Later Years and Today

34th Bomb Group Later Years

The 34th Bomb Group played a vital and multifaceted role in securing Allied victory in Europe during World War II. But the group’s significance extended far beyond combat. It was equally vital in shaping the transition from warfighting to humanitarian relief and reconstruction, showcasing the values the Allies fought to defend.

One of the 34th Bomb Group’s most impactful missions came the week before VE Day in May 1945 when they participated in Operation Chowhound, a large-scale humanitarian effort to airdrop food supplies to the starving population of the Netherlands. This mission demonstrated the 34th’s flexibility to pivot from destruction to compassion, helping to save thousands of Dutch civilians caught in the brutal Hunger Winter of 1944-1945.

That winter, as German forces retreated across the Netherlands, they cut off vital food supplies to major Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. Famine gripped the country and an estimated 20,000 civilians died of starvation. In response, 8th Air Force reassigned some of their aircraft to deliver food instead of bombs.

The 34th Bomb Group’s B-17 Flying Fortresses were loaded with food parcels containing flour, dried eggs, canned goods, and medical supplies. These aircraft, which had flown countless dangerous missions deep into enemy territory, now flew at low altitude over pre-arranged drop zones, releasing their precious cargo to waiting Dutch civilians. Over the course of just a few days, more than 4,000 tons of supplies were delivered, alleviating suffering and demonstrating the Allies’ commitment to humanitarian values even in the final days of the war.

Operation Chowhound highlighted the essential versatility of the 34th Bomb Group, transforming from a tool of destruction into a force for hope and survival. It also emphasized the role of the U.S. Army Air Forces not just as an instrument of war, but as a partner in rebuilding shattered nations, which was a vital step in restoring stability and goodwill across Europe.

The 34th Bomb Group’s importance did not end with the food drops. Following VE Day on 8 May1945, the group shifted to ‘Trolley Missions,’ giving ground crew and support personnel the chance to see firsthand the results of the air war they had supported from the ground. The group also flew vital transport and repatriation missions, ferrying liberated prisoners of war (POWs) and displaced persons from the continent back to the UK. They carried mail, personnel, and cargo to support the complex logistics of winding down operations across Europe.

The 34th’s ability to adapt from combat operations to humanitarian and logistical missions reflected the broader transformation of the Allied air effort. It wasn’t just about winning battles, it was about helping to repair the devastation left in the wake of war, proving that American airpower could be a tool for both victory and compassion.

In Aug 1945, as part of Operation Green, the 34th Bomb Group redeployed from RAF Mendlesham to Sioux Falls Army Air Field in South Dakota. Originally earmarked for potential service in the Pacific, the 34th was inactivated on 28 Aug 1945 following Japan’s surrender.

The legacy of the 34th Bomb Group in World War II is one of adaptability, effectiveness, and humanity. From its early missions helping to cripple Nazi industry to its vital role as a humanitarian and transport unit, the 34th exemplified the full scope of the Allied air campaign. It was not only a key player in the military victory over Nazi Germany, but also a living symbol of the compassion and values for which the Allies fought and continue to define its legacy today.

By 1954 even the RAF’s need for the site was dwindling, leading ultimately to its formal relinquishment in that year. With that final withdrawal, the site was decommissioned and allowed to return to agriculture and light-industry. Gradually the buildings and runways fell into disrepair, the latter mostly broken-up and probably taken away for hard-core use in motorway construction and the like. 

Over the intervening years the airfield has effectively returned to its pre-war agricultural state, albeit that large areas of the former airfield technical site were extensively developed into the thriving industrial complex currently in-situ. A few original buildings survive, dotted-about, and in various states of repair. Only one short stretch of almost full-width runway now remains visible from the air, but this (like most of the surviving infrastructure) is in private ownership and is thus generally inaccessible. Notably, the brick-skinned circular petrol-storage tanks still stand, having been re-purposed. Similarly, remnants of the base hospital buildings can be glimpsed from the road, now fully utilised as light-engineering works. These buildings are themselves in the shadow of what is Mendlesham’s surely most widely-known feature; the 1,000 foot high ‘Mendlesham Mast’. Erected in 1959 on the fringes of the airfield site, this local landmark has served the area well, transmitting, over different periods, TV signals, radio transmissions and microwave links. It’s ‘smaller-brother’ on the opposite side of the A140 is situated close to the WWII flat-roofed ‘Stand-by Set House’ adjacent to one of the airfield’s old domestic sites.

The Airfield Today

Only a few remnants of wartime structures, and faint outlines on aerial views, remain to show where RAF Mendlesham stood as a testament to a pivotal period in history. While the roar of aircraft engines no longer fills the skies overhead, the legacy of those who served there and the station's role in the defence of freedom remain ever-present. The 34th Bomb-Group Memorial (erected in 1949 and subsequently re-commissioned in The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Mendlesham village) together with local memories captured and preserved by willing researchers and local historians ensure that the stories of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience are not forgotten.

RAF Mendlesham's journey after 1945 is a poignant reminder of the ever-changing landscape of military needs and the enduring importance of preserving our history for future generations.