A museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of American airmen who served in World War Two is seeking funds for critical repairs to its historic building. The 306th Bombardment Group Museum in Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, housed in a former ammunition storage facility dating back to the 1940s, needs £2,500 for essential maintenance work.
The museum, which opened in 2002, commemorates the crucial role of US servicemen who operated from the site between 1942 and 1945. During its peak, the airbase hosted approximately 3,000 personnel who made a significant impact on the local community.
“We’re fighting against the elements,” says volunteer Sam Stants. “The building needs new front doors, fascias, and guttering repairs, plus an overhaul of the heating system.” The fundraising campaign has already reached £1,100, which Stants describes as “phenomenal.”
The 306th Bombardment Group holds a distinguished place in military history, leading the first USAAF daylight bomb raid over Germany and completing 341 combat missions – the second-highest number in the Eighth Air Force. The unit arrived from Utah in September 1942, transforming this corner of Bedfordshire into a crucial wartime base.
The museum, currently closed until May, regularly welcomes families of veterans from the United States who come to retrace their relatives’ footsteps. It houses personal artifacts and belongings that tell the human stories behind the military statistics, including the tragic loss of nine crew members in a fatal crash near Bletsoe in April 1944.
Now based at Bedford Autodrome, the former Royal Aircraft Establishment site, the museum stands as a testament to the enduring bonds between Britain and America forged during World War Two.
