Metfield
METFIELD: Military aerodrome
Note: This picture (2017) was obtained from Google Earth ©
The WW2 airfield outline and most of the extent of the three runways can still be clearly seen.
Military users: USAAF Eighth Air Force (Station No.366)
66th Fighter Wing 353rd Fighter Group
August 1943 to April 1944: 350, 351 & 352 Fighter Sqdns (Republic P-47D Thunderbolts)
May 1944 to August 1944: 95th Combat Wing 491st Bombardment Group
852, 853, 854 & 855 Bombardment Sqdns (Consolidated B-24 Liberators)
1409th Army Air Force Base Unit (See notes)
(Consolidated B-24 Liberators, Douglas C-47 Skytrains & Douglas C-54 Skymasters)
Location: N of B1123, SE of Metfield village, 5nm SE of Harleston
Period of operation: July 1943 to May 1945
Runways: 03/21 1829x46 hard 09/27 1280x46 hard
15/33 1280x46 hard
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: All the on-site photographs are from the American Air Museum.
Note: The third item shows the Consolidated B-24 Liberator named "She Devil", one of the first to arrive in the 491st Bomb Group.
Note: This fifth item shows two B-24 Liberators of 852 Squadron. In the seventh item are, from L to R: Maj. Gen. Kepner, Lt. Gen. Spaatz, Col. Duncan, Lt. Gen Doolittle and Brig. Gen. Woodbury in March 1944.
Note: Named the "Dove of Peace" this was the North American P-51D Mustang flown by Col. Duncan.
Note: Regarding the thirteenth item, was this Avro Lancaster 'PR-S', of it appears No.407 (Demon) RCAF Squadron visiting or had it diverted into METFIELD on the 21st February 1945. If the latter is the case presumably whilst returning after a bombing mission? The last item is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: Here again with 50 hard-standings and 2894 American personnel on station in 1944, this was a pretty major base during WW2.
When constructed it caused the closure of the B1123 road between Halesworth and Harleston.
A MAJOR OCCURENCE
Is this unique for USAAF bases in England during WW2? On the 15th July 1944, at around 7.30 pm, the bomb dump exploded. Around 1,200 tons of high explosives went up as well as a considerable quantity of incendiary bombs. This was, by any standards, an enormous explosion, but although sadly five were killed and also five Liberators damaged beyond repair, this was it seems on the face of it, a remarkably small amount of casualties and damage.
CLANDESTINE MISSIONS
In looking into the history of this airfield I discovered something I have certainly not heard about before. I knew of course that the British were flying to Sweden with Mosquitos under false pretenses as 'BOAC', but I had no idea the USAAF were conducting sinilar operations.
It appears that after the 491st Bombardment Group moved away from here, to NORTH PICKENHAM, a rather special operation was set up, the 1409th Army Air Force Base Unit. It appears that their task was to fly clandestine missions to Sweden, for a wide variety of reasons, not least of course collecting invaluable war materials such as ball-bearings I suspect?
And, it appears, this operation also used LEUCHARS (FIFE)
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