Abandoned WW2 airfields caught on film

[Kyt]

http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/n...A03%3A08%3A140

A PHOTOGRAPHER has captured the fading memories of abandoned World War II airfields.

Ghost Fields of East Anglia, a 144-page hardback book by Norwich based author Martin Bowman, includes pictures of wartime Suffolk.

It features surviving airfields and deserted bases, brought to life through photographs and stories of those who were there.

Alongside images of wall art, there are aerial photographs of the airstrips and on the ground ivy-clad ruins of all that remains.

The book features sites including Debach, Knettishall and Honington airfields and wartime artwork from Lavenham and Mendlesham, near Stowmarket.

It includes extracts from servicemen, locals who recall their memories of the GIs, and a farm girl from the Framlingham area who tells of the moment she saw the Yanks arriving.

Photographer Mr Bowman said: “The young Americans with their well-cut uniforms, new accents and money created a colourful and heroic chapter in the lives of the British people that is still remembered today.

“On desolate airfields dilapidated brick buildings refuse to fade away without a fight. On many hut wall ghostly images and colourful yet faded pin-ups too are a poignant reminder of the time when East Anglia was Little America, to those who faced the sheer horror of mission after mission so long ago.”

A spokeswoman for publishers Halsgrove said: “This book honours those who briefly made East Anglia their home and is a fitting tribute to their comradeship and bravery.”

Ghost Fields by Martin Bowman is published by Halsgrove and costs £14.99.

[51highland]

Seeing as most of these airfields are within half an hours drive for me, a lot of them only 10 or 15 minutes away, anyone want any pics? Most of them (Mendlesham, Eye, Debach etc) are industrial areas now. . RAF Honington is still in use today.

[Kyt]

Any pictures you get a chance to take, 51H, would be appreciated here. If and when you get the chance to post any, we could try to do a "then and now", with station histories etc.

Cheers

[51highland]

Pics of the last remaining Hangar at RAF Martlesham, Now a large industrial estate and home to BT's research centre, The A12 runs through the middle of what was the aerodrome plus home to Suffolk constabulary HQ. The hangar has been made a listed building. Stanford Tuck and Bader both flew from Martlesham for a time. There is a pub on Martlesham heath housing estate named ofter Bader, good grub in there too. The Control tower is now a museum.

[Kitty]

Oooooooooooooooooh! A Bellman hangar!

I have lots of photos of what was left of RAF Cranage-Byley and a handful from RAF Calverley. Ground was too saturated there to get over the fields.

[spidge]

It is amazing what is still left after nearly 70 years and the activity and preparation that was underway in the 30's with the clouds of war on the horizon.

[Antipodean Andy]

Yes please, 51H and keep 'em coming when you get the chance.

[51highland]

On Google Earth 52 03' 08.05" N 1 15'33.19" E shows the last piece of runway and taxi way. Used to ride old motorbikes, cars etc on there when i was a kid. The hangar is just North of Adastral Park (BT). At 52 03'27.10"N 1 16'40.11" E is Barrack Square (south of Adastral) with 2 barrack blocks both listed buildings to the right of the A12 dual carriageway.Better still just put in Barrack Square Martlesham.!!!

[Kyt]

MS Virtual Earth: UK Active & Disused Airports, Airfields, Heliports & Landing Sites

http://content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/