389th Bomb Group Memorial Exhibition

About the museum

The exhibition commemorates the 389th Bomb Group of the Second Air Division, US Eighth Air Force, which flew B-24 Liberator bombers from Hethel in Norfolk during the Second World War. It occupies the former gymnasium and chapel of the wartime camp, the main building of the airmen’s living area to survive. The chapel contains a crucifix mural painted in 1943 by the chaplain’s assistant, Sgt. Bud Doyle.

In 1997 a farming couple bought the land next to the former airfield, now home to Lotus Cars, and found the derelict building. A local man who had known a B-24 crew as a boy gathered volunteers to make it watertight and save the murals. When Lotus Cars offered a collection of 389th uniforms, flying clothing and photographs, the chapel became a public museum, opened in 2001 and run by a charitable trust with support from the 389th veterans’ association.

Two Nissen huts built by volunteers were added in 2014 and 2017. They hold more displays, the gift shop and the tearoom. The museum is on a working farm and is open on a small number of days each year.

Highlights

• Restored wartime chapel with the 1943 crucifix mural
• Uniforms, flying clothing, medals and photographs of the 389th Bomb Group
• Aircraft parts found on and around the airfield
• Display on the RAF at Hethel
• Nissen huts with gift shop and tearoom

Permanent exhibitions

• Chapel – The wartime chapel with its 1943 crucifix mural, the original organ, an honour roll book and the group’s guidon.
• Engine Room – The former gymnasium, now showing aircraft parts found locally, a piece of a V-1 rocket and two bomb wagons outside.
• Nissen huts – Two huts with displays on the airmen of the 389th Bomb Group, one of them named after Medal of Honor recipient 2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes.

Founded

2001

Operated by

389th Memorial Exhibition (registered charity 1089013)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the exhibits is free and donations are welcome. A gala open day is held in June, when parking costs £5 per car (2026).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that it is wheelchair accessible, with disabled toilet facilities on site. The buildings stand on a working farm: dogs must be kept on leads and away from the poultry sheds.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From the A11 Wymondham bypass take the exit signposted Mulbarton and Lotus Cars, follow the Lotus Cars signs and turn into Potash Lane. Continue past the Lotus Cars entrance and after about 200 yards turn right through the gated entrance into the woods, follow the old airfield road to its end and turn right. The exhibition is opposite Lotus Cars. what3words for the entrance: hogs.crackling.solution.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Light refreshments (hot and cold drinks, snacks, home-made cakes) are served at the Fu-Bar Tearoom during opening times. The gift shop is in the Nissen huts, which also have seating and a small collection of books and documents to read.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit