Diss Family History Group

It is 1945 and the people of Harleston, Norfolk, and the surrounding areas were well used to the noise of the Heavy Bombers of the United States Army Air Force, flying out to Occupied Europe on their daylight raids.

The nearest USAAF base was Thorpe Abbotts, the home of the ‘Bloody One Hundred’ Bombing Group.

Also the locals would listen to the various noises of the returning bombers made, with some aircraft carrying badly injured or dead Crew Members, sometimes badly damaged Aircraft full of holes and missing engines.

On the 11th April 1945, there was terrifying sound 1500ft in the air, two B-24 Liberator bomber planes from 446 Bomb Group (706 Squadron) collided in mid-air whilst preparing to land at their Flixton base after returning from a mission over Regensburg in Bavaria, South East Germany.

There were no survivors, all the 22 American crewmen died as a result of the collision over Redenhall, near to Jays Green in Harleston, Norfolk.

The Harleston & District Branch of The Royal British Legion organised an act of remembrance to mark the anniversary of the United States Air Force crash which was held at the crash site memorial near Harleston on Sunday 10th April 2022 at 11.00 am Green Lane, Redenhall, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9HP

Also on 21st June 1945 a P-51 Mustang ‘Debbie Lee’ from 355th Fighter Group USAF crashed at nearby Gawdy Hall. The pilot was killed.

The act of remembrance started at 11.00 am and included Raising of the Stars and Stripes and The National Anthem of The United States of America (sung by Laurie Atkins).

A brief history of the 446th Bomb Group was read out.

There was a laying of Poppy Wreaths, on behalf of both the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association remembering the 23 servicemen with the laying of individual crosses in the name of each Airman.

Readings of personal messages and a poem, ‘High Flight’, Prayers and Blessing by the Officiating Clergy, a Moment of silence and reflection and finally the playing of ‘Taps’.