Cottesmore

Airfield
Father Christmas disembarks from a C-47 Skytrain of the 316th Troop Carrier Group to greet a crowd of Children. Image via Dave Benfield. Written on slide casing: '316 TCG, 25/12/44.' media-395784.jpg FRE 7066 Father Christmas disembarks from a C-47 Skytrain of the 316th Troop Carrier Group to greet a crowd of children. The 316th Troop Carrier Group organised a Christmas party on Christmas Day 1944 at their base at Cottesmore for children from the nearby town of Oakham. Image via Dave Benfield. Written on slide casing: '316 TCG, 25/12/44.' Roger Freeman Collection

Place association made.

Object Number - FRE 7066 - Father Christmas disembarks from a C-47 Skytrain of the 316th Troop Carrier Group to greet a crowd of children. The 316th Troop Carrier Group...

Built for the RAF between 1935-38, and in use by the RAF from 1938-1943, the airfield was enlarged with concrete runways in 1943. Used by both the Eighth Air Force (it was 8 ASC HQ) and Ninth Air Force 1943, it was Troop Carrier Command HQ (later 9th Troop Carrier Command), and home to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing HQ 1943. The 316th Troop Carrier Group were based here in 1944-45, as well as the HQ of the 52nd TCW. Handed back to the RAF, it was in use as an active RAF station until 2012, when it was taken over by the British Army, and known as Kendrew Barracks.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 44th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 36th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 44th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 44th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 659135
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 44th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 44th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 45th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 45th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 44th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 316th Troop Carrier Group 45th Troop Carrier Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, Action Stations 2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands (Cambridge, 1984)

Cottesmore: Gallery (28 items)