Leiston
AirfieldIWM, English Heritage Collection
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: 490th Bomb Group 851st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-822187
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-441026
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron 364th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-430836
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-441009
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Billy's Bitch
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Reluctant Rebel Gentleman Jim
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Pitter Pat
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: “U’ve Had It” Toolin Fool
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron 375th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Buddy Boy
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)