RAF Rivenhall History

28/08/2026

Earlier this week we were given a tour of the brewery house, Woodhouse Farm. This is where the USAAF/RAF Rivenhall museum will be housed.

Indaver and Punch have restored the building brilliantly, keeping to its original looks and features as much as possible but making it usable for the future.

We can now visualise the space available for museum artefacts and information. If you have anything that is part of the former airfield and would like to have it on display, please contact [email protected]

We are planning for a grand opening the last weekend of March 2027. Put the date in your diary.

27/08/2026

After the phenomenal amount of interest about the RAF Rivenhall Walk on 27th September, all places have been filled.

There were a lot of comments/messages on different pages showing interest, but if you didn’t get chance to register with Paul Bass at Airfield Walks then you won’t have been counted.

Because of the demand we will look at a second date for a not too distant day later in the year. If you want to get your names down in advance to avoid disappointment, then please email [email protected]

Also, once the museum has opened next year, we will combine walks on some days there as well.

Sorry if you have missed out this time around.

23/08/2026

If interested please register in the following comment:

22/08/2026

Whilst being hosted in Norway, I was presented a pair of flying boots worn by one of the crew in LK171 Shooting Stars. These will form part of the displays in the museum opening at the former site of the station next year.

Today, I took them back to RAF Rivenhall. In the briefing room that still stands, those boots would have last walked that ground on 2nd November 1944. Later that night during a resupply drop in Norway, the person wearing those boots was forced to parachute into a snow storm and then evade capture with three other colleagues from the aircraft. It took them two months to get home.

So many legends and unknown stories to be told.

16/08/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jl2lnlv9wo

Wilfred Surplice held his iced-up plane steady long enough for his crew to escape, says historian.

01/08/2026

A fantastic day at the unveiling of the Colchester Airborne Statue. Thousands in attendance with a great blend of stands to showcase our Airborne Forces.

The Red Devils freefall display team brought real skill to their jump - I hate to think how difficult it must be to fly flags THAT big when under a ‘chute!

17/07/2026

The Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces

During the last 8 months of WW2, RAF Rivenhall was the base for A Squadron Glider Pilot Regiment. Their role was to deliver glider troops and equipment to battle. It couldn’t have been done without their RAF tugs, 295 and 570 Squadron, to get them there. Together, they were the architects of today’s Airborne Forces.

In a couple of weeks there is an event to celebrate the modern day Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces. It would be great to see you there!

28/06/2026

On 14th May I shared an IWM video of a glider flying in on Operation Varsity that I hadn't seen in full before. Since then, I've been researching it to see if I can get more information on what we are actually seeing.

I have reread the account by Edward Horrell on Pegasus Archives https://www.pegasusarchive.org/varsity/frames.htm - he was attached to D Company 12 Devons who flew from Rivenhall on that day. With him was Nick Hillier, whom he had served with throughout the war. Their job was to blow the back off the glider after landing so they could get the ammunition cart out more easily.

The glider crashed on landing; both pilots were killed along with the first 6 troops in the glider. As Edward and Nick were about to blow the back off the glider, Nick was shot in the neck and killed.

The IWM video was filmed by Sgt Harry Oakes of the AFPU (Army Film and Photographic Unit. With him was Sgt Jim Christie who took photographs; they worked as a pair. Harry had been to Great Dunmow days before the operation to film the gliders being prepared for the operation. In his IWM interview, he says that he takes off from Great Dunmow, however he then describes the incident above quite clearly. Jim takes a photo of Nick perhaps seconds before he is killed next to the glider. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80004272

Extensive research in WW2Talk (I am so grateful for all of the shared information in this group, it really is ground-breaking) confirmed that the photo of Nick was actually him, a second photo corroborates this. So from this, I have taken it that Harry Oakes assumed he was flying from Great Dunmow, in reality he flew from Rivenhall (similar distance for them to drive in the dark the morning of the operation from their holding camp at Gosfield). They were in the Company HQ glider for D Company, 12 Devons.

Through my research notes I have now been able to identify that the first pilot of the glider who appears in the video would have been Flying Officer Geoffrey William Maddock. As mentioned above, he dies in the crash along with his co pilot sat to his right.

Knowing that it was the Company HQ glider, it would have had the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) on board who would more than likely have been at the front to see where the glider was landing. There were two CSM's for 12 Devon's killed on that day; WO2 George Edward Angell and WO2 William Thomas Mashford. Unfortunately I have been unable to identify which Company they were.

My research continues to try and bring to life the actions carried out by those who flew from Rivenhall throughout the war.

13/06/2026

Trooping the Colour

Celebrating our Monarchs birthday each year is a day I always enjoy. It demonstrates our Armed Forces ability to showcase itself. With the Guards tirelessly rehearsing their intricate parade to perform perfectly each year and the RAF and RN finishing off the ceremony with a fantastic fly past, it’s always a pleasure to watch.

I’m lucky enough to live under the flight path as they fly towards London. Every year it’s a great display to watch from my village.

I’m proud of our Armed Forces - thank you all 🙏

06/06/2026

Whilst at an event in the House of Lords on Thursday, 3 Royal Navy helicopters flew over. It made me reflect about the 3 aircrew that had died in a flying accident the day before.

Always remembered.