RAF Hethel
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RAF Hethel is a former World War II airfield used by the US during the Second World War (and briefly as an RAF station) in Norfolk, situated located 7 miles south of Norwich Hethel airfield was constructed in 1942 for American use and was assigned USAAF designation Station 114. From 14 September 1943 though to 12 June1945, Hethel served as headquarters for the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the 2nd Bomb Division.
320th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The 320th Bomb Group (Medium) was a B-26 Marauder group which arrived at Hethel on 12 September 1942 from Drane AAF. At the time of their arrival, many of the airfield buildings were still uncompleted. The group used the base as a staging and transshipment point for deploying to La Senia , Algeria as part of Twelfth Air Force though .
310th Bombardment Group (Medium)
During the spring of 1943 Hethel housed elements of the 310th Bombardment Group (Medium) which also used the airfield as a staging area for deploying from Greenville, French Morocco. In addition, the airfield was also used as a training base for B-24s by other 2nd Air Divion Groups.
389th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
With the completion of the facility, Hethel was assigned to the 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) , arriving from Lowry AAF Colorado on 11 June 1943. The 389th was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-C". It's operational squadrons were:
564th Bomb Squadron (YO) , 565th Bomb Squadron (EE) , 566th Bomb Squadron (RR) ,567th Bomb Squadron (HP)
The group flew B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.
After the departure of the Americans, Hethel airfield was assigned to RAF Fighter Command . On 25 June RAF Polish-manned North American Mustang squadrons moved into the base. In mid-1947, Hethel became a Personnel Transit Centre but was transferred to RAF Technical Training Command. However, with the downsizing of the RAF, the field was closed in 1948. For many years the base was inactive and abandoned until it was finally sold by the Air Ministry in 1964.
For a number of years the old airbase Nissen hut buildings were used to house many families awaiting the re-housing under the post-war building programme. Forehoe & Henstead R D C also used part of the area as a store depot. This would have been during the 1950s era & this was a number of years before the Lotus Factory arrived. With the end of military control, Hethel found a new life in civilian hands becoming the manufacturing and testing site for Lotus Cars. The actual location of the factory is, in fact, on the old technical site and the manufacture of vehicles, originally started in the old hangars and workshops, now takes place in several modern buildings. Lotus utilizes parts of the airfield perimeter track and lengths of the main runway as a testing track.
Very little remains of any buildings on the dispersed sites around Hethel Wood; the only thing of real interest being a former gymnasium which became a chapel. On the end wall of this chapel, behind where the altar formerly stood, is a crucifix painted by "Bud" Doyle who was assistant to the Roman Catholic chaplain, Father Beck. It was painted in early 1944 and remains in good condition. The chapel has recently undergone extensive restoration carried out by a group of volunteers with the full support of the landowner. The chapel is on private property.
The former 2nd Air Division Headquarters at Ketteringham Hall lies just to the north of the airfield. Group Lotus use it for their headquarters.
In June 1946 a memorial plaque was dedicated in Carleton Rode Church, in memory of 17 members of the 389th Bomb Group who were killed in a mid-air collision over the parish on 21 November 1944. A stained glass window in the church is also dedicated to the crew members killed in this collision. A Memorial Headstone is located in the Hethel Churchyard and the 389th Roll of Honor is housed inside Hethel Church