Chelveston
AirfieldIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Chelveston was adapted and expanded in preparation for the arrival of American forces. Rather than heavy bombers, the first aircraft to fly from its runways were C-47 Skytrains that were flown by the 60th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. The first combat group posted to Chelveston were the 301st Bomb Group who flew a handful of missions before moving to North Africa with the Twelfth Air Force in the aftermath of Operation Torch. The next Bomb Group to fly from the base were the 305th, another B-17 Group. The Group flew 330 missions from here and, as one of the first B-17 Groups to fly in the ETO, it was from here that some of the pioneering techniques and formations were developed.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-663939 (18062140 on enlistment)
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36198509
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12033291
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Punk
- Unit: 3rd Strategic Air Depot 305th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- user Despitz
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)