♫ Claire ♫
446th Bomb Group Memorial, Bungay (Flixton), Suffolk
The airfield at Bungay (Flixton) was originally planned as a base for the 93rd Bomb Group at Hardwick in Norfolk. Before the airfield was finished, both the 428th and 329th Bomb Squadrons used its basic facilities.
Between January and March 1943, the 329th Bomb Squadron undertook special intruder operations called 'Moling'. These were nuisance raids by individual aircraft in bad weather, with the aim to harrass the German Air Raid Warning systems. But, if the skies cleared, the aircraft were at risk.
In November 1943, the 446th Bomb Group arrived at the airfield. They were nicknamed the 'Bungay Buckeroos' after the nearby market town and the local pub!
There were four squadrons of B24 bombers with 70 crews of 10 men. At any one time there were about 2000 personnel stationed at Bungay airfield.
On the night of 5th June 1944 there was a detailed briefing session. Aircraft were fuelled and bombed up. The bombers left Bungay just before 2am. Their mission was to lead the pre-landing bombardment of the Normandy coast. This was a great honour, being the first of nearly 2400 aircraft to bomb the beaches.
273 combat missions were flown. Over 6,000 personnel served at the station. 456 were killed. 66 aircraft were lost.
446th Bomb Group Memorial, Bungay (Flixton), Suffolk
The airfield at Bungay (Flixton) was originally planned as a base for the 93rd Bomb Group at Hardwick in Norfolk. Before the airfield was finished, both the 428th and 329th Bomb Squadrons used its basic facilities.
Between January and March 1943, the 329th Bomb Squadron undertook special intruder operations called 'Moling'. These were nuisance raids by individual aircraft in bad weather, with the aim to harrass the German Air Raid Warning systems. But, if the skies cleared, the aircraft were at risk.
In November 1943, the 446th Bomb Group arrived at the airfield. They were nicknamed the 'Bungay Buckeroos' after the nearby market town and the local pub!
There were four squadrons of B24 bombers with 70 crews of 10 men. At any one time there were about 2000 personnel stationed at Bungay airfield.
On the night of 5th June 1944 there was a detailed briefing session. Aircraft were fuelled and bombed up. The bombers left Bungay just before 2am. Their mission was to lead the pre-landing bombardment of the Normandy coast. This was a great honour, being the first of nearly 2400 aircraft to bomb the beaches.
273 combat missions were flown. Over 6,000 personnel served at the station. 456 were killed. 66 aircraft were lost.