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

Lieutenant Donald W. Johnson, pilot of the 339th Fighter Group, watches on as Captain Charles D. Nethaway demonstrates how the "G-suit" worked. "G-suits" were developed to counter the blackouts that pilots suffered when the G-force on their bodies during tight turns forced the blood from their brain to the lower part of their body. Inflated by the exhaust of the P-51 Mustang's vacuum system, the suits applied pressure to the pilot's legs and abdomen, forcing the blood to continue to circulate around the u
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665203
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-823084
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron 504th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-721456
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-431891
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Arthur Lowery
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-754643
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Pedunk
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
Ground personnel of the 339th Fighter Group work on a P-51 Mustang (6N-W, serial number 44-14705) nicknamed "Boomerang" inside a blister hangar. Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Boomerang 6N:W in blister, LT R Thieme a/c.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Eileen, Boomerang!
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
Staff- Sergeant Joe C Nicholas, a crew chief of the 339th Fighter Group works on a P-51 Mustang (6N-K, serial number 44-14734) nicknamed "Baby Mine", flown by Lieutenant Stephen C Ananian. Image via Stephen C Ananian, 339th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: 'S/Sgt Joe C Nicholas c/c 414734 6N-K.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Sweet n Low Down/ Sweet and Lowdown, Baby Mine
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang of the 505th Fighter Squadron 6N: O (serial number 44-14776) named “Arrow Head”. This image was taken at Mount Farm, Home of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide:"339 FG Mount Farm 414776 6N:O R. Astrella"
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Arrow head
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Silver Streak
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th 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)