Polebrook Memorial - Polebrook, Northamptonshire, UK - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

There is a large concrete parking area accessible when the gate is open. The whole area is lined with poplar trees and the distant farm can be seen beyond the old airstrip. This memorial has a large pyramid style monument together with two benches and a visitor's book in its own cabinet, so please sign your name when you visit and mention waymarking of course.

The memorial is for the 351st bombardment group and reads as follows:

IN MEMORY OF THE 351ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY)
EIGHTH UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE
311 GROUP COMBAT BOMBING MISSIONS
WERE FLOWN FROM THIS AIRFIELD OVER
OCCUPIED EUROPE BETWEEN 1943-1945
175 B-17 FLYING FORTRESSES AND THEIR
CREWS WERE LOST, 303 ENEMY AIRCRAFT
WERE DESTROYED IN AERIAL COMBAT

Underneath this text are the different insignia to the groups involved.

On the rear of the memorial is a large letter J and dedication details as follows:

THE 351ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H.) REUNION ASSOCIATION
GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENEROUS DONATION OF
THE LAND FOR THIS MEMORIAL BY THE LANE FAMILY
OF ASHTON WOLD HOUSE, ASHTON

There are various plaques including two impressive marble seats with memorial details on as well. One plaque states:

U.S.A.A.F. STATION HO. POLEBROOK
THIS MONUMENT AND PLAQUE
STAND ON A SECTION OF THE
ORIGINAL MAIN RUNWAY WHICH
EXTENDED 260degrees WEST FROM THIS POINT

This is one of the best memorials we have seen. Nearby is Ashton Wold itself where the old American base buildings can still be seen on the farm in the estate. There are public footpaths running through the woodland and you can view the old airbase structure from Google Earth. Dame Miriam Rothschild, a fascinating and important lady, used to live at Ashton Wold and there is a wooded area called 'Miriam's Cover' nearby in dedication to this great naturalist and her research.

Date of Dedication: 06/18/1981 Property Permission: Public Access instructions: If the gate is shut please park in the entrance and walk the short distance Access times: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: Polebrook Airfield Polebrook, Northamptonshire United Kingdom PE8 5LN Commemoration: THE 351ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP

Visit Instructions:
Include a photo containing, at minimum, the monument and your GPSr. We'd prefer a photo containing YOU at the monument, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
Also include a bit about your visit here.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   05/17/2011 Norfolk12 visited it