An emotional and cultural history of the British bases occupied by the men and women of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War

Between 1942 and 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.

Welcome to Little America is an emotional and cultural history of the places known as the ‘Fields of Little America’ that looks into how vibrant communities evolved, shaped by the proximity of death and an intoxicating lust for life. In these enclaves, against a horrifying reality, men toasted the future in the Officers’ Club and jived with village girls, planted gardens, played competitive baseball and hosted children’s parties.

In a narrative filled with colourful stories, Hattie Hearn explores how the men of the Eighth Air Force turned their bases into homes, both in the rich material culture of the bases and in the imaginations of their occupants.