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

William L Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14004054
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Edgar H Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-662431
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Jack E Caldwell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron Headquarters Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-020743
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Acle B Caywood

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35265263
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Calvin C Chalker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

Second Lieutenant A.K. Jorgensen, First Lieutenant Richard Ulvestad and Second Lieutenant Gordon Hatt talk with a fellow airman of the 387th Bomb Group in front of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 14 Oct 1943.'[stamp] and '288177.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"MARAUDER" GETS HOME WITH ONE ENGINE AFLAME. "Double Trouble" is the name of a B-26 at a US Marauder station. On a recent raid over France it lived up to its name with a v

41-31675

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Dudissary
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron

41-31678

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron

41-31679

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Itsy Bitsy
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron

41-31684

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron

41-31687

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: 9 Nina with the Ruby Ts
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group

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)

B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group line up for take off at Chipping Ongar. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Chipping Ongar, 387.'

Object number: FRE 8166 - B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group line up for...

B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group line up for take off at Chipping Ongar.

Object number: FRE 8167 - B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group line up for...

Aerial photograph of the south end of Chipping Ongar airfield, looking east, under construction by the 831st Engineering Battalion (Aviation), 25 October 1942. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/AC127. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Object number: RAF_AC127_V_0033 - Aerial photograph of the south end of Chipping...

Aerial photograph of the north end of Chipping Ongar airfield, looking south east, under construction by the 831st Engineering Battalion (Aviation), 25 October 1942. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/AC127. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Object number: RAF_AC127_V_0035 - Aerial photograph of the north end of Chipping...

Object number: UPL 25709 - Flying Ginny in France.

Object number: UPL 25710 - 1/Lt Henry C Patrick III, Pilot, at controls of...

Object number: UPL 25712 - First Lieutenant John J. Sauser, Marauder Man...

Object number: UPL 25713 - Crew of Flying Ginny taken at Chipping Ongar, from...

Object number: UPL 44840 - Lt. Neil G. Bartholme (second from the left) with...

Object number: UPL 44841 - Lt. Neil G. Bartholme