Kimbolton

Airfield

eh-81.jpg RAF_106G_UK_635_RP_3217 Aerial photograph of Kimbolton airfield looking west, the bomb dump and technical site with a T2 hangar is on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/635. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_635_RP_3217 - Aerial photograph of Kimbolton airfield looking west, the bomb dump and technical site with a T2 hangar is on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph...

Planned for RAF use, Kimbolton airfield was built by W and C French Ltd. in 1941. The airfield was increased in size to accommodate a full US heavy Bomb Group, and the first such unit to us it was the 91st Bomb Group, who arrived in September 1942. They quickly switched to Bassingbourn, and for a time the B-26s of the 17th Bomb Group occupied the base. Kimbolton is most associated with the 379th Bomb Group, who were resident at the airfield from late 1942. The 379th was one of the most successful of all of the Eighth's Bomb Groups. The airfield was handed back to the RAF at the end of the war, and was eventually sold off in the early 1960s.

Connections

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

People

Anthony T Albach

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Anthony Lloyd William Amaya

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 19040467 / O-733509
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Major Alex B. Andrews, an 8th Air Force HQ special observer, in the cockpit of a damaged B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lil Satan" of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '379 BG. 25/6/44, 245. Alex B. Andrews, B/Gen USAF (ret.), Box 2627, Raleigh NC, USA.'

Alexander Boyd Andrews

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-900076
Highest Rank: General
Role/Job: Observer

Albert E Batich

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-738808
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Abram Earl Birch

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 15080111 / O-736083
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

Captain Mack McKay, a pilot of the 306th Bomb Group and his crew point to a "kill" marking painted on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 21 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Nazi Airfield Near Paris Blasted ... 300 Fighters Out. Nearly 300 RAF fighters provided an "umbrella" for a large force of U.S. Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers which made the first atack yesterday (Sunday) in daylight on Romilly-Sur-Seine, site of a big Nazi airfield 20 miles south-east of Paris. ... 21/12/42. O

41-24460

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Little Audrey

41-24570

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Panhandle Dogie
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron

An airman of the 379th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: '161.' Press caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Associated Press [Stamp].

41-9100

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Birmingham Blitzkreig
Unit: 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron 525th Bomb Squadron