Chipping Ongar

Airfield
The control tower of the 387th Bomb Group at Willingale Airfield. media-380243.jpg FRE 1306 The control tower of the 387th Bomb Group at Willingale Airfield. Roger Freeman Collection

AAM Photo

Object Number - FRE 1306 - The control tower of the 387th Bomb Group at Willingale Airfield.

The air base was constructed by the 831st Engineer Battalion (Aviation) in late August 1942. The 387th Bomb Group were the only American group to be based there, flying B-26 Marauders in strategic missions over France, first for the Eighth and then for the Ninth Air Force after October 1943. The Group supported the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 and left Chipping Ongar in preparation for the move to France the following month.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Clyde N Morton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17044975
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Mechanic

Howard Leroy Nelson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37233648
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armorer Gunner

Williams S Ogilvie

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-670595
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Hansford G Olney

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-725032
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier

Henry C Patrick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793829
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-96092

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron

42-96148

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Uncle Bills Flak House
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 596th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group work on the engines of a shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird". Image via Alvaro Sousa.

42-96165

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: The Big Hairy Bird
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 397th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron 599th Bomb Squadron
A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96199) of the 387th Bomb Group, flown by First Lieutenant Robert Nathan Smith and his crew, they were shot down over Chartres, 26 May 1944.

42-96199

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron

42-96309

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Shirley D
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributordrh1957nb
Changes
Sources

Crew Photo

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Chipping Ongar: Gallery (31 items)