Colonel Howard Lyon was based at Spanhoe and commanded the 315th Troop Carrier Group, 1st Airborne Army from 27th September 1944 – 27th March 1945.

He served with the USAAF from April 1937 – June 1947.



In 1992 the Daily Telegraph included a supplement “The Yanks” which included the following:



“Spanhoe Airfield was one of the least known of the American bases in the county but its role was no less significant in the war effort against Hitler.



From here the C-47 Dakotas flown by the 315th Troop Carrier Group took part in some spectacular operations, dropping British, American and Polish paratroops and supplies to the D-Day beaches, Arnhem and the Rhine.



But the bulk of their work was out of the limelight, carrying supplies, ammunition and fuel to France and bringing out mail and wounded soldiers.



The group’s darkest hour came on March 24th, 1945, in the 315th’s last big operation of the war, the crossing of the Rhine. That day 81 Dakotas flew the English Channel with RAF transport planes to meet up with 12 American groups based in France.



The huge fleet of 1,500 aircraft and 1,300 gliders came under heavy ground fire over the Rhine and although the drop was accurate, 19 Dakotas from Spanhoe were shot down and 36 more damaged.

Their commanding officer Col Howard Lyon and his crew were taken prisoner by the Germans after managing to escape their doomed Dakota. They were freed just five days later by men of the 6th Airborne Division.”