On the east side of the road.

A rectangular bronze plaque affixed on a concrete slab that is supported by a brick plinth. The plaque is inscribed in English text and high relief lettering. The insignia of the 9^th Air Force as well as an image of a plane with a target mark behind are shown on the plaque.

Matching Airfield is approximately 2.5km south-east of Manwood Green village. Matching was known as USAAF Station AAF-166 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Its USAAF Station Code was "MT".

The first combat organisation, the 391st Bombardment Group, arrived at Matching on 26 January 1944 from Goodman AAF, Kentucky flying Martin B-26 Marauders. Operational squadrons of the group were:

• 572d Bombardment Squadron (P2)
• 573d Bombardment Squadron (T6)
• 574th Bombardment Squadron (4L)
• 575th Bombardment Squadron (O8)

The group marking was a yellow triangle painted on the tail fin of their B-26s.

The first mission was flown on 15 February and 150 more were completed before the group moved into France in late September 1944. The group moved onto the continent, transferring to Roye/Amy, France (ALG A-73) on 19 September 1944. The group then switched to Douglas A-26 Invaders and flew its last mission on 3 May 1945 from Asche, Belgium (ALG Y-29).

The 391st Bomb Group returned to the United States in October and was inactivated at Camp Shanks, New York on 25 October 1945.

With the move of the 391st to France, this was the end of Matching airfield's association with the Ninth Air Force as a combat airfield.

Source of information: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, https://en.wikipedia.org

Source of images: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, https://www.flickr.com

391ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M)

BASED AT MATCHING AIRFIELD • FEBRUARY • OCTOBER 1944

                                                                                       HQ                                                 

572^ND BOMB SQ       574^TH BOMB SQ

573^RD BOMB SQ       575^TH BOMB SQ

MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER

Dedicated in the memory of the 391^st airmen

who made the supreme sacrifice combating the enemy