighter operations. Opened in 1940, it initially it had only grass runways and tented accommodation, and was intended as a satellite of Debden Airfield. It was used during the Battle of Britain by B Flight of 85 Squadron, and 73 Squadron (both flying Hurricanes). During December 1942 and 1943, the airfield was upgraded with tarmac runways, permanent dispersed accommodation and 8 blister aircraft hangars and one Bellman aircraft hangar. The airfield housed the very first Mosquito night fighters in the RAF (flown by 157 Squadron). The base was then used by a number of Mosquito squadrons, including 605 Squadron and 410 (Canadian) Squadron. Other using the airfield included 527 Squadron and 486 (New Zealand) Squadron (the latter flying Typhoons). In 1945 the use of the base was wound down. In 1946 it was closed to flying, when it passed to War Office control and was used as a storage depot. In 1948 it was disposed of altogether, returning to agricultural use. <6> Note: The majority of the airfield and all the dispersed sites associated with this airfield are in Cambridgeshire. See Cambridgeshire Record CB15130 (details following) - WW2 airfield, fighters-, light industry & agriculture. Also Officers' Mess (temp brick - TL619421), Dining Room & Institute (WAAF) (Nissen - TL613420). 2 pillboxes: TL625416 - hexagonal, radio tower on top; TL618413 - unknown, now destroyed. Source for Cambs Record - Unpublished report: Osborne, M.. 20th Century Defences in Cambridgeshire.