Aeródromos de la IIGM: Rivenhall

Aeródromo de Rivenhall

Situado, como muchos otros, en la región de Essex, a unas 4 millas (6.4 Km) al suroeste de Braintree y a 40 (64 Km) de Londres.

Su construcción comenzó a principios de 1943 con sus pistas, perímetro y refugios construidos por Messrs W. & C. French y los edificios por Bovis Limited. La construcción de los edificios fue lenta prolongándose hasta el otoño y el invierno de ese mismo año, de modo que aún no estaban del todo terminados cuando llegaron los primeros elementos de la USAF. Fue asignado al 3rd Bombardment Wing que llegó a ser el núcleo del IX Bomber Command.

El aeródromo es uno de la Clase A standard, con tres pistas de 6,000 ft (10/28), 4,200 ft (04/22), and 4,200 ft (16/34), 51 refugios y todo conectado por un camino perimetral de un ancho de 50 píes.

El apoyo en tierra fue construido por Nissen, con construcciones de refugios de diversos tamaños, concentrados en el lado sur de la pista, a no más de dos kilómetros del mantenimiento técnico. Además contaba con hospital, capilla, comedores, sala de informes, armería, almacenes, etc. También disponía de al menos dos hangares T-2 y talleres para reparaciones ligeras. El polvorín estaba situado en el lado norte del aeropuerto, fuera del perímetro de la pista rodeado de montículos de tierra y grandes muros de hormigón. En total las instalaciones tenían una capacidad para 2.594 hombres.

Bajo el mando de la USAF fue denominada como USAAF Station AAF-168, con el código de “RL”. Sus primeros habitantes fueron el 363d Fighter Group que llegó el 22 de enero de 1944. Sus P-51B poblaban sus tres escuadrones, el 380th Fighter Squadron (A9), 381st Fighter Squadron (B3) y el 382d Fighter Squadron (C3). Su primera misión de combate la realizaron el 24 de enero, apoyando un bombardeo sobre Bélgica con 24 de sus P-51B. El 4 de marzo realizaron una misión similar sobre Alemania y fueron interceptados por aparatos de caza, en la lucha 11 P-51 no regresaron a su base. Durante su estancia en Rivenhall volaron 20 misiones perdiendo 16 aparatos a cambio de derribar 13 aparatos alemanes. El 14 de abril fueron trasladados a otra base tras los movimientos de la 9º AF.

 Rivenhall, abril de 1944

Al día siguiente llegaron los B-26 del 397th Bombardment Group compuesto por el 596th Bombardment Squadron (X2), 597th Bombardment Squadron (9F), 598th Bombardment Squadron (U2) y el 599th Bombardment Squadron (6B). En pocos días había más de 60 B-26 repartidos por sus refugios. Durante su estancia volaron 56 misiones de bombardeo, 32 de ellas atacando puentes. En esas misiones se perdieron 16 aparatos y otros muchos que se estrellaron al tomar tierra en la base. En agosto el 397th fue trasladado al área de Hampshire.

A principios de octubre retornó al mando de la RAF llegando el 295º Sqdn con sus Stirling. Muchas de sus operaciones fueron en apoyo de la resistencia noruega, Holanda y Dinamarca. El 24 de marzo de 1945 tomó parte en la Operación Varsity, el cruce del Rhin. A principios de abril llegó otro nuevo escuadrón de Stirling, el 570º uniéndose en misiones nocturnas de apoyo a la resistencia. Ambos escuadrones fueron desmovilizados en Rivenhall en enero de 1946 quedando la base bajo mantenimiento.

Tras el fin de su utilidad como campo de aviación fue utilizado para albergar a los militares polacos liberados de campos de prisioneros que no querían regresar a su patria.

En junio de 1956 fue liberado del control militar y sus pistas fueron alquiladas por Marconi durante diez años. Hoy en día, la mitad norte del antiguo campo de aviación se ha convertido en una cantera, con la gran mayoría de la tierra en el noroeste de la pista de aterrizaje está excavada. El camino perimetral ha quedado en una sola vía de uso agrícola, sin embargo muchos de sus refugios del cuadrante suroeste aún se mantienen. Las tres pistas de aterrizaje o han sido eliminadas o reducidas sustancialmente para uso agrícola. Una porción muy pequeña de la pista principal aún existe en toda su anchura. Un desguace de coches se ha hecho con el control de algunos de los refugios en el extremo este de la pista, dónde una vez los C-47 y planeadores fueron almacenados.

English version

Located, like many others in the Essex region, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Braintree and 40 (64 km) from London.

Its construction began in early 1943 with their tracks, perimeter and shelters built by Messrs W. & C. French and buildings Bovis Limited. The construction of the buildings was slowly extending into the fall and winter of that year, so they were not yet completely finished when the first elements of the USAF. Was assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Wing which became the nucleus of the IX Bomber Command.

The airfield is a Class A standard, with three runways of 6,000 ft (10/28), 4,200 ft (04/22), and 4.200 ft (16/34), 51 shelters and all connected by a perimeter road width of 50 feet. 

 Rivenhall airfield headquarters site, 1944.

The ground support was built by Nissan, with construction of shelters of varying sizes, concentrated on the south side of the track, to no more than two kilometers from the technical maintenance. It also had hospital, chapel, dining room, reports, armory, storage, etc.. Also had at least two T-2 hangars and workshops for light repairs. The magazine was located on the north side of the airport outside the perimeter of the track surrounded by large mounds of earth and concrete walls. In total, the facility had a capacity of 2594 men.

Under the command of the Air Force as USAAF Station was called AAF-168, with the code of "RL". Its first inhabitants were the 363d Fighter Group arrived on January 22, 1944. His P-51B populated his three squadrons, the 380th Fighter Squadron (A9), 381st Fighter Squadron (B3) and the 382d Fighter Squadron (C3). His first combat mission was carried out by the January 24, supporting a bombing of Belgium with 24 of his P-51B. On March 4 performed a similar mission over Germany and were intercepted by fighter aircraft in the fight 11 P-51 did not return to base. During his stay in Rivenhall flew 20 missions in exchange for losing 16 aircraft to shoot down 13 German aircraft. On April 14 were transferred to another base on the movements of the 9th AF.

The next day came the B-26 of the 397th Bombardment Group 596th Bombardment comprised of the Squadron (X2), 597th Bombardment Squadron (9F), 598th Bombardment Squadron (U2) 599th Bombardment Squadron and (6B). Within days there were more than 60 B-26 divided by their shelters. During his stay flew 56 bombing missions, 32 of them attacking bridges. In these missions, 16 aircraft were lost and many others that crashed at the base to land. In August, the 397th was moved to the area of ​​Hampshire. 

 Formation of Martin B-26Bs of the 397th Bomb Group. Closest two aircraft are B-26B-55-MA S/N 42-96137 (9F-Y) and 42-96191 (9F-N) "Milk Run Special" of the 597th BS, 397th BG, 9th AF. The other B-26's are from the 598th Bomb Squadron. 42-96137 was shot down on May 13,1944. 42-96191 was shot down on June 24,1944. Photo taken before D-Day, as the Marauders are not painted with invasion stripes

In early October he returned to the command of the RAF Sqdn reaching 295 º with Stirling. Many of its operations were in support of the Norwegian resistance, the Netherlands and Denmark. On March 24, 1945 took part in Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine. In early April came a new squad of Stirling, 570 º joining in night missions to support the resistance. Both squadrons were demobilized in January 1946 Rivenhall base being low maintenance.

After the end of its usefulness as airfield was used to house Polish soldiers freed from prison camps who did not want to return to their homeland.

In June 1956 he was released from military control and Marconi tracks were leased for ten years. Today, the northern half of the former airfield has become a quarry, with the vast majority of land in the northwest of the airstrip is excavated. The perimeter road has been in a one-way for agricultural use, however many of the shelters still stand southwest quadrant. The three runways or have been eliminated or substantially reduced for agricultural use. A very small portion of the main runway still exists in its full width. A car scrapping has taken control of some of the shelters in the east end of the runway, where once the C-47 and gliders were stored.