Beccles

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Beccles airfield, looking south 29 February 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC188. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). eh-18.jpg US_7PH_GP_LOC188_V_5039 Aerial photograph of Beccles airfield, looking south 29 February 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC188. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - US_7PH_GP_LOC188_V_5039 - Aerial photograph of Beccles airfield, looking south 29 February 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number...

Beccles was built for the Eighth Air Force in 1943-44 but not used. RAF and Fleet Air Arm units occupied the base from 1944-45, providing Air Sea Rescue support. It closed 1945 and re-opened as Beccles Heliport 1965. The private Beccles Airfield has been on part of Second World War airfield site 1997.

Connections

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English Heritage's Record Description

A former military airfield, opened in 1943 and closed as a military site in 1945. The airfield was originally constructed for the United States Army Air Force but was transferred to Royal Air Force Bomber Command in the summer of 1944, then in August of the same year to Coastal Command. It was used between September and October 1944 by 618 Squadron, who were training in the use of specialist bombs dropped from Mosquito aircraft, along with 119 Squadron flying Albacores and 819 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm flying Swordfish biplanes. From October 1944 to October 1945 Beccles was used by 280 Squadron operating Warwick aircraft for Air-Sea rescue duties. For part of the time they were joined by 278 Squadron and 279 squadron. The airfield was equipped with three concrete runways, 50 loop- shaped hard standings, two T2 aircraft hangars and temporary accommodation for the airfield personnel. Numbers of personnel at the base varied, but in December of 1944 there were 2667 men and 27 women. The airfield also had a control tower, and a possible battle headquarters. Wartime construction methods typically involved the use of "temporary" building materials for many types of airfield buildings. After the airfield had closed the site was used as a German prisoner of war camp. This was a work camp, where prisoners worked as labourers in the local area. It could have been in use up until 1948. After the camp closed part of the airfield was disused or had returned to agriculture. By 1977 the eastern end had reopened as a helicopter port, and this use along with industry, was given as the function of the site in 1985. By 2003 the eastern part of the site was used again as an airfield by Rainair Flying Club. The outer western side of the airfield is part of the Ellough Industrial Estate.

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Blockbuster
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 491st Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron 853rd Bomb Squadron
Airmen of the 388th Bomb Group climb aboard their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30793) nicknamed "Tom Paine" before a mission. Written on slide casing: 'Tom Paine.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tom Paine
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 389th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record TM 48 NE 35

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)

Beccles: Gallery (3 items)