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Debach
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Winter
1944-45 (© 1st Lt Donald J Schmitt, via David Schmitt)
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Debach
airfield
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Airfield Today:
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Agriculture
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Tower Type:
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Watch Office for All
Commands, 12779/41 with small windows to 343/43
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Tower:
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Restored
as 493rd BG museum
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Other
Buildings:
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Not
known
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History:
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4/44 to 8/45, 860th, 861st, 862nd and 863rd Bombardment Squadrons of the
493rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Helton's Hellcats' this was the last
8th USAAF heavy bomber Group to become operational. 8/44, converted from
the B-24 Liberator to B-17 Flying Fortress. 2/45 to 5/45, 862nd BS became
3rd Scouting Force. 3/45 to 4/45, 493rd BG temporarily moved to Little Walden when the runways were rebuilt. Flew 158 missions, first mission 6/6/44, last 20/4/45, lost 72 aircraft, 41 in action. Post-war airfield used as a German POW camp, then for homeless people until 1948, airfield sold off in 1964. |
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1967
(© Harry Holmes)
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USAAF Station
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Airfield:
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Operational Bomber
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Opened:
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/1944
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Closed:
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/1945
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ID Code:
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DC
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USAAF Station:
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152
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Runways:
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3 concrete, tarmac
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Hangars:
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2x - T2
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County:
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Suffolk
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Location:
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3 miles NW of Woodbridge
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OS Ref:
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TM240540
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Links:
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©:
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Photographs
© as stated
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2002
(© Barry Turner)
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2001
(©
Barry Turner)
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2002
(©
Barry Turner)
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New
windows, doors and hand rails have been added during restoration work
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RAF
Debach airfield 1944-48 - 493rd BG 'Helton's Hellcats'-
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RAF
Debach airfield + airport control tower pictures = www.controltowers.co.uk
© robert truman 2002
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