Opened in 1942, RAF Ridgewell was initially home to a Royal Air Force squadron that became the first to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress over Nazi-occupied Europe. Subsequently transferred to the United States Army Air Forces, Ridgewell then hosted the 381st Bombardment Group - a unit which eventually carried out 297 B-17 missions. After a combat lifespan of 30 months, Ridgewell became known as 'Essex's only long-term heavy bomber base'. Seventy-five...
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