The site of Ravens Wood 147 acres (59 ha) was purchased by the Ipswich Corporation in 1929 with the intention of creating a municipal airport for Ipswich, with construction starting in the following year.
The airport was officially opened by Prince Edward on 26 June 1930, who described the facility as "one of the finest in the country".

In February 1936 the airfield was taken over by the Straight Corporation.
They formed Ipswich Airport Ltd to manage it and took over Ipswich Aero Club which was already established at the airfield.
The corporation's architects, Henning and Chitty, designed a new terminal building which was opened on 9 May 1938, with an official opening ceremony on 9 July.
The building was Grade 2 listed in 1996; having been described as "very rare and early example of this type of construction".

Southern Airways, another Straight company, operated routes to Clacton and to Ramsgate and Ilford, with a request stop at Southend, mainly using Short Scion aircraft.

In 1938 the Aero Club expanded its training role by taking part in the Civil Air Guard scheme, and on 3 July 1939 No 37 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training school (E&RFTS) was set up here.

Straight Corporation established an engine workshop in 1939, which worked for their own fleet and also took on outside work.

After World War II the airport offered scheduled flights to Southend and Jersey by Channel Airways and later to Amsterdam and Manchester by Suckling Airways.
A number of chartered flights were operated by air taxi firm, Hawk Air.

From its earliest days, the airport was home to a wide variety of privately owned and flying club operated aircraft.
Aircraft maintenance services were provided in the 1930-built hangar by a succession of based aviation engineering firms.
In the 1980s it was home to a thriving parachuting club.
The site of Ravens Wood 147 acres (59 ha) was purchased by the Ipswich Corporation in 1929 with the intention of creating a municipal airport for Ipswich, with construction starting in the following year. The airport was officially opened by Prince Edward on 26 June 1930, who described the facility as "one of the finest in the country".
In February 1936 the airfield was taken over by the Straight Corporation. They formed Ipswich Airport Ltd to manage it and took over Ipswich Aero Club which was already established at the airfield. The corporation's architects, Henning and Chitty, designed a new terminal building which was opened on 9 May 1938, with an official opening ceremony on 9 July. The building was Grade 2 listed in 1996; having been described as "very rare and early example of this type of construction".
Southern Airways, another Straight company, operated routes to Clacton and to Ramsgate and Ilford, with a request stop at Southend, mainly using Short Scion aircraft. 
In 1938 the Aero Club expanded its training role by taking part in the Civil Air Guard scheme, and on 3 July 1939 No 37 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training school (E&RFTS) was set up here.
Straight Corporation established an engine workshop in 1939, which worked for their own fleet and also took on outside work.
After World War II the airport offered scheduled flights to Southend and Jersey by Channel Airways and later to Amsterdam and Manchester by Suckling Airways. A number of chartered flights were operated by air taxi firm, Hawk Air.
From its earliest days, the airport was home to a wide variety of privately owned and flying club operated aircraft. Aircraft maintenance services were provided in the 1930-built hangar by a succession of based aviation engineering firms. In the 1980s it was home to a thriving parachuting club.
Ipswich Airport