Hethel
AirfieldIWM, English Heritage Collection
Construction of Hethel airfield began in 1941, and was finished in late 1942. The number of hardstandings was increased from the planned 36 to 50 in 1942, in order to accommodate a full heavy bomb group. The 320th Bomb Group occupied the base for ten days in November 1942 before moving to North Africa. Elements of the 310th moved in in 1943, and in June that year, the 389th Bomb Group took up residence. Although assigned temporarily to North Africa and the Mediterranean, the 389th and its B-24 Liberators flew over 300 missions from Hethel. In May 1945, the airfield was handed over to the RAF, and it was closed in 1948.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 448th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0661892
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12032548
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 448th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-690742
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35114077
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Lonesome Polecat
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: The Old Veteran
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Yankee Rebel Harmony; The Latrine Rumor
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Old Glory
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dotsy, i’ll be seeing you
- Unit: 568th Bomb Squadron 390th Bomb Group
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978).