RAF Bradwell Bay

RAF Bradwell Bay
RCAF Douglas Boston Mk III taxiing at RAF Bradwell Bay in 1942
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex
Built	1940 (1940)
In use	1941-1946 (1946)
Elevation AMSL	30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates	51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°E / 51.73528; 0.90167Coordinates: 51°44′07″N 000°54′06″E / 51.73528°N 0.90167°E / 51.73528; 0.90167
Map
RAF Bradwell Bay Location in Essex
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 04/22 0 0 Concrete 10/28 0 0 Concrete 16/34 0 0 Concrete

RAF Bradwell Bay is a former Royal Air Force station located 9.5 miles (15.3 km) east of Maldon, Essex, England and 3.1 miles (5.0 km) south west of West Mersea, Essex.

The airfield was first used as grass landing strip for the nearby firing ranges before being turned into a RAF station with concrete runways and hangars. The station is unique as it was the only fighter station where the Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) was used.

Part of the site is currently being used by the Bradwell nuclear power station. Several of the hangars are still used as storage by the local farmers and the control tower is now a private house. Agricultural buildings, built in the '70s and '80s on runways one and two, are now home to several local businesses.