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

Robert G Dawson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06815714
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Gerald L Doll

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37538727
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

John R Donnelly

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 409th Bomb Group 641st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33162378
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
Fighter Ace Lieutenant Urban L. "Ben" Drew, formerly of the 361st Fighter Group, in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, with the 414th Fighter Group, 10th Air Force.

Urban L Drew

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-812776
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

James A Eason

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-705561
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

43-9368

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 409th Bomb Group 416th Bomb Group 643rd Bomb Squadron 669th Bomb Squadron

43-9371

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 409th Bomb Group 641st Bomb Squadron

43-9378

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

43-9388

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 409th Bomb Group 641st Bomb Squadron

43-9456

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 409th Bomb Group 641st Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorSavvyGA
Changes
Sources

493BG presence added

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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)

Lieutenant Victor E Bocquin of the 361st Fighter Group with a UC-78 Bobcat nicknamed "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Little Walden. Image via James D Smith. Written on slide casing: 'UC-78 Little Walden, LT VE Bocquin.'

Object number: FRE 6205 - Lieutenant Victor E Bocquin of the 361st Fighter...

Lieutenant Vernon R Richards of the 361st Fighter Group fliying his P-51 Mustang (B7-R, serial number 44-13357) nicknamed "Tika IV".

Object number: FRE 6210 - Lieutenant Vernon R Richards of the 361st Fighter...

A C-47 Skytrain with yellow and black checked engine cowling, prepares to take off from Little Walden, home of the 361st Fighter Group. Image via James D Smith. Wrtitten on slide casing: '302 ATm, ASC, 12/44 Little Walden.'

Object number: FRE 7459 - A C-47 Skytrain with yellow and black checked...

Object number: UPL 18123 - 376th Fighter Squadron Pilots' Room. Little Walden...

Object number: UPL 18221 - Major George Rew, Operations Officer of the 374th...

Object number: UPL 23269 - A-20G-30-DO #43-9671 Code: 7G-B 409th BG - 641st...

Object number: UPL 25847 - Lt. (later Captain) James J Sullivan, posing with...

Object number: UPL 27219 - 361st FG pilot, Captain Urban "Ben" Drew being...

Object number: UPL 29845 - Kraut Stomper-Pilot R Jones (Pic from a reversed...

Object number: UPL 32203 - Crew Chief Verne Marvin Josifek, 361st Fighter...

Object number: UPL 32204 - Crew Chief Verne Marvin Josifek, 361st Fighter...