Stories of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall

Investigating 70 years of airbase and community

ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: BOMBER COMMAND (CH 12677) A Stirling of No 149 Squadron at Lakenheath being loaded with 1,500lb sea mines, March 1944. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205218790

RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force base in Europe. Originally built by the RAF as part of Britain’s defences during the Second World War, it has hosted the USAF since 1948. RAF Mildenhall was first established in 1930, and has been home to the USAF since 1950, and has been ‘The Gateway to the United Kingdom’ for most US military personnel and their dependents arriving or leaving the UK since 1958.

This community project will investigate how these airbases and their surrounding communities have co-existed alongside each other for the last 70 years.

We are looking for people to uncover these stories and work with us to share them. The ‘sharing’ could be a booklet, a display, or a digital resource, but we would also like to encourage sharing stories through artwork, drama, storytelling and music.

Take part

You could join in as a researcher, or to help share the stories that are uncovered. You will get to meet new people, learn more about your local area, be part of preserving and sharing your history, and have fun!

Work has begun on the project but we are still recruiting for:

• Volunteer Project Co-ordinator
• Volunteer Researchers

If you would like to get involved, please use the links above to see details of these opportunities and to register your interest.

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Sharing Suffolk Stories

Stories of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall is a Sharing Suffolk Stories project, part of a countywide programme of activities to run alongside the development of ‘The Hold’, which will engage more people than ever before in Suffolk’s archival heritage.