Roding Valley Meadows - RAF Chigwell

From 1939 to early 1943, RAF Chigwell provided barrage balloon protection against enemy air raids across North London, Essex and Herts. The balloon squadrons were later replaced by thousands of mobile air traffic control teams training for the D-Day landings in Europe and for the war in other parts of the world. By the Cold War era of the 1950’s and early 1960’s, RAF Chigwell was responsible for installing Britain’s coastal nuclear early warning system across the South and East of England.

By May 1943 the camp was home to some 3600 people. Occupying some 70 acres the station was well equipped, There were three large vehicle hangers, each nearly as large as a football pitch; twenty billet huts for the personnel to sleep in; a NAAFI, Post office, Chapel, sick quarters, balloon storage sheds and over 100 other buildings.

The station closed in 1958 and became the base for the 2324 squadron of the Air Training Corp. Eventually the site was transferred to the Chigwell Urban District Council in 1968.

Much of the site of RAF Chigwell now lies beneath the M11, although parts of the camp still lie within the Nature Reserve.

Please return to this page as more information about the RAF days will appear here soon.