Interested in USAAF airfields

Hi.

I will be travelling around Britain in Sept / Oct. 09, and I am interested in visiting a few airfields that US bombers flew from in WW2. I would like to see runways, remaining buildings and associated museums, and I want to do a lot of research beforehand so I can better understand the history of the airfield/s.

I am interested in who (squadron?) flew from where (base) to where (preferably Germany) when (dates) and why (purpose of mission), and visiting airfields still relatively intact.

Any suggestions on accessible airfields with interesting history, preferably in the north of England, or Scotland?

Thanks for any assistance.
Phil

Hello Phil,
For the USAAF airfields, your visit should include the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire for Eighth Air Force bases. Include the county of Essex for Ninth Air Force and the Marauder & A-20 operational bases. By looking at the extensive county by county listings on this forum, you can 'virtually visit' and help plan your trip. Although there are many former airfields in the North of England and Scotland, the operational airfields of the USAAF were predominantly in the area of the UK known as East Anglia.
If the RAF Bomber Command is also on your agenda, then look to the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire primarily for those airfields. A whole wealth of knowledge and images are available here on these pages. Any questions or queries are likely to be answered extremely effeciently and quickly by the many individual experts who reside here!

Oh, and by the way..Welcome!

Thanks for the tips - I didn't know where to start. I'll work thru your recommendations.
Phil

Hi Phil

Just really echoing what Denis says above, there is loads of info here but it is knowing where to start looking! I'm sure that by looking around and seeing some of the info on here, along with what we all have to say you'll have a great time on your trip over. Any questions just ask away!

Welcome to AiX as well.

phil wrote:

I will be travelling around Britain in Sept / Oct. 09, and I am interested in visiting a few airfields that US bombers flew from in WW2

Phil,
I just did the same thing this past March. Spent most of my time in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire.

Watch out for mission creep: there's always something fantastic to see 'just another 10 miles down the road' in England...

TommyU

Clearly, "mission creep" could consume my holiday. Don't think my wife would be too pleased, but it'd suit me......

I'd still welcome any advice on accessible sites relatively intact - at least runway, and maybe control tower or other significant buildings.

Thanks to all,
Phil