Grafton Underwood | American Air Museum

Grafton Underwood

Airfield

Aerial photograph of Grafton Underwood airfield looking north east, Geddington village is on the left, 22 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC309. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

eh-258.jpg 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 Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC309. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). Historic England

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

Abraham B Abramowitz

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 12145126
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Flexible Gunner

Alexander W Andrews

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 32955399
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

The insignia of the 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.

Allan S Beers

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 854th Chemical Company
Service Numbers: 31132923
Highest Rank: Corporal
Role/Job: Military Occupation Specialty 747-Airplane and Engine Mechanic

Albert Bell

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

Albert F Berlin

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

Aircraft

41-24359

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 301st Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron

41-24467

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: The Grim Reaper
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron

41-24507

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Yankee Raider
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron

41-24525

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: What's Cookin' Doc
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

41-24529

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date6 Oct 2017 13:23:45

ContributorLucy May

ChangesChanges to person associations and aircraft associations. Changes to Media

Sources

Connected up aircraft records with 'Grafton Underwood' in their biography field.

Date27 May 2015 10:18:09

Contributorrossingtonj

ChangesChanges to known as

Sources

Geddington Archive: http://www.geddington.net/latest-news/

Date23 Mar 2015 08:12:40

ContributorL2M2

ChangesChanges to aircraft associations

Sources

Personal Records
Internet research

Date17 Feb 2015 00:51:24

Contributormcordell4

ChangesChanges to person associations

Sources

http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/SortieReport.php?SortieKey=47…

Date27 Sep 2014 18:02:16

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978).

Grafton Underwood: Gallery (162 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

Object number: FRE 1282 -

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.'

Object number: FRE 1284 -

German soldiers and civillians inspect a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97372) nicknamed "Booby Trap" that has crashed near Füssen. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17G 384BG. Hinter Kaeine, Füssen. 24.4.44.' Second handwritten caption: 'Heur Radinger.' Third handwritten caption: 24/4/44 Nr Füssen by fighters.'

Object number: FRE 1287 -

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.'

Object number: FRE 4046 -

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 97th Bomb Group take off from Grafton Underwood. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26051 A.C. - Boeing B-17s take off on a mission over Europe, from their base in England. 1942. U.S. Air Force Photo.' Handwritten on reverse: 'Grafton Underwood.'

Object number: FRE 4054 -

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].

Object number: FRE 4581 -

A B-17 Flying Fortress (SO-K, serial number 42-97204) of the 547th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bob (R.L.) Coleman, Conn.'

Object number: FRE 4877 -

A bomber crew led by Ralph E. Pulcipher of the 547th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (SO-S, serial number 42-5843) nicknamed "Black Ghost". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Ralph E. Pulcipher crew, 547BS, 384BG. Lost on Sept. 6, 1943 aboard B-17F-25-VE "Black Ghost" 42-5843, SO*S. 7 POW, 3 EVD (their 14th mission).' On reverse: From Tim Bivens Collection [Stamp]. Caption from Tim Bivens: 'I recently obtained the enclosed pix from Mr. William McLain who flew in the 384th BG

Object number: FRE 4886 -

A B-17 Flying Fortress (DT-J, serial number 43-37971) of the 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group at Grafton Underwood, January 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Jan, 1945. 384BG, 545BS. Source - Gus Radloff, Grafton Underwood, B-17. P11 March Flypast. P. 4.'

Object number: FRE 4890 -

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].

Object number: FRE 4891 -

A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group , Cottishall, December 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '798, CH. Crash, Cottishall, 12/43.'

Object number: FRE 4893 -