Atcham

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Atcham airfield, looking north west, the fuel store is in the upper centre of the image, 9 September 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7GR/LOC416. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). eh-153.jpg US_7GR_LOC416_FV_7044 Aerial photograph of Atcham airfield, looking north west, the fuel store is in the upper centre of the image, 9 September 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7GR/LOC416. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - US_7GR_LOC416_FV_7044 - Aerial photograph of Atcham airfield, looking north west, the fuel store is in the upper centre of the image, 9 September 1944. Photograph taken by...

Atcham, at some remove from other American Air Force bases in Shropshire, was used by USAAF to train pilots from June 1942, several months before the American Eagle Squadrons were combined to form the 4th Fighter Group. Pilots here were mainly trained to fly P-47 Thunderbolts although a few also learnt to fly P-38 Lightnings. Atcham continued to see use as a training base until it was returned to the RAF in March 1945.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20809439 / O-688230
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
From left to right: Lieutenant George T. Hartman and Lieutenant Robert E. Belliveau of the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, read 'Yank: the Army Weekly' at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 13 August 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'At U.S. Thunderbolts Station. This series of pictures is a graphic story of the everyday activities of a Thunderbolt P 47 group which includes some of the finest fighter pilots - record holders of the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain. Keystone Picture shows: L
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31259062 / O-793680
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 82nd Fighter Squadron 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14076321 / O-792795
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 310th Ferry Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15071213 / O-661268
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
A crashed P-38 Lightning (CL-X_) of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36112790 / O-748896
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 552nd Fighter Training Squadron
A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th Fighter Training Group suffers a watery crash landing.
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: WELA KAHAO!, Flak Bait
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 351st Fighter Squadron 552nd Fighter Training Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron
Glenn E. Duncan, on the left, and John B. Rose Jr. of the 353rd Fighter Group, stand beside the group's de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth, which Duncan had just crash-landed into the field. 1943-1944.
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 351st Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 551st Fighter Training Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorCallan H
Changes
Sources

Google maps, internet research

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Atcham: Gallery (15 items)