Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum

15/10/2026

26/09/2026

Next week will see a very special evening's presentation by Harry Raffal, Historian at the RAF Museum in London, author and expert, who will be bringing us a detailed and undoubtedly interesting perspective on the air war over the beaches of Dunkirk during the evacuation in 1940. This will be a chance to enjoy what will be a rare and special opportunity to hear a presentation from a renowned expert on the subject and author of many associated books, so keep the diary free!

18/09/2026

This fascinating photo was taken from the roof of the Control Tower at Station 369 Martlesham Heath on the afternoon of 18 September 1944. Taken primarily to record the mishap suffered by the P-47 in the foreground, having looked at the photo more closely and researched it in more detail the image tells a number of stories of survival, near misses and ultimately tragedy.
The aircraft at far left is Handley Page Halifax MZ624, MH-G of 51 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command based at RAF Snaith in Yorkshire. On the afternoon of 11 September 1944, the squadron dispatched 24 aircraft to the Nordstern Heavy Oil plant at Gelsenkirchen. Piloted by F/O L C Ainsley, MZ624 took off from Snaith at 16.01 carrying 16 x 500lb HE bombs. The aircraft was hit by flak over the target and lost an engine then on return after making landfall over the UK a second engine was lost necessitating an emergency landing at Martlesham Heath. The 51 Squadron crews described the flak over the target as intense which is borne out by statistics of 17 aircraft damaged and 2 lost out of the 24 dispatched. Amazingly none of the crew of the Halifax were injured and they returned to their home base at Snaith the following day:
F/O L C Ainsley (Pilot)
F/Sgt G D Bruce (Navigator)
F/Sgt R M Kirkman (Bomb Aimer)
F/Sgt T K Elliott (Wireless Operator)
Sgt W G Reynolds (Engineer)
Sgt P A Anderson (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sgt D E Burrows (Rear Gunner)
Their aircraft was less fortunate and MZ624 was salvaged. Close examination of the photograph shows the port undercarriage has collapsed and the canopy and turrets are covered with tarpaulins.
The next aircraft to feature is the primary reason for the photograph being taken. This is P47D-28-RE, 44-19873, OC-O ‘Little Fifi’ of the 359th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group piloted by Captain Fred W Bruner. The USAAF were meticulous in their accident investigations and luckily the reports survive today and tell us the story of each incident in great detail. In addition to filing an accident report these were often supported by photographs and I suspect this is where this particular image originates from. The date of this photograph, 18 September 1944 is significant as it was the second day of Operation Market Garden, the airborne operation to seize nine bridges leading to and including Arnhem. The P-47 groups of the US 8th Air Force were engaged in flak suppression duties to protect the vulnerable glider tugs and transport aircraft; suffering heavy losses as a result. Captain Fred Bruner provides the following explanation for his mishap:
“At 1505 hours 18 September I was taxiing my plane, OC-O, to the squadron dispersal after landing from a combat mission. I had been ‘essing’ constantly but failed to see an Oxford on the taxi strip. When I saw the plane I applied the brakes. Apparently I applied them too hard as the plane nosed up but the Oxford was not hit. I had been on a mission that called for shooting up flak positions. My flight had bombed and strafed 16 heavy gun emplacements which were shooting at us. My plane sustained battle damage necessitating a wing change and other repairs. An oil leak obscured my vision through the windshield. After being shot up, I returned to base alone. At the time of the accident I was undoubtedly jittery from my experience but the accident was caused by my own carelessness.”
Although the incident was recorded as 100% pilot error I think we can judge Captain Bruner more kindly with the benefit of hindsight. In addition to the repairs required due to the battle damage sustained, Captain Bruner’s P-47 also required an engine and propeller change but returned to service with the 356th.
Of additional interest is the vehicle in front of the P-47 which is an M2 tractor was known as the "Cletrac" for its manufacturer, the Cleveland Tractor Company. The M2 was often seen on USAAF airfields during WWII for moving aircraft and heavy trailers, especially useful if they were bogged down in mud (which is very much in evidence here).
In the background immediately to the right of Captain Bruner’s P-47 can be seen Short Stirling IV 5G-H LK130 of 229 Squadron, 38 Group based at RAF Keevil in Wiltshire. This aircraft was one of 22 that left Keevil on the morning of the 18th September towing Horsa gliders to the Landing Zones (LZ’s) near Arnhem. While still over the UK, the Horsa became uncontrollable due to the slipstream from its tug and was cast off, landing safely at Martlesham. This Horsa is the one nearest to the Stirling, side on to the camera. The Stirling landed at Martlesham, re-attached the glider and took off again, forming up with a formation of Dakotas, and successfully released its glider over Holland. The Stirling was hit by flak in the fuselage and both starboard engines but landed safely at Keevil later on that afternoon. The crew were:
F/L B H Berridge DFC DFM
F/Sgt F H Carey
W/O L E Pocock
Sgt J R Sterling
Sgt S C Steele
The final aircraft is another Horsa glider which had taken off from RAF Keevil at 1200 midday attached to Short Stirling IV, LJ843 of 196 Squadron. The glider, carrying elements of the 1st Airborne Division became unstable and was released by its tug over Suffolk, landing safely at Martlesham. The Stirling returned to Keevil, landing at 1345. The crew of the Stirling were:
F/Sgt C R Green
F/Sgt R G Phillips
F Sgt L Marsh
F Sgt R Cowan
F Sgt D J Allaway
F Sgt D H Grant
Tragically, three days later on 21st September 1944 this aircraft and crew would be shot down by flak over Arnhem, crashing at Wageningen. All on board were killed along with two RASC personnel and are buried in the Cemetery at Oosterbeek.
Sadly, we’ll never know who took the original photo but I bet he never realised just how much history he had captured in a click of the shutter……..

15/09/2026

Battle Of Britain Day……

13/09/2026

Interesting story involving a Martlesham Heath based Blenheim during the Battle Of Britain….

Blenheim kill over Essex.

25 SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE REPORT
One Blenheim of 25 Squadron (P/O Herrick DFC) took off on 14.9.40 at 00.25 hours from Martlesham Heath and flew on patrol line of north London at 10,000 feet. At 01.45 hours when Blenheim descended to 6,000 feet, a lone enemy plane at about 18,000 feet was illuminated by about ten searchlights well to the north of North Weald. The Blenheim took about 20 minutes to climb, during which time the bomber, steering at 245 degrees, was roughly over North Weald. About 3 or 4 searchlights continued the whole time to hold the e/a. Once or twice they caught the Blenheim in their beams but immediately flicked off. There was no AA fire throughout the patrol. The enemy bomber was obviously unaware of the Blenheim’s approach as it continued to steer a straight course towards the south at about 180 miles per hour and did not attempt any evasive tactics. The Blenheim did an astern attack from below, opening fire at about 200 yards and closing to 50 yards while emptying all front guns’ am******on in
a 16 seconds burst. The pilot first hit the e/a’s starboard engine and continued his burst along the main plane, pumping the last of his am******on into the port engine. Just as the attack finished, the bomb
doors of the e/a opened and two 500 lb bombs were jettisoned. The a/c was distinctly recognised as an He 111. The pilot and crew of the Blenheim could see that it had been lamp-blacked and they could also distinguish the white of the crosses. The Blenheim continued to follow the e/a, which was smoking from both engines, the pilot’s object being to allow his rear gunner to fire. At this moment the e/a released what is believed to have been two hand gr***des which showed up like balls of red fire the
size of footballs. One of the gr***des* exploded right in front of the windscreen while the other one burst just underneath the Blenheim to the right of its nose, probably damaging the starboard flap. P/O Herrick also saw tracer from the e/a’s rear underneath gunner and the Blenheim was hit on windscreen and in the wings. The bullet-proof windscreen was completely shattered by bullets and possibly also by the gr***de splinters. The wings were pierced by about 30 bullets, and both flaps were damaged.
As soon as the e/a started firing the Blenheim broke away.
By this time the Heinkel had lost height to about 12,000 feet. The Blenheim continued to circle at a distance while the e/a did big spiral turns. Fire was seen to break out as the a/c approached the ground.
On impact with the ground the bomber blew up. The Blenheim crew did not see any parachutists bale out. The sky was cloudless in the region, but clouds could be seen approaching from the coast. Even though his windscreen was smashed and his starboard flap had jammed, P/O Herrick made a satisfactory landing at Martlesham Heath at 02.30 hours.
Before spotting the e/a in the searchlights, the Blenheim used AI but found that it was useless because it cut out R/T and inter-communication. The pilot therefore shouted down the inter-communication for a long time until the AI was eventually turned off. Sometime afterwards the e/a was sighted in the searchlights.

Enemy casualties: 1 He 111 destroyed by P/O M J Herrick D.F.C.
Crew: Air gunner - P/O Brown. A.I. Operator - A C H Files. **
Our casualties: Pilots, nil. Aircraft - repairable at unit.
* This is believed to be one of the only accounts of the use of parachute gr***des deployed by an He111.

3/KG4 He111H-4 Wn.3294 5J+BL
Started from Soesterberg, Holland. The aircraft was held by searchlights for twenty minutes and was shot down by a Blenheim at 19,000 feet. The bomb load was jettisoned on being attacked, fifty miles before they reached the target. Crashed and exploded at Down Hall, Newman’s End, Sheering, Essex.
Ff: Oblt Hermann Kell and Bo: Fw Walter Hohe baled out PoWs,
Bf: Ogefr Werner Müller-Wernscheid and Bm: Uffz Hermann Töpfer both killed

25/07/2026

Martlesham Heath Aviation Society and Control Tower museum presents the 2026 Showcase event.

Join us on the 13th September for an unforgettable event full of fun for the whole family.

Free to attend and parking available. 11:00am till 4:30pm. Find us at the Control Tower museum off Eagle way, Martlesham. IP5 3UZ.

07/06/2026

It is with great sadness that we share this post to mark the passing of Lt Col Edward M Nebinger, the last known surviving veteran of the 356th Fighter Group. Ed’s grandson Eamonn contacted me last week to share the sad news that Ed (or ‘Fighter Pilot Ed’ as he insisted on being called by Eamonn) had passed on Memorial Day, 25 May 2026 at the amazing age of 102 and kindly shared the photos which accompany this post.

Edward Montgomery Nebinger was born on 5 January 1924, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Helen and Frank M. Nebinger. After graduating from high school, Ed joined the USAAF and on 5 December 1943 at Craig Field, Alabama earned his pilot’s wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at just nineteen years old—an extraordinary achievement.

Ed shipped out to the UK in May 1944 and after a couple of weeks familiarisation at Atcham in Shropshire he along with 12 other pilots were assigned to the 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath. Ed was assigned to the 360th Fighter Squadron and his first combat mission took place on D Day, 6 June 1944, supporting the Allied invasion of Normandy. Ed would fly a total of 75 missions with the 360FS, the majority of them in his assigned P-47D-21-RE Thunderbolt – PI-A ‘Miss Ginny’ named for Virginia Power, a friend of Ed’s back home. He had met her in Montgomery, AL when he was an aviation cadet at Maxwell AFB. Ed also briefly flew the P-51 Mustang (again coded PI-A) on a handful of missions before completing his tour on 23 December 1944.

After a brief return to civilian life, Ed was recalled to active duty in 1948 as global tensions rose again. He was sent directly to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands, where he transitioned into the earliest generation of jet aircraft. His exceptional skill earned him a place on the 13th Air Force Acro Team, a role reserved for only the most gifted aviators. From there, he advanced to flying a range of supersonic fighters as the Air Force entered a new era of aviation. When the Korean War erupted, his squadron was the first to be deployed—an acknowledgment of their readiness and his leadership as a combat proven pilot.

Upon returning to the United States, Ed was selected to attend the prestigious USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. For eight years, he flew a wide range of supersonic fighters, pushing the boundaries of what aircraft and pilots could achieve. His work contributed to the rapid evolution of military aviation during one of its most innovative periods.

Ed retired from the Air Force in 1966 as a Command Pilot, concluding a career that spanned three major eras of flight. Over two combat tours, he flew an extraordinary 172 missions. His decorations included eleven Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and numerous campaign and theatre medals.

Ed earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland after retiring from the military and in 1973, he founded Forecast Associates—later Forecast International, Inc where he served as CEO and guiding force of the company until its sale to GovExec in 2022.

Ed seems to have been a real character and shortly after WW2 he rode a motorcycle across the United States with a close friend—an adventure that captured his lifelong spirit of independence and discovery. He continued riding well into his nineties. He was also an avid sailor, navigating the waters of Long Island Sound and later Fort Pierce, Florida, where he competed in races for many years.
Ed also authored two books, one of which ‘Lady Doreen’ being his wartime memoir is essential reading for any student of the 8th AF and for those interested in the 356FG.

Ed was a great family man and is survived by his devoted wife, Margaret “Marge” Nebinger; his daughters Holly, Bonnie and Fawn; daughters-in-law Darlene and Diane; stepson William; stepdaughter Mary and stepdaughter-in-law Janine. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.

All of us here at the Museum and MHAS send our sincere condolences to Ed’s family but hope that they take comfort from a life lived to its fullest and their happy memories of a truly remarkable man.

06/06/2026

On the 82nd anniversary of D Day we thought we'd revisit how the official records of the 356th Fighter Group had recorded the events – as mentioned before each squadron had its own historian who was responsible for submitting a monthly history for inclusion in the group records.

Of the three squadrons making up the group the 359th Fighter Squadron historian was by far the most poetic. Below is how he recorded the events of 5 June 1944 in the squadron records:

The month of June has not been a period of innocuous desuetude for the helliferocious, hard hitting 359th. Things have happened. Big things; strange things; crazy things.
A fuse was ignited on D Day eve that brought the whole squadron to its feet. The order ran “…paint every plane alternate black and white. Job must be completed by 0100”. The order was issued at 1630. Short notice for such an undertaking. Not beyond the mettle of the boys from Westover, however.
Everyone scrambled for a paint brush. Even the Chair Corps, waitresses, hip clerks, from the First Sergeant to the Supply Sergeant’s Assistant’s Assistant, graciously, daintily offered their help. An effluvium of excitement rent the line. Gallons of paint covered hundreds of square feet of P-47’s. The dispersal took on the weird appearance of a Walt Disney cartoon in which the characters get blotched together and emerge clean, fresh, new.
When the tremendous assignment was complete our thirty blow fly planes looked like barber poles on a Saturday afternoon. We groped for the mess hall. Sweat and paint tasted pretty good with coffee that night. We were clearly convinced the hour was near….the greatest hour in the history of man.

Stirring stuff we're sure you’ll agree – this chaotic rush to paint invasion stripes on all of the group aircraft would have been repeated across all three squadrons and indeed across all 15 fighter groups of the 8th Air Force.

The results of the handiwork can be seen in the photos below……….