Little Walden | American Air Museum

Little Walden

Airfield

A P-51 Mustang (E2-D_, serial number 44-14164) nicknamed "Detroit Miss" of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Little Walden, Detroit Miss, E2.'

media-377236.jpg FRE 518 A P-51 Mustang (E2-D_, serial number 44-14164) nicknamed "Detroit Miss" of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Little Walden, Detroit Miss, E2.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 518 - A P-51 Mustang (E2-D_, serial number 44-14164) nicknamed "Detroit Miss" of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Handwritten caption on reverse:...

Little Walden was built as a Class A airfield suitable for American heavy bombers. The 409th Bomb Group, as part of the Ninth Air Force, was stationed at the base between March and September 1944, flying A-20 Havocs.

The base was then handed over to the Eighth Air Force's P-51 Mustang-flying 361st Fighter Group, which flew from Little Walden before setting up on the Continent in December 1944 to help counter the German offensive in the Ardennes from closer range. The Group flew from a base in Belgium before returning to Little Walden in April 1945.

In March 1945, the Eighth Air Force's 493rd Bomb Group temporarily based its B-17s here while runways at its base at Debach underwent repairs.

Connections

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

People

Walter Willam Allard

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 409th Bomb Group 642nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39002286
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: bomber

Joseph Robert Armistead

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 409th Bomb Group 641st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-752378
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Glenn Daniel Beeler

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 355th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 354th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: 14134344 / O-816968
Highest Rank: Major
Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Fred Boswell

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 361st Fighter Group
Service Numbers: 18035823, 2044539
Highest Rank: Captain
Role/Job: Flight Control Officer

Will T Butts

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: O-812374
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

P-51 Mustangs including (serial number 42-106434) of the 354th Fighter Group line up for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '59175 A.C.'

42-106434

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Nicknames: Atlanta Peach
Unit: 354th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron 374th Fighter Squadron

A P-51 Mustang (E2-D, serial number 42-106875) nicknamed "Queen Jean" of the 361st Fighter Group prepares for take off at Bottisham. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Queen Jean, -D, ready for T/O Bottisham.'

42-106875

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Nicknames: Queen Jean
Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron 375th Fighter Squadron

43-22027

Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
Unit: 409th Bomb Group 642nd Bomb Squadron

Two P-51 Mustangs, (E9-V, serial number 44-14600) and (E9-B, serial number 43-25044, "War Weary") of the 361st Fighter Group, fly together.

43-25044

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron

43-39050

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date29 Dec 2016 16:43:51

ContributorSavvyGA

ChangesChanges to description

Sources

493BG presence added

Date27 Sep 2014 18:02:17

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

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

Little Walden: Gallery (38 items)

A P-51 Mustang (E9-O, serial number 44-13768) of the 376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group in flight. Handwritten on slide casing: '361st F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10784 -

The control tower of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden.

Object number: FRE 1448 -

Ground personnel of the 493rd Bomb Group load food supplies into a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Bomb Bay Blues". Printed caption on reverse: 'A-52449 AC- Personnel of the 493rd Bomb Group loading food supplies into the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Bomb Bay Blues", preparatory to "Food Mission" flight. England 7 April 1945. US Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 2152 -

A pilot of the 361st Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Taken at Little Walden 27 Nov 1944 after return from St. Trond.'

Object number: FRE 3325 -

The honour roll of the 376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: '376 FS status board, Little Walden.'

Object number: FRE 5041 -

A P-51 Mustang (E2-D_, serial number 44-14164) nicknamed "Detroit Miss" of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Little Walden, Detroit Miss, E2.'

Object number: FRE 518 -

The control tower of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Control Tower at Little Walden, Essex. 361, J.P. Smith.'

Object number: FRE 526 -

Captain James D Smith of the 361st Fighter Group with a mobile control vehicle at Little Walden. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'JD Smith with control van, Little Walden.'

Object number: FRE 6187 -

The control tower at Little Walden, home of the 361st Fighter Group. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Little Walden control tower.'

Object number: FRE 6188 -

P-51 Mustangs, including (E2-X), of the 361st Fighter Group take off in tandem at Little Walden. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'P-51 E2:X T/O Little Walden.'

Object number: FRE 6189 -

The control tower at Little Walden, home of the 361st Fighter Group. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'Little Walden control tower.'

Object number: FRE 6195 -

The honour roll of the 3765th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: '376 FS, roll of honour Little Walden.'

Object number: FRE 6204 -