Leiston
Airfield
IWM, English Heritage Collection
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
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12166360 / O-827361
- Highest Rank: First 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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16138130 / O-826607
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14077136 / O-834935
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11093595 / O-2059721
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Peabody's Pet
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron 376th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Dallas Rebel Poisonality
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El Conquistador
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)
![A-35 Vengeances in a fighter pen at Leiston, home of the 357th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Fighter Pen #12 center of photo. 4 A-35s - see wing shadow indicating tapered wings!' On reverse: Merle Olmsted Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-400969.jpg.webp?itok=jW1yBIk5)
![A P-51 Mustang painted on the control tower at Leiston, home of the 357th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Painting of P-51 on control tower wall.' On reverse: 22 Mar 1953 and Ilford [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-400974.jpg.webp?itok=gMc4G1g9)
![Ground crew of the 357th Fighter group sit on with wing of a P-51 Mustang before fitting a fuel tank at Leiston. Image stamped on reverse by field press censor 16 Aug 1944 Printed caption on reverse: 'US Shuttle Boys Associated Press Photo Shows: ground crew mechanics on Mustangs who flew to Russia as gunners on B-17s in order to service the escorting Mustangs are seen with 108 gallon wing auxilliary tank whic enabled the mustangs to make the 1,500 mile non-stop trip from [illegible] to Russia. L to R. Te](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377172.jpg.webp?itok=yVfRzZuq)
![A P-51 Mustang (serial number: 44-11224) nicknamed "Pretty Pat" of the 357th Fighter Group, suffers a mishap on takeoff as a result of an icy runway at Leiston. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Pretty Pat shuddered off runway ice pilot fatigue Lt Roco Lepole [sic] 10 Jan '45 '](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377183.jpg.webp?itok=KE51rKof)
