In the ringing chamber.

A rectangular blue plaque that is inscribed in English in raised lettering dedicated to the men of 314th Troop Carrier Group that were stationed nearby during WWII. This plaque is associated with the bells of St. Peter which also serves as a remembrance to the group. The memorial is unveiled on June 10, 1984.

Royal Air Force Saltby or more simply RAF Saltby is a former Royal Air Force station in Leicestershire, England. The airfield is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Melton Mowbray; about 90 miles (140 km) north-northwest of London.

Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces. During the war, it was used primarily as a transport airfield. After the war, it was closed in 1945 and kept in reserve until 1955.

Today, the remains of the airfield are located on private property and, now known as Saltby Airfield, are used primarily for gliding.

Although a US ground party arrived in December 1943, it was not until the following February that a C-47 group moved in. This was the 314th Troop Carrier Group with Douglas C-47 and C-53 Skytrain transports which flew in from Sicily. Having earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations since May 1943 with Twelfth Air Force. Operational squadrons and fuselage codes of the 314th were:

• 32d Troop Carrier Squadron (S2)
• 50th Troop Carrier Squadron (2R)
• 61st Troop Carrier Squadron (Q9)
• 62d Troop Carrier Squadron (E5)

The 314th TCG was part of the IX Troop Carrier Command 52nd Troop Carrier Wing.

At the end of February 1945, a move was made to the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Poix, France (ALG B-44), the squadrons leaving Saltby in early March.

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

Source of photos: www.waymarking.com

THE BELLS OF ST. PETER

A MEMORIAL

TO THOSE WHO SERVED

314TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP

HQ'S, 32ND, 50TH, 61ST, 62ND SQUADRONS

SALTBY ARMY AIR BASE, WWII

1944 - 1945