History

In 1940 just over four hundred acres was requisitioned for the Earls Colne airfield.
It was opened for operations during September 1941 by the Royal Air Force, the United States Air Force taking it over when they joined the war in 1942.
Flying Fortresses were the first American aircraft to be based here but probably the most important aircraft were the Marauders of 323 Bomb Group of the U.S. Airforce. Later Liberator bombers and Mustang fighters joined the airfield. Earls Colne was a large base with, at peak times, 3,500 men and one of the longest runways in Essex.

For more information about the local area visit the Colne Valley Pages