Gosfield

Airfield
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal", (VE-N, serial number 43-37675) nicknamed "Patches (Flak Magnet)", (VE-K, serial number 42-106994) nicknamed "Little Guy" and (VP-S, serial number 42-97059) nicknamed "Marsha Sue". Image via Ian MacTaggart. media-380072.jpg FRE 1275 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal", (VE-N, serial number 43-37675) nicknamed "Patches (Flak Magnet)", (VE-K, serial number 42-106994) nicknamed "Little Guy" and (VP-S, serial number 42-97059) nicknamed "Marsha Sue". Image via Ian MacTaggart. Roger Freeman Collection

Airfield below formation is AAF Station 154 Gosfield

Object Number - FRE 1275 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number...

First used as an airfield during the First World War, when known as Royal Flying Corps/RAF Sible Hedingham, it was built as Gosfield for the Eighth Air Force and then Ninth Air Force in 1942-43. Home to first the 365th Fighter Group, then the 397th Bomb Group 1944 and 410th Bomb Group, it was handed back to the RAF in 1945. The airfield was closed and mostly returned to agriculture in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was also used as a car test track 1968-87, and for light engineering and plant hire from the 1990s to date.

Connections

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 410th Bomb Group 647th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35094347
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Arm/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32 466 964
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Airplane Crew Chief MOS 059
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 388th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32478948
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief/Aircraft Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 388th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-806652
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot - Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 388th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35505104
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Crew Chief

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: The Real McCoy
  • Unit: 410th Bomb Group 646th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Paula E II Bootsie
  • Unit: 410th Bomb Group 416th Bomb Group 646th Bomb Squadron 671st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 410th Bomb Group 646th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Angel II
  • Unit: 410th Bomb Group 645th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 410th Bomb Group 647th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)

Gosfield: Gallery (20 items)