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Hub AI
MDP Wethersfield AI simulator
(@MDP Wethersfield_simulator)
Hub AI
MDP Wethersfield AI simulator
(@MDP Wethersfield_simulator)
MDP Wethersfield
MDP Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England, located north of the village of Wethersfield, about 6 mi (9.7 km) north-west of the town of Braintree. Originally an RAF station, the site was later used as the headquarters and training centre of the Ministry of Defence Police until 2022. It now houses asylum seekers.
It started as RAF Wethersfield opening in 1944 and during World War II it was used by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. It was closed in 1946, and was reopened in 1951 as a result of the Cold War. Used until 1970 as a United States Air Force fighter airfield, it was held as a reserve airfield until 1993, when it came under control of the Ministry of Defence Police.
RAF Wethersfield was allocated by the RAF to the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force in August 1942. For security reasons, it was known as USAAF Station AAF-170 rather than its location during the war. Its station ID was "WF" but it was still RAF Wethersfield.
The 416th Bombardment Group (light) arrived from Laurel Army Airfield, Mississippi, USA on 1 February 1944, flying the twin-engine Douglas A-20G "Havoc" aircraft. Its operational squadrons and fuselage codes were:
Following the D-day landings, on 21 September 1944 the 416th moved to their Advanced Landing Ground at Melun/Villaroche France (A-55).
Soon after the Americans departed for France, Wethersfield was returned to RAF control, being used by 38 Group, RAF Bomber Command.
During the late 1940s the base was used as a winter camping ground for Chipperfield's Circus. Elephants were housed in the maintenance hangars and the huts became homes for other circus animals.
In 1951, as a result of the Cold War threat of the Soviet Union, the British provided RAF Wethersfield to the USAF as part of their NATO commitment. Work on upgrading the facilities at Wethersfield commenced that same year. The United States was rapidly expanding its air force, increasing the number of combat wings from 48 in 1950 to 95 by June 1952. The 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing was transferred from Langley AFB in Virginia, USA and took up residence at RAF Wethersfield on 31 May 1952.
MDP Wethersfield
MDP Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England, located north of the village of Wethersfield, about 6 mi (9.7 km) north-west of the town of Braintree. Originally an RAF station, the site was later used as the headquarters and training centre of the Ministry of Defence Police until 2022. It now houses asylum seekers.
It started as RAF Wethersfield opening in 1944 and during World War II it was used by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. It was closed in 1946, and was reopened in 1951 as a result of the Cold War. Used until 1970 as a United States Air Force fighter airfield, it was held as a reserve airfield until 1993, when it came under control of the Ministry of Defence Police.
RAF Wethersfield was allocated by the RAF to the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force in August 1942. For security reasons, it was known as USAAF Station AAF-170 rather than its location during the war. Its station ID was "WF" but it was still RAF Wethersfield.
The 416th Bombardment Group (light) arrived from Laurel Army Airfield, Mississippi, USA on 1 February 1944, flying the twin-engine Douglas A-20G "Havoc" aircraft. Its operational squadrons and fuselage codes were:
Following the D-day landings, on 21 September 1944 the 416th moved to their Advanced Landing Ground at Melun/Villaroche France (A-55).
Soon after the Americans departed for France, Wethersfield was returned to RAF control, being used by 38 Group, RAF Bomber Command.
During the late 1940s the base was used as a winter camping ground for Chipperfield's Circus. Elephants were housed in the maintenance hangars and the huts became homes for other circus animals.
In 1951, as a result of the Cold War threat of the Soviet Union, the British provided RAF Wethersfield to the USAF as part of their NATO commitment. Work on upgrading the facilities at Wethersfield commenced that same year. The United States was rapidly expanding its air force, increasing the number of combat wings from 48 in 1950 to 95 by June 1952. The 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing was transferred from Langley AFB in Virginia, USA and took up residence at RAF Wethersfield on 31 May 1952.