Membury

Airfield
A Nissen hut used for technical supplies at Membury. The 436th Troop Carrier Group were stationed at Membury between March 1944 and February 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tech Supply at 466'. media-408738.jpg FRE 3370 A Nissen hut used for technical supplies at Membury. The 436th Troop Carrier Group were stationed at Membury between March 1944 and February 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tech Supply at 466'. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3370 - A Nissen hut used for technical supplies at Membury. The 436th Troop Carrier Group were stationed at Membury between March 1944 and February 1945....

Planned as an RAF operational training base, Membury was built during 1942, and then upgraded in 1943 after allocation to the USAAF as a reconnaissance or transport base, with maintenance and repair depot facilities. It had eventually three concrete runways, 26 loop and 25 pan hardstandings, two T2 hangars on the airfield site and two T2 hangars in the depot area. Claimed by VIII Ground Air Support Command, later Ninth Air Force HQ, the station was first occupied briefly during September to October 1942 by men of the 3rd Photographic Group without aircraft. The 67th Observation Group also arrived in September 1942, initially without aircraft so operated Spitfires, Havocs and Bostons loaned by the RAF plus a few L-4Bs. Transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943, while re-equipping with P-51s, the group was renamed the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and moved to Middle Wallop in November 1943. During November 1943 to August 1944, the air depot site was occupied by the 7th and 16th Air Depot Groups, forming the 6th Tactical Air Depot which specialised in the repair and modification of P-47s. The 366th Fighter Group was resident briefly during January-February 1944 while equipping with P-47s, and the station was then occupied by the 436th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-47s, from March 1944 to February 1945. It was also used by other transport units from June 1944 to June 1945 as a supply delivery and collection point. Returned to the RAF as a transport base in June 1945, the station remained operational until 1946. Partly returned to agriculture since the 1950s, small industries took over many of the wartime buildings which continue as Membury Business Park. The airfield remained open as a private airport and, although restricted by construction of the M4 motorway, continues in limited use as Membury Airfield.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 436th Troop Carrier Group 81st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15062560
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: troop carrier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group Headquarters (10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-25328 / 0-235328 / 4376A
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 436th Troop Carrier Group 79th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 437th Troop Carrier Group 85th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-803574
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 107th Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-686632
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

 The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Mudhen". Image by Robert Astrella 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: '15 Photo Sqdn/ MTO. Mount Farm.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Mudhen
  • Unit: 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Group
An F-6 Mustang (ZM-G, serial number 42-103206) of the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 107th Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Paratroopers jump out of a C-47 Skytrain (S6-E, serial number 42-108991) of the 436th Troop Carrier Group.
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 53rd Troop Carrier Wing 436th Troop Carrier Group 79th Troop Carrier Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 5: Military Airfields of the South-West (London, 1982)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Membury
http://www.memburyairfield.co.uk/Membury_Airfield/Airfield.html

Membury: Gallery (9 items)