New project brings Norfolk's WWII heritage to life and honours legacy of US Army Air Forces

80 years after the end of World War II (WWII), a new project comes to Norfolk in 2025 exploring the history of our local community, and the influence of the United States Army Air Forces during the war.

Silver Wings: The US Army Air Forces in WWII Norfolk has been awarded £59,320 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to preserve and collect the untold and forgotten stories of the British civilians and American servicemen and women who were thrown together in the war.

1942-1945 saw 38 US Army Air Forces (USAAF) airfields established in Norfolk, where thousands of Americans lived and worked alongside local residents. The influence of the stationed US Servicemen and women shaped the culture and heritage of Norfolk, changing the lives and families of local people forever.

Today, WWII is a war which is almost no longer part of living memory. Silver Wings asks locals to share their memories, experiences and family stories of WWII, alongside the USAAF veterans' tales of being stationed in Norfolk, and in September 2025 invites everybody to discover the heritage on their doorsteps.

Chris Gribble, Chief Executive of The Forum, says: "The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II is a nationally significant moment. The USAAF played a decisive role in ending the war, and this project marks their impact on the communities and heritage of Norfolk. We're grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players for supporting this exciting partnership project."

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, says: "2025 will be a special time to reflect on World War II and our home county of Norfolk. We welcomed the Americans in huge numbers to support the war effort and that special relationship has endured in the years since. This partnership between the American Library and The Forum Trust is another important step in remembering and recording the role of our county, our people, and our Americans in the conflict."

American Library Governor Joe Dzenowagis says: "My father, Joseph Dzenowagis, was a navigator on a B24 Liberator bomber with the 2nd Air Division of the 8th flying out of Rackheath in the toughest missions of the war.

"Dad was a big supporter of the American Library's efforts to strengthen the enduring bonds of friendship between our two peoples. He would have been very grateful to the American Library, The Forum, the National Heritage Lottery Fund and the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust for providing this once-in-a-lifetime Norfolk-wide project to preserve and celebrate our shared heritage."

Silver Wings: The US Army Air Forces in WWII Norfolk will culminate in a ten-day exhibition and series of talks at The Forum, presented from Friday 12 - Sunday 21 September 2025 as part of Norfolk Heritage Open Days. The project will be supported by a programme of community participation, including free creative writing workshops, research workshops and school outreach in spring 2025.

Silver Wings is presented by The Forum in partnership with the American Library, Memorial to the 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, United States Army Air Forces (American Library). As well as support from the Heritage Fund, Silver Wings has been supported by The Paul Bassham Charitable Trust and The Second Air Division Memorial Trust.

For anybody who wants to share stories of the US Army Air Forces in Norfolk during WWII, please contact americanlibrary@norfolk.gov.uk