Hi All,
We have at last managed to get some funding for a memorial at RAF Debden which will be started shortly, the new memorial will be located near to the threshold of the northerly runway not far from the antique barn/coffee shop. We are looking to have as many people in attendance at the unveiling in April/May and the dedication in September (Possibly the 19th) who served at Debden between 1937-1975. The RAF have been advised and we would also like invite any Americans who also served there during the war especially Eagle squadron and the 4th fighter group, does anyone please have any contact details for these associations ?
At the dedication we hope to have flypasts during the day of as many aircraft that operated out of Debden during the time it was open. (As this is the same weekend as Duxford Airshow we are talking to NATS about entry into the STN zone from Duxford for a ‘large’ circuit )
As we get more details and aircraft in attendance I will post them on the forum.
By: AlanR - 24th September 2015 at 13:37
The new memorial to the former RAF Units in the foreground with the relocated 4th FG memorial behind and the North/South runway beyond.
I hope you don’t mind me taking the liberty of adjusting your photo ?
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By: jack russell - 24th September 2015 at 12:57
Nato….PM sent.
By: trumper - 23rd September 2015 at 12:30
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/raf-debden-memorial-unveiled-22092015
By: The Bump - 22nd September 2015 at 22:20
Sorry for the tardiness in putting a pic up, I thought i had to have a Flickr or photo bucket account to do it but then found didn’t .
iPhone pic only though .
By: Denis - 22nd September 2015 at 21:33
Thank you 🙂
A fitting location for both memorials too!
By: The Bump - 22nd September 2015 at 16:48
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The new memorial to the former RAF Units in the foreground with the relocated 4th FG memorial behind and the North/South runway beyond.
By: Denis - 21st September 2015 at 18:07
Surely someone has a photo ? 🙂
By: The Bump - 21st September 2015 at 00:09
Sadly I couldn’t attend the unveiling but after getting out of Duxford after the show just before 1900 and spying the gridlock on the M11 I took my back up route home through Saffron Walden and took a detour to the memorial site.
It’s very nicely done and it was very peaceful with just the birds singing when I pulled over to look.
As mentioned it is located at the approach/threshold for the North/south runway which is seen beyond.
By: hindenburg - 20th September 2015 at 13:36
My grandfather was based there,he told me he had to take some mobile lighthouse/ beacon out one night for an emergency landing.An enemy plane followed the landing aircraft in and started dropping bombs.He jumped into the nearest ditch to take cover and it was full of freezing water..he was later stationed at RAF Longparish.
By: Denis - 20th September 2015 at 10:16
I did not manage to make this as I had hoped, would appreciate seeing any photos taken yesterday 🙂
By: trumper - 18th September 2015 at 09:44
🙂 Thank you for the answer ,:) good luck i hope it all goes well 🙂
By: NATO - 18th September 2015 at 00:06
Trumper
Depending on serviceability, we will have a Spitfire,Mustang and Harvard on display at the event, the runway has been kept in good condition so the aircraft will be landing and departing on the east/west runway, Entering the Stansted zone via Audley End.
So if you are unlucky not to be able to get Duxford tickets come and support us at Debden!
By: trumper - 16th September 2015 at 22:21
🙂 A friend of mine who still lives in Saffron Walden has just reminded me of this,he also has heard there may be a Spitfire and P51 landing there,does anyone know if that is likely,is the runway still useable?
http://www.rafpassociation.com/rafpa/memorial-to-raf-debden/
It is also [i believe] to commemorate a local historian Keith Braybrooke who wrote a history of RAF Debden.
By: adrian_gray - 12th September 2015 at 09:43
Smashing stuff NATO, thank you. Sadly I will be elsewhere but hopefully my parents will go. Dad was just a few miles away during WW2 (still is, in fact).
C’mon Duxford, lend them a flypast!
Adrian
By: NATO - 11th September 2015 at 23:13
Please see press release below:-
Any one in the area welcome to attend!
RAF Debden Battle of Britain role remembered
Memorial to British and American fighter aces unveiled
A memorial to Royal Air Force and American Air Force aircrew who flew from RAF Debden during WW2 will be unveiled and dedicated on Saturday 19 September. The event coincides with national commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in which RAF Debden played a key role as part of 11 Fighter Group.
William Clark, a WW2 veteran who learnt to fly the Hurricane at RAF Debden, will carry out the unveiling. Officers representing the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force and civic heads will attend the event along with service personnel and civilians who served at the former airbase.
The event is open to the public. WW2 aircraft may be on show and a possible flypast is planned.
Memorial ground
A new memorial ground has been created on the perimeter of the former airfield, now part of Carver Barracks, home of 33 and 101 Engineer Regiments EOD. The barracks are located at Wimbish, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2YA.
The memorial ground fronts the original north-south runway, which can clearly be seen stretching away into the distance. In addition to the new memorial is a commemorate stone to the US 4th Fighter Group which operated from the base between 1942 and 1945. The third element of the memorial ground is the recently-discovered Pickett-Hamilton Fort, a concrete pill box that can be raised mechanically, one of four designed to defend the runways.
The memorial ground will become a central feature of a heritage trail being devised to tell the story of RAF Debden. This will include the old operations room, which still exists and, it is hoped, will be restored much as it was during the Battle of Britain.
Fighter aces
RAF Debden played a crucial role defending the South East of England and London during WW2 and especially during the Battle of Britain. Among the fighter aces who served at RAF Debden was Squadron Leader Peter Townsend, who commanded 85 Squadron.
The event is a tribute to Keith Braybrooke, the author of ‘Wingspan’ that tells the history of the base, who has campaigned for the memorial. Until now there has been nothing to mark the presence of RAF Fighter Command. Sadly, Keith died last year but knew that a memorial, which he campaigned for and whose inscription he provided, would be built. Keith was made an honorary member of 4th Fighter Group.
More/2/ RAF Debden
The memorial has been paid for by Uttlesford District Council and designed and constructed by local memorial masons Whitehead & Day. The memorial ground has been created by the Royal Engineers who are in the process of establishing the heritage trail.
The memorial also contains the names of RAF Technical Training Command (1946-1960) and the RAF Police Depot (1960-1975).
The unveiling and dedication will take place on the afternoon of Saturday
19 September. Parking for the public will be provided at Carver Barracks from 1pm and the unveiling ceremony is due to commence at approximately 2.30pm with the arrival of William Clark aboard a Harvard, a plane used to train pilots before they graduated to Spitfires and Hurricanes.
By: DragonRapide - 5th March 2015 at 17:51
Good work! Look forward to the unveiling!
By: Denis - 5th March 2015 at 17:44
The guys over there are very helpful and will try and support you the best they can.
Good luck NATO.
Yep, now they are in bed with the ABCT they might even manage to get a Bannerman marker stone put there as well
By: geedee - 5th March 2015 at 12:15
NATO…PM sent 🙂
By: trumper - 12th January 2015 at 18:53
I used to live in Saffron Walden and Mum still does.Is there a webpage we can post on facebook or somewhere else with information?.
By: Atcham Tower - 12th January 2015 at 18:52
There is a 4th Fighter Group page on Facebook with 104 members.
Sign In
January 12, 2015 at 9:21 am