Lavenham
Airfield
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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37346151
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Armament Loader
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35150473
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16000147
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39556835
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Connected aircraft records that have 'Lavenham' in their biography fields.
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)
![A B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Tweacherous Wabbit" of the 487th Bomb Group takes off from Lavenham airfield in June 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tweacherous Wabbit, 489BG[sic], 6/44.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-414556.jpg.webp?itok=XU8gr8nW)
![An aerial photograph of Lavenham airfield taken by a 487th Bomb Group aircraft from 12-18,000 feet on the 9th of September 1944. Official caption on image: "(487BG)(V40-12)(9-9-44, 1000)(12-18,000)(Station 137) Secret."On front: Secret [Stamp]. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lavenham Airfield, 487th B.Gp. R.A. Andrews. Keep.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-414563.jpg.webp?itok=vX1pBtTE)
![A 495th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (Y5-U) flies low over an airfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '344BG, 495BS.' Printed caption on reverse: '57885 AC - England - Martin B-26 of the 487th Bombardment Group[sic], 9th A.F., based at Lavenham, England. U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: US Air Force 1361st Photographic Squadron AAVS (MAC) [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-457868.jpg.webp?itok=tm1eG1MI)
