RAF Thorpe Abbotts

Uncovering the history of 'The Bloody Hundredth'

In 1943, RAF Thorpe Abbotts became home to the United States Army Air Force’s (USAAF) 100th Bomb Group. This unit eventually gained the nickname ‘The Bloody Hundredth’ due to heavy losses they suffered in combat. Through undertaking archaeological excavations at RAF Thorpe Abbotts’ communal and accommodation sites, we have been uncovering the material culture of the USAAF from the Second World War. From these finds, we have been able to envisage, for example, what they ate and drank, what illnesses they were treated for and what products they used in their everyday lives.

Publications

Gregory, D. (2019). Vernacular memorialisation in the military: Personal acts of remembrance at RAF Thorpe Abbotts, England, Journal of Conflict Archaeology, 14(2-3), pp. 83-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/15740773.2020.1726124