Americans in Cambridge

Cambridge holds a unique bond with the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) of the Second World War. During the war years it became the most popular destination for off-duty American servicemen and women outside London.

More than 500,000 Americans served with the USAAF in Britain. Over 70,000 of them were based in and around Cambridge.

This book tells their stories through the buildings, aircraft, memorials, and artefacts that survive today. It tells the story of James Stewart, Clark Gable, Glenn Miller, Lee Miller—and many more American men and women who served or volunteered in the area.

We will see the aircraft they flew, walk the airfields where they were stationed, and visit the pubs, dance halls, and Cambridge landmarks where Americans spent their leave.

From the many airfield memorials to the Cambridge American Cemetery, we remember the 30,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from Britain during the Second World War.

The book includes eight historic tours designed to help visitors explore these stories. They range from preserved airfields to a walking tour of Cambridge itself, focused on the places and experiences shared by American servicemen and women.