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Stansted -The Early Years (1942 -1966)
Text of BAA Stansted publication
http://www.ukaccs.info/stansted/early.htm
Wartime Beginnings
EARLY IN 1942, an historic decision was made by the British war-time government and American military officials to build a United States Army Air Force base on a plateau close to the village of Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex.
The first American unit, the 817th Aviation Engineering Battalion, arrived at Renfrew Farm on 8th August 1942. They were met by Mr. Grossman, the manager of the farm owned by a Jewish community in London’s East End. The battalion’s role was to begin the conversion of the typical English green fields into a huge military airfield. They would have been unaware, at that time, that over fifty years later their early efforts would culminate in the establishment of the third airport for London, with one of the world’s most state-of-the-art terminal buildings.
The 817th Battalion left Stansted in November 1942 and their work was continued by the 825th Aviation Battalion who had arrived at the Essex site in October. The 825th completed the airfield roads, as well as the control tower, fire station and motor transport section, before leaving in December 1943.
Work on the runways and taxiways began in May 1943 with the arrival of the 850th Aviation Engineering Battalion who remained at Stansted until April 1944.
By October 1943 Stansted had become the largest 9th USAAF base in East Anglia covering 3,000 acres, designated AAF Station No 169, and equipped with a main runway 6,000ft x 1 SOft and two subsidiary runways, each 4,2001t x 150ft.
In February 1944, the 344th Bombardment Group, squadrons 494,495, 496, and 497 moved in and flew their first operational mission on 6th March 1944. In September 1944, the Group moved to France.
Stansted also became an important maintenance base for aircraft of the 8th and 9th Air Forces operating from bases throughout East Anglia.