Chipping Ongar
Airfield
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
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33164439
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-737938
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32438932
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11041464
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18136266
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
Aircraft
![A flight of B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group flies over a smoking Nazi airdrome at Leeuwarden, Holland. Image stamped on reverse: 'Confidential until re-classified by censor.' [stamp], 'Reviewed and passed as censored Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '45094.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Pro-HQ-44-308 USAAF Official Photo distributed thru OWI. A Ninth Air Force Marauder station, England- Six Marauders of the Ninth Air Force are shown here winging home after pounding the Nazi airdrome at Leeuwarde](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380272.jpg.webp?itok=uUUwL8T7)
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Hangover Hut
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Duck Butt
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Hot Garters
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: General Sherman
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Cactus Jack
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
