The Apple TV+ blockbuster television series, which was released in late January with new episodes out weekly, features BAFTA Award-Winning Actors Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan. Adapted from Donald L. Miller’s non-fiction book 'Masters of The Air', it has also been produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Spanning 9 episodes, the television series will narrate the illustrious tale of the American Eighth Air Force. Formed shortly after the events of Pearl Harbor, this bomber unit was stationed at bases in the East of England, including RAF Bury St Edmunds, ultimately becoming the home base for the 94th Bomb Group.
Suffolk, in particular Bury St Edmunds and Lavenham, played a key role in many of the lives of the 94th Bomb Group; becoming home to many U.S. Personnel. The historic town, which is a 90 minute drive from The Suffolk Coast is home to Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum and Bury St Edmunds Guildhall and the Royal Observer Corps Operations Room; the only surviving operations rooms of it's kind in the UK. Here you can also enjoy a Masters of the Air tour with Bury Tour Guides.
The Suffolk Coast may not be the setting for the series, but many airbases and museums here are rich in WWII history and the role the East of England played.
Bawdsey Radar Trust
Bawdsey Radar tells the story of the first operational radar station in the world where radar was developed that helped win the Battle of Britain.
The Transmitter Block was built in 1939 and now houses an interactive exhibition and displays that tell the story of the women and men who, in top secret conditions, developed radar that played such a crucial role in the Battle of Britain.
Hear the voices of the women and men who worked at Bawdsey, try your hand at being a radar operator and find out just how tall a transmitter tower was. There is a Boffin Trail for younger visitors, picnic tables with games and an astonishing story to discover at Bawdsey Radar.
Bawdsey Radar Trust is Open April - October, for admission priced and to find out more visit https://www.bawdseyradar.org.uk/
Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum
The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, located at Flixton near the market town of Bungay, preserves and promotes the region’s aviation history and is home to a wide range of exhibits featuring more than 60 aircraft and cockpits, 1000's of artefacts including equipment, uniforms, engines, models, records and a myriad of other items, providing a fascinating day out for the whole family.
Founded in 1972, the collections have developed from the occupation of the airfield by the 446th Bomb Group USAAF, the Fleet Air Arm and then the Royal Air Force and aviation in the East of England.
The museum is also home to a memorial to the 456 airmen who lost their lives in action and to those who served at Flixton during the years 1943 to 1945. The centerpiece of the memorial is a three-blade Hamilton Standard propeller, emblematic of the type used by Liberators. A striking cast bronze plaque adorns the memorial, featuring a depiction of a Liberator and the Eighth Air Force badge. The inscription on the plaque undoubtedly holds significant historical weight, symbolizing the collective effort and valour of those who served in the 446th Bomb Group during World War II.
Halesworth Airfield Memorial Museum
Over its brief four-year active tenure, Halesworth Airfield played host to some of the most significant participants in World War II. Primarily serving as an American base, it accommodated both the 56th Fighter Group and the 489th Bomb Group.
In the war's concluding phases and the post-war era, the airfield underwent a shift to a rescue and training role before ultimately closing its operations in February 1946. The Halesworth Airfield Museum now boasts an extensive collection of World War II memorabilia, with a focus on items specific to the airfield. Exploring the museum allows visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the 1940s and gain insights into the lives of the servicemen stationed there.
Open Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2pm - 5pm from April to October. Admission is free but donations are welcome. Find out more at http://www.halesworthairfieldmuseum.co.uk/
Martlesham Heath Control Tower
Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum near Ipswich commemorates the diverse and significant history of Martlesham Heath as a hub for aircraft testing, development, and operations spanning from 1916 to its closure in 1963.
In 1943, Martlesham Heath joined a cluster of grass-surfaced airfields designated for use by the fighters of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. Designated as Station 369 by the USAAF, the airfield underwent a transformation with the addition of asphalt runways laid on a compressed sand base. The construction of the Control Tower, now repurposed as the museum, was a requisite by the USAAF to streamline aircraft and vehicle movements.
Today the museum remembers those who lived and gave their lives in the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force whilst stationed here.
The museum is open Sundays from 2pm to 4.30pm from April to October. Admission is free but donations are welcomed. Find out more at https://www.mhas.org.uk/
Parham Airfield Museum
The Parham Airfield Museum, situated on a former World War II United States Air Force Station near Woodbridge, is home to two distinct museums that together illustrate the diverse wartime impact on Suffolk.
Dedicated to commemorating the 390th Bomb Group's legacy at the airfield, this section pays homage to the 740 servicemen who lost their lives or went 'Missing in Action' and the 754 individuals who became Prisoners of War. Through exhibits and artefacts, the museum highlights the experiences, contributions, and sacrifices of the 390th Bomb Group during World War II.
Focused on the British Resistance Organisation, this part of the museum unveils the secrets of "Britain's Secret Army." It showcases contemporary artefacts within Nissen Huts, prefabricated steel structures from the war era, and features a unique replica of a secret underground bunker. The museum aims to reveal "Britain's best-kept war secret," exploring the covert operations and activities of the British Resistance during the war.
The museum is open on Commencing on Sunday 2nd April 2023, we will be open on Sundays and Bank Holidays from April to October and on Wednesdays in June, July and August. Admission is free but donations are welcomed. For more information visit https://www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk/