Trip to Tibenham Airfield, Norwich England

Below is a review by Peter Barton who, with his wife Cathy, attended the 75thKassel Mission Memorial Tribute in Friedlos, Germany.  Peter and Cathy joined 5 other Americans in a visit to Norwich in the United Kingdom to tour the Tibenham airbase. Eric Radcliffe, Steve Hewitt and Eric Bean - all from the Norfolk area - hosted the group and also joined the larger group in Germany the following week.

My wife and I traveled along with 5 other Americans to Norwich England just prior to the 75th Anniversary Kassel Memorial to experience what daily life was like for our 445th airmen. Guide, WWII historian and author of the “Kassel Mission Raid” Eric Ratcliff, along with his buddies Steve Flowitt-Hill and Mike Bean, fellow Tibenham glider pilots, gave us a rich glimpse in time back 75 years over our three day tour.  Yes, the Kassel Mission is about the loss of life for 118 US airmen and 19 German fighter pilots and the subsequent reconciliation, but what occurred on the ground in Norwich will forever be the highlight for us. 

Imagine building 40 identical airfields in a checker board patchwork, each 5 miles apart in 1942-43.  Then add in 50 bombers to each airfield with a crew of 10 in their teens to early 20’s.  A B24 could load 6000 pounds of explosives and 2500 gallons of gas per raid.  Now imagine getting a few hundred planes into the air daily in preparation of the run over the English Channel.  The first plane off the tarmac may have to wait up to two hours circling in a holding pattern before the mission could commence.  We all stood on Tibenham runway 21 imagining what our fathers and inlaws must have felt as they began heading out at 6:30am that fateful day when so few returned.  

Tibenham exists today as the only operating airfield thanks to the Norfolk Gliding Club renting it as its base in 1959.  Remains of the tank farm and munitions storage are still recognizable though the barracks and control tower are forever gone. In 1985 the club purchased a large portion of the airfield, taking it private and has since embarked on multiple capital projects. 

Thanks to Eric and buddies, we experienced flying in gliders off runway 21.  I was winch launched, 0 to 60 in 3 seconds, then climbed at almost a 45 degree angle until releasing at about 1200 feet.  Cathy was aero towed to about 3000 feet, giving a much longer ride with an opportunity to take over the controls.  From that height one can see a number of the airfield remains.   Two have museums dedicated to the RAF and US 8th Air Force with one still having the original control tower and radio gear.  Each have plaques dedicated to the 445th and the Kassel Mission as does Tibenham Airfield and church.  The church spire was the point of reference and welcome sight for the returning flights of the 445th.  Lest I forget, we toasted a pint at the Greyhound Pub, directly adjacent to the airfield where our relatives would certainly have unwound.  Cheers!! 

Peter Barton

Married to Cathy Barton, daughter of 2nd Lt. Palmer Bruland, 445th B24 pilot of the Texas Rose, POW