RAF Hethel: Difference between revisions
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=== 320th Bombardment Group (Medium)=== |
=== 320th Bombardment Group (Medium)=== |
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The '''320th Bomb Group (Medium)''' arrived at Hethel on [[12 September]] 1942 from Drane AAF [[Florida]]. The group used the base as a staging and transshipment point for deploying to La Senia, [[Algeria]] as part of [[Twelfth Air Force]] though [[2 December]] 1942. |
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12 Sep 1942 - 2 Dec 1942 |
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=== 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) === |
=== 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) === |
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With the departure of the 320th BG, Hethel was assigned to the '''389th Bombardment Group (Heavy)''', arriving from [[Lowry AFB|Lowry AAF]] [[Colorado]] on [[11 June]] 1943. The 389th was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-C". It's operational squadrons were: |
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The airfield was opened in [[1942]] and was used by the [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] '''389th Bombardment Group (Heavy)''' used the airfield. June 1943-May 1945. |
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* 564th Bomb Squadron (YO) |
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* 565th Bomb Squadron (EE) |
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* 566th Bomb Squadron (RR) |
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* 567th Bomb Squadron (HP) |
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The group flew [[B-24 Liberator]]s as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. |
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Upon its arrival at Hethel, almost immediately a detachment was sent to Libya, where it began operations on 9 Jul 1943. The detachment flew missions to Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Rumania. The group received a DUC for the detachment's participation in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943. |
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For his action during the same operation, 2d Lt Lloyd H Hughes was awarded the Medal of Honor: refusing to turn back although gasoline was streaming from his flak-damaged plane, Lt Hughes flew at low altitude over the blazing target area and bombed the objective; the plane crashed before Hughes could make the forced landing that he attempted after the bomb run. |
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The detachment returned to England in Aug and the group flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland. |
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Operating temporarily from Tunisia, Sep-Oct 1943, the 389th supported Allied operations at Salerno and hit targets in Corsica, Italy, and Austria. |
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Resumed operations from England in Oct 1943, and until Apr 1945 concentrated primarily on strategic objectives in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Targets included shipbuilding yards at Vegesack, industrial areas of Berlin, oil facilities at Merseburg, factories at Munster, railroad yards at Sangerhausen, and V-weapon sites at Pas de Calais. Participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944. Also flew support and interdictory missions on several occasions, bombing gun batteries and airfields in support of the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944, striking enemy positions to aid the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul 1944, hitting storage depots and communications centers during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945), and dropping food, ammunition, gasoline, and other supplies to troops participating in the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. |
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The 389th Bomb Gropu flew its last combat mission late in Apr 1945. Returned to Charleston AAF [[South Carolina]] on [[30 May]] 1945 and was inactivated on 13 Sep 1945. |
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== Postwar Use == |
== Postwar Use == |
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Revision as of 13:53, 21 September 2006
RAF Hethel is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 7 miles SW of Norwich in Norfolk.
USAAF Use
Hethel was assigned USAAF designation Station 114.
320th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The 320th Bomb Group (Medium) arrived at Hethel on 12 September 1942 from Drane AAF Florida. The group used the base as a staging and transshipment point for deploying to La Senia, Algeria as part of Twelfth Air Force though 2 December 1942.
389th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
With the departure of the 320th BG, Hethel was assigned to the 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Lowry AAF Colorado on 11 June 1943. The 389th was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-C". It's operational squadrons were:
- 564th Bomb Squadron (YO)
- 565th Bomb Squadron (EE)
- 566th Bomb Squadron (RR)
- 567th Bomb Squadron (HP)
The group flew B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.
Upon its arrival at Hethel, almost immediately a detachment was sent to Libya, where it began operations on 9 Jul 1943. The detachment flew missions to Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Rumania. The group received a DUC for the detachment's participation in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943.
For his action during the same operation, 2d Lt Lloyd H Hughes was awarded the Medal of Honor: refusing to turn back although gasoline was streaming from his flak-damaged plane, Lt Hughes flew at low altitude over the blazing target area and bombed the objective; the plane crashed before Hughes could make the forced landing that he attempted after the bomb run.
The detachment returned to England in Aug and the group flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland.
Operating temporarily from Tunisia, Sep-Oct 1943, the 389th supported Allied operations at Salerno and hit targets in Corsica, Italy, and Austria.
Resumed operations from England in Oct 1943, and until Apr 1945 concentrated primarily on strategic objectives in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Targets included shipbuilding yards at Vegesack, industrial areas of Berlin, oil facilities at Merseburg, factories at Munster, railroad yards at Sangerhausen, and V-weapon sites at Pas de Calais. Participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944. Also flew support and interdictory missions on several occasions, bombing gun batteries and airfields in support of the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944, striking enemy positions to aid the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul 1944, hitting storage depots and communications centers during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945), and dropping food, ammunition, gasoline, and other supplies to troops participating in the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945.
The 389th Bomb Gropu flew its last combat mission late in Apr 1945. Returned to Charleston AAF South Carolina on 30 May 1945 and was inactivated on 13 Sep 1945.
Postwar Use
After the war, the field was closed in 1948. The Lotus car factory, car production on Technical Site and vehicle test track on parts of runways and perimiter track
See also
References
- Freeman, Roger A., Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now, 1978
- www.controltowers.co.uk Hethel
- mighty8thaf.preller.us Hethel
External links
 | This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |