Royal Air Force (RAF) High Ercall
by M D Allen
Royal Air Force (RAF) High Ercall took over around 300 acres of farmland, the Airfield was constructed in 1940 and finally disbanded in 1964. It had 3 runways :- 11/29 being 1591 yards long, this being the main one, having the Beacon just over the road at 11 end and the Markers at 29 end, 05/23 was 1412 yards long and 17/35 1278 yards.
It was the home from its inception until 1962 to 29 MU set up to handle and store American aircraft at first, although many other Squadrons came and went over its life. The Airfield was bombed in March 1941 but caused only minor damage. Its seems to have been a bit of a hardship for those stationed here as for a time there was no running water, and when there was it froze in winter, there were no toilets on the living sites or roads to them.
