On the west side of the road.

A large, three-bladed propeller from a VPB 110 mounted on a large cairn-like stone dome. Below the propeller is an upright plaque with a dedication message inscribed in English in incised and infilled gilt-colored paint. Beneath the inscription is an encircled white-colored anchor, superimposed by an outline of a U.S. Liberator aircraft.

The airfield was opened in 1943, during the Second World War, as RAF Dunkeswell. The station was originally planned as an RAF Fighter Command, then an RAF Coastal Command airfield, but was transferred for use by American units.

It was first used by the American United States Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 479th Antisubmarine Group, as a base of operations to fly antisubmarine missions over the Bay of Biscay using specialized B-24 Liberator bombers from August until November 1943.

In November the United States Army Air Forces turned over the antisubmarine mission to the United States Navy and its Liberators were reassigned to Navy Patrol Bomber Squadron VPB-103, Fleet Air Wing 7, which continued aerial antisubmarine operations from the station, the AAF aircraft being redesignated under the USN/USMC system of the time as PB4Y-1 Liberators. This was the first United States Navy unit to train with the RAF, later followed by VB-105 and VB-110. The Naval antisubmarine squadrons moved to RAF Upottery in November 1944.

With the departure of the Americans, the RAF used the airfield from August 1945 to April 1946 for ferrying aircraft to the Middle East by 16 Ferry Unit, RAF Transport Command. After September 1946 the station was put on care and maintenance status until the end of 1948 when it was sold by the Ministry of Defence.

Today, the site is a private airfield with many planes permanently based there and is often visited by historic aircraft as it has become a refueling airfield. There is also a museum on site.

The squadrons that were stationed were:

• 4th Anti-Submarine Squadron. 479th Anti-Submarine Group. August to September 1943
• 6th Anti-Submarine Squadron. 479th Anti-Submarine Group. August to September 1943
• 19th Anti Submarine Squadron. 479th Anti-Submarine Group. August to September 1943
• 22nd Anti-Submarine Squadron. 479th Anti-Submarine Group. August to September 1943
• VB-103. Fleet Air Wing 7. United States Navy. September 1943 to July 1943
• VB-105. Fleet Air Wing 7. United States Navy. September 1943 to July 1943
• VB-110. Fleet Air Wing 7. United States Navy. September 1943 to July 1943
• 16 Ferry Unit. RAF Transport Command. Aug 1945 to April 1946

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

Source of photos: www.geocaching.com, www.geograph.org.uk

THIS STONE WAS LAID TO PRESERVE

THE MEMORY OF THE US NAVY & U.S.A.A.F.

PERSONNEL WHO WERE BASED AT

DUNKESWELL DURING W.W.II

MANY RETURNED HOME, SOME STAYED FOREVER

NONE WILL BE FORGOTTEN

WORDS BY

JEFF GLASSER