RAF Boxted is a former World War II airfield 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. The airfield is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north-northeast of Colchester

Colchester

Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...

; about 44 miles (70.8 km) northeast of London

Opened in 1943, it was used by the United States Army Air Force. Boxted has the distinction of having been the base for the two most successful USAAF fighter groups in air-to-air combat. After the war it used by the Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 for jet aircraft testing.