Earls Colne Airfield - 01787 223676

Earls Colne Airfield is a former Royal Air Force station in Essex, England. Earls Colne has a CAA Ordinary Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P860), issued to Bulldog Aviation Limited. The airfield is located 3NM southeast of Halstead, approximately 5mi east-northeast of Braintree; about 45mi northeast of LondonOpened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a combat bomber airfield. After the war it was closed in 1955 after many years of being in a reserve status.Much of the airfield today is being used as a golf course. A flying club also operates from the old airfield. It is the home of the Essex Air Ambulance.HistoryRoyal Air Force useEarls Colne was opened in August 1942 and for the first year it was operated by No. 3 Group Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force. Flying squadrons included the 296 & 297 squadrons, equipped with Whitley Mk.V medium bomber aircraft.United States Army Air Forces useIn May 1943 the airfield was turned over to the United States Army Air Forces. USAAF groups of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces used the airfield. It was known as USAAF Station AAF-358 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. It's USAAF Station Code was "EC".

Tags: Airport