A rectangular, granite plaque, placed on top of a concrete pedestal at a 45-degree angle, showing the 44^th Bomber Group insignia and dedication message. The plaque is inscribed in English in incised lettering. The memorial was dedicated to the 44th Bomb Group during a veterans' reunion in September 1983.

With the departure of the 319th BG, Shipdham was assigned to the 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma on 10 October 1942.

The 44th was assigned to the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-A". Its operational squadrons were:

• 66th Bombardment Squadron (WQ)
• 67th Bombardment Squadron (NB)
• 68th Bombardment Squadron (QK)
• 506th Bombardment Squadron (GJ)

The group flew Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 44th was the first USAAF group to be equipped with the Liberator and the unit had helped form other groups destined to fly the type. The Group was initially under strength, one of its four squadrons having been detached in the US. In March 1943 the 506th Squadron was assigned to the group.[6]

The 44th Bomb Group's operations consisted primarily of assaults against strategic targets in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Romania, Austria, Poland, and Sicily. Among the targets attacked were submarine installations, industrial establishments, airfields, harbors, shipyards, and other objectives, November 1942 - June 1943.

The group took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20–25 February 1944. The group flew support and interdictory missions. Struck airfields, railroads, and V-weapon sites in preparation for the Normandy invasion; supported the invasion in June 1944 by attacking strong points in the beachhead area and transportation targets behind the front lines. The group aided the Caen offensive and the Saint-Lô breakthrough in July. Dropped food, ammunition, and other supplies to troops engaged in the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September. The group also helped to check the enemy offensive during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945, by striking bridges, tunnels, choke points, rail and road junctions, and communications in the battle area. The group attacked airfields and transportation in support of the advance into Germany and flew a resupply mission during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

The 44th Bomb Group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945. During the course of hostilities, the 44th flew a total of 343 missions and its gunners were credited with 330 enemy fighters shot down and its own losses. The highest of any B-24 group in the Eighth was 153. The unit returned to Sioux Falls Army Airfield South Dakota in June 1945.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, en.wikipedia.org

Source of photo: www.americanlibrary.uk

8TH AIR FORCE

B-24 LIBERATORS

FIRST MISSION 7 NOV 1942

LAST MISSION 25 APRIL 1945

SHIPHAM AAF STATION 115

FLYING EIGHTBALL GROUP

'AGGRESSOR BEWARE'

344 COMBAT MISSIONS, 153 AIRCRAFT LOST IN ACTION

330 ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED

AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR

KEIL GERMANY 14 MAY 1943, PLOESTI RUMANIA 1 AUG 1943

READY THEN - READY NOW - READY TOMORROW,

DEDICATED BY THE 44TH HERITAGE MEMORIAL GROUP

24 SEPTEMBER 1988