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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16085970
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-25999
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot, / Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Stinger
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Video
- Object Number: UPL 33249
- Description: A few stories of "The Little Gramper Jr" told by Dan Raymond. He was the flight engineer while my grandad Duane A Hall was the pilot. They flew 32...
- Media Type: Video
- Object Number: UPL 33865
- Description: Dan Raymond, flight engineer on the "Little Gramper Jr" of the 389th piloted by Duane Hall telling stories of missions from Hethel Air Force Base in...
- Media Type: Video
- Object Number: UPL 34255
- Description: This video is a brief summary of the book titled "Trouble". A B-24 Liberator nicknamed Trouble was shot down over Nazi-occupied France on Jan. 7, 1944...
- Media Type: Video
- Collection Name: Rob Edwards collection
- Object Number: UPL 52545
- Description: Video of the memorial and museum to the service and sacrifice of the 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) who served at Hethel airfield, station 114
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 17602
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 17603
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 23853
- Description: An overview of George Weller's 1944 efforts to modify the Sperry S1 bombsite for adaption to the Honeywell C1 Autopilot
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Rob Edwards collection
- Object Number: Document 25820
- Description: 2nd Bombardment Wing Substitution Unit (precursor of USAAF 2nd Air Division) was formed in Old Catton (see above). The HQ then moved to Horsham St...
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978).