Great Dunmow
Airfield
IWM, English Heritage Collection
Object Number - RAF_58_11_V_5016 - Aerial photograph of Great Dunmow airfield looking south, Easton Lodge is bottom left, 8 May 1948. Photograph taken by No. 58 Squadron, sortie number...
The airfield, two miles north-west of Great Dunmow, was built in 1942-1943 by the US Army's 818th Engineer Battalion (Aviation), alongside British contractors. B-26 Marauders of the 386th Bomb Group moved in in September 1943, and in October the Group transferred from the Eighth to the Ninth Air Force.
General Dwight D Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, made an official visit to the airfield in April 1944. Three months later, the resident 386th Bomb Group began trials of the new A-26 Invader bomber from Gt Dunmow.
In October 1944, the airfield was handed over to the RAF, serving as a base for Short Stirling transporters under 38 Group. The Stirlings were replaced with Handley Page Halifaxes in 1945.
After the war, Great Dunmow was used as a vehicle store, before the airfield was abandoned in 1948. Also in 1948, the Anglo-American Goodwill Association erected a memorial on the southern edge of the site to the crews that once flew from the airfield.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 555th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20383268
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 555th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16137195 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 555th Bomb Squadron 386th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-668017
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Dottie
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
![A bomber crerw of the 552nd Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (RG-K, serial number 41-34987). Official caption on image: "(GP-30-27-386)(14 Sept 43)(552 Bomb Sq. Crew)." Printed caption on reverse: '552nd B.S., 386th B.G. A/C Name: _ A/C Ser. No.: 134987, RG-K. From left to right starting in back row: 1) Pilot: Gerold A. Wendt. 2) _. 3) _. 4) E/G: Thornton B. Henry. 5) A/G: Myron O. McKim. 6) R/G: _.' On reverse: From Photo Files Of Chester P. Klier [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413785.jpg.webp?itok=gRbgiU2C)
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Danny Boy II
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
![A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-35247) nicknamed "Carefree Carolyn" of the 552nd Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group in flight. Printed caption on reverse: '552nd B.S. 386th B.G. A/C Carefree Carolyn. A/C Ser. No. 135247 RG-' On reverse: From Photo Files Of Chester P. Klier [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413777.jpg.webp?itok=b6MDPBy5)
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Carefree Carolyn
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Sexy Betsy
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 555th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron A-26 Combat Evaluation Project Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978).