RAF Martlesham Heath Visit

CAF UK Wing Colonels made a behind the scenes visit to the WW2 Control Tower at the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society and Control Tower association.

RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield which was one of the original home to the WW2 RAF Eagle Squadrons and later flew P51 mustangs as a combined RAF and USAAF airbase. It was part of the aircraft development infrastructure for the RAF and British aeronautical industry, and has long associations with radar and experimental flight development.

CAF UK Wing Colonels had behind the scenes tours of the tower and airfield remains from the museum staff. 

About RAF Martlesham Heath and the USAAF

Royal Air Force Station Martlesham Heath or more simply RAF Martlesham Heath is a former Royal Air Force station located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. It was active between 1917 and 1963, and played an important role in the development of Airborne Interception radar.

In 1943, Martlesham Heath became one of a group of grass-surfaced airfields earmarked for use by fighters of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. The airfield was assigned USAAF designation Station 369.

356th Fighter Group

The airfield was opened in May 1943 and was first used by the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force 356th Fighter Group, arriving from RAF Goxhill on 5 October 1943. The group was under the command of the 67th Fighter Wing of the VIII Fighter Command. Aircraft of the 356th were identified by a magenta/blue diamond pattern around their cowling.

The group consisted of the following squadrons:

359th Fighter Squadron (OC)

360th Fighter Squadron (PI)

361st Fighter Squadron (QI)

The 356th FG served in combat from October 1943, participating in operations that prepared for the invasion of the Continent, and supporting the landings in Normandy and the subsequent Allied drive across France and Germany.

The group flew Republic P-47 Thunderbolts until they were replaced by North American P-51 Mustangs in November 1944. From October 1943 until January 1944, they operated as escort for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress/Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers that attacked such objectives as industrial areas, missile sites, airfields, and communications.

Fighters from the 356th engaged primarily in bombing and strafing missions after 3 January 1944, with its targets including U-boat installations, barges, shipyards, aerodromes, hangars, marshalling yards, locomotives, trucks, oil facilities, flak towers, and radar stations. Bombed and strafed in the Arnhem area on 17, 18, and 23 September 1944 to neutralize enemy gun emplacements, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this contribution to the airborne attack on the Netherlands.

The group flew its last combat mission, escorting B-17's dropping propaganda leaflets, on 7 May 1945. It returned to Camp Kilmer New Jersey and was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

Find out more from the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society www.mhas.org.uk

or visit them on Social media:-  www.facebook.com/Martlesham-Heath-Aviation-Society-and-Control-Tower-Museum-118303728275101/