New Memorial unveiled at RAF Martlesham Heath
Today Adastral Park is home to the main research centre of British Telecom, but the name holds part of its heritage, as an adaptation of the Royal Air Force motto. What now appears to be a quiet industrial area was once RAF Martlesham Heath, full of aircraft and Service personnel from 1917 to 1963.
On Sunday 28th June 2009 RAF uniforms were back on parade, to mark the former Station’s contribution to aviation history. The aerodrome opened in 1917 with the arrival of the Royal Flying Corps’ Aircraft Testing Flight, which became the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE) in 1924. All civil as well as military aircraft were tested and given their certificates of airworthiness if they passed the rigorous flight testing. AAEE remained at Martlesham Heath until 1939 when it moved to Boscombe Down, Salisbury, the Ministry of Defence station that still fulfils the military aircraft test and evaluation role today.
During World War II Martlesham Heath was home to fighter squadrons of the RAF and United States Army Air Force (USAAF), commemorated by a stone erected in 1946, containing the names of all 72 airmen from the 356th Fighter Group, USAAF who died whilst serving at the base. Lieutenant Colonel David Allen from the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, was at the ceremony as their representative.
The climax of the day’s events was the dedication of a new monument to the aviation history of Martlesham Heath, unveiled by Air Warfare Centre Boscombe Down’s Chief Engineer, Group Captain Mike Quigley. It forms a centrepiece between two previous memorials – that from 1946 and one erected in 1990 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The new monument commemorates the historic contribution of Martlesham Heath in the field of aviation research and development, and the evaluation of British military and civil aircraft.
Designed by Mr Alan Powell, the £9,000 cost of the monument was raised by the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society to which Alan belongs. The event was organised by the Society, whose 332 members endeavor to retain the heritage of the site and to recognize the contribution made by the RAF, the USAAF and many civilians, both before and after World War II.
Group Captain Quigley addressed the 200 plus visitors assembled on the day. “It was 70 years ago, at the outbreak of World War II, that “A-squared E-squared”, as it became known, moved to Boscombe Down, away from the East Coast and the dangers of enemy air attack. The task then was to test aircraft and armaments thoroughly to ensure they would perform safely and effectively. While the organisation and the names may have changed over the past 70 years, Boscombe Down’s primary task remains the same today. Now part of the Air Warfare Centre, and comprising men and women from all three Services, we continue to work closely with QinetiQ to ensure that the front line receives equipment that is safe and fit for purpose. With our current operational commitment in Afghanistan, Test and Evaluation, with its origins here at Martlesham Heath, is just as important now as it was in 1917”.
Whilst the former airfield is now the site of a new village, the control tower stills exists and has been turned into a museum, open to the general public on Sunday afternoons, from Easter to October.
Also present at the unveiling were Squadron Leader Robin Tournay and Warrant Officer Mark Bolger from 22 Squadron RAF Regiment, RAF Honington, and Warrant Officer Robert Drake, Army Air Corps.
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Why and How the memorial came to be - by Alan Powell