Bradwell-on-Sea
Encyclopedia
Bradwell-on-Sea is a village
in Essex
, England
. The village is on the Dengie peninsula
. It is located about 9 km (5.6 mi) north-northeast of Southminster
and is 30 km (18.6 mi) east from the county town of Chelmsford
. The village is in the District of Maldon
in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon
whose boundaries were last varied at the United Kingdom General Election, 2010. It has a population of 877.
fort in Roman
times known as Othona
. The Anglo-Saxons
originally called it Ithancester. Saint Cedd founded a monastery
within the old walls in 653, which survives as the restored chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall
, one of the oldest churches in Britain. From there, he continued the evangelisation of Essex
. In the 20th century, the village became more well known as the site for the Bradwell nuclear power station. It also has a very good sailing club and outdoor leisure facilities. There is a school - St. Cedd's C. of E. Primary School.
The village has been called Bradwell juxta Mare, Bradwell-next-the-Sea and Bradwell near the Sea.
Celebrated Residents include Thomas Abel
, Sir Henry Bate Dudley and Tom Driberg
In 1940, it was expanded and developed. It became a forward early air defence fighter base with Spitrfires
and Hurricanes
. Three new concrete runways and hangars and the unique FIDO fog dispersal system
were constructed. FIDO used pipes along both sides of the main runway to pump petrol in a fine spray which was ignited to create lines of flames to disperse fog and to aid landing. RAF Bradwell Bay was the only airfield in Britain with this FIDO fog dispersal system. The airfield's location and FIDO were vital in helping many quite large aircraft, bombers, etc. reaching safety early by landing there.
Midway through the war it mostly served as a base for long range fighters to escort bombers with Mustangs. Later in the war, especially around D-Day, Bradwell Bay’s role was no longer "first line of defence" of Great Britain but it changed to "front line attack" due to its proximity with the land war fronts in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
It was a forward attack base using light bombers and Spitfires, Tempests
, Mustangs and Mosquitos
as ground attack aircraft with cannons, bombs and rockets. It was also a base for the high speed Tempests which were used to intercept V1 flying bombs
.
Coincidentally, the airfield memorial displays the fuselage and tail of a Mosquito.
, RAF Lympne
, RAF Manston
and RAF Rochford.
Many RAF squadrons operated from and used Bradwell Bay. Amongst the 28 squadrons based there were: The Canadian squadron - 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron, RCAF
which was the first on the airfield. The Canadian squadron arrived when the airfield opened in 1941; The New Zealand squadron - 488 Squadron, RNZAF
was there from September 1943 until May 1944. Bradwell Bay also housed three Czech RAF squadrons, One Polish RAF squadron (Polish Air Force) and one Australian squadron at one time.
The Czech Squadrons were 310
, 312
and 313 Squadron
- all fighter squadrons, they were 3 of the 5 Czech Squadrons in the RAF. Those three squadrons were there to serve as "The Bradwell Fighter Wing", also known as 134 Wing, and they were all flying Spitfires. The Czech squadrons were there from December 1944 to February 1945.
The Polish squadron was 307 "City of Lwow" Squadron. It was 1 of the 18 famous and effective Polish RAF Squadrons, of which, 11 were fighter squadrons. 307 Squadron was a night fighter squadron in 11 Fighter Group. Their slogan was "The Eagle Owls" indicating their hunting skills at night. Later, they flew the very high speed, twin engined de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
which they flew from Bradwell Bay. They arrived in February 1945.
The Australian squadron was 456 Squadron, RAAF
.
The previous squadrons in The Bradwell Fighter Wing, also known as 134 Wing, were 64 Sqdn, RAF
, 126 Sqdn, RAF
and 611 Sqdn, RAuxAF
, all three flying Spitfire Mk.IXs. The Wing were at Bradwell Bay from August 1944 to December 1944, although 611 was redeployed in October.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The village is on the Dengie peninsula
Dengie peninsula
Dengie is a peninsula in Essex, England, that once formed a hundred of the same name .The peninsula is formed by the River Crouch to the south, the Blackwater to the north, both of which are tidal, and the North Sea to the east...
. It is located about 9 km (5.6 mi) north-northeast of Southminster
Southminster
Southminster is a town on the Dengie peninsula in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies about three miles north of Burnham-on-Crouch and ten miles south-east of Maldon. To the north is the River Blackwater, which is tidal and since Roman times has been the gateway to trading...
and is 30 km (18.6 mi) east from the county town of Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
. The village is in the District of Maldon
Maldon (district)
Maldon is a local government district in Essex, England. Its council is based in the town of Maldon, and the next largest centre of population is Burnham-on-Crouch. The district covers the Dengie peninsula as well as an area to the north of the Blackwater Estuary, a total area of...
in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon
Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)
Maldon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
whose boundaries were last varied at the United Kingdom General Election, 2010. It has a population of 877.
History
Bradwell-on-Sea was a Saxon ShoreSaxon Shore
Saxon Shore could refer to one of the following:* Saxon Shore, a military command of the Late Roman Empire, encompassing southern Britain and the coasts of northern France...
fort in Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times known as Othona
Othona
Othona or Othonae was the name of an ancient Roman fort of the Saxon Shore at the location of the modern village Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex, England...
. The Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
originally called it Ithancester. Saint Cedd founded a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
within the old walls in 653, which survives as the restored chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall
St Peter-on-the-Wall
The Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex is a Grade I listed building and among the oldest largely intact Christian church buildings in England still in regular use, dating from the 7th century...
, one of the oldest churches in Britain. From there, he continued the evangelisation of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. In the 20th century, the village became more well known as the site for the Bradwell nuclear power station. It also has a very good sailing club and outdoor leisure facilities. There is a school - St. Cedd's C. of E. Primary School.
The village has been called Bradwell juxta Mare, Bradwell-next-the-Sea and Bradwell near the Sea.
Celebrated Residents include Thomas Abel
Thomas Abel
The Blessed Thomas Abel was an English priest who was martyred during the reign of Henry VIII. The place and date of his birth are unknown....
, Sir Henry Bate Dudley and Tom Driberg
World War Two
During World War Two, Bradwell Bay airfield was a front line air base, named RAF Bradwell Bay at the time. It had been a grass runway airfield suitable as a temporary base, for refuelling and for training, especially for pilots practicing targeting, shooting and bombing on nearby Foulness, Maplin Sands and the Dengie Marshes.In 1940, it was expanded and developed. It became a forward early air defence fighter base with Spitrfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and Hurricanes
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
. Three new concrete runways and hangars and the unique FIDO fog dispersal system
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation was a system used for dispersing fog from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely...
were constructed. FIDO used pipes along both sides of the main runway to pump petrol in a fine spray which was ignited to create lines of flames to disperse fog and to aid landing. RAF Bradwell Bay was the only airfield in Britain with this FIDO fog dispersal system. The airfield's location and FIDO were vital in helping many quite large aircraft, bombers, etc. reaching safety early by landing there.
Midway through the war it mostly served as a base for long range fighters to escort bombers with Mustangs. Later in the war, especially around D-Day, Bradwell Bay’s role was no longer "first line of defence" of Great Britain but it changed to "front line attack" due to its proximity with the land war fronts in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
It was a forward attack base using light bombers and Spitfires, Tempests
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
, Mustangs and Mosquitos
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
as ground attack aircraft with cannons, bombs and rockets. It was also a base for the high speed Tempests which were used to intercept V1 flying bombs
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
.
Coincidentally, the airfield memorial displays the fuselage and tail of a Mosquito.
D Day Operations from RAF Bradwell Bay
RAF Bradwell Bay was an important base for three “D Day” squadrons during the preparations for “Operation Overlord” - the “D Day” Allied Invasion of Normandy. They operated from there for the day of the invasion on 6 June 1944 and during the following offensive campaign across Normandy and France. They were :- 124 SquadronNo. 124 Squadron RAFNo. 124 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a light bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:...
, flying Spitfire Mk.VIISupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s. - 219 SquadronNo. 219 Squadron RAFNo. 219 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was originally founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1957 after four separate periods of service. During the First World War it served as a coastal defence unit, and through most of the Second World War and the 1950s it operated as a night fighter air defence...
, flying Mosquito Mk.XVIIIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
s. - A Flight - 278 SquadronNo. 278 Squadron RAFNo. 278 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an air-sea rescue unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed at RAF Matlaske on 22 December 1941 equipped with the Lysander, Walrus and then the Anson. Spitfires were then supplied for spotting downed aircrew...
, flying WarwicksVickers WarwickThe Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
.
Canadian, New Zealand, Czech, Polish and Australian RAF Squadrons at RAF Bradwell Bay
During the Second World War, RAF Bradwell Bay was a front line airfield on the east coast and its position by the sea put it close to the points of entry into Southern England by enemy aircraft and ships. It had a similar forward role to RAF HawkingeRAF Hawkinge
RAF Hawkinge was an airfield in Kent, near to the south coast and the closest airfield to the French coast.It took part in the Battle of Britain and it was home to No. 79 Squadron RAF. After the war, the station hosted the Home Command Gliding Centre, and is fondly remembered by many Air Cadets as...
, RAF Lympne
RAF Lympne
RAF Lympne was a Royal Air Force station used during the First and Second World Wars. It opened in 1916 by the Royal Flying Corps as an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returned from, France. It was later designated as a First Class Landing Ground...
, RAF Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
and RAF Rochford.
Many RAF squadrons operated from and used Bradwell Bay. Amongst the 28 squadrons based there were: The Canadian squadron - 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron, RCAF
No. 418 Squadron RCAF
No. 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II....
which was the first on the airfield. The Canadian squadron arrived when the airfield opened in 1941; The New Zealand squadron - 488 Squadron, RNZAF
No. 488 Squadron RNZAF
488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force....
was there from September 1943 until May 1944. Bradwell Bay also housed three Czech RAF squadrons, One Polish RAF squadron (Polish Air Force) and one Australian squadron at one time.
The Czech Squadrons were 310
No. 310 Squadron RAF
No. 310 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovakian-manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War .It was first formed on 10 July 1940 at RAF Duxford, equipped with Hawker Hurricane I fighters and was the first RAF squadron to be raised crewed by foreign nationals, in this case...
, 312
No. 312 Squadron RAF
No. 312 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovakian-manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.It was first formed at Duxford in July 1940, equipped with Hurricane I fighters and crewed mostly by escaped Czechslovakian pilots. Its first victory was a Junkers Ju 88 above...
and 313 Squadron
No. 313 Squadron RAF
No. 313 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovakian-manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.It was first formed at Catterick on 10 May 1941, equipped with Spitfire I fighters and crewed mostly by escaped Czechslovakian pilots...
- all fighter squadrons, they were 3 of the 5 Czech Squadrons in the RAF. Those three squadrons were there to serve as "The Bradwell Fighter Wing", also known as 134 Wing, and they were all flying Spitfires. The Czech squadrons were there from December 1944 to February 1945.
The Polish squadron was 307 "City of Lwow" Squadron. It was 1 of the 18 famous and effective Polish RAF Squadrons, of which, 11 were fighter squadrons. 307 Squadron was a night fighter squadron in 11 Fighter Group. Their slogan was "The Eagle Owls" indicating their hunting skills at night. Later, they flew the very high speed, twin engined de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
which they flew from Bradwell Bay. They arrived in February 1945.
The Australian squadron was 456 Squadron, RAAF
No. 456 Squadron RAAF
No. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force night fighter squadron, active over Europe during World War II.-History:No. 456 Squadron was formed on 30 June 1941 at RAF Valley, Isle of Anglesey, Wales in the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night fighter squadron,...
.
The previous squadrons in The Bradwell Fighter Wing, also known as 134 Wing, were 64 Sqdn, RAF
No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
, 126 Sqdn, RAF
No. 126 Squadron RAF
No. 126 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a day bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
and 611 Sqdn, RAuxAF
No. 611 Squadron RAF
No. 611 Squadron was a British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron first formed in 1936 and lastly disbanded in 1957.-Early years:...
, all three flying Spitfire Mk.IXs. The Wing were at Bradwell Bay from August 1944 to December 1944, although 611 was redeployed in October.