On the west side of the churchyard in front of the belfry.

A two-tone grey polished granite slab in a granite base, set on a concrete foundation. The monument is inscribed in English in white and incised lettering, listing the units that were based at Watton - Griston. Printed image on the top left corner of the monument is the 8^th Air Force insignia.

Opened in 1937, RAF Watton was used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the Second World War. During the war, it was used primarily as a bomber airfield, being the home of RAF Bomber Command squadrons until being used by the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force as a major overhaul depot for Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and as a weather reconnaissance base.

In 1943 Watton was turned over to the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force for use as an air depot. The airfield was originally grass surfaced but, during the American tenure, the airfield had a 2,000 yd (1,829 m) long concrete runway constructed. A concrete perimeter track was built and a total of fifty-three hardstandings, of which forty-one were a spectacle and twelve of the frying-pan type.

The four original C-type hangars, arranged in the usual crescent on the northern side of the airfield, were backed by the permanent buildings of the pre-war RAF camp. Additional hangars were added and three blister hangars at dispersals. The construction of the airfield necessitated the closure of two public roads.

Watton was given USAAF designation Station 376.

Under the American tenancy, Watton was expanded to become the 3rd Strategic Air Depot, which was the major overhaul and repair of the Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 2nd Air Division. The air depot complex was adjacent to Watton airfield and built in the village of Griston to the south, bordering the B1077 road. However, the depot was known officially as Neaton, given USAAF designation Station 505, a village located to the north of Watton town.

The 3rd Strategic Air Depot remained operational until the American departure in July 1945.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org

Source of photos: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

3d STRATEGIC AIR DEPOT

WORLD WAR II

UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE

A TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN AIRMEN

WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY

AND ITS ALLIES FROM THIS BASE

BY MAINTAINING THE B-24 LIBERATOR

BOMBERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE

1943 - WATTON -GRISTON - 1945