357th Fighter Group Memorial
Details:
On the west side, next to the reception building. Monument
The memorial consists of a memorial stone alongside a 1/3 size model replica of a P51 Mustang and a rectangular board marker. Inscriptions are written in English text. The memorial honors the American Air Force crews stationed at the former airfield during the Second World War.
From: https://www.eadt.co.uk:
Nicknamed ‘The Yoxford Boys’ the 357th and their Mustang aircraft escorted bombers deep into enemy territory. From January 1944 to April 1945, the group flew long-range escorts in their Mustangs into continental Europe, protecting the bombers. One of the longest flights undertaken by the group was a shuttle mission to Russia involving a flight of just under 1,500 miles and a flight time of almost seven-and-a-half hours.
By the end of the war the fighter group had lost 77 pilots.
Source of photos: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk
Monument Text:
Stone marker:
IN
MEMORY OF
357TH FIGHTER GROUP
ESPECIALLY
THE 82 MEN
WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES
IN THE FIGHT
FOR FREEDOM
Model aircraft board:
357th FIGHTER GROUP | This 1/3rd scale model of a North American P51K-5-NT is a tribute to the man and women of the 362nd Lighter Squadron and 357 Fighter Group, known as the "Yoxford Boys" who lived and flew from here, Leiston Airfield from Jan 1944 to July 1945. | 362nd FIGHTER SQUADRON |
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
357th Fighter Group
358th Fighter Group
362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group
363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group
364th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group
66th Fighter Wing
8th Air Force
United States Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
