NHER 15169 (Monument record) - Thorpe Abbotts Airfield, World War Two airfield and battle headquarters

Thorpe Abbots airfield.
World War Two airfield. Headquarters of United States Army Sir Force 100th Bomb Group.
Control tower under restoration 1978.
See newspaper cuttings in file (S1) and (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 30 August 1979.

Constructed 1942 intended as satellite to Horham but completed as full station. Returned by United States Army Air Force to RAF in 1946 but never used by RAF. Sold off 1956.
See (S3).
E. Rose (NAU), 3 August 1983.

Control tower and adjacent buildings now restored as museum. In wood known as The Grove, at TM 1901 8130 directly in line with control tower is a semi underground bunker consisting of two brick rooms, one inside the other, approached by stairs from north; to south is access to a room at higher level with ladder to roof. Sheets of blue plastic beneath concrete roof suggest it may have been remade.
E. Rose (NLA), 26 July 1995.

However, this blue plastic has been noted on other World War Two sites. [1] notes this as a rare Battle Headquarters, built high so as to avoid water table; retains original fittings.
His survey no. R4-5.
E. Rose (NLA), 10 April 1997.

August 2006. Listed Grade II.
See (S4) for further information.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 12 November 2009.

August 2008.
Proposed replacement of windows and frames of the second floor 'glasshouse' of the control tower.
See (S5) for further details
H. White (NLA), 7 January 2009.

For further information on the operational history of the airfield and photographs of remaining buildings, see (S6).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 January 2010.

A Pickett Hamilton Fort is located to the north-west of the control tower at TM 1871 8135.
Information from [2].
A. Cattermole (HES)