Raydon airfield, to the south east of Hadleigh, was one of the many WWII airfields built on any available piece of flat land to allow fighters and bombers to take off to raid Germany and to defend the UK against attack.

Many of them have now been reclaimed as farmland and all that can be seen are some of the hangers, runways and very large fields. Others have retained their use as air strips either because the farmers are interested in flying or because the site proved to be suitable for the development of industry. Raydon is near the A12 and because of this, has continued to be used. Most of the airfield has a dual use as farmland. None of these airfields are used commercially although there were plans to develop Raydon as an alternative airport for Ipswich. Like other controversial developments there was strong local opposition because of the possible noise and disruption.

Note the very long shadows cast by the late summer evening sun.