When Hollywood Came to East Anglia: Film Stars and Their WWII Stories

Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart was the first Operations Officer of Old Buckenham in nearby Norfolk when it started life with its first and most important residents; the USAAF 453rd Bombardment Group.

He also flew out of Tibenham before serving as a staff officer at Ketteringham Hall.

Stewart was one of the few base commanders in The Mighty Eigth who led his men into combat, stating that he wouldn’t ask the servicemen to do anything he wasn’t prepared to do himself. And bear in mind the Americans flew daring daytime missions.

The first film he made on his return to America was ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, featuring a decorated American flyer wearing the uniform of the Mighty Eighth!

The Greene King Brewery was kept in business during the war thanks to Jimmy who ordered trucks of Greene King’s lager every week for the thirsty air crews of the 453rd.

In 2026, a new film called 'Jimmy' tells the untold true story of America’s most-beloved actor and the iconic role that saved him, focuses on the most transformative season in Jimmy Stewart’s life—from winning the Academy Award® for Best Actor in The Philadelphia Story to enlisting and becoming a combat pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the beginning of World War II. He flew twenty missions over Europe, rising to the rank of colonel by the end of the war, only to return home broken and disheartened. Then George Bailey and It’s a Wonderful Life came calling.

In total, 350,000 US servicemen transitioned through East Anglia during the war’s longest battle – 26,000 of them losing their lives.

You can visit Old Buckenham Airfield Museum.

In Bury St Edmunds, The Mighty Eighth flew from Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum open from Easter to October every Sunday and on special days.

During the Second World War, Hollywood actor Clark Gable enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) as a private on 12 August 1942 in Los Angeles. He subsequently attended Officers’ Candidate School in Miami Beach, Florida, graduating as a second lieutenant on 28 October 1942.

He also made several notable visits to airfields across Suffolk including visiting RAF Bury St Edmunds (Station 468, now Rougham Airfield) in Suffolk on September 3, 1943.

Gable was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group, based at Polebrook in Northamptonshire. Although neither ordered nor expected to take part in combat, he volunteered to fly operational missions over occupied Europe in B-17 Flying Fortresses. His aim was to obtain authentic combat footage for a wartime documentary film, Combat America.

Away from his filming duties, Gable is also said to have given up much of his leave to write letters of consolation to the wives of airmen who had failed to return from their missions – a poignant reflection of the compassion he showed towards his fellow servicemen.

American actor and film star Walter Matthau (1920–2000), best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, served during the Second World War as a radioman-gunner aboard B-24 Liberator bombers.

He was part of the US Eighth Army Air Force’s 453rd Bombardment Group, based at Old Buckenham in Norfolk, where he attained the rank of sergeant.

The 487th Bomb Group flew 185 missions and over 6,000 sorties from Lavenham Airfield near Bury St Edmunds during WWII.

The unit's first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Beirne Lay Jr., a prominent Hollywood screenwriter until he was shot down on 11 May 1944 in one of the group's earliest actions.

He was shot down over enemy territory but evaded capture and was returned to duty.

After the war, he wrote the screenplay for the 1949 film, Twelve O'Clock High, a Hollywood blockbuster starring Hollywood legend Gregory Peck.

During World War II, many British and American servicemen stationed at RAF Lavenham; would call The Swan their local pub.

Over 1,000 signatures adorn the walls of the Airmen’s Bar, lovingly preserved by The Swan at Lavenham Hotel & Spa, and there is an extensive collection of military memorabilia including military cap badges and shoulder titles, making it an inspiring setting to relax over a drink or two, or enjoy a light meal.

The writing on the wall includes the names of the servicemen who took up the challenge of downing a 3.5 pint boot of ale and how long it took them; the record seems to be an amazing 40 seconds held by WH Culling! The Swan were most grateful that the signatures on the wall were recorded for posterity, during ‘The Eighth in the East’ ‘Signatures Project’ in 2015, which is still available to view online.