We have two airfields at Essex Gliding Club: Ridgewell and North Weald. We fly from Ridgewell Airfield only in the summer months as it is a grass airfield which becomes unsuitable during the rainy winter months! During winter we flew from North Weald Airfield which has two concrete runways allowing flying during all weathers! Please read on for more information about the history of our airfields.

Ridgewell History

 

Ridgewell Airfield was first established in 1942 when the runways were laid down. Ridgewell was constructed for the USAF but was temporarily assigned to RAF No. 90 Squadron of No.3 Group who arrived at the airfield in December 1942 before construction had been fully completed. RAF No. 90 Squadron consisted of Stirling bombers.

 

The first official operation from Ridgewell took place on January 8 1943 and the Squadron continued to operate at Ridgewell until late May 1943 when a new airfield at West Wickham (later renamed Wratting Common) had been completed.

 

Unfortunately losses were very high during No. 90 Squadron's temporary stay at Ridgewell. Some 24 Stirling bombers failed to return during the course of the raids in WW2 and another three were lost during non-operational accidents.

 

Ridgewell was handed over to the US Eighth Air Force in June 1943 whereupon the 381st Bombardment Group and its four B-17 (Flying Fortresses) Squadrons took residence. The 381st Group remained at Ridgewell until the end of WW2 in 1945. During the time that the 381st Group were at Ridgewell they flew 296 missions and incurred 131 losses.  Ridgewell was later handed back to the RAF where it remained under the care of No. 94 Squadron until March 1957.

 

For more information on the RAF Bomber Command please click here >>>

 

For more information on No. 3 Group please click here >>>

 

For more information on No. 90 Squadron please click here >>>

 

For more information on 381st Bombardment Group please click here >>>