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Fowlmere

Military site : airfield

  • The control tower at Fowlmere, home of the 339th Fighter Group, 1945. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Fowlmere Tower, 1945.'

    The control tower at Fowlmere, home of the 339th Fighter Group, 1945. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Fowlmere Tower, 1945.'

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  • Local residents, mostly women and children, visit Fowlmere air base where the 339th Fighter Group were stationed. Some of them clamber on P-51 Mustang (6N-C, serial number 44-72437), known as

    Local residents, mostly women and children, visit Fowlmere air base where the 339th Fighter Group were stationed. Some of them clamber on P-51 Mustang (6N-C, serial number 44-72437), known as "Pauline". 1944 -1945.

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  • Colonel John B. Henry, of the 339th Fighter Group, stands beside P-51 Mustang (6N-A, serial number 42-106676), known as

    Colonel John B. Henry, of the 339th Fighter Group, stands beside P-51 Mustang (6N-A, serial number 42-106676), known as "San Antone Rose" after Henry's home town of San Antonio, Texas. He is probably at Fowlmere air base, near Duxford, where the 339th Fighter Group were based between 5 April 1944 and 10 October 1945.

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  • Staff- Sergeant Joe C Nicholas, a crew chief of the 339th Fighter Group works on a P-51 Mustang (6N-K, serial number 44-14734) nicknamed

    Staff- Sergeant Joe C Nicholas, a crew chief of the 339th Fighter Group works on a P-51 Mustang (6N-K, serial number 44-14734) nicknamed "Baby Mine", flown by Lieutenant Stephen C Ananian. Image via Stephen C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: 'S/Sgt Joe C Nicholas c/c 414734 6N-K.'

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  • Lieutenant Stephen C Ananian a pilot of the 339th Fighter Group wearing the runway control officers' uniform of striped pyjama jacket and white baseball cap, on the runway at Fowlmere. Image via Stephen C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: 'Steve Ananian 505 FS Pilot, runway control officer.'

    Lieutenant Stephen C Ananian a pilot of the 339th Fighter Group wearing the runway control officers' uniform of striped pyjama jacket and white baseball cap, on the runway at Fowlmere. Image via Stephen C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: 'Steve Ananian 505 FS Pilot, runway control officer.'

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  • A P-51 Mustang (6N-C, serial number 44-72437) nicknamed

    A P-51 Mustang (6N-C, serial number 44-72437) nicknamed "Pauline" of the 339th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph L. Thury. Image via Stephen C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: 'Lt Col Joe Thury, 6N-C 472437.'

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  • P-51 Mustangs (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886) nicknamed

    P-51 Mustangs (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886) nicknamed "Swede" and (6N-O, serial number 44-14776) nicknamed "Arrow Head", of the 339th Fighter Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: '339 FG Mount Farm.'

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  • A pilot and ground crewman of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (5Q-O, serial number 44-15499) nicknamed

    A pilot and ground crewman of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (5Q-O, serial number 44-15499) nicknamed "Punkie II". Lt. Robert V Blizzard, [Los Angeles CA], 504th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-15499 5Q-O "Punkie II". Pictured L-R are a.c.c. Sgt. William H Courtney, [Spokane WA]; Lt. Vern Blizzard and c.c. S/Sgt. Jesse L Russell, [Conroe TX].

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  • Captain George Hrico and Lieutenant Boyd O Jackson of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt George Hrici and Lt Boyd O Jackson.'

    Captain George Hrico and Lieutenant Boyd O Jackson of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt George Hrici and Lt Boyd O Jackson.'

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  • A P-51 Mustang (6N-N, serial number 44-15001) nicknamed

    A P-51 Mustang (6N-N, serial number 44-15001) nicknamed "Silver Streak" of the 339th Fighter Group, flown by Captain Robert E Irion. Image via Stephev C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group Written on slide casing: 'Silver Streak 6N-N, Cpt Robert E Irion.'

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Just as nearby Duxford was known as the 'Duck pond' by American airmen, so Fowlmere was known as 'the Hen Puddle' because of the wet conditions that pervaded the bases during the winter of 1943-1944. The 339th Fighter Group had no choice but to persist and, flying their new P-51B Mustangs on operations from the end of April 1944, went on to record the highest claims of air and ground enemy aircraft victories in the space of one year. Fowlmere was sold to local farmers in 1957, and since 1988 part of the site has continued to operate as an airfield.

Detailed history

Not yet known

English Heritage's record description

Not yet known

Service

Units

People

  • Thomas Abadessa

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ammunition Handler | 339th Fighter Group
    Staff Sergeant Thomas Abadessa, from Jamestown NY, served as an ammunition handler with the 339th Fighter Group at Fowlmere, England.

  • John Aitken

    Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    First tour of operations in the Mediterranean flying Spitfires in the 2FS, 52FG, 15AF USAAF as a Lieutenant. Credited with two victories and one shared in 1943. For second tour, assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited with three aerial victories....

  • Michael Alba

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Born in Pasadena, California, Michael Alba grew up in Simi Valley where his family worked in the orchards. He was a 1937 teammate of future baseball star Jackie Robinson at the Pasadena City College, practicing on Catalina Island with the Cubs team....

  • Richard Aldrich

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 504FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed tour of duty Sept. 20, 1945.

  • Bernie Allen

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited 1 x victory. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

  • Lorne Allers

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 504FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited with 1 victory. Completed tour of duty 18-Jul-45. Awards: WWII Victory.

  • Johnnie Allman

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Collided in midair with P-51B 43-6439 and crashed at Grange Farm at Black Peek, Cheshire, England 12-Feb-45. 2nd Lt Allman killed in training accident (KITA), aircraft destroyed. Awards: PH.

  • Roy Amerman

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed (End) Tour of Duty (ETD). Awards: WWII Victory.

  • Robert Ammon

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed (End) 1st Tour of Duty (ETD). 2nd tour 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 504FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed (End) 2nd Tour of Duty (ETD). Credited with 5...

  • Stephen Ananian

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. 64 combat missions, credited with destroying one Me 262 jet fighter and damaging two others in aerial combat, as well as three aircraft on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. Completed (End) Tour of Duty (ETD...

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Aircraft

  • 42-106614

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Saarburg, France 10-Sep-44; Loss of coolant forced Lt Ray Reuter to abandon A/C 10 miles east of Saarburg. EVD

  • 42-106626 'Butch'

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Lt Wesley G Fish. Failed to Return (FTR) escort to Berlin on return journey ran out of fuel and crashed close to Isle of Wight. Pilot 1Lt James L Lynch KIA (KIA). 29-May-44 MACR 5208.

  • 42-106646

    P-51 Mustang

  • 42-106720

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort to Chatres, A/C P-51B 42-106720 suffered engine troubles, A/C abandoned and crashed near Châteaudun on 17-Jun-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 5945.

  • 42-106809 'Little Liquidator'

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 504FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Capt George F Baker Jr. Failed to Return (FTR) training mission, pilot radioed that propeller governer had failed and baled out over North sea. Died non...

  • 42-106937

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort mission to Bauvais whilst strafing a train hit by flak in coolant system and abandoned A/C. Pilot Lt Edwin C Ball baled out. KIA. MACR 7438.

  • 43-25050

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort mission to Ruhland 2-Mar-45; 1Lt Esteban A Terrats Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 12872

  • 44-11623 Rusty

    P-51 Mustang

  • 44-13521 Marinell

    P-51 Mustang
    P-51D Mustang Serial No. 44-13521 was built at North American Aviation's Inglewood plant, California. It was shipped to England on 6 June 1944, was taken in charge on 30 June 1944 and assigned to the 504th Fighter Squadron, part of the 339th Fighter...

  • 44-13624 'Sniffles'

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 339FS, 505FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) patrol NW Germany 23-Sep-44; Last seen chasing Fw190's Krefeld, Germany. 1Lt James B. Muller Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 9161

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Number
378
Known as
Not yet known
Construction date
Not yet known
USAAF from date
Not yet known
USAAF to date
Not yet known
Closure date
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:02:16 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

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