Lavenham

Airfield
Officers of the 487th Bomb Group outside the 838th Bomb Squadron operations room. media-380850.jpg FRE 2045 Edmund F "Misch" Auer, Mayfield R Shilling, Francis C "Eb" Eberhart and Ralph R Searle of the 487th Bomb Group outside the 838th Bomb Squadron operations room at Lavenham, 1944.

This photo was probably taken soon after the 487th Bomb Group arrived in England in April 1944. Roger Freeman Collection

Transferred biographical details to peoples' biographies

Object Number - FRE 2045 - Edmund F "Misch" Auer, Mayfield R Shilling, Francis C "Eb" Eberhart and Ralph R Searle of the 487th Bomb Group outside the 838th Bomb Squadron...

Lavenham was built as a standard USAAF bomber airfield, with fifty hardstandings, T2 hangars and 2,000 and 1,400 feet runways. John Laing and Son Ltd. carried out the work in 1943, and the airfield opened in April 1944. The 487th Bomb Group occupied the base until the end of the war in Europe. Initially equipped with B-24 Liberators, the Group switched to B-17 Fortresses, and it was with these aircraft that the Group completed most of its 185 missions by April 1945. The airfield was not used by any other military flying units after the war.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Detailed History

On the control tower, there are now two memorial plaques. Some original paintwork has also been preserved inside the building, which is STRICTLY PRIVATE. It is possible to visit the site, but not the inside of the building, and permission must be obtained from the Lavenham Tourist Information Office before visiting.

People

Cecil Charles McNeish

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2070085
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Albert G Miranda

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 838th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Charles P Mundorf

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Albert P Nassi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 838th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Bernhard W Nelson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-703778
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

42-97970

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Virginly
  • Unit: 837th Bomb Squadron 487th Bomb Group

42-97997

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Honorable Patches
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 838th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have 'Lavenham' in their biography fields.

Date
Contributorusxpat
Changes
Sources

http://eastangliamemorials.blogspot.co.uk/

Date
ContributorVeronicaLavenham
Changes
Sources

VeronicaLavenham

Date
ContributorVeronicaLavenham
Changes
Sources

VeronicaLavenham

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)

Lavenham: Gallery (108 items)

A navigator of the 487th Bomb Group after a mission. Image via Roy K Snell. Snell has handwritten on the reverse: 'My navigator- relief after a long mission, at Lavenham.'

Object number: FRE 2056 - A navigator of the 487th Bomb Group after a...

Two ground crewman of the 487th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Roy K Snell. Snell has handwritten on the reverse: 'Our ground crew.'

Object number: FRE 2060 - Two ground crewman of the 487th Bomb Group with a...

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 487th Bomb Group on hardstanding at Lavenham.

Object number: FRE 2070 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 487th Bomb Group on...

Ground personnel recover a B-17G Flying Fortress (DF-G, serial number 42-37736) of the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group at Lavenham. Printed caption on image: '(SAD H4 20 Oct 44(2859))(WPU Crash landing B-17G-42 37736 W*V, Lavenham.'

Object number: FRE 3552 - Ground personnel recover a B-17G Flying Fortress...

A B-17G Flying Fortress (XM-B, serial number 42-3537) of the 332nd Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, at Lavenham, 12 January 1943. Official caption on image: "1471 IMRU. 12-1-43, Lavenham. B-17G 42-3537." Handwritten caption on reverse: '94th Bomb Group, 4th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Wing.'

Object number: FRE 3802 - A B-17G Flying Fortress (XM-B, serial number 42...

An airfield building at Lavenham, home of the 487th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 6294 - An airfield building at Lavenham, home of the...

The runway at Lavenham, photographed from the tail gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 487th Bomb Group. Image via Mark Brown, AFA.

Object number: FRE 6769 - The runway at Lavenham, photographed from the tail...

The nose art of an unidentified 487th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress at Lavenham airfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '447 or 487BG?' On reverse: US Army Theater Censor ETO USA [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 8514 - The nose art of an unidentified 487th Bomb Group B...

At the urinal end of the latrine at Lavenham airfield, base of the 487th Bomb Group during their operational service, "Splasher Seven" has been inscribed on the door (the name of the Group's homing and forming beacon). Handwritten caption on reverse: '#14. "Splash 7" (the number of the 487th forming and homing beacon) on urinal end of latrine.' On reverse: Royal Snell [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 8517 - At the urinal end of the latrine at Lavenham...

A 487th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Queen Bungalow", which was the last B-17 Flying Fortress to leave Lavenham airfield at the end of the Group's operational service. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Photo BM Carter - Queen Bungalow, Cockfield, Bury. Last B-17 to leave Lavenham.' Printed on reverse: 'A49923.'

Object number: FRE 8518 - A 487th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

A B-24H Liberator (serial number 41-29527) of the 487th Bomb Group on the 12 May 1944 undergoing repairs at Lavenham airfield after receiving battle damage. Official caption on image: "ISAD - 12 May 44 - 1061 - (WPU, Battle Damage, B-24H, 41-29527, Lavenham) F.A." On reverse: Official Photograph of * Photographic Section, US AAF [damaged Stamp].

Object number: FRE 8519 - A B-24H Liberator (serial number 41-29527) of the...

Two men in suits stand in a doorway, underneath an arch. It is likely that this photograph was taken by a member of the 487th Bomb Group, who were based at Lavenham between 4 April 1944 and 24 August 1945.

Object number: FRE 8520 - Two men in suits stand in a doorway, underneath an...