First mission flown 05021944, last mission 21041945, flying a total of 250 missions, losing 158 b17s 110 in combat. After 1776 deopham became part of the forehoe incorporation, and the workhouse was at wicklewood. During the bomb run 4297852 was struck by flak which severed the aileron and rudder controls throwing the aircraft out of control but fo stiles managed to regain control of the disabled aircraft. The friendly invasion norfolks american connections.
Royal air force deopham green or more simply raf deopham green is a former royal air force station located near deopham. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. Ferguson usaf retired, age 87, of gainesville, fl passed away on monday december 21, 2009 at harbor chase of gainesville. Ebook haunted second world war airfields as pdf download. Raf deopham green usaaf station 142 geograph britain. One about deopham green where the flying fortresses set off daily on those frightening raids.
This site uses two separate and distinctly different search engines. Mostly farm land now and remnants of the runways and hard standing. The 452nd bombardment group heavy of the usaaf were based at raf deopham green, norfolk between january 1944. During the second world war, east anglia became home to thousands of us airmen. Jerry penry, a professional land surveyor in milford, neb. We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. This is a remnant of the north runway and a runaway summer storm travelling across it. My father flew from there in the early months of 1944. Aerial photograph of the north east end of deopham green airfield, looking north, the t2 hangar, fuel store and firing buts are upper left, 9 july 1946. Pdf norfolk airfields in the second world war download. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Entered combat on 5 feb 1944 with an attack against aircraft assembly plants at brunswick. Flying fortress and liberator squadrons in norfolk and suffolk aviation heritage trail kindle edition by bowman, martin. History of harrington airfield harrington airfield, known as station 179 during ww2, was built by the 826th and 852nd engineer battalions of the us army as a class a airfield intended for heavy bomber use, the main runway length being approximately a mile.
The airfield that we did visit was at deopham green and was the home to the 452nd bomber group of the usaaf. Flying b17 bombers, the group flew a total of 250 missions from deopham green between feb 1942 and april 1945 and lost 110 aircraft in the process. Moved to england, dec 1943jan 1944, and assigned to eighth af. Rito was born 1920, in santa rita, grant, new mexico. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. Later that day i visited the local library and there were several books on airfields in my area. The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 01092011. The more i looked the more i recognised an old and deserted airfield void of any buildings as such and no sign of a tower. The 452nd bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from deopham green, norfolk, from january 1944. Haunted second world war airfields top results of your surfing haunted second world war airfields start download portable document format pdf and ebooks electronic books free online rating news 20162017 is books that can provide inspiration, insight, knowledge to the reader. Several links from this genuki norfolk page are direct links into relevant pages on this site. Download pdf norfolk airfields in the second world war book full free.
The group flew b17 flying fortresses as part of the eighth air forces strategic bombing campaign. Are you interested in the history of the 8th army air force, 452nd bg. On 6 june 1944 itself, the group bombed coastal defences before the landings. History the 452nd bomb group association deopham green. Norfolk airfields in the second world war available for download and read online in other formats. At least one hangar and one shelter, ground under crop. The saga of the 452nd bomb group h in world war ii. This dvd was more of two peoples stories and memories when they were at deopham green. History of deopham description, history, pictures, churches, censuses, maps, airfield, schools, etc. The group, with nearly 3,000 men assigned to it, flew b17 flying fortresses from deopham green airfield. Michael jones book, fairoaks airport, an illustrated history, was a real labour of love and he continues to share his passion about the chobham airfield, currently under threat of closure to. Deopham green was another air base constructed after americas entry into the war to class a standards for use by the b17 flying fortress heavy bomber. Download pdf suffolk airfields in the second world war book full free. Airfields included are bury st edmunds, debach, deopham green eye, framlington, great ashfield, horham, knettishall, lavenham, mendlesham, rattlesden, snetterton heath, sudbury and thorpe abbot, which has one of the finest aviation museums in england.
The group flew b17 flying fortresses as part of the eighth air force s strategic bombing campaign. Deopham is a village and civil parish in norfolk, england. Deopham green world war two airfield summary sometimes known locally as ellingham airfield, this was from 1943 home to the 452nd bombardment group of the united states 8th army air force, equipped. Suffolk airfields in the second world war available for download and read online in other formats. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading bomber bases of world war ii, 3rd air division. The history of harrington airfield harrington aviation. Welcome to the 452nd bomb group association station 142 deopham green. The united states 8th army air force usaaf arrived in norfolk in 1942, and between 1942 and 1945 there were at any one time around 50,000 usaaf personnel stationed within a. Pdf suffolk airfields in the second world war download. Raf deopham green in the second world war, the wartime memories project. Map of 8th aaf bases in england molesworth, england. Raf deopham green, latterly home to 452nd bombardment group heavy, becoming usaaf designation station 142. Media in category raf deopham green the following 24 files are in this category, out of 24 total. When the 452nd bomb group arrived in january 1943 they found a main runway of 2,000 yards, two auxiliary runways, each 1400yards in length, two t2type hangars, 50 hardstandings and temporary buildings to accommodation nearly 3,000 men.
Deopham is a village and civil parish in the south norfolk district, in the county of norfolk, england. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today and explores the favourite local wartime haunts where aircrew and ground crew would go. The history of each airfield is described with the squadrons and aircraft based at them and the main operations flown. Breckland district council state that one building has a contemporary mural.
Currently there is little left of the airfield, the only thing left is a portion of the runways and. Raf deopham green was built in 1943 and was used between 1944 and 1945 by the usaaf 8th air force. A video of deopham green airfield that i took on 23 january 2016. Only a couple of miles north of the market town of attleborough is the old usaaf base of deopham green, where the 452nd bomb group made its home in february 1944. Saxmundham library walking book visits parham airfield in august 20 iceni post.
Bomber bases of world war ii, 3rd air division 8th air force usaf 194245. Deopham and hackford parish council councillors, meetings, minutes, etc. The 452nd bomb group association station 142 deopham green. It had a 2,000 yards length of main runway with two 1,400 yards auxiliary runways. There was, of course, the usual perimeter track and fiftyone hardstands. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Feb 2, 2015 control tower, raf duxford imperial war museum feb 2, 2015 control tower, raf duxford imperial war museum. The airfield was opened on 3 january 1944 and was used by the united states army air forces eighth air force 452d bombardment group heavy, which arrived at deopham green from walla walla aaf washington. Did you have a relative stationed at deopham green. Units start is fertile ground for historians march air. It is close to the old raf airfield of deopham green and the tower of its parish church is one of the tallest in the county of norfolk. It was the home of the heavy boeing b17 flying fortress bombers of the 452nd bombardment group.
A short flight over the old deopham green airfield. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today. The site search at the top of each main page searches articles, photos, videos, crew information pages, etc. Constituted as 452d bombardment group heavy on 14 may 1943. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it.
The air crews hit strategic sites in germany but also supported the movement of ground forces across europe after dday. Visit any one of the airfields listed below is reachable on a day tour from london with your expert british tours driverguide please let us know which one you would like to visit. Raf deopham green in the second world war 19391945 the. Wing lineage began in world war ii england march air. Deopham green airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Most of the sites described above can be seen by travelling along the minor road which traverses the airfield from bush green farm in the south to stallard farm at stalland common in the northwest, and by following the minor road leading northeast to deopham stalland which was built on the main.
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