Grafton Underwood
Airfield
384thbombgroup.com
Object Number - US_7PH_GP_LOC309_V_5020 - Aerial photograph of Grafton Underwood airfield looking north east, Geddington village is on the left, 22 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th...
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for Polebrook, the airfield was then home to two squadrons of the 97th Bomb Group. The airfield became home to succession of Bomb Groups, including the 305th, 96th, and 384th, all equipped with B-17s. The RAF's No. 236 Maintenance Unit occupied the airfield after the war, before being declared surplus to requirements in 1959. A memorial to the crews that flew from the airfield was erected in 1977.
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: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12145126
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flexible Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32955399
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-887078 and/or T-124701
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Radar Navigator / Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 443rd Sub-Depot
- Service Numbers: 35454272
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Military Occupation Specialty 528 Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-795190
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Turd Burd
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Grim Reaper
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Raider
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: What's Cookin' Doc
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Norville John Gorse
- Object Number: Document 19260
- Description: Captain Norville John Gorse, "Bailout" 13 May 1943
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 30177
- Description: MACR 1335
Revisions
Removed media associations which do not depict, or cannot be positively identified to depict Grafton Underwood
Connected up aircraft records with 'Grafton Underwood' in their biography field.
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978).
![Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight gear before a mission to Berlin in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 24 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '313403.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin, 22/3/44, 231740.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380081.jpg.webp?itok=j1oiDjBg)
![A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group flies over a C-47 Skytrain at Grafton Underwood. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 28 Aug 1942.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'T/O Grafton Underwood, 97BG. 20/8/42.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408706.jpg.webp?itok=um72ebNM)
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (SU-J) of the 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group flown by Lieutenant Knapp lands at Grafton Underwood, 22 March 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '384th BG. Lt. Knapp, SU-J. 22-3-44.' Press caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 313401. On reverse: Sport & General Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413561.jpg.webp?itok=2jaeykXh)
![A B-17F Flying Fortress (SO-S, serial number 42-5843) nicknamed "Black Ghost" of the 547th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17F-25-VE "Black Ghost" 42-5483 SO*S, 547BS 384BG. Lost Sept 6. 1943, R. Pulcipher crew.' On reverse: From Tim Bivens Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413575.jpg.webp?itok=S1pPdq5S)
![Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group refuel a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle". Image stamped on reverse: 'Photograph Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Reveiwed and Passed 18 Aug 1942.' and '2160091.'[Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to reverse of print, however this has been lost and damged. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Grafton Underwood 17/8/42.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'RAF AEC 2500 gall. refueller of 8 Group B](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379321.jpg.webp?itok=z0YT9Yck)
![Personnel of the 97th Bomb Group look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from a raid on Rouen, from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten captio](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379323.jpg.webp?itok=yT71Hmaq)
