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

Dale Clement Cannon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37576057
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Charles D Conklin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-123125
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

David A Coughlin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32830882
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Courtney R Daniels

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

Arthur J Davy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16089223
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Aircraft

42-29567

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group

42-30120

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Patches
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
A crashed B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31237) of the 385th Bomb Group at Honington, 26 November 1943. Official caption on image: "1393 - IMRU - 11-26-43 - Honington - B-17G - 42-31237 F.A."

42-31237

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Alexander's Ragtime Band
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortresses nicknamed "London Avenger", nicknamed "Bermondsley Battler", nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" and nicknamed "Bermondsley" of the 379th Bomb Group, 15 February 1944. Passed for publication 16 Feb 1944. Censor no: 305411. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/2/44.' Printed caption on reverse: ' CHRISTENS U.S. FORTRESS BOMBER. Feb. 16th, 1944. As an appreciation of £800,000 raised during Bermondsey's Wings for Victory Week., the people of Bermondsey christened a U.S. Fortress bomber "

42-37792

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Eleanor Maureen : Bermondsey
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 34th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron

42-94780

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Smitty
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 4th Bomb Squadron

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)

A Pilot of the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group looks out the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8327) nicknamed "Goom-Bah!!" Image via Malcolm Corum Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-176 - B/N 85-BO 'R', S/N 4338327 391st Sq 34th BG, Mendlesham, STA - 156, Lt. Joseph Schaws Crew 101.'

Object number: FRE 630 - A Pilot of the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb...

A memorial at Mendlesham, dedicated to airmen of the 34th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Mendlesham Aifield, 23rd October 1971.'

Object number: FRE 6308 - A memorial at Mendlesham, dedicated to airmen of...

Captain Richard A "Bud" Peterson, a P-51 Mustang pilot of the 357th Fighter Group, explains fighter tactics to a B-17 Flying Fortress crew, led by Second Lieutenant Seymour W. Isaacs, of the 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. In the front row from left to right: Second Lieutenant Seymour W. Isaacs; Captain Richard A. "Bud" Peterson; Sergeant William W. Muntger, from 4C20 Hartel St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Second Lieutenant Robert M. Platz, from Glensdale, Pennslyvania 5 and 2d; Lieutenant Kenneth C. Hood

Object number: FRE 631 - Captain Richard A "Bud" Peterson, a P-51 Mustang...

Object number: UPL 13727 - Crew of the B-17 Bomber "Sugah". Tail number 43...

Object number: UPL 14387 - Seymour "Ike" Isaacs

Object number: UPL 14456 - 34th Bomb Group Memorial, St Mary the Virgin...

Object number: UPL 16123 - James S. Hollowell Crew 34th BG - 7th BS B-24H-20...

Object number: UPL 17162 - Jasper Paladino (left) Earl Stovall (right)