RAF Snetterton Heath
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RAF Snetterton Heath is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 6 miles SW of Attleborough in Norfolk.
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[edit] USAAF use
Snetterton Heath was built in 1942. When work started, the base was intended for RAF use. However, it was allocated to the USAAF. Its designation was Station 138 (SN).
From 13 September 1943 though 18 June 1945, Snetterton Heath served as headquarters for the 45th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 3d Bomb Division.
[edit] 386th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The airfield was opened 3 June 1943 and was used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force 386th Bombardment Group (Medium), which arrived at Snetterton Heath from Lake Charles AAF Louisiana. The 386th Bomb Group was assigned to the 3rd Bobardment Wing and flew Martin B-26B/C Marauder twin-engine medium bombers. Its operational squadrons were:
- 552d Bomb Squadron (RG)
- 553d Bomb Squadron (AN)
- 554th Bomb Squadron (RU)
- 555st Bomb Squadron (YA)
The group remained at Snetterton Heath only a few days, being transferred to RAF Boxted on 10 June 1943 in north Essex where B-26 groups were to be established for operations.
[edit] 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived on 12 June 1943 from RAF Andrews Field. The 96th was assigned to the 45th Combat Bombardment Wing (later, 45th Air Division), and the group tail code was a "Square-C". It's operational squadrons were:
- 337th Bomb Squadron (AW)
- 338th Bomb Squadron (BX)
- 339th Bomb Squadron (QJ)
- 413th Bomb Squadron (MZ)
The group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.
The 96th BG transitioned to operational status at Snetterton Heath after being used as a training unit. It entered combat in June 1943 and functioned primarily as a strategic bombardment organization throughout the war.
As the most conveniently reached station from 3rd Division Headquarters at Elveden Hall, Snetterton Heath units often led to major operations carrying commanding generals. General Curtis LeMay led the famous Regensburg shuttle mission to North Africa flying out of this base, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for withstanding severe assaults by enemy fighters. The 96th also led the 3rd Division on the famous Schweinfurt mission of 14 October 1943.
In addition the 93d attacked shipyards, harbors, railroad yards, airdromes, oil refineries, aircraft factories, and other industrial targets in Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.
The 96th received another DUC for leading the 45th Bomb Wing a great distance through heavy clouds and intense antiaircraft fire to raid important aircraft component factories in Poland on 9 April 1944. Other significant targets included airfields at Bordeaux and Augsburg; marshalling yards at Kiel, Hamm, Brunswick, and Gdynia; aircraft factories at Chemnitz, Hannover, and Diosgyor; oil refineries at Merseburg and Brux, and chemical works in Weisbaden, Ludwigshafen, and Neunkirchen.
In addition to strategic operations, missions of the 96th BG included bombing coastal defenses, railway bridges, gun emplacements, and field batteries in the battle area prior to and during the invasion of Normandy in June 1944; attacking enemy positions in support of the breakthrough at St Lo in July 1944; aiding the campaign in France in August by striking roads and road junctions, and by dropping supplies to the Maquis; and attacking, during the early months of 1945, the communications supplying German armies on the western front.
[edit] Postwar history
After V-E Day, the group was scheduled for occupation duties in Germany however plans were revised and the 96th BG flew food to Holland and hauled redeployed personnel to French Morocco, Ireland, France, and Germany. In November 1945 its aircraft were flown back to the United States, and its squadrons were inactivated. The ground personnel left Snetterton Heath in early December, arriving at Camp Kilmer New Jersey.
The 96th Bomb Group was inactivated on 20 December 1945.
[edit] Postwar use
After the war, the field was closed in 1948 and fell into disuse. Snetterton Heath was privately purchased in 1952 with a view to utilising the runways and perimeter tracks as a motor racing circuit. The first motor cycle meeting was held in 1953 and the first motor race the tollowing year.
Today, banking and safety barriers have transformed the airfield and Snetterton is used extensively. not only for national, international as well as local club racing, but for the testing and development of new designs of motor cycles and cars.
A memorial window to the 96th Bomb Group can be seen in Quidenham church.
[edit] See also
- List of RAF stations
- USAAF Eighth Air Force - World War II
- Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit
- Snetterton
[edit] References
- Freeman, Roger A., Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now, 1978
- www.controltowers.co.uk Snetterton Heath
- Snetterton Heath at http://mighty8thaf.preller.us
- Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
