A few steps away to the south of the Rougham Control Tower Museum.

A semi-circular brick enclosure with a central brick pillar surmounted by a propeller from a recovered crashed aircraft. The pillar bears a plain grey stone plaque bearing the inscription in English in incised lettering. The memorial was unveiled on September 12, 1998.

Rougham Airfield, formerly RAF Bury St Edmunds must not 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. This airfield, now in private ownership and much reduced in size, is still active and is known as Rougham Airfield.

This 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. This airfield was designated as USAAF Station 468.

The first USAAF group to use this airfield was the 47th Bombardment Group (Light) arriving from Greensboro AAF North Carolina in mid-September 1942. The 47th was equipped with the Douglas A-20 "Havoc" bomber but the group quickly moved to RAF Horham as Bury St. Edmunds was still under construction. On 2 November the 47th was ordered to North Africa, departing for Medina Air Field 15 miles south of Casablanca in Morocco.

The 322d Bombardment Group (Medium) arrived in December 1942 from Drane Army Airfield, Florida, a satellite installation of nearby MacDill Field where the 322d originally began their pre-deployment training. The group was assigned to the 3d Bomb Wing and flew Martin B-26B/C Marauders. Operational squadrons of the 322d were:

• 449th Bombardment Squadron (PN)
• 450th Bombardment Squadron (ER)
• 451st Bombardment Squadron (SS) **(at RAF Rattlesden)
• 452d Bombardment Squadron (DR) **(at RAF Rattlesden)

Ongoing construction at this airfield forced two of the group's squadrons to locate at RAF Rattlesden, and the group's aircraft did not arrive until late in March 1943. Once operational, the 322d flew two low-level bombing operations from here. 

After these missions, the group was re-equipped and trained for medium-altitude operations for several weeks before returning to combat operations. On 13 June, the 322nd moved to RAF Andrews Field in Essex.

The 94th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived from RAF Earls Colne on 15 June 1943. the 94th was assigned to the 4th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Square-A". Its operational squadrons were:

• 331st Bombardment Squadron (QE)
• 332d Bombardment Squadron (XM)
• 333d Bombardment Squadron (TS)
• 410th Bombardment Squadron (GL)

The 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.

Today many of the buildings remain, for a time the Control Tower used as a house. Recently the Rougham Tower Association has begun the restoration of the Tower to its original condition.

With the end of military control, the airfield's concreted areas were broken up with most of the site being returned to agriculture.

The old technical site has been developed into the Rougham Industrial Estate. The T2 hangars are still in use, for storage. The control tower, used for many years as a private dwelling, has now been restored and is used as a museum.

The airfield now has two grass runways available for civil use. Gliding and model aircraft flying are frequent and several open-air events are organized each year.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, en.wikipedia.org, wartimememoriesproject.com

Source of photos: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

Memorial Dedicated

to the

Airmen of the U.S.A.A.F.

and their support units

who served the cause of freedom

from this airfield

1942 – 1945