WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

It is fascinating to visit this beach each year as coastal erosion is so fast. I decided to spend today, the last of a few days off work, in this area, in the hope of a cool coastal breeze to find some relief from the sweltering heat if nothing else. I also wanted to check the beach for any other signs of anti-invasion defences exposed due to erosion (i.e. dragons teeth, scaffolding etc) but got more than I bargained for!  The amount of beach lost in a year was quite amazing, taking with it a First War Pillbox that was several metres from the cliff top when I photographed it last May. This pillbox was incorporated into the Second War anti-invasion defences as two Turnbull mounts for light machine guns had been erected in its embrasures. There is a unique one-off designed Second War pillbox just to the south (a combined Type 22 and 23) - how much longer has this got? Another pillbox, a Second War Type 22,  is fast becoming buried in shingle. A lot more anti-boat scaffolding ...

A few days in Norfolk this last week allowed an opportunity to visit a few Second War sites, the subject of the next few posts.  Many exits from the beaches on the north Norfolk Coast were planned to be covered by anti-tank guns mounted in pillboxes. Type 28's can be found at Holme, Brancaster and Weybourne for example. This post looks at two covering one of the beach exits at Heacham. In Suffolk no anti-tank gun pillboxes were constructed as part of the beach defences although 6 pounder anti-tank guns were mounted in a static role to cover the beaches and exits.  A bridge crossing a ditch at Heacham south beach is covered by a Type 28 and Type 28a, with a spigot mortar also added. The bridge itself has anti-tank blocks to  allow a rail barrier to be put in place. The Type 28 is used today as a storage shed and has a locked door and embrasures blocked. The Type 28a is unusual   in that it has been modified so that there are separate entrances to the anti-tank ...

These pics are all from one of the accommodation sites. As they clearly show, the remains of this site will not be around for much longer! Both blog and website now over 10,000 hits so thanks to all who have looked!

Some of the buildings and runways / taxi tracks still remain at this site. Some of the buildings are still in remarkably good condition and are still used as sheds etc. Some are in an advanced state of collapse and will not be around for much longer. This post (and one to follow) has some pics of the remaining evidence. Image 1: Part of the runway Image 2: Access track to possibly an accommodation site although all the buildings have now been removed / demolished (site 10/11 on map on post 1) Image 3: Remaining Nissan Hut (Site 13 on map on post 1) Image 4: Remaining hut still in use, Harrow farm Image 5-8: Remaining huts near Harrow Farm Image 9-12: Pump station for water supply

Construction of this airfield began in Sept 1942. Located near Theberton / Saxmundham and Leiston it was known after all three places although it is best known as Leiston airfield. Initially to be for the use of RAF Fighter Command, it was allocated to the USAAF as a fighter base, for fighter escorts provided for USAAF bombing missions.  The airfield has the 'A' runway layout with a taxi track around the perimeter. The workshops, domestic quarters etc were laid out around the perimeter. In Nov 1943, 358th Group arrived with P-47Ds but these were replaced with P-51s from 357th Group during Jan1944. This Group had several marked successes - for e.g. the Group claimed 20 enemy fighters shot down for the loss of three P-51s on a mission in Jun 1944 and on Jan 14th 1945 the Group shot down 48 enemy fighters for the loss three. For both these actions the Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation. Every year a memorial service is held in memory of the USAAF pilots who operated f...