Mendlesham

Airfield
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Mendelsham Red Sqdn, 18 BS 5/45.' media-387817.jpg FRE 5462 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Mendelsham Red Sqdn, 18 BS 5/45.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5462 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Mendelsham Red Sqdn, 18 BS 5/45.'

Built in 1942-1943, Mendlesham's first flying unit was the RAF's No. 310 Squadron - a Czechoslovakian unit. The airfield then became home to the USAAF 34th Bomb Group. This unit flew missions from Mendlesham in B-24s and B-17s.

Connections

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

People

Alfred Allega

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11009150
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew chief

Andrew Anselmini

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arthur H Artruc

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-829391
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot/Co-Pilot

David Henry Bailey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20802910 / O-817373
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Donald Roop Baumgardner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13141795
  • Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Fuel technician

Aircraft

41-28838

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Misery Agent / Tommy Thumper
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 486th Bomb Group
Nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28851) nicknamed "The Near Sighted Robin" of the 34th Bomb Group.

41-28851

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Near Sighted Robin
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron

41-29557

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Shadrach
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron

41-29572

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Scotty
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

42-102523

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mission Belle
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron

Related videos and documents

Download File

Document 17640

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: The Eighth in the East
  • Object Number: Document 17640
  • Description: Official Air Ministry Record Site Plan- Airfield site 1944. Mendlesham.
Download File

Document 17641

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: The Eighth in the East
  • Object Number: Document 17641
  • Description: Official Air Ministry Record Site Plan- Dispersed sites 1944. Mendlesham.
Download File

Document 17642

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: The Eighth in the East
  • Object Number: Document 17642
  • Description: Official Air Ministry Record Site Plan- Alphabetical index 1944. Mendlesham.
Download File

Document 39796

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: Unit histories
  • Object Number: Document 39796
  • Description: 34th Bomb Group Unit History Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but...

Revisions

Date
Contributor34thBombGroupH B-17Tailgunner41-45
Changes
Sources

American Air Museum in Britain: www.americanairmuseum.com

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added associations to photos where Medlesham was spelt 'Mendelsham'.

Date
ContributorScott 34th7th
Changes
Sources

Wikipedia contributors, "RAF Mendlesham," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RAF_Mendlesham&oldid=6799007… (accessed May 12, 2016).

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added aircraft based at Mendlesham.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / http://mendleshamairfieldassociation.wordpress.com/history/

Mendlesham: Gallery (88 items)

The nose art of a B-14 Liberator (serial number 44-40328) nicknamed "This Above All" of the 487th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 2036 - This aircraft is B-24 44-40328 'This Above All'. •...

The war memorial at Mendelsham, commemorating the USAAF personnel of the 34th Bomb Group who served there.

Object number: FRE 3421 - The war memorial at Mendelsham, commemorating the...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group inside a hangar. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'B-17 Yellow Hangar.'

Object number: FRE 5459 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group...

Ground personnel of the 34th Bomb Group change the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Engine change, Mendelsham.'

Object number: FRE 5460 - Ground personnel of the 34th Bomb Group change the...

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Mendelsham Red Sqdn, 18 BS 5/45.'

Object number: FRE 5462 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group at...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group lands at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown Written on slide casing: '7BS/ 34 BG.'

Object number: FRE 5467 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group lands at Mendelsham. Image via Mark Brown Written on slide casing: '7BS/ 34 BG.'

Object number: FRE 5469 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group...

Personnel of the 34th Bomb Group queue alongside a B-17 (serial number 43-38216) nicknamed "Tempest Turner" that was named after the Hollywood actress Lana Turner, for the world premiere of her latest film: 'Marriage is a Private Affair', held at Mendelsham. Image stamped with SHAEF press censor and London News Agency copyright. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/10/44.' '303 EXTRA.' '34 BG.' ' 4596.'

Object number: FRE 604 - Personnel of the 493rd Bomb Group queue alongside...

A bomber crew of the 34th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Set 'Em Up" at Mendelsham.

Object number: FRE 607 - A bomber crew of the 34th Bomb Group with their B...

An airman of the 34th Bomb Group, stands with a B-17 Flying Fortress at Mendelsham. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Oct 1944 'R' M[illegible].' Appears to be the name of the aircraft or airman depicted. Stamped on reverse: 'Malcolm Corum'. A Bombardier from the 34th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 608 - An airman of the 34th Bomb Group, stands with a B...

Ground crew of the 7th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group stand beneath the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet Seventeen" at Mendelsham. Image via Jim Martin 7BS 34th BG. Handwritten on reverse: 'Black - (3rd from left) with Ground Crew'

Object number: FRE 613 - Ground crew of the 7th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8309) nicknamed "Ol' Buddy" of the 18th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. Pete Gray was the aircraft's crew chief. Handwritten caption on reverse: '18th B.S. 34th BG. Pete Gray C/C.'

Object number: FRE 615 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8309)...