Stansted began its existence as a military site during the Second World War being used by the RAF but predominantly being used by the American air force. The airport is named after the close by town of Stansted Mountfitchet, a sleepy north Essex town that was more known for its rich history before the airport was built. Bombers were the first planes to use the Stansted site in 1942. American bombers flew a large number of sorties from the site and the buildings were constructed by the USAAF military engineers.

Stansted was the home of the 344th Bombardment Group who flew the impressive B-26 bombers to sites in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The 344th played a particularly important role in the Normandy landings, bombing strategic positions such as bridges and fuel depots. The result of these raids was that the German force in Normandy had their routes of escape restricted, especially in the area known as the Falaise Gap. Even though the site has been developed beyond recognition with shops, cafes and car hire provisions, some of the original military buildings remain at the outer limits of the airfield, today they are used by private companies.

Today Stansted hosts services that fly to many destinations in Europe. It has even managed to corner markets such as prestige flying. For instance, the highly reputable department store Harrods has a base on the airport that caters for the richest passengers who wish to charter private jets. Their fully equipped base allows passengers who have the money to fly in directly by helicopter from London or to arrive by chauffeur driven car. This kind of service differs from the regular air travel facilities at the airport by providing a premium service that prides itself on being the best of the best. This however is only a small part of the complete service offered by Stansted.

For those arriving at the airport the choice of a hire car can open up the beautiful countryside that surrounds the site. A plethora of quaint towns and villages that scream Englishness make this a welcome distraction before embarking on an onward journey. Unsurprisingly the residents of this area are not keen on the current expansion plans of the airport. The loss of listed buildings and some of the most stunning countryside in the country is one of the major arguments put forward by campaigners although the damage to the way of life is also a powerful point.

The government has earmarked Stansted for expansion over sites such as Gatwick proposing a second runway to improve the capacity of the airport. Whether the plans go ahead is still a matter of debate, local pressure groups are striving to prevent the expansion but if the proposals are agreed by the national government it is likely the development will be completed regardless of objections.

Despite the furore that surrounds the expansion of the site, Stansted’s rise to be one of the country’s major airports is still impressive. As one of the four airports servicing the capital executives will be hoping to secure the planning permission and to continue this development in the coming years.

Like many of the airports in the UK Stansted started its life as a military airfield. During World War II the site was used by both the Royal Air Force and the United States military operating under the name of Stansted Airfield; so called because of the close by town of Stansted Mountfitchet. It was mainly used by the USAAF as a bomber airfield from 1942 onwards; American sorties being flown from the base throughout the war. The original site was constructed by American military engineers although today the modern terminal full of car hire desks, shops, bars and restaurants would be unrecognisable to these original builders.

The force who used the airport throughout the war years was the 344th Bombardment Group. Predominately flying B-26 bombers the pilots used Stansted as a base to conduct operations in France, Belgium and the Netherlands bombing sites such as airfields, depots and submarine shelters. The airport was also used during the Normandy landings with members of the 344th attacking the coastal batteries around the town of Cherbourg. The 344th also played a vital role in bombing bridges to limit the German army’s withdrawal through the Falaise gap. Despite a large development effort, some of the original huts still remain on the site although they are no longer used for military purposes.

In the post war period Stansted was used as a POW camp and a storage depot for the RAF. It was not until 1966 that the airport began civilian operations after being purchased by BAA. During the interim however it was used as a training school for civil pilots. From this point onwards Stansted played an important role in the growth of the package holiday industry as airlines could fly from Stansted for smaller fees than those charged at comparable airports such as Gatwick and Heathrow. At this stage the British government earmarked Stansted for further development as London’s third major airport.

In the eighties these development plans came into fruition with a major construction effort for a new terminal. The modern design by Sir Norman Foster was completed in 1991 and is now filled with a host of amenities such as a coach station, integral train station and car hire desks. The terminal was also expanded in the next decade to cope with the ever-growing passenger numbers. Despite efforts to create transatlantic routes, Stansted remains an airport that almost solely flies to Europe and parts of the Middle East.

Stansted has not forgotten its military heritage however. Due to the excess space at the site it is the preferred choice of airport for any plane that has been hijacked. As the planes can be kept far from the terminal building hijackers have limited chances of escape. The site has played host to a variety of hijack situations; the most recent being in February 2000 where a hijacked Ariana Afghan Airlines plane was involved in a four day stand off with members of the special forces. The incident ended peacefully however with violence being avoided and the 150 passengers being freed without injury.

Today Stansted remains as one of the most popular airports in the UK. Further development plans include a second runway, although this is being protested by local pressure groups. The amenities at the airport include a bureau de change, shops, restaurants and car hire provisions. From its humble beginnings the site continues to develop as a modern gateway to Europe and beyond.

As with most UK airports Stansted can trace its early beginnings at the outbreak of the Second World War. Although the Royal Air Force used the site, it was predominantly the home of American squadrons. When the site was selected it was decided that it would be named after the close by town of Stansted Mountfitchet, a town more renowned for its medieval history than its aerodrome. The USAAF used the site as a home for bombers from the middle of the war. The site itself was constructed by American military engineers; travellers can still see some of the original huts at the extremities of the site although the current buildings complete with car hire provisions, shops and cafes would be unrecognisable to the original planners.

The USAAF force used the site for sorties flown by the 344th Bombardment Group. This group used the massive B-26 Bombers meaning that Stansted had to have a considerable runway and apron to accommodate the large planes. These sorties bombed sites in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and were instrumental in assisting the Normandy landings. This meant pilots had to bomb many of the fuel depots and bridges in Normandy to halt the escape of the retreating German forces.

Even after the war the military uses for Stansted did not stop immediately. Straight after the war it was used as a prisoner of war camp as well as a depot for RAF aircraft and equipment. It was not until the sixties that the site became a civilian airport, being purchased by BAA in 1966. As a civilian airport however the site has excelled. As it was smaller than both Gatwick and Heathrow, Stansted could offer travellers cheaper flights, helping with the growth of the package holiday to many different European tourist spots. It was during this period that Stansted was officially sanctioned to be the capital’s third major airport, although in recent years it seems as if transport ministers are not quite finished with the construction of the site.

Throughout the last decades of the twentieth century the terminal that now dominates the site was built. This terminal designed by renowned architect Sir Norman Foster is a modern, spacious and light building filled with car hire desks, shops, cafes and bars. Even though this terminal was large, it was expanded during the nineties to cope with increased passenger numbers. As well as the terminal building, Stansted has a large number of transport links to the capital and the rest of the country. By road the M11 motorway is a short distance away. A coach terminal allows travel to much of the country while the train station has regular trains to London as well as links to stations up the country such as Birmingham and Peterborough.

Due to the spacious apron space at the Stansted site it is the airport of choice whenever a terrorist situation arises. This is because planes can be landed and kept away from the terminal building. Subsequently Stansted has seen more incidents than expected for a site of its size. The most recent being in the February of 2000 when a Ariana Afghan Airlines plane was kept at the airport for four days while terrorists negotiated with police and members of the Special Forces.

Today the terrorist applications of Stansted give some respect to the site’s military heritage. It is thanks to the needs of USAAF bombing squadrons and their B-26 bombers that the site is so large and ripe for expansion. Currently airport chiefs are vying for a second runway to further increase passenger numbers as well as trying to expand auxiliary services such as car hire provisions, shops, cafes and restaurants. If they succeed, Stansted may become the UK’s second largest and busiest airport.

In terms of passenger number the airport handles around twenty million annually, while this is small compared to Heathrow’s seventy million, it is still considerable enough to be regarded a major airport. The origins of this site however do not lay with the commercial sphere, the abundance of shops, restaurants and car hire desks are far removed from the original functionality of the site.

The airport was named after the close by town of Stansted Mountfitchet. It was built in 1942 by the United States Air Force. A number of sorties were flown from the site by the 344th bombardment group to destinations all over occupied Europe including France, the Netherlands and Belgium. This squadron were particularly useful during the Normandy landings bombing site on the coast to allow the troops an easier advance. During this campaign members of the 344th were especially important in reducing the ability of German forces to retreat through the Falaise Gap. It was a combination of military engineers and air force personnel who built the original bunkers and buildings, some of which are still visible today at the furthest extremities of the site.

The reason so many European destination are reachable from Stansted can be attributed to the rise of the low cost flyer. These companies have managed to create a niche in the air travel industry by flying to minor airports that are usually a short trip from the destination city. This has given many car hire companies the opportunity to align themselves with these airlines and provide customers with hire services once they land at minor airports. It is not all budget however at Stansted, the highly reputable department store Harrods runs a flying service from Stansted that either flies private passengers to destinations worldwide or ships in specific goods for the most demanding of customers.

The Uttlesford region in which Stansted lays gives travellers the perfect opportunity to see one of the most unspoilt and beautiful parts of England. This is the reason why so many local residents vehemently reject the plans of Stansted’s executives for expansion and a second runway. The reasons behind this standpoint range from the destruction of listed buildings, the development of protected countryside and the negative effects on the environment and local way of life through noise and pollution.

Whatever does happen to Stansted airport it is sure that services such as car hire, chauffeuring, fine dining and drinking will continue to grow at the site. The executives of the airport realise that allowing companies retail space within the terminal and satellites is a profitable venture for both parties. For the site to fund its expansion it will need to increase the amount of terminal floor space given up to retailers. Whether the plans go ahead is still undecided but as a major airport that is attempting to increase its standing in the UK’s listings, it is likely that they will grow in order to provide London with yet another major air transportation link.

Stansted Airport is assured a place as the UK’s fourth major airport although if current expansion plans are completed this position could increase substantially. Even before expansion is completed however, Stansted is a modern airport complete with its own rail link, motorway access, car hire services and retail areas. Predominantly it is the low cost budget airlines that use the Stansted Airport site to fly to destinations all over Europe. These destinations are numerous, at the last count it was over one hundred and seventy. The result of flying to so many different destinations is that over twenty million people use Stansted Airport annually; naturally auxiliary services such as shops restaurants and car hire desks are all prevalent in the terminal due to the large profits that can be made from passengers.

The history of Stansted Airport, like so many airports in the UK is heavily entwined with the military. Unlike many sites in the UK it was not the Royal Air Force that were instrumental in Stansted’s early development but instead the United States Air Force. At its inception the site took the name of a nearby town, Stansted Mountfitchet, deciding to drop the affix. Operational sorties were first flown in 1942 after the American engineers had constructed hangars and other buildings; some of which are still visible today. However, the modern terminal does little to commemorate these early uses, being constructed from glass and steel; the work of famed architect, Sir Norman Foster.

It was the American 344th Bombardment Group that used the Stansted site throughout the war. The aeroplanes that flew in and out were B-26 Bombers, showing that even from these early times Stansted was used to having large planes on the site. Operations from Stansted Airport were numerous to sites all over continental Europe but specifically in countries such as France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Of particular importance was the role played by the 344th during the Normandy Landings. Not only did B-26 crews hamper the operational activities of the Axis forces but once the Allies landed were instrumental in reducing the chance for withdrawal of German forces through the Falaise Gap. This task was performed by bombing bridges and fuel depots that limited the range of Axis tank crews and mobile forces.

After the war finished Stansted played an important role as a Prisoner of War camp. This major function of the airport is a little known fact not realised by the millions of passengers using the shops, restaurants and car hire desks today. This usage ceased however shortly after the end of the war when the site was used to train pilots of both air forces. In 1966 civilian activities were commenced, the site was passed over for development by the government when they decided Gatwick would be a better prospect for development but Stansted soon bounced back. With the growth in budget air travel and the package holiday Stansted became the airport of choice for many airlines, this was because being a smaller airport the executives were able to charge airlines less than both Gatwick and Heathrow, subsequently the site built up a strong affiliation with budget air travel that continues to this day.

The revamping of the site was decided upon in the eighties and by the early nineties Norman Foster’s work was completed. This modern and revolutionary design was filled with car hire desks and retail spaces in order for airport executives to extract larger profits and as such remained an important element of Stansted’s financial planning. From a small military airport nestled in the heart of rural Essex, Stansted has become one of the major links in the air transportation network of the UK.

The expansion of the site however is not without its critics, as Stansted Airport sits in one of the most beautiful rural settings anywhere within the UK, local residents are understandably up in arms over these development plans. Currently the site handles around twenty million passengers annually, making it one of the major airports in Britain, but what is the history of the site, what has been involved in the development Stansted?

Stansted Airport takes its name from the nearby town of Stansted Mountfitchet, a sleepy Essex town that sits on the border with Hertfordshire. The site was earmarked for development at the outset of the Second World War although instead of a major RAF presence, the USAAF were the predominant force in building the site up. The engineers of the USAAF laid the runways and put in place a number of hangars. The purpose of the airfield was to house bombers of the 344th bombardment group.

As the home of the 344th, a squadron that utilised the massive B26 bomber a number of sorties were flown to sites on the continent including France, Germany and the Netherlands. Stansted played a particularly important role during the Normandy landings, bombing bridges and strategic positions behind the German lines to hold up their withdrawal. An action worthy of note was the role played by the 344th in restricting the German retreat through the Falaise Gap, a pivotal moment during the war.

Stansted airport especially benefited from the growth in budget air travel during the eighties and nineties due to the fact that the rates it offered airlines were cheaper than those at Heathrow or Gatwick. It is not however purely budget travel that is catered for at the site, in recent years the prestigious department store Harrods has started operating flights from Stansted; allowing passengers to charter a private jet to almost anywhere in the world.

This service is accompanied by the opportunity to utilise helicopter transfers from London as well as chauffeur driven car hire services. The Harrods operations however are only a small part of the operations of the site, with so many passengers passing through daily, a number of services offering coach travel, rail and car hire provisions have been built up to accommodate the needs of passengers heading out on an onward journey.

The road links that service Stansted Airport are fantastic, in the past few years a major link has been constructed to the M11 Motorway providing fast and efficient travel not only to London but to destinations all around the country. For those utilising car hire services however there is another option before jumping onto the motorway, this is to tour the wondrous countryside that surrounds the site. With a wealth of quant and picturesque villages and towns literally five minutes drive away; those who want to experience the real England will find an attractive travel proposition.

While the arguments over the expansion of the site may be continuing it is likely that Stansted will receive a second runway and will subsequently increase its passenger numbers. This can only be good for the auxiliary services such as car hire desks, restaurants and shops as revenues will subsequently increase. The history of the site is rich, in the coming years it is likely that this development will only continue.