Who We Are
Friends of Lavenham Airfield (FOLA) is a volunteer group of local people committed to preserving the history of RAF Lavenham — Station 137 — and honouring the memory of the USAAF 487th Bombardment Group, who flew from this Suffolk field between April 1944 and July 1945.
The group was formed out of a shared conviction that the story of this airfield — and the nearly three thousand American men who served here — deserves to be told, and told well. What began as a small gathering of local history enthusiasts has grown into an active organisation that maintains the memorial on the airfield, organises guided public walks and talks, and works in close partnership with the 487th Bomb Group Association in the United States.
What We Do
FOLA’s activities span both practical preservation and public engagement. Our volunteers maintain the permanent memorial at the airfield, which was established to honour the aircrew who gave their lives. We run guided summer walks across the surviving landscape of Station 137 on the second Sunday of each month from June through September, and we host an annual commemoration service on Memorial Day each year.
We work closely with the 487th Bomb Group Association — the veterans’ organisation based in the United States — and we welcome visits from the families of those who served here. For many of these families, tracing the footsteps of a father or grandfather on this Suffolk field is a journey of decades. We consider it a privilege to be part of it.
The Memorial
At the heart of FOLA’s work is the permanent memorial at the airfield, funded through donations and walk proceeds. The memorial honours the aircrew of the 487th who did not return — the 33 aircraft and their crews lost during the Group’s 185 missions. It is the focal point of our annual Memorial Day commemoration service, which is open to the public and attended by descendants of those who served here.
Annual Memorial Day Commemoration
Each year on Memorial Day — the last Monday in May — FOLA holds a commemoration service at the airfield memorial. The service includes a wreath-laying, a period of reflection, and readings. It is an occasion that draws together local people, historians, and the families of those who served here from both sides of the Atlantic. The service is open to all who wish to attend.
Details of the next service can be found on our Events Calendar.