Built during 1942-43 as an Eighth Air Force bomber base, Seething had three concrete runways, 51 hardstandings of both loop and 'frying-pan’ types, and two T2 hangars, one on each side of the airfield. It was home to the 448th Bomb Group, equipped with B-24s, from November 1943 to July 1945. On the evening of 22 April 1944, Luftwaffe Me 410 night-fighters caused havoc at Seething after following home a B-24 of the 714th Bomb Squadron, which was shot down along with two other B-24s, while a fourth B-24 crashed upon landing into wreckage on the runway. Handed over to the RAF in July 1945, the station was used temporarily as a surplus munitions store. Sold in 1959, the site mostly returned to agriculture after demolition. However, part of one wartime runway remains the heart of present-day Seething Airfield, operated by Wingtask 1995 Ltd, originally the Waveney Flying Group. The wartime Control Tower has been preserved as a Museum, home to the 448th Bomb Group Collection.

Detailed history

Not yet known

English Heritage's record description

A former World War Two military airfield, opened in 1943 and closed in 1945. It was built in 1942-1943 by John Laing and Son Limited. The airfield was a "Class A" base completed to American specifications for use by the United States Army 8th Air Force 448th Bomb Group as Station 146. It was equipped with three concrete runways and hardstandings arranged around the perimeter track. There were two aircraft hangars (Type T2), one each on the north and south sides. The technical site was on the south edge of the airfield, communal and accommodation sites including barracks were dispersed in fields to the south of the flying field. A bomb store was situated to the west of the airfield. After the war the much of the airfield was used for agricultural purposes. The site is now home to the Seething Control Tower Museum, with the airfield being owned by a civilian flying group.

Service