RAF Raydon
| RAF Raydon USAAF Station 157  .png)
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| Located Near Raydon, Suffolk, United Kingdom | |
RAF Raydon - September 1946
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| Coordinates | 52°00′40″N 1°00′00″E / 52.011°N 1.000°E |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Code | RA |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Air Ministry |
| Controlled by |
 Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces
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| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| In use | 1942-1958 |
| Battles/wars |
European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison |
Eighth Air Force Ninth Air Force RAF Fighter Command |
| Occupants |
357th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group |
Royal Air Force Station Raydon or more simply RAF Raydon is a former Royal Air Force station located just to the northeast of the village of Raydon, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Ipswich, England.
Raydon airfield was constructed by the 833rd and 862nd Aviation Engineer Battalions. Although only ever used by fighters, Raydon airfield was constructed as a standard Class A bomber airfield. As a result, its main concrete runway was approximately 6000 ft long with two intersecting concrete runways of 4200 ft. Two T-2 type hangars were built at opposite ends of the airfield and 52 concrete dispersal points were located around the perimeter track. Accommodation for over 2800 personnel was built to the south east of the airfield.
Raydon was primarily a fighter station for the Eighth and Ninth United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). During the Second World War it was known as USAAF Station 157.
The first American occupants of Raydon was the 357th Fighter Group, moving in from Casper AAF, Wyoming on 30 November 1943.
Operational squadrons of the 357th were:
One pilot with the 357th was a Lt. Charles ‘Chuck’ Yeager.
When the group arrived at Raydon, it was assigned as part of the Ninth Air Force. On 19 December the group received their first fighter, a single North American P-51B.
The 358th Fighter Group moved to RAF Raydon from RAF Leiston on 31 January 1944. The 358th was initially assigned to the 66th Fighter Wing, at Sawston Hall, Cambridge, then transferred to the Ninth Air Force on 1 February 1944 in exchange for the 357th FG.
Operational squadrons of the 358th were:
Group markings were red, yellow and red spinners, with a 12-inch red and yellow check band around the cowling behind the spinner. Aircraft of the 357th were P-47D "Thunderbolts".
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Wikipedia