The History.
Raf leiston is a former Royal Air Force Station.
Originally intended as a fighter station for RAF fighter command,leiston airfield was allocated to the eighth Air Force of USSAF on the 22nd September 1942.
The airfield was constructed to class A airfield standards between September 1942 to September 1943,by John Mowlem and company Ltd.
The airfield was first occupied in October 1943 by USSAF.
leiston was then returned to the RAF on 10th October 1945 until 1953,known as no.18 recruit centre,technical training command.
The site closed in 1955.
Leistons proximity to the coast ment that the airfield was used on many occasions by battle damaged aircraft returning from Europe.
The first aircraft to land were believed to be two Boeing B-17 flying fortresses.
Today leiston airfield is virtually unrecognisable,the airfield area itself has been returned to agriculture.
The explore!
So myself and daughter were doing our usual me driving,her on phone.scanning looking for possible places to check out!
We had been driving around for hours wen my Eagle eye see a disused airstrip in the distance looked like a few old buildings.
Parked up and set off,after a 5 min walk and tackling hawthorn bushes there they were a few old RAF buildings.we had a good mooch around,about to leave wen we see the farmers coming up looking around.
Stelf mode back to car and outta there.
Hope u enjoy the pics and first report.
Raf leiston is a former Royal Air Force Station.
Originally intended as a fighter station for RAF fighter command,leiston airfield was allocated to the eighth Air Force of USSAF on the 22nd September 1942.
The airfield was constructed to class A airfield standards between September 1942 to September 1943,by John Mowlem and company Ltd.
The airfield was first occupied in October 1943 by USSAF.
leiston was then returned to the RAF on 10th October 1945 until 1953,known as no.18 recruit centre,technical training command.
The site closed in 1955.
Leistons proximity to the coast ment that the airfield was used on many occasions by battle damaged aircraft returning from Europe.
The first aircraft to land were believed to be two Boeing B-17 flying fortresses.
Today leiston airfield is virtually unrecognisable,the airfield area itself has been returned to agriculture.
The explore!
So myself and daughter were doing our usual me driving,her on phone.scanning looking for possible places to check out!
We had been driving around for hours wen my Eagle eye see a disused airstrip in the distance looked like a few old buildings.
Parked up and set off,after a 5 min walk and tackling hawthorn bushes there they were a few old RAF buildings.we had a good mooch around,about to leave wen we see the farmers coming up looking around.
Stelf mode back to car and outta there.
Hope u enjoy the pics and first report.
