Southend Airport
Southend Airport (rather optimistically badged as London Southend Airport), in the United Kingdom, is actually located closer to Rochford than Southend, in the county of Essex.It currently supports scheduled flights to Jersey on summer Saturdays but is insignificant for public air travel. The airfield is primarily used for recreational flying, pilot training in both light aircraft and helicopters, and for the maintenance and modification of airliners, and consequently is important in the local economy. Management would certainly wish to revive its status as a passenger airport but many neighbouring residents feel otherwise.
Military History
The airfield was originally established by the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. In World War II it became an important fighter base for the RAF. Many of the 50 pillboxes, that were design to protect the airport from paratroop landings, still survive, as does the underground defence control room. A further 20 or so pillboxes also remain in the surrounding countryside.
Of related interest, Canewdon, a couple of miles to the north east of the airport, was the location of one of the World War II Chain Home radar stations. One of the 360 foot high transmitter towers can now be found near Great Baddow (2003).
