94th Bombardment Group Monument
Details:
Placed on the right side of a bench that is on the opposite side of the church.
A semi-tall, polished, rectangular, granite block holding 2 bronze plaques, one is larger and on top of the other, all inscribed in English in raised lettering. The top plaque contains the commemoration message while the bottom plaque names the associated squadrons and supporting units of the 94th Bomb Group. In between the plaques is a depiction of the USAAF roundel (1943-1947).
Rougham Airfield, formerly Royal Air Force Station Bury St Edmunds or more simply RAF Bury St Edmunds is a former Royal Air Force station located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Bury St Edmunds. It is not to be confused with the RAF grass strip on the western side of Bury St Edmunds known as RAF Westley, an area now part of the town itself. The airfield, now in private ownership and much reduced in size, is still active and is known as Rougham Airfield.
The airfield was originally and is now again known as Rougham as it is located north of that village between the A14 and the main railway line between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. It was built between 1941 and 1942 with three intersecting concrete runways. The main runway of 2,000 yards was aligned approximately E–W. It saw extensive use during the Second World War.
RAF Bury St Edmunds which is just 5 minutes from the town center was home for the 322nd Bomb Group and the 94th Bomb Group of the USAAF 8th Airforce whose contribution to the Allies’ strategic bombing offensive helped turn the tide of war against the Nazis and free occupied Europe.
The 94th Bomb Group flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign and served chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization throughout the war.
The Airfield opened in September 1942 and was specifically designed for a United States Army Airforce unit (USAAF) bomb group and was home to some 3,000 personnel in Nissen and other temporary buildings.
The Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum, which opened in 1992, houses a fascinating collection of memorabilia including photos, artifacts, uniforms, letters, and photographs, which tell the story of Rougham Airfield and the US personnel stationed there.
Source of information: en.wikipedia.org, www.visit-burystedmunds.co.uk
Source of photos: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register
Monument Text:
Top plaque:
PRESENTED TO
THE PEOPLE OF
BURY ST. EDMUNDS
★ A MEMORIAL ★
HONOURING THOSE MEN
OF THE
94TH
BOMBARDMENT GROUP
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
DURING
WORLD WAR II
★ ★ ★
4TH COMBAT
BOMBARDMENT WING
8TH AIR FORCE
★ ★ ★
ROUGHAM AIRFIELD
BURY ST. EDMUNDS
★ 1943 - 1945 ★
Bottom plaque:
94TH
BOMBARDMENT GROUP
★ ★ ★
SQUADRONS
331ST 332ND
333RD 410TH
AND
SUPPORTING UNITS
U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES
(-B17 depiction-)
15TH OCTOBER 1977
Commemorates:
Units:
331st Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
332nd Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
333rd Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
410th Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
4th Combat Bomb Wing
8th Air Force
94th Bomber Group, Heavy
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :