Between 1942-1945, England was transformed into the world’s largest aircraft carrier. From bases carved into the East Anglian countryside, American fliers waged war in the skies over Europe. Their strategic bombing campaign struck at the heart of Germany, but at a staggering cost to the young crews. This is an emotional and cultural history of the places known as the “Fields of Little America”, exploring how vibrant communities evolved, shaped by the proximity of death and an intoxicating lust for life. In these enclaves, against a horrifying reality, these men toasted the future in the Officers Club and jived with village girls; planted gardens, played competitive baseball, and hosted children's parties. Filled with stories heard for the first time, Hearn shows how the bases of the Eighth Air Force were transformed into homes, both in the rich material culture of the bases and in the imaginations of their occupants.

HATTIE HEARN is curator of the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford. Her University of East Anglia History PhD thesis examined the experiences of American service personnel based in Britain during WW2. She has worked as a researcher and consultant on several media projects, including the Smithsonian Channel’s Air Warriors and October Film’s upcoming Dogfight documentary, and enjoys writing and presenting videos for IWM’s popular YouTube channel, as well as appearing on the Fighting on Film and The Mighty Eighth podcasts. She regularly presents her research and has been interviewed about the European air war by Smithsonian Magazine, GQ, and Sky News.