The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Sawbridgeworth

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Information. Sawbridgeworth was home to 2 Squadron (AC) RAF, an Army Co-operation squadron undertaking Special Duties and Special operation's executive. Including such clandestine operations as photographic work, spotting, and message dropping, parachute dropping or landing trained agents in occupied Europe. Landing a range of aircraft in remote areas sometimes right under the Germans noses. They also undertook supply drops of Arms ammunition, and explosives for use by the resistance fighters. 138 (Special Duties) squadron used Sawbridgeworth for training, with only a couple of operational sorties into occupied Europe from Sawbridgeworth being undertaken. Squadrons using this airfield included: 63, 168 and 170 squadrons(Mustang 1's) 4 squadron (flying Mustangs then later in 1944 with spitfire (PR), 80 squadron (Spitfires) 268 Squadron (Spitfire) 126 squadron (Spitfire 1Xe's) 1419 Flight, later to become 138 (SD) Squadron. During the late 60's the notorius police killer Harry Roberts was finally caught living in one of the then remaining Blister hangers after being on the run for weeks. Today much of the perimeter track remains, the section which runs through Mathams Wood is full width. Also there are two aircraft dispersal pens complete with blast walls and air raid shelter. A type 24 Pillbox, remains at the boundary of the airfield and the public road (which would have been shut at his point during the War) The old guardhouse, defence shelters, maycrete ancilliary buildings at Shingle Hall are in good order. The stanby generator house and another Nissen hut that was once the grocery store still exist. Part of the medical camp near Parsonage Farm is now a small industial estate. One of the 24,000 gallon Aircraft fuel stores is visible at Blounts farm. A nearby house utilises some of the conical concrete picket weights border to the small front garden. These were originally used to hold down aircraft in windy conditions, being attached by the ring on top to the wings via rope or straps. The Camp cinema and entertainment centre was taken down and rebuilt in Sawbridgeworth Town and still stands and is in use today as a civic centre Photographs Photographs by Denis Sharp, (Ghostfields) If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served here. 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 Sawbridgeworth Firebrigade Ghostfields 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