contemporary Ordnance Survey maps. This can be seen most obviously on the sand cliffs above the beach where the road running from the church simply falls away down onto the beach. The only recorded pub in the village, the Anchor public house, had closed by 1882 although the building remains in use as a house. During World War I Covehithe airfield, a night-landing ground, was operated from 1915 to 1919 by the Royal Naval Air Service as a satellite station for RNS Great Yarmouth. The airfield, covering and equipped with searchlights and paraffin lights for night landing, was used for anti-Zeppelin patrols by the Number 73 Wing. In 1918 the station was transferred to 273 Squadron of No. 4 Group RAF which flew DH9, DH4 and Sopwith Camel aircraft from the site. The Covehithe airfield was closed in 1919, its land returned to agricultural use. During World War II the coastline at Covehithe formed part of the defence line against possible German invasion. A series of pillboxes and other defences were in place, although most of these have since been lost to coastal erosion. A Chain Home Extra Low radar station was established at Covehithe in 1942 by the Royal Air Force. Geography The coastal cliffs at Covehithe are formed of glacial sands and other deposits. Loose and unconsolidated, they erode rapidly, currently at around 4.5 metres a year, although Environment Agency studies found that had been lost between 1992 and 2006 at a rate of a year. The main part of the settlement at Covehithe, around 250 metres from the current shoreline, is expected to be lost to erosion by 2110, possibly even by 2040. Any future attempts to protect Covehithe are thought to be unsustainable, and would likely increase erosion rates at the larger settlement of Southwold to the south. To the north of Covehithe, Benacre Broad is an area of open water lagoons and reed beds with a shingle beach and alder carr woodland.<ref name="slctwoodedfen">Wooded fens, Suffolk landscape character typology, Suffolk County Council. Retrieved 2012-11-01.</ref> These form important habitats for bird species such as marsh harriers, bearded reedling and water rail. Bitterns have been recorded in the area. Along with Covehithe Broad and Easton Broad to the south this forms Benacre National Nature Reserve, and falls within the Pakefield to Easton Bavents Site of Special Scientific Interest.Pakefield to Easton Bavents , SSSI Listing, Natural England. Retrieved 2016-08-29.