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HOLTON AIRFIELD
Station #365
Airstrips were built all over East Anglia during World
War II. None of these are visible today, although they can be found marked on old
Ordinance Survey maps.
The building of Holton Airfield was completed in July
1943. During World War II it was used as an American fighter and bomber base. Below you
can see the groups and aircraft stationed there at the time.
At the end of the War in June 1945 the RAF took it over
until in August of that year the Fleet Air arm arrived and it became HMS Sparrowhawk.
Flying from Halesworth Airfield ceased in 1947.
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56th Fighter
Group
The American 56th Fighter
Group were first to move in when the building of the airstrip at Halesworth was completed
in July 1943. Known as "Zemke's Wolfpack", they served under Colonel Hubert
Zemke flying P47C and P47D single seat fighter bombers. For the museum take
the Bungay road out of Halesworth, turn right at the mini-roundabout by the
Triple Plea Pub. The museum to the 56th Group is
located just after the end of Sparrowhawk Road on the left, it opens every Sunday
afternoon. A few yards beyond you will find the memorials.
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| 489th
Bomb Group
The 489th Bomb Group took
over shortly following the departure of the 56th, arriving on the 22nd
April 1944. They were resident at Halesworth Airfield until 29th November 1944
during which time they flew 106 operational missions, serving under Colonel Ezekiel Napier
and flying B24H and B24J Liberators. A memorial was erected to those who served in the 489th
(See map above). There is also a small museum in one of the original nissen huts at the
northern end of the neighbouring airfield, station #104 at Hardwick. As you travel along
Topcroft Street you will see three nissen huts to the south. One is a museum to the 489th
Bomb Group and the other to the 93rd. The museum opens on the third Sunday of
each month
South of Room Lane close to the museum is a memorial to
the men who died in a plane which crashed in the field there. |
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| 5th
Emergency Rescue Squadron
Arriving on 16th January 1945 the 5th Emergency
Rescue were based at Halesworth Airfield until May 1945.
This unit assisted the RAF in air/sea rescue. P47's were used to speed up the location of
ditched aircraft and drop markers, they carried dinghies which could be dropped alongside
the downed plane. Following this, Consolidated PBY5A Catalinas were deployed to the scene
to hopefully enable pickup of survivors. |
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| 496th
Fighter Training Group
The 496th FTG arrived at
Halesworth on 15th February 1945 and remained until June. They were equiped
with P-51 Mustangs. |
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