Manual Ref* NFsnSN001 Show 5 images 958
Title*

Memorial to the U.S.A.A.F. 96th bomb group (H)
County Norfolk   District Council South Norfolk 
Civil Parish or equivalent Attleborough  Town/Village* Snetterton Heath 
Road Off A11 
Precise Location Besides entrance to Snetterton racetrack, behind Sunday Market 
OS Grid Ref TM008896  Postcode NR16 
Previous location(s)  
Setting In field  Access Public 
Artist/Maker Role Qualifier
Martin Rance  Designer(s)   
Sinclair Stainless Fabrication Ltd  Metal worker(s)   

Commissioned by

 96th Bomb group, individual sponsors listed below 

Design & Constrn period

 1999-2001 

Date of installing

 8th September 2001 

Exact date of unveiling

 17 May 2002 

Category
Abstract Animal Architectural
Commercial Commemorative Composite
Free Functional Funerary
Heraldic Military Natural
Non-Commemorative Performance Portable
Religious Roadside, Wayside Sculptural
Temporary, Mobile Other  

Object Type
Building Clock Tower Architectural
Coat of Arms Cross Fountain
Landscape Marker Medallion
Mural Panel Readymade
Relief Shaft Sculpture
Statue Street Furniture War Memorial
Other Object Sub Type: USAAF memorial

Subject Type
Allegorical Mythological Pictorial
Figurative Non-figurative Portrait
Still-life Symbolic Other

Subject Sub Type
Bust Equestrian Full-length
Group Head Reclining
Seated Standing Torso
Part Material Dimension
Four triangular tapering columns  Stainless steel  At base 3m on each face x approx 12m h 
Concrete base, bevelled edges  Concrete  12m x 12 m 
Plaque with inscription  Stainless steel  1.4 m high 

Work is
Extant Not Sited Lost

Owner/Custodian

 Snetterton Racetrack/96th Bomb Group 

Listing status
Grade I Grade II* Grade II Don't Know Not Listed

Surface Condition
Corrosion, Deterioration Accretions
Bird Guano Abrasions, cracks, splits
Biological growth Spalling, crumbling
Metallic staining Previous treatments
Other  
Detail:

Structural Condition
Armature exposed Broken or missing parts
Replaced parts Loose elements
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes Spalling, crumbling
Water collection Other
Detail:

Vandalism
Graffiti Structural damage Surface Damage
Detail:

Overall condition
Good Fair Poor

Risk
No Known Risk At Risk Immediate
Signatures/Marks  
Inscriptions On main plaque in front of the memorial: Dedicated 8th September 2001 Plaque Above 337th 338th 339th 413 E SEMPRE L’ORA Dedicated to all Personnel/of the/ 96th Bombardment Group (H)/ 8th U.S.A.A.F./ who served on the airfield/1943-45 On plaque set at rear on concrete base: Sponsors: USA: Members of the 96th Bomb Group Association/John Brookout/ John Grout/Brooks Mitchell/ Mary & Tex Shields/ Tom & Marie Thomas. UK: Octagon Motorsports Ltd/Sinclair Fabrications Ltd/ New Eccles School/QD Stores/ Foulgers Transport Ltd/ Homerton Industrial Estate/Midwhich/Ripblast Co Ltd/ Richard Johnston Ltd/ Doig & Sons Overa Farm  

Description (physical)

 The immensely impressive memorial is set between two flagposts, flying the American and British flags. One of the 96th's B- 17 flying fortress' lifts off over the mound marking the edge of Snetterton racetrack, with a huge vapour trail from each of its four engines. The intentions were set out in the planning application (undated) on their website. The 96th Bomb Group decided to erect the memorial to supplement the memorial Learning Centre and Museum at New Eccles Hall School and chapel and stained glass window in the south nave of St Andrew Quidenham, unveiled in 1944, to achieve ‘an outstanding memorial and lasting historical marker to the former airfield and the men who served there. Noting that it was particularly significant since, unlike many other former U.S.A.A.F. airfields Snetterton was a thriving commercial centre and race track which draws many visitors during the year. Following a competition among pupils at New Eccles Hall School, the home of the 96th Memorial Museum, the design submitted by the art maste, Martin Rance was chosen. It shows a B- 17 flying fortress rising from four columns, resembling vapour trails, set on a trapezium base. The columns also represent the four squadrons attached to the Group and increase in their size represents the ratio of ground support needed to get each aircraft on it mission. The triangular form of the supports was to deter anyone from trying to climb it.  

Description (iconographical)

 Snetterton Heath airfield was constructed by Taylor Woodrow Ltd., in 1942 at a cost of £950,000. The main runway was 6,000 feet long with two secondaries of 4,200 feet each. Total area of concrete laid in its construction was 530,000 square yards with storage provided for 144,000 gallons of fuel. The airfield was allocated for USAAF use in 1943 and the 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived on 12 June 1943 from RAF Andrews Field. The operational squadrons the 337th, 338th, 339th,413th Bomb Squadrons flew B-17 Flying Fortresses as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 96th received two Presidential Citations: one for leading the Third Air Division on the first Shuttle Mission to North Africa, after bombing German factories at Regensburg; the second for leading the 45th combat wing to Poznan, Poland in spite of heavy enemy fire and atrocious weather. They also led the 3rd Air Division in the Schweinfurt Mission, possibly the greatest air battle of World War II. The 96th had the second highest number of aircraft missing in action by any unit of the 8th Air Force – 189 aircraft and the highest loss by any bomb group in the 3rd Division, losing the highest number of losses of any bomb group between March and May 1944 – 65 aircraft. The 96th Bomb Group was inactivated on 20 December 1945. The site was sold in 1952 and has since been developed as a race track, Sunday market and industrial area.  

Photographs

 Date taken:  10/10/2009
Date logged: 

Photographed by:
Sarah Cocke

On Site Inspection

 Date:  10/10/2009

Inspected by:
Richard Cocke

Sources and References

 www/96bombgroup.co.uk/bombgroup H.swf (application); wikipedia, snetterton heath airfield both accessed 11/10/2009; information from Geoff Ward, historian for the 96th Bomb Group 

Database

 Date entered:  11/10/2009

Data inputter:
Richard Cocke