Ashford

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Ashford airfield. Photograph taken by the 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 11 May 1944, sortie number US/34GR/LOC14. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

Object Number - US_34GR_LOC14_VH_1001 - Aerial photograph of Ashford airfield. Photograph taken by the 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance...

Built as an Advanced Landing Ground for the RAF in 1942-1943, Ashford was improved and made ready for the Ninth Air Force in 1944. The 406th Fighter Group operated from the airfield in 1944, before the airfield was returned to RAF use and returned to agriculture before the end of the war in Europe.

Connections

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

People

Lyon Elkin Agee

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 512th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14109332 and O-810629
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Levitt Clinton Beck

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 514th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19090948 and O-736945
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Merlin Earl Isbell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 514th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810511
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Elmer Allen Jordan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-681107
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Malcolm McLane

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 514th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11094108 / O-811942
  • Highest Rank: Flight Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

A P-47 Thunderbolt of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, taxiis past a hangar at Debden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'VF-I taxiies by hangar. KP.'

41-6256

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Blue Woofis
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 513th Fighter Squadron

42-26528

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 513th Fighter Squadron

42-29214

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 514th Fighter Squadron

42-32078

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Barbara B
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron

42-74660

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 406th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date13 Apr 2018 14:12:10
ContributorIan Wolverson
Sources

Photo of modern buildings on this site is incorrect. There were never any such structures here. The ALG was only used for 12 months

Date27 Sep 2014 18:02:16
ContributorAAM
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 9: Military Airfields of the Central South and South-east (Cambridge, 1985)

Ashford: Gallery (12 items)

Personnel of the 406th Fighter Group relax in their underwear outside the tents at Ashford. Image via John Quincy.

Object number: FRE 7388 - Personnel of the 406th Fighter Group relax in...

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 406th Fighter Group fly over Ashford. Image via John Quincy.

Object number: FRE 7389 - P-47 Thunderbolts of the 406th Fighter Group fly...

Crew buildings at Ashford, home of the 406th Fighter Group.

Object number: FRE 7391 - Crew buildings at Ashford, home of the 406th...

Crew tents of the 406th Fighter Group at Ashford. Image via John Quincy.

Object number: FRE 7417 - Crew tents of the 406th Fighter Group at Ashford...

An anti aircraft gun post at the 406th Fighter Group base at Ashford. Image via John Quincy.

Object number: FRE 7419 - An anti aircraft gun post at the 406th Fighter...

Ammunition and ordnance belonging to the 406th Fighter Group, stored beneath camouflage netting at Ashford. Image via Stan Wyglendowski.

Object number: FRE 7420 - Ammunition and ordnance belonging to the 406th...

A battle-damaged B-24H Liberator (serial number 42-94798) of the 490th Bomb Group at Ashford airfield on the 30 June 1944. Official caption on image: "ISAD - 30 June 44 - (1726) - (WPU - Battle Damage, B-24H, 42-94798 - Ashford) F.A."

Object number: FRE 8572 - A battle-damaged B-24H Liberator (serial number 42...

Object number: UPL 22752 - From William E Peto: 'I have enclosed a photo of...

Object number: UPL 6914 - Lt. Elmer A. Jordan Co-PIlot Crew #707 - Howard A...