A few miles to
the East of Harlow are the remains of Matching Green Airfield. The land it occupies had been earmarked for use as an airfield from as early as 1937 during the
rapid build up of resources for the RAF. Construction
eventually began in 1943 as an airfield for the United States Army Air Force. As in common with most
of the US airfields in the area, it was a base for B-26 Martin Marauder twin engined medium bomber Groups who
were under control of the US 9th air force.
Known as Station 166, it was built by the US
834th and 840th Engineer (Aviation) Battalions, to "Class A" standards. The runways were 150' wide with a 50' wide perimeter
track running around the main flying field. Five dispersed sites were used for administration, living, and technical
support. Two T2 type Hangars were also erected. These measured 240' long, 39' high, with a 120' span
across the doors.
The airfield carried the pundit code of MC.
This would have been marked in large white letters on the signals square next to the Control Tower. The first Americans to
be posted in were the members of the 13th Replacement Control Depot.
The 9th USAAF 391st Bomb Group led by Colonel Gerald E Williams and consisting of the 572nd,
573rd, 574th, and 575th Bomb squadrons flying B-26 Marauders, moved in on the 25th of January 1944. This was during
the final phase of construction.
The 391st commenced operations, and stayed until the
1st October, 1944, just nine months. but during this time
they flew 6,000 sorties with the loss of 197 men killed, wounded, or missing in action. On D-Day, 6th June 1944 the group
flew two missions against enemy gun positions on the invasion coast, with two German fighter aircraft being shot
down by the groups gunners .
On the 2nd October 1944, they moved to Roye-Amy, France
(A-73). This was a former Luftwaffe airfield, and operations commenced from there. For a brief time plans were laid to make Matching one of the proposed
VHB, or Very Heavy Bomber, bases, to handle the B-29 Boeing Superfortress Bombers should they be needed in the
European theatre of operations. But too many objections were lodged, so the plans were scrapped.
For a few weeks C - 47 Skytrain (Dakota) transport
aircraft from the US 9th Troop Carrier Command, used Matching Green for training with British Paratroopers.
Soon after, the RAF arrived with Short Stirling Mk
4 Bombers of 38 Group, which were used in the role of Tugs for the large Horsa Gliders
in the upcoming "Operation Varsity". This was to be the largest, and most succesful, of the airborne operations, involving
12 parachute battalions, five British, one Canadian, and six from the USA, closely followed by 1300 Horsa gliders packed with
troops. Fourteen aircraft and their attendant Gliders carrying British troops took off from Matching in this operation.
Shortly after, the squadrons in 38 Group converted to Handley
Page Halifax Mk3 aircraft. Six months after conversion they left and
flying finally ceased from Matching . It has
now returned to agricultural land use but much remains to be seen today. The Control Tower still stands and is home to a modern
radar equipment testing facility owned by Ratheon.
On the site of the officers camp, the tall water
tower stands amongst various Nissen and Romney huts. Not far away and near to the former Ambulance station and Mortuary on the sick quarters site, is the memorial
to the 391st Bomb Group (Medium). A plaque can also be seen in the church of St Mary The Virgin commemorating the
391st Bomb Group. All the runways have been lifted, leaving just a ten foot wide section used as a convenient
road through the crops.
There is a full width section of runway remaining. This is
on the Western side of the airfield, and linked by a remaining section of perimeter track. The site of the bomb dump
in nearby Brickles Wood retains the earth blast walls between the bomb storage bays and brick walls, but now covered by
undergrowth and small trees, evidence of former buildings in the bomb dump can also be found. Only the concrete floors
remain. The service road can still be seen passing through the site. A man - made lake is here too, possibly dug as an
emergency water supply, in case of fire.
The main aviation fuel store remains intact; the pump
house , vent pipes, and bowser filling - heads in place very near to Stock Hall. At the Northern end of the airfield there can still be seen the huge shaped mound of earth that was
used as a test range for the aircraft machine guns. Part of this mound is missing at one end, where soil was used to level
ground after the nearby aircraft hardstands were taken up a few years ago.
One of the "T2" type aircraft
Hangers was re-erected at North Weald airfield. It has been re - clad in modern materials, and is still used for aviation
puposes. It was once used as a studio for the television series "The Crystal Maze".
Many of the remaining Nissen and Romney huts have been
re clad in modern materials and are being used for light commercial enterprises. Another group of these huts that used
to be the hospital, lie a few yards from the memorial, they have been reclad and put to use again.
Around 90% of the perimeter track circuit remains,
albeit cut down to around a 10' wide strip for most of its length. Only two short sections are missing; on the
eastern side of the airfield part of the peritrack is still in its original width.
From the air you can still make out the general outline,
and many of the airfields features. These include where the hardstands and runways were. The shape of these still show up
through the crops, and will probably do so for quite some time.
With special thanks to:
Michael Scantlebury of Manwood Farm,
Henry Rowe of Rookwood Hall Farm,
Geoffrey Broad of Snows Farm,
David Parsons of Stock Hall, for allowing me access
to the land.
