2nd Combat Bomb Wing
Stations 114, 124, 144
All Saints Church in Carleton Rode is located within 5 miles of the three American airfields that comprised the 2nd Air Combat Bombardment Wing. Bases at Hethel, Old Buckenham and Tibenham were built between 1941 and 1943 and became the homes to thousands of young men at each location who arrived in the area to join in the battle above the skies of occupied Europe.
From July 1943 until the end of the war in Europe, the young men from these airfields flew more than 860 missions, suffering the loss of thousands of airmen with many more injured or taken prisoner. During this time, the young Yanks of the 2nd Bomb Wing became a part of the lives of the locals around the airfield. Nearly every day, hundreds of bombers could been seen in the skies above the local villages, the drone of their engines becoming common place.
In spite of the short duration of their stay, these young American men had a profound impact on the lives of the locals in the villages surrounding the airfield. Through friendship, love and even marriages many of the men spent what little free time they had drinking in local pubs, relaxing in local homes and worshiping in local churches as they looked for respite from the ongoing conflict which took their friends and brothers. The local memorials placed in honour of those men who came from across the Atlantic to give their all stand testament to this special relationship which continues to this day.
Remark: The text was subscribed from an information panel what also can be found inside of the church.