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RAF Debden opened on April 22nd 1937.
During the war RAF Debden was one of the seven sector airfields attached to 11 (Fighter) Group at RAF Uxbridge. During the Battle of Britain, RAF Debden was at the heart of the action, being home to 85 Sqd from 22 May 1940 ,17 Sqd from 19 June, 257 Sqd from 15 August , 601 and 111 Sqds from 19 August, 17 Sqd from 2 September and 25 Sqd from 8 October 1940. 418 Sqd. RCAF flew Bostons from Debden in 1941, moving to Bradwell Bay in April 1942.
On February 14th 1941 a plane was spotted circling the aerodrome and was presumed to be one of our bombers in distress. The landing lights were switched on, the aircraft then landed and taxied to the control tower. One of the crew got out of the plane and ran to the tower and spoke to the Duty Officer in German! A huge surprise to them both! The Duty Officer ran back into the tower and the German ran back to the aircraft a He111, which then took off.
Debden was home to the top-scoring "Eagles" of the American 4th Fighter Group from September 1942 to July 1945. Debden became known as The Eagles Nest because the base was home to the 4th FG, formed from the RAF's three Eagle squadrons (Number 71, 121 and 133) which were manned by American volunteer pilots before the USA officially entered the War. The 4th Fighter Group was part of the 65th Fighter Wing, and its USAAF Squadron designations became 334, 335 and 336. This made it the oldest fighter group in the Eighth Airforce. The 4th Fighter Group claimed 583 air and 469 ground enemy aircraft destroyed, the highest total of the USAAF. 241 of its own fighters were lost. The Eagles flew 36 Spitfires until April 1943, then P47 Thunderbolts until February 1944, when they converted to P51 Mustangs. In October 1944 616 Squadron arrived with its new Meteor jet fighters to develop tactics.
Today the site is still in use by the military.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Debden
- No: 29 Squadron
- No: 71 "Eagle" Squadron
- No. 111 Squadron
- No: 350 (Belgian) Squadron.
My second cousin, John Charles Everett Clarke, served with the British, 29 Squadron during WW11. He was a flight sergeant and according to records, he operated out of Debden. These records also mention that he flew Blenheims and Beaufighters. Sadly, he was killed in action on June 21st, 1943. I should like to know where he was shot down and any other information that anyone might have about John.
My dad's brother, Sid collier, was an aircraftman 2nd class (AC2) with 257 Squadron. He had been in the airforce a few weeks when he was killed in an air raid on Thursday, August 26th 1940 at Debden airfield. As the attack took place, Sid and his friend ran to a shelter which was hit and collapsed on them killing them instantly. Wendy Walker
My mother Elma Rivis served at Debden in 1942. She worked as in the ops room monitoring radio messages from the fighters as far as I know.
Elma was from Kirkbymoorside, Yorks. Mabs Hoggard knew her and I also got in touch with a couple of the other WAAF girls.
I am also trying to trace someone who was a guard at either a radar tower or radio transmission tower in countryside around the Debden airfield. All I know is that his first name was John.I have reason to believe that he may be my father as I was contacted years ago by an officer from Debden who dated my mother briefly at the time [but who assured me could not be my father]. He recalled that my mother told him that she used to cycle out to this 'radio tower' and regularly visit John who was responsible for guarding it.
My mother became pregannat and had to leave the service to give birth to me in January 29 1943.
Any help at all would be very gratefully received.
Photographs
If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served here.
- Tony Bishop
- Albert Bonfield
- Flt Sgt John Charles Everett Clarke. 29 Sqd (d. 21 June 1943) Read his Story
- AC2 Sid Collier. 257 Sqd. (d. 26 Aug 1940) Read her story
- Sgt. Connolly WAAF. Admin. NCO's.
- Corporal Duerdoth
- Sergeant Edwards
- WIC Gatheral C.O. 418 sqd
- ACW2 Mabs Fuller. WAAF Read her story
- Colin Forsythe. NZ 418 Sqd. Air Gunner.
- ACW Fraser. WAAF
- Group Captain King. Commanding Officer
- Section Officer. the Hon. V. Lyttleton WAAF.
- F/Lt. C.A. Mackay. Station Adjutant.
- Flt Officer Miles. WAAF.
- Eve Mumford.
- Section Officer Farquhar-Petters. WAAF. Commanding Officer
- Audrey Porter. WAAF
- S/Ldr. Rees. Operations room Controller.
- Harold Geoffrey "Geoff" Reynolds
- Elma Rivis. WAAF. Read her story
- George Smith Read his story
- ACW Stanton. WAAF
- Sergeant Pilot Mick Stone. Pilot 418 sqd. Read his story
- G/C. Peter Townsend C.O. 85 Sqd.
- F/Sgt. 'Bill" Wilcockson. WAAF Admin. NCO's
- F/Sgt. Williams. WAAF. Operations room senior N.C.C.
- Flt Officer Williamson. W.A.A.F. Commanding Officer
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch.
Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project
Links
- LIFE IN THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
- RAF Debden - Sector Operations Centre
- THE ASSOCIATION OF THE 4TH FIGHTER GROUP AAF WWII MEMORIAL FUND Includes list of names of the fallen.
- 350 Belgian Sqd Gallery
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