Originally used from 1940 as a small, grass airfield, satellite for nearby RAF Bassingbourn, Steeple Morden was allocated to the Eighth Air Force in August 1942 as a potential bomber base. It was used briefly by the 3rd Photographic Group during the Autumn of 1942, and was then developed with three runways, 55 concrete hardstandings, one T2 hangar and seven blister hangars. Re-allocated to the Ninth Air Force in April 1943 as a fighter base, it was returned to the Eighth Air Force and occupied by the 355th Fighter Group from July 1943 to July 1945. Returned to the RAF in 1945, the station closed in 1946 and was abandoned. Most of the site was sold back to its original owners plus Cambridgeshire County Council during 1960-61. It has largely returned to agriculture after demolition of the runways, Control Tower and the majority of other wartime buildings. A 355th Fighter Group Memorial wall stands near the wartime station entrance off the Litlington Road.

Detailed history

Not yet known

English Heritage's record description

A former World War Two military airfield. It began in 1940 as a satellite airfield for Bassingbourn, operated by the Royal Air Force. Initially the main user was 11 Operational Training Unit. They took part in the first "thousand bomber raid" to Cologne. They were followed by American reconnaissance units in 1942 and by 17 Operational Training Unit. The airfield was then selected for expansion and was redeveloped within the parameters of local topography. The redeveloped airfield consisted of three concrete runways, an aircraft hangar (Type T2) and a number of Blister aircraft hangars. There was a technical site with a control tower at the northern edge of the airfield. The airfield was then primarily used by the United states Army 8th Air Force 355th Fighter Group: Steeple Morden was designated USAAF Station 122. Their main role was to attack German airfields and infrastructure. The airfield closed in 1946 and was sold mostly to the pre-war landowners for agriculture in 1960-1961.

Service