Leiston

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Leiston airfield looking south, the control tower and technical site are to the right, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/929. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-85.jpg 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. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/929. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

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: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14003604 / O-750521
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19050337 / O-742834
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19066788 / O-740335
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-706345
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14100768 / O-807140
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dangerous Dan
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Salvage Queen
  • Unit: 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Messenger
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 364th Fighter Group 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM Db Correction.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM Db Correction.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM Db correction.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Correction to AAM Db.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

Leiston: Gallery (58 items)