Military, local community asked to respect Suffolk airfield

Published May 7, 2015
By Gina Randall
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- U.S. Air Force Airmen who have previously served in the military are being commemorated in a memorial that is in the process of being built at Eye airfield in Suffolk, England, and is scheduled to be dedicated 2016. Families who lost loved ones will soon have a place to visit and remember them.

Suffolk has had a historical relationship with the Americans since World War II.

"The airfield was turned over to the U.S. Air Force April 1, 1944, after it was built by the British," said Mark Howell, 100th Air Refueling Wing historian from Odessa, Texas. "It wasn't open until May 1, 1944, and later the 490th Bomb Group moved there."

The 490th BG belonged to the 93rd Combat Bombardment Wing, which fell under the 3rd Air Division, just like the 100th (Bomb Group) was part of the 13th Bombardment Wing, also part of that division.

"We had the 'Square D' instead of the triangle or the circle," added Howell. "The 490th BG did a lot to support to the troops at Normandy, and took part in a lot of bombing missions on the coastal region to prepare the field for battle."

The geometric shape on the tail of aircraft allowed other pilots to recognize unit aircraft during World War II. The purpose of these markings was to provide a means of rapid identification of the unit to which an aircraft was assigned.

The similarities were not just joining forces with allies against the Nazis.

"The kind of missions that the 490th BG ran were similar to what the 100th did; they bombed tactically and strategically," Howell added. "Though there was no direct connection between the 490th BG and the 100th Bomb Group, they were one of our sister groups and also belonged to the 3rd Air Division. They were the 'Square T,' and we were the Square D."

Team Mildenhall members are reminded that they should respect those who call Eye airfield home today, in addition to the sister groups of the past who called the airfield home and died during the war.

"There were 180 people who gave their lives during World War II and died flying for the 490th Bomb Group out of Eye airfield," said Howell. "That's what the memorial will be there to commemorate."

Howell wants to note the importance of the 490th BG.

"The 490th BG were involved in the war effort almost a year after the 100th Bomb Group, and they didn't suffer the kind of casualties we did. But, their contribution to the war was every bit as important, especially during D-Day," Howell emphasized. "It's important to take note of, and appreciate that."

However, the land no longer belongs to the government.

"It was sold in 1962 to a private interest," Howell explained. "They put in an industrial park there. It's private land owned by a person who was a major contributor to the memorial. All the buildings were destroyed before, or during the process of, conversion to an industrial park and reclaiming the land for agriculture."

Unfortunately, some people haven't been as respectful as they should be when visiting the private area.

"Recently, there were some people who visited out there and rode their motorcycles up and down the airstrip," explained Howell. "We want people to visit and look at the airstrip, but be respectful and not trespass on private property. So I want to encourage people to take advantage of what's there, but respect the private property rights of those who own businesses and homes there. They just want people to be mindful of others."

Howell stressed that although the airfield is now private property, when built, the memorial will be located in an area close by where anyone can visit it.

To this day, there continues to be a strong bond between the U.S. Air Force and host-nation British, and Howell said he hopes it will stay that way for a long time to come. With nations at war across the world, it's important for those who have lost loved ones and those who still have loved ones fighting abroad, to protect those bonds held so dear to many.

"We've been at war for more than 20 years, so we know what war is and we know what casualties are," said Howell. "If someone in your particular group or squadron gave their lives, especially if they were your friend, you would want people to be respectful of the commemoration that was done for them. I think it's only appropriate that we give a sister group like this our most honest respect."