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Building thousands of new homes on 'historically priceless' D-Day heroes airfield is an 'insult', campaigners say

Andrewsfield in Essex was the first airfield constructed by the US Air Force - The LIFE Picture Collection
Andrewsfield in Essex was the first airfield constructed by the US Air Force - The LIFE Picture Collection

Proposals to build thousands of new houses on an airfield that was home to American soldiers who contributed to D Day is an "insult", campaigners say.

Andrewsfield in Essex was the first airfield constructed by the US Air Force in England during the Second World War and from 1942 - 1945 it was home to the 322d Bomb Group who attacked coastal defences on D Day.

However campaigners have warned that the airfield is under threat by the North Essex Garden Communities project, a proposal by the local council to build 10,000 new homes.

Andrewsfield falls within an “area of search” for the project, which the council stressed is in its “very early stages.”

Dr Mike Frost, a local anesthetist leading the campaign to stop the development, said: “I think it’s very insulting. We wouldn’t walk down Normandy in France and expect to see a load of brand new houses built there, somewhere so significant, so I don’t see why it should happen here.

“It is an important monument to the airman who helped us in our darkest hour and it should be preserved for future generations.”

The airfield, which was the first of 14 US airfields built in England in the early 1940s, is now private land and has been put up for development by its owners.

it was home to the 322d Bomb Group who attacked coastal defences on D Day - Credit: ALAMY
it was home to the 322d Bomb Group who attacked coastal defences on D Day Credit: ALAMY

It has been an active flying school since 1973 and its manager, Mike Rowland, said the American pilots who lived and worked in Andrewsfield “certainly left their mark” on the area.

He said: “The American pilots who used to live and work here would often come back and sign a plaque we have in the main reception. Most of them have passed away now, but still their children come to sign the plaque. As the generations move on, we have recently started getting their great grandchildren visiting too.

“Andrewsfield is such a big part of the local community and is very historically significant.”

A spokeswoman for the North Essex Garden Communities said: "The North Essex Garden Community proposals are subject to approval through the local planning processes which the councils are currently undertaking.

“The exact location of housing and other aspects of any new community will be subject to consultation. We are committed to ensuring that local people help us to shape all areas of the new community including Andrewsfield.”

The landowners insisted that the developments won’t impact the “historical” aspect of the site, adding: “There’s very little of the original airfield actually left and the area has been scouted for housing since the 1960s.”

Galliard Homes, the property developers on the project, were approached for comment.