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 Green

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12171422
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Alexander Theodore Hansen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15016960
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Baine Arnold Hawthorne

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-756227
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Alvin Leroy Hirschi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37575349
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Allen G Jamison

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16126120
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

42-107014

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucy
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron

42-107051

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

42-107068

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Powerful katrinka
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
Danish civillians inspect the wreckage of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107082) of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'St Heddinge 13th May 1944 at 18:30 Hrs. 8th AAF, 1st Air Division, 41st Combat Wing, 379th Bombardment Group, Squadron?.'

42-107082

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lassie Come Home
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew and ground crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (FR-G, serial number 42-107146) nicknamed "Mairzy Doats" March 1944. Image via Edmund H Lutz, 379th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'B-17G "Mairzy Doats" air crew and ground crew chief 2102146 FR-G March 1944.'

42-107146

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mairzy Doats
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th 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)

Object number: UPL 16243 - Russ at the Mighty Eight Air Force Museum in...

Object number: UPL 16244 - Russ at the Mighty Eight Air Force Museum in...

Object number: UPL 16245 - Blurry pic or Russ after an interview with my...

Object number: UPL 16775 - Lt Byrd Ryland's Crew. 379th Bomb Group. Kimbolton...

Object number: UPL 16776 - Co-Pilot Lt James C Denny in pilots seat

Object number: UPL 16777 - Lt Ryland crew after Hanover Mission 8/5/44. No...

Object number: UPL 16781 - AAF Pilot School Fort Sumner, New Mexico

Object number: UPL 16782 - Lt Byrd Ryland 337622.

Object number: UPL 16783 - Lt. James C Denny picture taken while in training

Object number: UPL 16784 - Lt. James C Denny prior to going overseas.