Documenting The History and Sacrifices of The 2nd Air Division
As a cornerstone of the United States Eighth Air Force during World War II, the Second Air Division played a pivotal role in the Allied air campaign from its bases across East Anglia, England.
This website is dedicated to documenting the history of the 2nd Air Division and acts as a research hub and tribute, ensuring the division's extraordinary history and sacrifices are never forgotten. It serves a diverse global community, including descendants and military historians, by providing a centralized location to explore the division's fighter and bomb group histories, and to preserve the legacy of the 7,583 service members who lost their lives while serving in the division.
Comprehensive Group Histories
Each group's history provides detailed records, including:
The Roll of Honor
In addition to unit histories, the site features the revised Second Air Division Roll of Honor, which adds 755 names and commemorates the 7,583 personnel lost during World War II.
It also chronicles the American Library Roll of Honor in Norwich, England, tracing its beginning with the Memorial Trust's founding in 1945 to its rededication in 2021.
Each of the 7,583 name entries includes:
Overseas Burials and Missing in Action
The alphabetical listing of all 1,889 overseas burials, 1,262 Missing in Action and 97 MIAs recovered of the Second Air Division—part of the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force stationed in England during World War II stand as a profound, lasting tribute to the immense sacrifices made during the strategic air campaign over Europe. Flying dangerous daylight bombing missions in B-24 Liberators and escorting them in fighters, thousands of airmen lost their lives far from home. Following the war, surviving families faced the deeply personal choice of whether to repatriate their loved ones' remains to the United States or leave them resting permanently in military cemeteries abroad. For a significant portion of families, the decision was made to let these brave servicemen rest in honored peace alongside their fallen crewmates and brothers-in-arms on foreign soil.
These sacred grounds feature sweeping lawns marked by pristine white marble crosses and Stars of David, organized with absolute precision to honor each individual's ultimate sacrifice. Beyond the graves themselves, these cemeteries feature emotional "Walls of the Missing" (On Wall) to permanently commemorate the countless airmen whose bodies were never recovered from the deep waters of the North Sea or the rugged terrain of continental Europe, ensuring that their bravery is never forgotten by the nations they helped liberate.
Purpose and Significance
The site is more than just a historical ledger; it is an active tool for genealogy and academic research. It ensures that the "friendly invasion" of American flyers into the English countryside remains a documented and accessible chapter of history.
Note: The physical counterpart to this site-the Memorial Library in Norwich-was established in 1945 by the airmen themselves as a living memorial. This website is not affiliated with the library and only serves as a digital extension.