Kimbolton

Airfield
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). 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

Arthur F Ciccarello

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-794102
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

Arnold G Clark

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Andrew B Creo

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32115202 / O-805406
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arvid Oliver Dahl

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735753
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ol' Gappy". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Old Gappy crew - see file.'

Albert Henry Downs

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19059744 / T-12194 / O-2045047
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-102628

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron

42-102675

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

42-102689

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady Luck

42-102699

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have 'Kimbolton' in their biography fields.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Kimbolton: Gallery (112 items)

Children with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5736) of the 379th Bomb Group during a 'Kiddies Party' at Kimbolton, 2 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '71654 AC - A group of English children who are guests at a "Kiddies Party" given by the 379th Bomb Group gather around a Boeing B-17 at an 8th Air Force base in England. 2 October 1943.'

Object number: FRE 4758 - Children with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial...

A club at Kimbolton, home of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Kimbolton Club.'

Object number: FRE 4768 - A club at Kimbolton, home of the 379th Bomb Group...

A captured RAF Messerschmitt Bf 109 (serial number NN 644) with a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 379th Bomb Group at Kimbolton, 8 January 1944. Passed for publication 8 Jan 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 36.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Strange Bedfellows. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Rivals in the air battles over Europe, a B-17 Flying Fortress and a German Me109, are here seen together at a U.S. Heavy Bomber Base "somewhere in England". Rebuilt after crashing in England and painted with th

Object number: FRE 4775 - A captured RAF Messerschmitt Bf 109 (serial number...

Lieutenant Arthur W Mack and Lieutenant Francis M McCullagh of the 379th Bomb Group examine a cannon hole in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four Leaf Clover". Passed for publication 12 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns From Toughest Day Raid "Raked From Tail To Nose". Some of the fiercest air battles of the war were fought yesterday, January 11, when Fortresses and Liberators attacked vital targets in North-West Germany in great strength. Swarms of fighters came up to challeng

Object number: FRE 4779 - Lieutenant Arthur W Mack and Lieutenant Francis M...

A red flare from the control tower at Kimbolton, signals to a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses not to land as a B-17 nicknamed "Carol Dawn" has crashed due to landing gear failure, 11 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '11/2/44 raid. 379 BG? 8808.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Frankfurt Hit Again: Fourth Successive Day Of Big Attacks On Nazi Europe. Associated Press Photo Shows:- A red rocket fired from the contol tower warns incoming bombers not to land

Object number: FRE 4784 - A red flare from the control tower at Kimbolton...

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 379th Bomb Group fly in formation on their return from a mission. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwriten on reverse: '8868. 379BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'FrankFurt Hit Again: Fourth Successive Day Of Big Attacks On Nazi Europe. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Major Mason's group of Forts which led the raid pass over the field on their return. ASH 264780. 12-2-44-Y.' Censor no: 304534. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Sec

Object number: FRE 4787 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 379th Bomb Group fly...

Personnel of the 379th Bomb Group enjoy refreshments before interrogation Kimbolton, 6 April 1943. Passed for publication 6 Apr 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 7.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- American crews waiting to be interrogated on their return from the raid on Antwerp. While waiting they enjoy light refreshments. And April 6th 1943 PN.' Censor no: 256831. On reverse: Planet News, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4795 - Personnel of the 379th Bomb Group enjoy...

Sergeant L.F. Teetman, of the 379th Bomb Group enjoys a sandwich and coffee before interrogation Kimbolton, 1 January 1944. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '379. USAAF 34.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- One of the crew of "Kayo", Sgt. L.F. Teetman, of Brooklyn, New York, enjoys his coffee and sandwiches whilst waiting to be interrogated. And. January 1st. 1944. PN.' Censor no: 298286. On reverse: Planet News, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau

Object number: FRE 4796 - Sergeant L.F. Teetman, of the 384th Bomb Group...

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth watch a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four of a Kind" of the 379th Bomb Group take off from Kimbolton. Passed for publication 7 Jul 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '6-7-44.' Press caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 336257. On reverse: Central Press Photos and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps]. Printed caption on reverse: NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE 19.30 6.7.44 ROYAL VISIT TO USAAF Their Majesties The King and Queen accompanied by Princes

Object number: FRE 4797 - King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess...

Major Mason of the 379th Bomb Group talks to General Doolittle, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth during a royal visit to Kimbolton, 3 July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '3/7/44. 379 BG, Kimbolton. Major Mason, King, Queen, Princess, Doolittle. 7.'

Object number: FRE 4809 - Major Lloyd C Mason of the 379th Bomb Group talks...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (FR-C, serial number 42-38183) nicknamed "The Lost Angel" of the 379th Bomb Group after being crash landing by Lieutenant Edmund H Lutz at Kimbolton. Printed caption on reverse: '71325 AC - A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 379th Bomb Group crashed as it came in for a landing at its 8th Air Force base in England. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 4811 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (FR-C, serial number 42...

Corporal Joseph P. Correa, an interrogation room clerk of the 379th Bomb Group updates the mission board to inform his colleagues that all airmen returned safely from a mission over Berlin. Printed caption on reverse: '50148 - The Story is told completely by the picture ... "All Home" ...- Berlin bomed and all Eighth Air Force Flying Fortresses return to this heavy base. Cpl. Joseph P. Correa, 41, 41,[sic] interrogation room clerk, of Butler, Pa., writes finish to another set-back suffered by the Hun. U.S

Object number: FRE 4812 - Corporal Joseph P. Correa, an interrogation room...