RAF Halesworth
| RAF Halesworth RAF Holton USAAF Station 365  .png)
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| Located Near Southwold, Suffolk, United Kingdom | |
Aerial photograph mosaic of Halesworth (Holton) airfield , P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group are taxying on the perimeter and main runway, 18 April 1944. Photograph taken by 31st Photographic Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/31GR/LOC17
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 RAF Halesworth
Map showing the location of RAF Halesworth within Suffolk.
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| Coordinates | 52°21′56″N 001°31′26″E / 52.36556°N 1.52389°ECoordinates: 52°21′56″N 001°31′26″E / 52.36556°N 1.52389°E |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Code | HA |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Air Ministry |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| In use | 1942-1946 |
| Battles/wars |
European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Eighth Air Force |
| Occupants | 56th Fighter Group 489th Bombardment Group |
Royal Air Force Halesworth or more simply RAF Halesworth is a former Royal Air Force station located 7 miles (11 km) west of Southwold, Suffolk, England.
Halesworth was built in 1942–1943 and was intended for use as a bomber station, and was built as such with a 6,000 ft. main runway and two secondary runways of 4,200 ft length. There was an encircling perimeter track with 51 hardstands and two T-2 hangars. Nissen hut accommodations for about 3,000 personnel were also built south of the airfield.
USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Halesworth were:
Regular Army Station Units included:
The airfield was assigned USAAF designation Station 365 (HA).
The first unit to use Halesworth was the 56th Fighter Group which arrived from RAF Horsham St Faith on 9 July 1943. Its operational squadrons were:
Being only eight miles from the Suffolk coast, Halesworth was ideally located for escort fighter operations, where range was an important factor. For this reason the 56th Fighter Group was moved there. Flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, the group flew numerous missions over France, the Low Countries, and Germany to escort bombers that attacked industrial establishments, V-weapon sites, submarine pens, and other targets on the Continent.
In addition the 56th strafed and dive-bombed airfields, troops, and supply points; attacked the enemy communications; and flew counter-air patrols.
The 56th became one of the most outstanding fighter organisations in the Eighth Air Force, producing many of the top fighter aces including Francis Gabreski and Robert S. Johnson. The group was responsible for pioneering most of the successful fighter escort tactics with the Thunderbolt and had many successes while operating from Halesworth.
On 19 April 1944 the group had to vacate the airfield as it was needed for a new B-24 Liberator group and was transferred to RAF Boxted.
The Eighth Air Force 489th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived at RAF Halesworth from Wendover AAF Utah on 1 May 1944. The group was assgned to the 20th Combat Bombardment Wing and the group tail code was a "Circle-W". Its operational squadrons were:
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