[2] In September 1942, the base was handed over to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).

However, plans were apparently changed when it was evident that there would be sufficient heavy bomber airfields available for the USAAF, and it was decided that Wattisham would remain an air depot and also house a fighter unit.

[4] Work ceased on the runways leaving only the E-W with a concrete surface and short stretches of the other two.

An engineering complex in temporary buildings was built around this area, chiefly in the village of Nedging Tye.

The initial inventory of the Lockheed P-38 Lightnings, many of which were hand-me-downs from other groups painted in olive drab camouflage, used geometric symbols on the tail to identify squadrons, white for camouflaged aircraft and black for unpainted (natural metal finish) Lightnings.

[6] The group patrolled the beachhead during the invasion, strafed and dive-bombed troops, bridges, locomotives, railway cars, barges, vehicles, airfields, gun emplacements, flak towers, ammunition dumps, power stations and radar sites while on escort or fighter-bomber missions as the Allies drove across France during the summer and autumn of 1944.

The unit flew area patrols to support the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July and the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September.

From February to April 1945 it continued to fly escort missions, but also provided area patrols to support the airborne attack across the Rhine in March.

[6] Among the notable pilots of the 479th were its second group commander, Col. Hubert Zemke,[9] and an ace, Major Robin Olds.

[citation needed] Legacy The United States Air Force (USAF) 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California, (1952–1971) was bestowed the lineage, honours and history of the World War II USAAF 479th Fighter Group.

[12] In the mid 1950s, the Black Arrows display team 111 squadron operated out of Wattisham, flying Hawker Hunters.

[5] In the late 1950s the Cold War had begun to intensify and so the RAF began to modernise Britain's air defence.

Thus, in 1960, the station was equipped with the very latest in British fighter aircraft: the English Electric Lightning.

Throughout the Cold War RAF Wattisham operated 'QRA' or Quick Reaction Alert Sheds where live armed jets were on standby at all times.

74(F) Squadron stood-up at RAF Wattisham equipped with the unique McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom.

[23] In 1990, the Options for Change defence review laid out the plan to withdraw the Phantoms from RAF service.

The Royal Air Force returned to operate Westland Sea King Search and Rescue helicopters on the site of the former QRA hangars.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency