Ludham

Airfield
Part of a door cover from P-38 Lightning named "Vivacious Vera" (CY-L, serial number 42-67053), flown by pilots of the 55th Fighter Group. Text has been added beside 'Vera'. It reads: 'This part of door cover retrieved from wreckage of P-38H5LO 42-67053 with the squadron letters CY-L. Flown first at Lockheed Liverpool Air Depot by C.H. Wilson, Chief Test Pilot, Lockheed;-9-15-43 1st ship to arrive at this field, 9-21-43 1st person to fly plane on this field; Col. Frank B. James, 9-22-43. Originally assign media-377396.jpg FRE 158 Part of a door cover from P-38 Lightning named "Vivacious Vera" (CY-L, serial number 42-67053), flown by pilots of the 55th Fighter Group. Text has been added beside 'Vera'. It reads: 'This part of door cover retrieved from wreckage of P-38H5LO 42-67053 with the squadron letters CY-L. Flown first at Lockheed Liverpool Air Depot by C.H. Wilson, Chief Test Pilot, Lockheed;-9-15-43 1st ship to arrive at this field, 9-21-43 1st person to fly plane on this field; Col. Frank B. James, 9-22-43. Originally assigned to Lt. Gilbride 10-10-43, who was missing in action 11-29-43. Ship was named after his wife. Reassigned to Lt. Goudelock 12-12-43. "Lucky Ship" Lt. Hiner returned safely from Zuyder Zee on single engine, distance 250 miles 11-26-43. Lt. Stanton returned safely from Ruhr valley on single engine, distance 250 miles 11-30-43. Lt. Goudelock returned from Kiel on single engine, distance 375 miles 12-13-43 and crashed in village of Ludham, due to lack of gas. He was not seriously injured. Ship completed 18 combat missions inclusive. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 158 - Part of a door cover from P-38 Lightning named "Vivacious Vera" (CY-L, serial number 42-67053), flown by pilots of the 55th Fighter Group. Text has...

Built for the RAF in 1940-42, Ludham was allocated to the Eighth Air Force 1942 but not used. It remained an RAF and Fleet Air Arm Station from 1942-1945.

Connections

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Aircraft

An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'

42-102447

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: El's Belles
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)

Ludham: Gallery (6 items)

Part of a door cover from P-38 Lightning named "Vivacious Vera" (CY-L, serial number 42-67053), flown by pilots of the 55th Fighter Group. Text has been added beside 'Vera'. It reads: 'This part of door cover retrieved from wreckage of P-38H5LO 42-67053 with the squadron letters CY-L. Flown first at Lockheed Liverpool Air Depot by C.H. Wilson, Chief Test Pilot, Lockheed;-9-15-43 1st ship to arrive at this field, 9-21-43 1st person to fly plane on this field; Col. Frank B. James, 9-22-43. Originally assign

Object number: FRE 158 - Part of a door cover from P-38 Lightning named...

Aerial photograph of Ludham airfield, 2 July 1942. Photograph taken by No. 8 Operational Training Unit, sortie number RAF/FNO/35. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Object number: RAF_FNO_35_V_6040 - Aerial photograph of Ludham airfield, 2 July 1942...

Aerial photograph of Ludham airfield, 8 March 1942. Photograph taken by No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, sortie number RAF/HLA/412. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Object number: RAF_HLA_412_V2_28 - Aerial photograph of Ludham airfield, 8 March 1942...