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

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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

Alfred H Markel

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-885587
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Carroll W McColpin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 404th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Bernard Louis McGrattan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2044954
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Carl Henry Miley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15218799E / O-885188
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Cadman Vinton Padgett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885100
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-106855

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron

42-106856

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron

42-106911

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group

42-106940

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30721) nicknamed "Sweet and Lovely".

42-30721

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sweet and Lovely
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 398th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 610th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
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Sources
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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Added connection to Marvin H Castleberry

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ContributorWex_AdamSterecki
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Debden

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ContributorWD-C Mustang
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http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/hallg…

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

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

Debden: Gallery (805 items)

A two-seat P-51B Mustang of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group at Debden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2-seat mod of P-51B by Service Group of Debden. A/C in 335th Fighter Squadron, 4FG.'

Object number: FRE 2338 - A two-seat P-51B Mustang of the 335th Fighter...

A P-51D Mustang (WD-A) of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group taxying past the Star and Stripes at Debden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '335FS. P-51D. USAF Photo.'

Object number: FRE 2340 - A P-51D Mustang 44-13883 (WD-A) of the 335th...

A P-51 Mustang of the 4th Fighter Group taxying at Debden, 1944. Film still. Handwritten caption on reverse: '335FS, P-51D, Dec '44. Source: Movie Frame Clip.'

Object number: FRE 2341 - A P-51 Mustang of the 4th Fighter Group taxying at...

A model of a P-51 Mustang (VF-B, 43-7059) of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group.

Object number: FRE 2343 - A model of a P-51 Mustang (VF-B, 43-7059) of the...

Lieutenant-General Devers talks to pilots of the 4th Fighter Group during a visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed as censored 17 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flight and they inspected the crews. Keystone Photo Sh

Object number: FRE 2344 - Lieutenant-General Devers talks to pilots of the...

US Ambassador John Gilbert Winant and General Hunter,inspect the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt of the 4th Fighter Group during a visit to Debden, 15 June 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/6/43.' On reverse: Keystone Press Agency [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 2345 - US Ambassador John Gilbert Winant and General...

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 4th Fighter Group at Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 17 June 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '17 June '43 Debden.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flight and they inspected the crew

Object number: FRE 2346 - P-47 Thunderbolts of the 4th Fighter Group at...

US Ambassador John Gilbert Winant and Lieutenant-General Devers inspect personnel of the 4th Fighter Group during a visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 17 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flight and

Object number: FRE 2347 - US Ambassador John Gilbert Winant and Lieutenant...

US Ambassador, John Gilbert Winant talks to pilots of the 4th Fighter Group during a visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed as censored 17 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flight and they inspected the crews. Keystone

Object number: FRE 2348 - US Ambassador, John Gilbert Winant talks to pilots...

Lieutenant-General Devers and US Ambassador John Gilbert Winant at a breifing for personnel of the 4th Fighter Group during a visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed as censored 17 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flig

Object number: FRE 2349 - Lieutenant-General Devers and US Ambassador John...

Colonel Edward W. Anderson and Lieutenant-General Devers examine thew guns on a P-47 Thunderbolt of the 4th Fighter Group at Debden, June 1943. Passed as censored 17 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flight and the

Object number: FRE 2350 - Colonel Edward W. Anderson and Lieutenant-General...

Lieutenant-General Devers talks to personnel of the 4th Fighter Group during a visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 17 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Mr Winant And Gen. Devers Visit U.S. Airfields In Britain. Mr. J.G. Winant, the American Ambassador in Britain and Lt. Gen. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in the ETO visited recently U.S. airfields in Britain. They saw the briefing of crews, Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolts in flight and they inspected the crews. Keystone P

Object number: FRE 2352 - Lieutenant-General Devers talks to personnel of...