A short distance to the north-east of the town itself, in Holton, lies the Second World War airfield of RAF Halesworth. The airfield was constructed in 1942–1943, and initially the 56th Fighter Group of the United States 8th Army Air Force were stationed there. In 1944, it became the base of the 489th Bomb Group flying B24 Liberators. They played a part in the build-up and conduct of the D-Day, from 6 June 1944. From July they switched to strategic offensive bombing until November, when they ceased operations to return to America.