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

Arch B Luper

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Captain Donald H McAuley of the 20th Fighter Group talks to his Crew Chief from the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning nicknamed "Pistol Packin' Mama". Handwritten on slide:"Capt.McAuley returning from his first mission Eng.Dec 1943 20th Fgtr Gp Wittering 267081 KI:K"

Donald Herbert McAuley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19040171 / O-428336
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Arlan E Mitchell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
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

Charles D Nethaway

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Captain
339th/505th Pilot Gerald W Palmer 25 Oct 44 - KIA 06 Feb 45.

Gerald W Palmer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2005746
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

44-15021

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Dopey Lou Anabel
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron 504th Fighter Squadron
Captain Evan M "Johnny" Johnson of the 339th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (6N-J, serial number 44-15039) nicknamed "Pistol Packin' Mama". Image via James G Robinson. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt Evan M Johnson 6N:J Pistol Packin' Mama.'

44-15039

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (D7-D) nicknamed "Bengal Lancer" of the 503rd Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group prepares for take off in snow at Fowlmere, 16 January 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '503 Sqdn. 339 G.' Printed caption on reverse: 'B-60012 AC - North American P-51 Mustang "Bengal Lancer" warming up in the snow on an England airbase. 16 January 1945. U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: R.C. Jones [Stamp].

44-15134

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

44-15291

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 355th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Squadron 503rd Fighter Squadron

44-15498

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Lone Star Lady
  • 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)

Object number: UPL 21490 - Maj. Bill C Routt poses with his P-51D Mustang 44...

Object number: UPL 21500 - Capt. Owen P Farmer Jr of Fort Scott, Kansas...

Object number: UPL 22205 - P-51D10-NA #44-14372 "Beaver Chant" Code: 5Q-E...

Object number: UPL 22674 - Lt. Gerald E Graham, [Grand Rapids MI], 505th...

Object number: UPL 23220 - main gate at Fowlmere

Object number: UPL 23683 - P-51D, 44-14321, 'Barbara' 5Q-I_ of the 339th FG...

Object number: UPL 24021 - Capt William W Behrend, [ Trenton NJ ], 503rd...

Object number: UPL 24109 - Area Street 505 sqdrn

Object number: UPL 24157 - bikes were a mode of transportation on base

Object number: UPL 24159 - snow in Fowlmere

Object number: UPL 26934 - Lt. William H Boyd, [ Phoenix AZ ], 503rd Fighter...