Debach airfield history books

Saturday 28 may will see two performances at raf debach, near woodbridge, home to the 493 bg in the 1940s alongside the play you will be able to take part in a whole host of great activities, from wartime singers, recreators, vintage film shows and the chance to explore the. Home of heltons hellcats station 152 usaaf 1944 1945. Some 246 names appear on the groups roll of honour. The true story of one world war ii pilots covert mission to rescue pows on the eastern front 9780425276051.

The last but the best debach was one of the last 8th air force heavy bomber stations to be occupied by the american 8th army air force. Debach war memorial, debach 1452692 historic england. Wwii museum 493bg debach american 8th army air force. The church all saints was made redundant and converted into a domestic dwelling all saints house, grade ii in the 1970s. It was known as usaaf station aaf465 for security reasons by the usaaf during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location 10th reconnaissance group. Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. It contains an internal ricochet wall and an entrance on its west side. Upon the airfield itself, at sd37007430, there is a cantilever mushroomtype pillbox about 6m in diameter with 360 degree vision. This site, hopefully, illustrates to you the history of the 493rd bomb group, the restoration of the airfield and memories. Visit debach airfield museum on your trip to woodbridge.

The boxted airfield historical group was founded with the aims of educating, as well as promoting and preserving the history of boxted airfield, including its association with the various usaaf and raf groups that were based here during and after world war ii. Construction of the airfield at boxted began in 1941 and was eventually opened in 1943 as aaf station 160. If youre interested in recreational aviation and backcountry flying, youve come to the right place. Debach the following text and description by b24 and b17 navigator gordon weir and applies to both b24 and b17 crews stationed at debach. For best results, use the customized trip planning widget for debach airfield museum on your website. Rare photos not appropriate for history books duration. This remarkable work pulls the lid off one of the legendary air forces in history at the very peak of its. Located 10 minutes from the port of felixstowe, we are ideally situated to offer. Our museum is open to the public on various dates during the year. It was built by the 820th engineer battalion aviation between late 43 and early 44. Raf debach is a former world war ii airfield in england. The following text and description by b24 and b17 navigator gordon weir and applies to both b24 and b17 crews stationed at debach.

It is located between ipswich and debenham two kilometres north of grundisburgh on the river lark. Debach airfield was the last eighth air force heavy bomber station to become operational, the group flying its first mission on dday. What a gem this book is for all people with an interest in airfields and ww2 related aviation info. A walk through history rattlesden airfield, suffolk somewhere in england historic performance at debach airfield a walk through history ridgewell airfield, essex. An extract from the book the manors of suffolk showing the pages covering the history of clopton can be seen in the exhibition of local history in clopton church. The book lists the landowners there at that time as count alan, roger bigot. Usaasusaacusaafusaf aircraft serial numbers1908 to present. The first mission was on dday in june 1944 and the last was in april 1945. Witness the daring exploits and dangerous challenges that form the story of flight in this beautifully illustrated book, filled with rare photographs and historical documents.

Apr 26, 2016 saturday 28 may will see two performances at raf debach, near woodbridge, home to the 493 bg in the 1940s. Two of the finest books describing air battles of the eighth air force were written by navigators. Historical name of location, woodbridge, england, united kingdom. Bomber veteran bill toombs, 91, visits debach airfield to. Pronounced locally as debidge, the base was built to a class a standard with. The roy colchester diary upl 17306 american air museum in. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. If you would like to send us a present, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. For mail order please get in touch using our contact dahg form. Our name comes from the suffolk village where we started out, locally it is pronounced debbch the triple e container ships that regularly visit the port of felixstowe, are over. Debach airfield was the last eighth air force heavy bomber station to become operational.

We built this site to share information about airfields not generally available to the public. Whats more, weve an extra special performance coming up at a historic airfield once home to the 8th usaaf. Royal air force debach or more simply raf debach is a former royal air force station located. Contentsshow usaaf use debach was one of the last eighth air force heavy bomber stations to be occupied. Articles incorporating text from the air force historical research agency, articles incorporating text from wikipedia, airfields of the viii bomber command in the united kingdom, and 2 more. A ride across essex and a visit to my dads ww ii debach. Alongside the play you will be able to take part in a whole host of great activities, from wartime singers, recreators, vintage film shows and the chance to explore the space of an airfield at war. Debach offers warehousing services and distribution solutions tailormade to get your products to your customers efficiently, safely and in a cost effective way. Part of the runway at debach, cracking and breaking up, built by the 820th engineer.

A ride across essex and a visit to my dads ww ii debach airfield. The base was debach, station 152, built in the fields outside the village. Wikipedia article airfields of the viii bomber command in the united kingdom, military history of suffolk, royal air force stations in suffolk. During 1942 1944 the us army occupied the area and built the airfield and the first planes were at debach in 1944. Debach is situated 3 miles northwest of woodbridge with some of the sites located in the. At the time of the domesday book, 1086, it was called debenbeis or debeis, depebecs, debec or debes and located in the hundred of wilford. Debach was one of the last eighth air force heavy bomber bases to be completed. Visitors to your site will appreciate you offering them help with planning their vacation.

We provide you with the ultimate logistics service. Suffolks secret cold war history revealed in latest dvd. Airfield publications publish books on uk airfields, recent publications include raf kirton in lindsey, burtonwood, woodvale and 611 west lancashire squadron, royal auxiliary air force, raf brampton and raf waterbeach. Somewhere in england historic performance at debach airfield. Adam makos, new york times bestselling author of a higher call. Jnr 1947, here we are together, the right book club. Debach is a small village about four miles northwest of woodbridge, suffolk, uk. Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months. This summer month, shes in texas with her aunt clo and uncle grif. The book is set out with 23 pages on each airfield over norfolk. The jive aces see other events in ipswich debach airfield. The base was assigned to the 9 th air force usaaf and in may 1943 became home to the 386 th bombardment group medium equipped with the b26 marauder, however this unit only remained at boxted for a short time before relocating to dunmow in september. Pronounced locally as debidge, the base was built to a class a standard with accommodation for nearly 3,000 men, the majority in newlybuilt nissen huts to the southwest of. The runways, parking and storage areas, and the many nissen huts and buildings were scattered over acres that had formerly produced grain.

Control of insect pests and weeds by their natural enemies offers a proven, feasible, safe, ecological method to pesticidal control. Flight ops block, rivenhall airfield, a walk into history. View all hotels near debach airfield museum on tripadvisor. Village signs is a series of caches based on the ornate signs that depict the heritage, history and culture of the villages that put them up.

Chalgrove was allocated to the united states army air forces usaaf by the air ministry on 1 november 1942. The author ronald blythe wrote the book akenfield while living in debach in 19667 and mentions the village a tiny parish of some eighty souls in the preface to the book. The first residents of the airfield was the 10th reconnaissance group which. Even so records show that when fully up and running some 2894 usaaf personnel were based here in late 1944. The field is located 3 miles nw of woodbridge, suffolk. Kimbolton airfield 379th bomb group england,flight down main runway duration. Debach was one of the last eighth air force heavy bomber stations to be occupied. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online.

We built this site to share information about airfields not generally available to the. A pictorial history is available for purchase in the raf museum and at the national trust shop. In this concise and fascinating account, paul debach and david rosen trace the historical background of biological control and examine in detail some of the most famous examples of the discovery of natural enemies and their implementation as active successful. Unfortunately the american engineers had not made a very satisfactory job of constructing the runway and the concrete soon started to break up. A previous book written by historian dan sharp showed much of the county including ipswich, bury st edmunds and felixstowe, were in the blast radius for soviet attacks on military bases. Collection of nearly 4,000 books on american topics, with approximately. Battleswars, european theatre of world war ii air offensive, europe july 1942 may 1945. View all restaurants near debach airfield museum on tripadvisor. A former second world war military airfield operational between 1944 and 1945, known to the americans as station 152. Raf chalgrove project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. These books are available at chilbolton village stores or at the museum of army flying at middle wallop or occasionally. The play is about the us air force in east anglia and it would seem that debach airfield was just the perfect place to perform it.

Correction to the station summary thistleton hall was only used for. The following alternative informationmass media sources have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 30112018. An extract from the book the manors of suffolk showing the pages covering the history of clopton. Lockyer who has written extensively on the airfield in her three books english airfields 1940 41, 194145 and 194562. Sep 01, 2011 flight ops block, rivenhall airfield, a walk into history. Debach was one of the last 8th air force heavy bomber stations to be occupied by the american 8th army air force. A swing through italy, central europe, holland, and the u. Debach was also the birthplace and home of jimmy holy jim knights 18821981, a singer of traditional east anglian folk and music hall songs, whose renditions of such tunes were recorded by collectors of traditional music performances when he was more than 90 years old in the 1970s. Home of the world war ii heltons hellcats 493rd gbh, debach, suffolk, england. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Flight engineer bill toombs, 91, was based at debach airfield with the 861st bomb squadron for six months in 1944 flying the first of his missions on dday. Three other pillboxes are located immediately outside the airfield with two being on the south west side and the other on the south east side. Debach airfield, b1078, clopton, woodbridge, ip 6qt travelling east along the b1078, from clopton to wickham market, debach airfield is on the right, just after drabbs lane.

They had definitely earned their place in the framlingham history books. It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site. The group, of 8th united states army air force, was based at debach airfield from 1944 to 1945. Here are the most recent events we had listed at debach airfield, to give you a flavour of what goes on there. Whites directory of 1844 lists the villages and towns of the suffolk hundreds and, for clopton, lists a shoemaker, blacksmith, wheelwright and. World war ii fighter pens and other airfield remains and. Trail 39 suffolk around ipswich part 1 aviation trails. Debach airfield museum woodbridge 2020 all you need to. Crew photo of 493d bombardment group consolidated b24j liberator 4440321 old sack, raf debach, photo taken spring 1944. Upcoming events, tickets, information, and maps for debach airfield in ipswich from, the uks biggest entertainment website.

Royal air force debach or more simply raf debach is a former royal air force station located 3 miles 4. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in the uk during world war 2. It appears that debach was the last wartime bomber airfield to be built for the usaaf,and the first operations took place on dday. An interesting history of debach airfield can be found here. Books can be ordered that tell more about wwii, the bombers, bases and crews. The village is no larger than a series of houses either side of the b1078, surrounded by farm land. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the. The fall of fortresses bendiner, elmer, 1980, the fall of fortresses, putnam s sons, new york, 258 p. The former debach airfield is now the site of debach enterprises, grain. It was hastily constructed by the united states army between 1943 and 1944, and conformed to the standard plan for a class a heavy bomber airfield, with three concrete and tarmac runways, and 50 hardstandings. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. Grif has just landed a flight control job as did bettys dad who sends air mail. Click on the sections to discover the history of the 493rd bomb group and debach airfield.

Describes the life of the 820th building the airfield. Schmitt was a b17 pilot with the 493rd bg at debach 1945 david schmitt lt donald schmitt, pilot, 494rd bg h hello, my dad was 1st lt donald j. The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. Formation of 493rd bombardment group, b17 flying fortresses at 27,900 ft, over schleissmen, germany 9 april 1945. The roy colchester diary upl 17306 american air museum. Jan 01, 1999 airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression.