Also known as Station 170 · MDP Wethersfield
History
The story of RAF Wethersfield
In 1951 Wethersfield was handed to the US Air Force. The 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing arrived with F-84G Thunderjets, able to carry small nuclear bombs. F-84F Thunderstreaks followed in 1955, and F-100 Super Sabres from 1957. The wing became the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1958. Its squadrons rotated to Libya, Turkey, Italy and Spain. In 1970 the wing moved to RAF Upper Heyford.
Wethersfield then became a standby base and a satellite of RAF Alconbury. From 1978 it housed the 819th RED HORSE heavy repair engineers. The base returned to the RAF on 3 July 1990. The Ministry of Defence Police used it as headquarters and training centre from 1993 to 2022.
Order of battle
Flying units
| Unit | Years | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| 416th Bombardment Group (Light), USAAF | 1944–1944 | Douglas A-20G Havoc |
| No. 196 Squadron | 1944–1945 | Short Stirling IV |
| No. 299 Squadron | 1944–1945 | Short Stirling IV |
| 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 20th Tactical Fighter Wing), USAF | 1952–1970 | F-84G Thunderjet, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-100 Super Sabre |
Today
What survives
- Runways and two T2 hangars inside the Ministry of Defence site
Visit
The museum on the airfield
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wethersfield Airfield MuseumBraintree, Essex | Free | — | Wethersfield's 82-year story (WWII to USAF Cold War to MoD police) told from temporary quarters in Finchingfield after eviction from the… |