The siting of RAF Wethersfield

The 800 Acres that the present airfield boundary encloses was once farmland. The airfield was north east of the village of Wethersfield in Essex. The villages and farms have a long heritage. Hawke’s Hall (circled) was originally built for a Norman Baron gifted the parishes of Toppesfield, Wethersfield and Finchingfield for his support of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066.  Both Broad Farm and Peacock’s Farm (both circled) were also consumed by the building of the airfield.

In 1941 the decision was taken to requisition the land as a satellite airfield airfield to RAF Ridgewell. However, construction was delayed until 1942, and then construction was started by the US Army Air Force (USAAF) 922nd Engineer Aviation Regiment