315th Troop Carrier Group War Memorial at Spanhoe Airfield

The memorial comprises a c2.5 m high limestone obelisk of traditional design, the obelisk itself being set on the out-sailing cornice of a square–sectioned plinth. The plinth stands on a shallow, square, base with a flagged surround.

A bronze dedication plaque set on the front face of the lower part of the obelisk records a brief history of the airfield’s wartime use:

SPANHOE AIRFIELD/ 1944 – 1945/ THE SQUADRONS OF 315TH TROOP CARRIER/ GROUP U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES/ FLEW FROM THIS SITE/ ON AIRBORNE MISSIONS TO/ NORMANDY, ARNHEM AND THE RHINE/ FOR THE LIBERATION OF WESTERN EUROPE/ AND THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM/ ERECTED BY THE W.W.II 315TH/ TROOP CARRIER ASSOCIATION/ 1983

Below this, on the front face of the plinth, a second bronze plaque bears the names of those flying out of Spanhoe Airfield who died in service: THOSE WHO GAVE ALL/ (54 NAMES)/ REST IN PEACE

On the left face of the obelisk is a small, bronze, unit badge of the 315th Troop Carrier Group. On the right face is a small, bronze, badge of IX Troop Carrier Command.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 17 January 2017.