The Upottery Airfield Nissen Hut Heritage Centre

Upottery was the last of three wartime airfields to be built on the Blackdown Hills. On 25th & 26th April 1944, the USAAF 439th Troop Carrier Group arrived by air and road from Balderton airfield, Nottinghamshire bringing four Troop Carrier Squadrons each, with around twenty Douglas C-47 transport planes in preparation for the invasion of Normandy on D-Day
Shortly afterwards over 1300 American paratroops from the 1st & 2nd Battalions of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, moved down from Aldbourne, Wiltshire together with over 1000 American glider troops of the 325th and 401st Glider Infantry Regiments, 82nd Airborne Division .

The exhibition in the Heritage Centre features a unique collection of photographs, of Aircraft and Personnel preparing for the invasion. Many are on loan from the family of the late Col Charles H Young, who was the wartime USAAF Commander of the 439th TCG.

The photographs show the training the pilots undertook , the briefings, and also show the troops literally minutes before they flew to Normandy!
They provide a rare insight into what took place prior to D-Day and the missions that took place after the invasion.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: South West Airfields Heritage Trust
• Photos: South West Airfields Heritage Trust