The Control Tower served as the central nerve point of Ridgewell Airfield. From here, operations staff monitored weather, radio traffic, runway activity, and the progress of missions long after the aircraft had disappeared into the distance. Every take‑off and landing passed under the eyes of the controllers, who kept the airfield running with steady precision.

Ridgewell also had its moments of celebration. When a crew completed their 25th (later in the war 30th and 35th) mission — the milestone that meant they could finally return home — some pilots marked the occasion with a tradition remembered across the 381st: buzzing the tower. They would bring their B‑17 low over the airfield, engines thundering past the windows, offering the operations staff a brief, joyful flyby, wings tipped as if to say goodbye. It was a shared moment of relief and triumph after months of danger.

The Briefing Room was where officers gathered before each mission to receive target information, study routes, and hear the latest intelligence. While the pilots and navigators absorbed the details, the rest of the crew headed straight to their aircraft to begin preparations for flight. John Comer, a tail gunner in the 535th, later wrote that the gunners often learned everything they needed to know simply by listening at the door once the briefing began. “As soon as the doors were closed, the curtain covering the target map was pulled back and the reactions of the officers could be plainly heard; that told us about how rough the target was going to be… I wanted more ammo if there was any real chance we might need it.” Their work on the ground — loading ammunition, checking guns, and readying the ship — was considered more important than sitting through the full briefing.

Together, the Control Tower and Briefing Room shaped the rhythm of life at Ridgewell. These spaces witnessed planning, discipline, and the rare flashes of celebration that punctuated the long wartime routine.

“We took off today and there was a flock of birds on the runway. Well they flew away just as we came up to them. No.1 and No.2 engine each had a bird in it when we landed. They really were nicely roasted too.” Leven Ferrin in a letter to his girlfriend.

“At the present time i have 23 missions-but oh how far away the rest of them seem. It seems like the closer you get to finishing your tour the more you worry about your missions. It seems so near when I can see you. Yet if anything happens—well it could be years—or never.” Lt. Leven Ferrin in a letter to his girlfriend.

“I had such a bad cold a few days ago that I could hardly breathe—but I wouldn’t get grounded…I only have 2 little trips to go.” Lt. Leven Ferrin in a letter to his girlfriend.

532nd Farmhouse near the control tower.