493rd Bomb Group Museum
Privately run museum on the former Debach airfield, with the wartime control tower, barracks and vehicles of the US 493rd Bomb Group.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Debach in Suffolk was one of the last heavy bomber stations built for the US Eighth Air Force. From 1944 to 1945 it was Station 152 and the home of the 493rd Bomb Group, nicknamed "Helton's Hellcats". The airfield lies about three miles north-west of Woodbridge, with parts of the former technical site in the village of Burgh.
The museum is on the former airfield at Grove Farm, Clopton, and is privately run, receiving no government or charitable funding and relying on donation boxes. Its group of preserved wartime buildings includes the Control Tower, a barracks, the Fire Station, the Home Front building, a Nissen hut, the 480th MT Workshop and the Queen Mary Theatre, plus a Visitor's Centre.
The collections include aircraft, a large number of wartime military vehicles such as Jeeps, Dodge, Chevrolet, GMC and Ward La France trucks, an M6 bomb service truck and the Jack Rude collection. The website also records the stories of veterans, a roll of honour and a roster of the group's personnel. The museum says a tour takes at least two hours.
Highlights
- Wartime Control Tower of Station 152
- Collection of wartime military vehicles
- Barracks, Fire Station and Nissen hut
- Home Front building
- Veterans' memories and Roll of Honour
Permanent exhibitions
- Control Tower and wartime buildings – The preserved Control Tower, barracks, Fire Station, Home Front building and Nissen hut of the former Station 152.
- Wartime vehicles – Collection of military vehicles of the Second World War, including Jeeps, trucks and an M6 bomb service truck.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
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Entrance is free of charge and donations are appreciated. The museum is privately run and relies on donation boxes.
Accessibility
- Partially 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
Facilities are limited. Wheelchair access is available to the Home Front building, the Nissen building, the Fire Station, the lower floor of the Control Tower, the Visitor's Centre and one specified washroom.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
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Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The museum says there is ample parking.
The museum address is Grove Farm, Clopton, IP13 6QS. On open days, access is via Clopton commercial park (IP13 6QT) next to the B1078; on Wednesday working days use the Drabbs Lane entrance and contact the museum first.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
The Visitor's Centre serves hot and cold drinks and light refreshments and is a place to rest during the visit.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The museum says a tour takes at least two hours. Group and school visits are currently suspended; veterans and their families are welcome and should contact the museum to arrange a visit. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. |
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