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
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31080046
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15104156
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31147730
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20367119
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 1602137
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: SpitzFire
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 379th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron 526th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Southern Belle
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Penny
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron