Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Possible new buildings at Old Buckenham Airfield

Application for planning permission 
Old Buckenham Airfield has confirmed that a planning application has been made to Breckland Council for two new buildings at the former WWII USAAF base. Both buildings are to be bespoke-built to the plans of original WWII Nissen huts.
The first is intended to house a sizeable collection of memorabilia and artefacts relating to the 453rd Bombardment Group of the US 8th Air Force. Whilst this collection is the core of the museum’s exhibits, the Airfield already have other items generously donated by relatives and veterans from the US. The 453rd BG were stationed at Old Buckenham from 1943 until the end of WWII. This building would be located adjacent to the War Memorial Garden at the Airfield.
The second building would also be a Nissen hut. It is intended to provide sufficient sanitation facilities for the large shows, such as the Old Buckenham Airshow and the Military and Vintage Revival, which are held at the airfield. It would be placed to the north of the airfield’s large parking field. Both buildings will be entirely funded by the airfield ownership. It is hoped that, if permission is granted, both buildings will be erected during this summer, with the new museum building potentially opening on Remembrance Sunday  when a large contingent of veterans and relatives of the 453rd are expected to celebrate 70 years since the end of WWII.
Further details about the collection to be housed at the museum will be given later.



This image, taken during WWII, shows similar buildings to the ones proposed at the airfield.

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