A Second World War bomb has returned to Braintree 57 years after it was dropped on a nearby American military hospital.

The fragment of a 3,000 lb German bomb was presented to Braintree Museum in Manor Street, on Tuesday.

The bomb fell on the US 121st Station Hospital, which was located at White Court, near Black Notley, on April 19, 1944.

It was the only American hospital in the UK to be bombed during the war and although 19 people were injured in the blast nobody was killed.

After the war the fragments of the bomb were taken back to America and were displayed at reunions of the US 121st staff.

Over the years the US 121st Association has kept close links with the area returning to White Court and Braintree in 1992 for the 50th anniversary of the return to Europe of the American Armed Forces.

During the visit a memorial to the US 121st was set up at the entrance to White Court in London Road.

The bomb fragment was brought to Braintree from America by Chris Pluck, historian for the association, as a present to Braintree Museum.

He said: "Hopefully the people of Braintree will be interested to learn about this little piece of history.

"The bomb has been dropped on Braintree, gone to America and has now come back to Braintree. It's interesting because the White Court hospital was the only one to be bombed by the Luftwaffe during the war."

He added: "The hospital was only made out of metal sheets over struts, but they were quite comfortable and warm inside, but didn't stand much chance against the bomb."

Robert Rose, collections manager at the museum, said: "Braintree Museum is very pleased to receive this unique piece of Second World War, local history."

Back again - historian Chris Pluck, left, presents the bomb fragment to collections manager Robert Rose.

Picture: STEPHANIE MACKRILL

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