RAF Tibenham

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Postwar photo of Tiebenham Airfield, England.

RAF Tibenham is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 13 miles SW of Norwich, N of Diss in Norfolk.

1 USAAF use
- 1.1 320th Bombardment Group (Medium)
- 1.2 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
2 Postwar use
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] USAAF use

Tibenham was built during 1941/42 and assigned USAAF designation Station 124.

[edit] 320th Bombardment Group (Medium)

The first American units at Tibenham were the personnel of two B-26 squadrons of the 320th Bomb Group (Medium) which were en route to La Senia, Algeria in November 1942. They had no aircraft and their stay was a matter of only a few days. During the summer of 1943 , Tibenham was assigned to the 2nd Bombbardment Wing (later the 2nd Air Division) and was used by a few B-24 training aircraft, but it was not until November that the first combat units and their aircraft arrived,

[edit] 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 445th Bomb Group on a mission over enemy-occupied territory.

Tibenham became home to the 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force. The 445th arrived from Sioux City AAF, Iowa on 4 November 1943. The 445th was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-F". It's operational squadrons were:

700th Bomb Squadron (IS)
701st Bomb Squadron (MK)
702d Bomb Squadron (WV)
703d Bomb Squadron (RN)

The group flew B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.

The 445th BF entered combat on 13 December 1943 by attacking U-boat installations at Kiel. The unit operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking such targets as industries in Osnabruck, synthetic oil plants in Lutzendorf, chemical works in Ludwigshafen, marshalling yards at Hamm, an airfield at Munich, an ammunition plant at Duneberg, underground oil storage facilities at Ehmen, and factories at Munster.

The group participated in the Allied campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking an aircraft assembly plant at Gotha on 24 February. Occasionally flew interdictory and support missions. Helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields, V-weapon sites, and other targets. The unit attacked shore installations on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Supported ground forces at St Lo by striking enemy defenses in July 1944. Bombed German communications during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Early on 24 March 1945 dropped food, medical supplies, and ammunition to troops that landed near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine and that afternoon flew a bombing mission to the same area, hitting a landing ground at Stormede.

On occasion the unit dropped propaganda leaflets and hauled gasoline to France. Awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm by the French government for operations in the theater from December 1943 to February 1945.

The 445th Bomb Group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945. It returned to Ft Dix AAF on 28 May 1945 and was inactivated on 12 September 1945.

[edit] Postwar use

The Americans returned to the USA in late May 1945 and on 15 July the airfield reverted to the Air Ministry becoming an MU satellite. Although part of the airtield was sold off in 1952, the main runway was lengthened in 1955 for possible use by jet aircraft. However it was never utilized and Tibenham was closed in 1959, being sold during 1964/65.

In civilian hands most of the airfield buildings were demolished however, there are a few derelict huts and other structures on some of the dispersed sites which lay to the east between the airfield and the main London - Norwich railway line. All the runways remain intact together with the perimeter track.

The control tower was used until 1975 as a club house by the Norfolk Gliding Club. Later that year, the club moved into a new home which was constructed close by. It was said that the old control tower was haunted, and at least four members of the Gliding Club were afraid to enter the building, even in daytime. It was reported, that a person in flying clothes, similar to those worn by the USAAF combat crews, had been seen on several occasions wandering through the darkened rooms. It was demolished when the new clubhouse came into use.

Today, the airfield is used by the sailplanes of the Norfolk Gliding Club for peaceful recreation.

Jimmy Stewart, the film actor, was 703rd Squadron Commander with the 445th when it arrived at Tibenham. A memorial to him and the Liberator crews is placed on the airfield.