Kimbolton
AirfieldIWM, English Heritage Collection
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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14178145
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35474542
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18041160 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37406828
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16012081 / O-732992
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lynne Marie
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rubble Rouser
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The iron maiden
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pappy
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron