Leiston
Airfield
Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_929_RP_3212 - Aerial photograph of Leiston airfield looking south, the control tower and technical site are to the right, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No....
Leiston's location only three miles from the North Sea Coast made it ideal as a Fighter Group air base whose job would be to escort bombers across the sea and over occupied Europe. The air base also witnessed the arrival of many very damaged Allied aircraft who were just grateful to make landfall in Britain. The 358th Fighter Group were replaced by the 357th Fighter Group early in 1944, flying P-51 Mustangs rather than P-47 Thunderbolts. These Mustangs were able to fly greater distances in escorting bombers to eastern German targets like sites in Berlin and Leipzig.
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: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2059705
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 66th Fighter Wing 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron 82nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13044062 / O-792943
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-730324
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-667767
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15096685 at enlistment, then O-671488
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Joan Swoose
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group Base Air Depot 1 362nd Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 357th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group

- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 109th Reconnaissance Squadron 362nd Fighter Squadron
Revisions
AAM Db Correction.
AAM Db Correction.
AAM Db correction.
Correction to AAM Db.
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)