Fowlmere

Airfield
The control tower at Fowlmere, home of the 339th Fighter Group, 1945. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Fowlmere Tower, 1945.' media-388198.jpg FRE 5982 The control tower at Fowlmere, home of the 339th Fighter Group, 1945. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Fowlmere Tower, 1945.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5982 - The control tower at Fowlmere, home of the 339th Fighter Group, 1945. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Fowlmere Tower, 1945.'

Just as nearby Duxford was known as the 'Duck pond' by American airmen, so Fowlmere was known as 'the Hen Puddle' because of the wet conditions that pervaded the bases during the winter of 1943-1944. The 339th Fighter Group had no choice but to persist and, flying their new P-51B Mustangs on operations from the end of April 1944, went on to record the highest claims of air and ground enemy aircraft victories in the space of one year. Fowlmere was sold to local farmers in 1957, and since 1988 part of the site has continued to operate as an airfield.

Connections

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

People

Carl H Bundgaard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12137688 / O-763483
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Frederick Butler

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11120424 / O-829933
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Cecil L Byrd

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16027939 / T-61102 / O-886739
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Gordon H Chenez

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15132852 / O-721957
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Frank A Clifton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18075116 / O-669868
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

A pilot entering the cockpit of a P-51 Mustang. Handwritten on slide: "Maj Enoch Stephenson 503FS about to get into P-51 for F/B mission 8/44 James G. Robinson"

43-24803

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: White Rat
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron

43-25038

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Impatient Virgin
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron

43-25050

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron

43-6439

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Helen of Troy 2nd
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron 487th Fighter Squadron 505th Fighter Squadron
Captain Lloyd J "Jeff" French and airman of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (D7-A, serial number 44-11623) nicknamed "Rusty". Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt JL French & 411623 D7-A. A/C which Preddy KIA.'

44-11623

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Rusty
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Fowlmere: Gallery (121 items)

A ground crewman works on a P-47 Thunderbolt beside P-51 Mustangs, (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886) nicknamed "Swede" and (6N-O, serial number 44-14776) nicknamed "Arrow Head", of the 339th Fighter Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, Written on slide casing: 'Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 5985 - A ground crewman works on a P-47 Thunderbolt...

A P-51 Mustangs (6N-D, serial number 44-72098) and (6N-D, serial number 44-73074) nicknamed "Lucky Boy" of the 339th Fighter Group. Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: '6N:D 472098, 473074.'

Object number: FRE 5986 - A P-51 Mustangs (6N-D, serial number 44-72098) and...

Lieutenant Colonel William C Clark of the 339th Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang (5Q-C, serial number 44-64148) nicknamed "Happy IV". Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt WC Clark, 5Q:C 464148 Happy IV.'

Object number: FRE 5987 - Lieutenant Colonel William C Clark of the 339th...

P-51 Mustangs, including (5Q-D, serial number 44-14011) nicknamed "Lou 'N Sue" of the 339th Fighter Group lined up at Fowlmere. Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: '504 FS dispersals Fowlmere.'

Object number: FRE 5988 - P-51 Mustangs, including (5Q-D, serial number 44...

Ground crew of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (6N-X, serial number 44-72152) nicknamed "Tar Heel", March 1945. Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: '6N-X, 4712152 Cpt JR Starnes a/c. 9/3/45'

Object number: FRE 5989 - Ground crew of the 339th Fighter Group with Capt...

Ground crewman of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (6N-D, serial number 44-73074) nicknamed "Lucky Boy". Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: 'Maj Archie Tower's A/C.'

Object number: FRE 5990 - Ground crewman of the 339th Fighter Group with a P...

Captain George Hrico and Lieutenant Boyd O Jackson of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt George Hrici and Lt Boyd O Jackson.'

Object number: FRE 5991 - Captain George Hrico and Lieutenant Boyd O Jackson...

A P-51 Mustang (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886) nicknamed "Swede" of the 339th Fighter Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, Written on slide casing: 'Mount Farm 5Q:O.'

Object number: FRE 5992 - A P-51 Mustang (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886)...

A P-51 Mustang (6N-K, serial number 44-14734) nicknamed "Baby Mine" of the 339th Fighter Group flown by Lieutenant Stephen C Ananian. Image via, Stephen C Ananian , 339th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: 'Baby Mine 6N:K.'

Object number: FRE 5993 - A P-51 Mustang (6N-K, serial number 44-14734)...

A P-51 Mustang (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886) nicknamed "Swede" of the 339th Fighter Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, Written on slide casing: 'Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 5994 - A P-51 Mustang (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886)...

A P-51 Mustang (6N-N, serial number 44-15001) nicknamed "Silver Streak" of the 339th Fighter Group, flown by Captain Robert E Irion. Image via Stephev C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group Written on slide casing: 'Silver Streak 6N-N, Cpt Robert E Irion.'

Object number: FRE 5995 - A P-51 Mustang (6N-N, serial number 44-15001)...

P-51 Mustangs (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886) nicknamed "Swede" and (6N-O, serial number 44-14776) nicknamed "Arrow Head", of the 339th Fighter Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: '339 FG Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 5996 - P-51 Mustangs (5Q-O, serial number 42-106886)...