This is a must read for World War Two enthusiasts and Militory historians
The lives and times of 28 Second World War airfields in the county, stretching from Newmarket to Felixstowe and Bungay to Martlesham Heath, are featured in a new book written by Roderick McKenzie called Ghost Fields of Suffolk.
The ghost airfields, which are poignant reminders of the time Suffolk played a huge part in combating the threat from the Nazis. They were where brave aircrew took to the skies putting their fate in the Spitfires, Mustangs and other crafts they were flying. Many of the runways and buildings still exist today in some shape or form - reminders to us all of the enormous sacrifices made by these men.
Woodbridge, pictured here, is one airfield which has still got its huge concrete runway. Built in 1942, at 3,000 yards long and 250 wide, it was used as an emergency landing-place for heavy bombers. At Beccles, many former military buildings have been swallowed up in Ellough Industrial Estate. Bu,t a pair of hangars remains one has taken a step back in time by hosting 1940s-style dances.
The book contains details of what happened, why and when at each site, along with photographs of what’s left (ranging from control towers to bomb dumps and parachute stores) and plans of the airfields. Rod, who lives at King’s Lynn, writes about how the “Friendly Invasion” began in the spring of 1942. The 'Friendly Invasion' as it was known was the arrival of more than 400,000 American airmen who were stationed in England. Most of the American's were based in East Anglia and with Suffolk at it's core was known as 'Little America'.
These are the Second World War airfields featured in Rod McKenzie’s book:
Newmarket, Ipswich/Nacton, Tuddenham, Horham, Stradishall, Debach, Chedburgh, Martlesham Heath, Westley, Metfield, Bury St Edmunds/Rougham, Woodbridge, Sudbury, Bungay, Lavenham, Felixstowe, Shepherd’s Grove (near Stanton), Framlingham/Parham, Great Ashfield, Bentwaters, Rattles.
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