Bottisham

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Bottisham airfield, looking east, the PSP runway runs vertically up the image, 13 April 1942. Photograph taken by No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, sortie number RAF/HLA/482. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Object Number - RAF_HLA_482_FP_1055 - Aerial photograph of Bottisham airfield, looking east, the PSP runway runs vertically up the image, 13 April 1942. Photograph taken by No. 1...

The P-47 Thunderbolts of the 361st Fighter Group damaged the surfaces of the airfield so much in the first months of flying from Bottisham that American engineers were called in to lay a new runway. In January 1944 they constructed a 1,470-yard-long runway with pierced-steel planking in just three days. Accommodation on base was always tight and many of the temporary buildings put up to house the crews were in and around the village of Bottisham. As in many other cases, when the Americans came they seemed to take over the village as well as the airfield.

Connections

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

People

Estel Carson Alcorn

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 376th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17063962 / O-679804
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Ethelbert F Amason

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-676715
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Clyde Alison Arrants

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19101427 / O-763456
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Glenn F Aschbrenner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36249785 / O-710026
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Herman R Auth

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13082371 / O-830146
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

42-103347

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron

42-103588

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron

42-106638

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Impatient Virgin?, EVOI
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron

42-106707

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Sleepytime Gal
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron

42-106741

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date27 Sep 2014 18:02:16
ContributorAAM
Sources

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

Bottisham: Gallery (60 items)

A mural painted on a wall at Bottisham airbase by 361st Fighter Group personnel, seen on the 16th of April 1972. Handwritten on slide casing: 'Bottisham, 16th April 1972.'

Object number: FRE 10828 - A mural painted on a wall at Bottisham airbase by...

A mural of the 8th Air Force insignia, painted onto a wall at Bottisham, home of the 361st Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bottisham.'

Object number: FRE 3336 - A mural of the 8th Air Force insignia, painted...

Lieutenant Urban Drew (seated on the left) and three fellow pilots of the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group sit inside the back of a crew bus at Bottisham. Handwritten caption on reverse: '375 FS Pilots, Bottisham 44, Drew.'

Object number: FRE 519 - Lieutenant Urban Drew (seated on the left) and...

Captain Eugene Cole of the 361st Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt (E2-G_, serial number 42-75560) nicknamed "Baby Margene" at Bottisham. Handwritten caption on reverse: '1st Lt. Eugene Cole, 375th FS'

Object number: FRE 522 - Captain Eugene Cole of the 361st Fighter Group in...

Lieutenants Victor E. Bocquin, Donald T. Woodward, Jimmie C. Wright, Ray S. White, Robert D. Shirmer and Cecil A. Laxton of the 361st Fighter Group use a Dodge Ambulance as a bar before 3 days leave at Bottisham. Image via JD Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Off on 3 Day pass, officers of 376 FS.'

Object number: FRE 6186 - Lieutenants Victor E. Bocquin, Donald T. Woodward...

P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group prepare for take off at Bottisham. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'P51 ready for T/O Bottisham.'

Object number: FRE 6190 - P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group prepare...

A P-51 Mustang (B7-H_, serial number 44-13704) nicknamed "Ferocious Frankie" of the 361st Fighter Group prepares for take off at Bottisham. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'B7:H_, Ferocious Frankie, T/O, Bottisham.'

Object number: FRE 6192 - A P-51 Mustang (B7-H_, serial number 44-13704)...

A P-51 Mustang (E2-D, serial number 42-106875) nicknamed "Queen Jean" of the 361st Fighter Group prepares for take off at Bottisham. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Queen Jean, -D, ready for T/O Bottisham.'

Object number: FRE 6193 - A P-51 Mustang (E2-D, serial number 42-106875)...

Captain Robert D "Bob" Schirmer of the 361st Fighter Group plays cards in the pilot's room at Bottisham. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt Bob Schirmer, Assist Ops officer, Bottisham.'

Object number: FRE 6194 - Captain Robert D "Bob" Schirmer of the 361st...

Ground personnel of the 361st Fighter Group prepare to load a bomb onto a P-51 Mustang at Bottisham. Written on slide casing: 'Bottisham.'

Object number: FRE 6196 - Ground personnel of the 361st Fighter Group...

Bottisham airfield photographed from a UC-61 of the 361st Fighter Group. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Bottisham from air.'

Object number: FRE 6197 - Bottisham airfield photographed from a UC-61 of...

B-17 Flying Fortresses fly in formation over P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group at Bottisham. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Bottisham, view of a/d from SE.'

Object number: FRE 6198 - B-17 Flying Fortresses fly in formation over P-51...