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). eh-29.jpg 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 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, sortie number RAF/HLA/482. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

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

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19130141 / O-763028
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31180559 / O-886452
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Engineering Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17035819 / O-673303
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18025782 / O-380538
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group
  • Service Numbers: 18035823, 2044539
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Flight Control Officer

Aircraft

A P-51 Mustang (PE-S, serial number 42-106763) nicknamed "Snoot's Sniper" of the 352nd Fighter Group at Mount Farm. Image By Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Snooters Snitpers PE:S at Mount Farm.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Snoopys Sniper Scarlet Kate
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Lou III
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Blue Eyes
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron
P-51 Mustangs (E2-C, serial number 44-13410) nicknamed "Lou IV (Athelene)", (E2-A, serial number 44-13568) nicknamed "Sky Bouncer", (E2-S, serial number 44-13926) and (E2-H, serial number 42-106811) nicknamed "Suzie G" of the 361st Fighter Group fly in formation above the clouds.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Suzy-G
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Peabody's Pet
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron 376th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Bottisham: Gallery (60 items)