Andrewsfield / Great Saling. Station 485

You may have just answered one of my queries. My father was in the Polish airforce. In his diary it states he was at one time stationed at Andrewsfield. In his photo album are a couple of shots of Mustangs and one which looks like some flying overhead. I wondered where it might have been. Sqd. code WC and Malcolm hoods?

Andrews Field

Steve – any chance of a copy of that DVD ref Andrews Field?
My Mum was married to a Polish fighter pilot who was killed there.
Thanks
Kelvin

Andrewsfield Photo’s

Hi…

Dave and Stan had thousands of photographs relating to the 322nd Bomb Group…and the large majority of these had certainly never seen the light of day. Many, many photo’s came from the veterans themselves, and were priceless! It’s a shame they couldn’t make their way into a book.

I’m certain that the photo’s are still in the possession of those that ran the RAM, and were not amongst the items sold off. It just means that they are not viewable by the public anymore. I know who has them, but of course I couldn’t throw names about without prior consent. I could ask tho…

Pete….Yep, those displays at the Great Saling village hall were organised by RAM. I’m sad to hear that the hall has now gone…I have some fond memories of some very interesting RAM club meetings that were held there. It’s almost as if all evidence of RAM’s existence has been wiped off the map, especially as the old building at Earls Colne has been dismantled also! Still, things move on don’t they, and it was great while it lasted.

I do have a film on dvd of the “handing over” ceremony of Andrewsfield by the the RAF to the USAAF (at least I believe that’s what it is…it has no sound), along with footage of the Polish Mustang wing when it was based there. Some nice footage, and some good views of the airfield as it once was (also have some nice footage of Earls Colne)…Yep, I have a big soft-spot for Andrewsfield!

Regards;
Steve

As far as I’m aware, the Rebel Air Museum’s Dassault Mystere is still at Andrewsfield looking somewhat the worse for wear.

It’s still there, looking just the same, I think that the cockpit has been fully closed up though.
As I pass it at least once a week, I’ll take a pic for comparison next time, I often wonder how long it will remain there, though it’s been around for as long as I’ve lived in the area and has become an integral part of the landscape.

Hi Have you got the WWII overlays on Google Earth interesting to some & I expect a help to researchers. I cant tell you how to find them as I was searching for somthing else when I spotted the download hit the link & saved the file to look at later, the carried on with my original search. Hope this helps.

Pic below from a couple of years ago…

http://www.airliners.net/photo/France—Air/Dassault-MD-454-Mystere/1065025/L/?width=1200&height=812&sok=&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=1064668

As far as I’m aware, the Rebel Air Museum’s Dassault Mystere is still at Andrewsfield looking somewhat the worse for wear.

According to another Forum member who I PMed last year, most of the Rebal Air Museum’s stuff was eventually sold off round private collections (and a few museums) after Dave Brett’s death.

I do recall the RAM in its Andrewsfield days had a photo collection from local events – IIRC correctly, including a B26 that dropped just short of the runway, finishing up in a garden. The crew were given that most British of welcomes – a hot cuppa each – and in the process used up a week’s ration of tea! (How on earth do I remember that I wonder – I was no more than 9 when I visited). So I think it very likely that the display was something to do with them.

Adrian

Anyone, got any ww2 photos of the above 9th AF, they can post please.
Photos of the old control tower, would be great.

Thanks.

Swampyrv.

Oh, someone else interested in the place, why is that then.

Try Roger Freemans book ‘Mighty 8th in Colour’, I haven’t got it to hand at the moment, but there are a few very nice colour pictures in there.
A few years ago, Great Saling had a village fete, the village hall contained a large scale model of the airfield and a display of photographs, unfortunately the hall has succombed to a housing development, and I don’t know what happened to the model and photographs, I expect somebody knows though, try ringing the current airfield, they might be able to help.
Thinking about it, it may have had something to do with the now defunct Rebel Air Museum that moved to Earls Colne but has since ceased to exist, they had several artifacts including the rear end of a B-26, it must have all gone somewhere.