BOXTED AIRFIELD HISTORICAL GROUP

REGISTERED CHARITY 1123168

 

wpe18a231b_1b.jpg

 

The Airfield History

Here is a brief history of the airfield together with some of the most significant dates.

For a more detailed record of the individual groups achievements, see the pages dedicated to each group.

 

Spring 1942 - Work on airficld construction underway. Main contractor W&C. French construction of Ipswich.

 

Aug! 10th 1942 - Boxted first allocated to 8th Air Force.

 

June 10. 1943 - 386th BG with B-26 Marauders arrive from Snetterton Heath. First CO - Lester Maitland.

 

August 17th 1943 - Airfield bombed by Luftwaffe. 500lb. Bombs fell on communal site killing two and injuring twenty-nine.

September 25th 1943- The 386th BG move to new base at Great Dunmow.

 

 

  

   November 2nd 1943 - 354th FG Ninth Air Force with P51b Mustangs move into Boxted

 

 

       

  November 1943 - Don Blakeslee of 4th FG Arrived to lead 354th on their early missions.

 

 

 

 December lst 1943 - First mission by 354th FG. 24 Mustangs on a I hour 20 min patrol.

 

 

 

 December 16th 1943 - First enemy aircraft destroyed by 354th - Lt. Charles Gumm  gets a Bf-109.

 

 

 

 

 Jan llth 1944 - Major James Howard’s Medal of Honour winning combat took place.

 

  

 March 1st 1944 - Lt. Charles Gumm killed after crashing into a field near Nayland.

 

 

  

 April 18th 1944 - The 56th FG move into Boxted from Halesworth.

 

  

    

Mav 7. 1944 - Det. B 65th Fighter Wing (ASR) Formed.CO - Captain Robert Gerhart.

 

  

    

May 8th 1944 - Robert.S.Johnson claims 2 and becomes leading American 'ace'.ASR Squadron becomes operational.

 

  

    

Mav  lOth 1944 - First operational mission by the Air Sea Rescue Squadron.

 

  

 

May 12th 1944 - First 'Zemke Fan'. Robert 'Shorty' Rankin shoots down 5 on one mission.

 

 

 

Julv 5th 1944 - Francis Gabreski becomes leading 'ace' with 28 victories.

 

  

    

July 20th 1944 . Gabreski lost and taken prisoner after strafing Bassenbeim  airfield.    

   

    

 

 

After the War

  

 

    The airfield was handed back to the Air Ministry and was used by the RAF. In January 1946 Night Fighter

 

 

 

Mosquitos of 25 Squadron arrived, they stayed for a few months while There airfield and runways were under going

 

 

repairs. Various other  squadrons came and went during the next few months, until the RAF finally ceased operations in

 

 

1947.

 

 

In the 1950’s the airfield was used by the ATC with gliders and a crop spraying business run by Wing Commander

 

 

Percy Hatfield