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The Friendly Invasion

493rd Bomb Group Museum, Debach Airfield

Step back in time at one of Suffolk’s best-preserved WWII Airfields

The 493rd Bomb Group Museum at Debach Airfield is a hidden gem dedicated to the memory of over 5,000 US personnel stationed at the base from 1942 to 1944. With five museum buildings packed with WWII artefacts, restored vehicles, and immersive exhibits, visitors can relive history at this remarkable volunteer-run site.

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Description

Discover the History of the ‘Helton Outlaws’

Debach Airfield, home of the 493rd Bomb Group – the last Bomb Group to join the Eighth Air Force, played a vital role in the air campaign over Europe. The museum pays tribute to the men who served here, with detailed reconstructions, rare military vehicles, and authentic wartime displays spread across multiple buildings, including:

  • Control Tower: Restored to its 1944 condition, showcasing a Battle of Britain Fighter Control Room.
  • Fire Station: Featuring a bombed-out house, London Blitz images, Women’s Land Army exhibits, bomb shelters, and a B-17 Flying Fortress engine.
  • Nissen Hut: Home to a base hospital display, POW exhibits, women at war uniforms, and a large model of a B-24 Liberator.
  • Motor Pool Workshop: Displaying a rare motorised workshop truck, anti-aircraft weaponry, jeeps, and a generating set.
  • Home Front: A recreated 1940s home, including a kitchen, parlour, and shopfronts with authentic wartime goods.
  • Queen Mary Trailer: Film show screenings on wartime history.

With over 16 resident WWII military vehicles and special road run days where up to 60 vehicles take part, the museum offers a truly immersive experience.

Contact

📍 Address: Grove Farm, Clopton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6QS
📧 Email: 493bgdebach@gmail.com
📞 Phone: 07850 078 432
🌍 Website: www.493bgdebach.co.uk

Facilities

✔️ Free on-site parking
✔️ Wheelchair access (except upper floor of the Control Tower)
✔️ Disabled toilet facilities
✔️ Light refreshments available on open Sundays
✔️ Visitor Centre
✔️ Camping and caravan facilities (showers, toilets, and hard standing)
✔️ WWII military vehicle displays

Entry & Pricing

🎟️ Free Entry – Donations welcome
💰 Group and club visits: £15 per head (booking required)
💼 WWII Experience Stay: “Prilly’s Hut” – £190 for two nights, £600 for the week

Opening Times

🕘 Open Days (Last Sunday of the Month – April to September):
⏰ 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

📅 Special Events:

  • April 27 – Open Sunday
  • May 25 – Open Sunday & Road Run (Drivers briefing at 11:30 AM)
  • June 29 – Open Sunday
  • July 27 – Open Sunday & Classic Cars Event
  • August 31 – Open Sunday
  • September 28 – Open Sunday & Jeep Day Road Run (Drivers briefing at 11:30 AM)

📅 Wednesdays (By Appointment Only):
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

🚍 No public transport access – Visitors must arrive by car.

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