Fowlmere
Airfield
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
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32226576 / T-63492 / O-2015122
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15170071 / O-797794
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-026284
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32631730
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-701092
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Rebel Betty Jane II Honey Darlin Doris Pittsburgh Smoker
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 355th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 354th Fighter Squadron 505th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Mary-Queen of Scotts
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Shy Ann
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Annie May
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Lou N Sue
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)
