WThe Wartime Memories Project - RAF Matching Green, USAAF Station 160

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Information. Matching Green Airfield is located to the East of Harlow. Built by the US 834th and 840th Engineer (Aviation) Batalions for the US 9th Air force and known as Station 166. Matching was home to the 9th USAAF 391st Bomb Group led by Colonel Gerald E Williams, consisting of the 572nd 573rd 574th and 575th Bomb squadrons flying B26 Marauders. They arrived on the 25th of January 1944 during the final phase of constuction, staying until 1945. Matching was used as a base for "Operation Varsity" by C47 Dakota transport aircraft and Short Stirling Bombers from the RAF in the role of Tugs for the Horsa Glider. Today the site is agricultural land, the control tower being home to a radar equipment testing facility owned by Ratheon. Visible wartime remains include the tall water tower, various nissen (quonset) huts, some sections of the runway and perimeter tracks, underground ops room, the bomb dump in nearby woodland is fairly well intact. One of the T2 type aircraft Hangers was re-located to North Weald a few years ago. A memorial to the 391st BG (M) is located in the nearby village. My grandfather, Peter Colin Mackenzie DFC. was stationed at Matching Green Airfield although he did originate from The Isle of Islay in Scotland. He married a local lass, my Grandmother Violet Madge Reddington. We were all raised in the Village and there are still a few of the older residents living in the beautiful village. Rachel Foxhall Photographs Nissen hut used as a bar, known as The Flak Arms. If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served here. Flight Sergeant Frederick Charles Aldersley (W.Op.) Corporal John Hardy Flight Lieutenant Walter John Howes. pilot. Flight Sergeant Robert Henry McAlpine (Air Gnr.) Peter Colin Mackenzie DFC Flight Sergeant Frederick William Rees (Nav./Bomber) Pilot Officer Keneth Rhodes Inger (Air Bomber) Sergeant Keneth Slee (Flt. Engr.) 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 Ghostfields THE 391st BOMB GROUP WEBSITE Airfields Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MM - All Rights Reserved