Debden

Airfield
media-6444.jpeg UPL 6444 Improved version of FRE 5327 courtesy of Mark Richie, Edward Richie's son.

View from SW of Debden. Red Nissen hut next to back entrance road to blister hangers is the Belly Tank, EM bar. Later disassembled and rebuilt at the SAF Museum at Dayton, Ohio.

Added information to the caption as received by Mark Richie, VP, Association of the 4th Fighter group WWII http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/

Object Number - UPL 6444 - Improved version of FRE 5327 courtesy of Mark Richie, Edward Richie's son. View from SW of Debden. Red Nissen hut next to back entrance road to...

RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots. When the base was handed over to the Americans in 1942, the Eagle Squadrons transferred to the USAAF, becoming the 4th Fighter Group. Equipped first with Spitfires, then P-47 Thunderbolts, the Group occupied Debden until July 1945. The airfield continued to be used after the war by the RAF, and from 1975 was occupied by the British Army.

Connections

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

Detailed History

Grover Hall said this about Debden in the forward to '1000 Destroyed', “No it wasn’t all bad, not at all. In fact, I suspect that we’re all enduringly sentimental over Debden and always will be. By King George’s lisp, darned if I wouldn’t like to catch the 12:50 at Liverpool Street Station and chuff down to see the old place!”

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661172
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 336th Fighter Squadron 4th Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-190559
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Intelligence Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15343079 / O-829923
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Death Takes a Holiday
  • Unit: 36th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 53rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Added connection to Marvin H Castleberry

Date
ContributorWex_AdamSterecki
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Debden: Gallery (804 items)