Second World War military airfield, USAF Andrews Field, Andrewsfield (EHER 14090)

Second World War airfield of the 8th Air Force (USAF), station 485, known officially as Andrews Field.

Second World War airfield of the 8th Air Force (USAF), station 485, known officially as Andrews Field. Built 1942-3, transferred to RAF in 1944. Abandoned in 1945, part of the airfield was reactivated by local aviation in 1972. Barracks were to north-east. <1> - <7> Construction of Andrews Field began in June 1942 by the US army and the station opened in April 1943 as a bomber base for B-26 Marauders. The RAF took over in October 1944 with fighter squadrons. The airfield closed in 1945 and is now partly used by local aviation. <8> The airfield was equipped with three runways joined by a perimeter track around which were 50 loop dispersals. The bomb stores consisted of a looped track with four bomb dumps, conjoined to the perimeter track. Two hangars were built, at TL69602440 and TL69872512, both of which remain. The control tower, (type 12779/41, 343/43) stood at TL6975 2501. The main technical site was built around one control tower and hangar on the east side of the airfield, an area which is now wood/scrub (TL 700251) and cultivated fields. Very little of the airfield survives: a section of perimeter track forms the public highway and part of the main runway is in use. Dispersed sites were built to the east of the airfield to the sewage works at TL7150 2560. More information is needed on their precise location. For location details see Air Ministry Plans. <9> See also: <10> - <12> NRHE data transfer: A military airfield, opened in 1942 and closed in 1945. The airfield had concrete, tarmac and wood chipping landing surfaces with an area of 2100 by 50 yards. There were 50 loop shaped hard standings. Accommodation was temporary, and there were two T2 type hangars. <13> The base was initially called Great Saling by the Air Ministry, but in it was renamed Andrews Field by the Americans in honour of Lieutenant General Frank Andrews, the United States Theatre Commander who had been killed in an aircraft crash over Iceland. In 1943 the airfield was used by the 96th Bomb Group flying B-17 aircraft, they were joined by 322nd Bomb Group Flying Marauders. In October 1944, the base was handed over to the Royal Air Force 122 Wing, comprising 13 and 122 Squadron, along with 133 Wing comprising 129 Squadron, 306, 315 and 316 Polish Squadrons equipped with Mustangs. Later in the war the first allied jet unit, 606 Squadron flying Gloster Meteors was based at Andrews Field. For a short time during 1945 Number 65 Squadron put on victory displays at the airfield. They were replaced by 504 squadron, the second allied jet Squadron, who used the base for training purposes. After the base closed in 1945, the land was divided between four farms for agricultural use. However, in 1972 part of the site was reopened by aviation enthusiasts, and in 1976 this was officially registered for civil aviation use (mainly display aircraft). <14> A World War II airfield. Official Name RAF Andrew's Field, Airfield area given as Stebbing, Essex, grid reference cited as TL 695 245. Condition "unknown". In 1972, aircraft returned again to Andrews Field (renamed Andrewsfield) when enthusiasts Clive Harvey and Robert Bucknell set out a 3000 foot long grass airstrip along part of the original main runway. The airfield was licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority in 1976. In 1995 firing butts, some Nissen huts and two T2 hangars were still said to be extant. <15>