Just over the fields from where I live is a private airfield but it looked to big for landing small aircraft so I looked in the local history website and low and behold it was a US airbase in WW2
So onto its history. Originally it belonged to the Royal Flying Corps in WW1 and was used for training.
Next it was handed over to the RAF and was known as RAF Elmswell it was handed over to the US in 1942 and was renamed RAF Great Ashfield.
The USAAF re-built the station and layed new runways it was assigned as station 155 . The first aircraft to land was a B26 With battle damage from a raid over the Netherlands on the 17 May 1943 .
It opened for business on the 19 June 1943 and was used by the 385 bomb group (heavy) from Great Falls AAF Montana
assigned 93 combat bombardment group tail code square G.
It's operational squadrons were
548-GX
549-XA
550-SG
551-HR
Flying Boeing B17 Flying Fortress.
The only time the airfield was bombed was by a single JU88 on the 22 May 1944 hitting two hangers and a B17
In June 1944 the group hit marshalling yards and choke points during D day . The last bombing mission was in April 1945 and in May they dropped much needed food over Holland .
Back to today there is still a few bits and pieces left on the airfield such as the Sargents mess and shower and a Nissen hut
So you just don't know what is around you .
Just found a pic of B17 Piccadilly Queen Serial No 42-30251 at Great Ashfield
Rgd Martyn
Martyn Ingram attached the following image(s):
Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
US
