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467th Bombardment Group at Rackheath

Remaining buildings

Very little remains of the runways, perimeter track, or hardstands.

Most of the concrete has been broken up for hardcore and the airfield site returned to farming.

The technical site has become the Rackheath Industrial Estate (reached from Green Lane) with several of the wartime buildings being modified or extended and used for light industry.

One of the access roads on the estate is called Wendover Road, to commemorate the US airbase where the 467th Bomb Group was formed.

The road leading to the restored control tower is named Witchcraft Way as a tribute to one of the most famous B-24 Liberator bombers flown by the 467th, while Albert Shower Road immortalises Col Albert Shower, the group's commanding officer.

The secondary industrial site off Green Lane West is named Mahoney Green in honour of Lt Col James Mahoney, the deputy group commander of the 467th. A special photograph of him is displayed in the offices of Dynorod.

The 467th marker stone is situated at Liberator Close. It is surrounded by a small garden and floodlit at night.

The ashes of navigator Earl Roy were buried here, at his request, following a short service with his family present.

The control tower (situated on Witchcraft Way, off Wendover Road) was completely restored in 2007 and was officially opened on 1 October that year by Charlotte Shower, widow of Col Shower.

Externally the tower appears as it did when it was first built in early 1943 and when utilized by the 467th Bomb Group in 1944-45. Internally, the building is used as an office block.

The T2 hangar nearby is virtually beyond recognition as to how it looked in 1943. Brickwork has been added to the front and the whole building has been repainted cream and green.

The hangar is now used by Solus Garden & Leisure, Wholesale Gardening Distributors.

Inside the building the roof girders appear to be original and identical to those seen on photographs taken in 1944.

The other hangar on the eastern side of the airfield was dismantled many years ago.

Remains of some of the living quarters and associated buildings on the west side of Green Lane are on private property, as are the remains of the former main runway; you'll need permission before entering these sites.

Rackheath Hall, the former home of Sir Edmund Stracey, has been converted to residential apartments.