Molesworth
Airfield
IWM, English Heritage Collection
Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_889_RP_3040 - Aerial photograph of the east end of Molesworth airfield looking north, the control tower and two T2 hangars are right of the vertical runway, 5...
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd Bomb Group, popularly known as 'Hell’s Angels' which moved in with its B-17s in September 1942 and remained at the base until June 1945. Molesworth reverted to RAF control in 1945 and was closed in 1946. It was re-opened in 1951 for use by the US Air Force, and it remains a US base today: home to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe Analytic Center. It was announced in January 2015 by the US Department of Defense that RAF Molesworth will close as a USAFE base in 2022. The USAF intelligence and support elements currently located at RAF Molesworth and RAF Alconbury will be combined in a new complex at RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire. RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, will also close as a USAFE base after 2020.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11040361
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38211532
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20840217
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
![Staff Sergeant Albert Van Hoon Carroll, a gunner of the 303rd Bomb Group marks raids on the door to an army hut. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257542.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: S/Sgt. (Gunner) Albert Van Hoon Carroll, aged 20, of 110 W. Fannin Marshall, Texas, marks up the record of another raid on a door at his English base. Carroll, a student before joining the U.S. Air Force, has taken part in 11 rai](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378857.jpg.webp?itok=5uYPb1V6)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18065235
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner / Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18171431
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hunga Dunga
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sky Wolf
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Garbage
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Connected aircraft records that have 'Molesworth' in their biography fields.
USAFE-AFAfrica Press Release, 08 January 2015. See http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123435803.
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)
![Private First Class Monroe Klein of the 303rd Bomb Group directs a 3 Ton Dodge at Molesworth. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'Known to all and sundry as a GI (General Issue), a private seems to be one of those people everybody takes for granted without realising the valuable work done by them. Pte 1st class Monroe Klein is at a bomber station in Britain. He works all day 'on the line', ie at dispersal points on the 'drome servicing aircraft w](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378794.jpg.webp?itok=1orF_yRT)
![Corporal George Turkel of the 303rd Bomb Group at work in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Molesworth. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943.' [stamp] and '245651.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'The war has switched Cpl George R Turkel from a night club on Miami Beach to a USAAF bomber squadron in England and George, whose home is at 1315 West 7th Street, Brooklyn, New York doesn’t mind the change. "The English are quaint, b](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378797.jpg.webp?itok=xrgcGAhQ)
![Private First Class Edward Boarders of the 303rd Bomb Group plays American Football on the runway of Molesworth air base. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942.' [stamp] and '238742.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'During an off-duty spell at his airfield in England PFC Edward J Borders takes a hefty kick at a football. Aged 22, and a press operator, Borders home is 5920 W 59th St Chicago.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378809.jpg.webp?itok=TcxKYo4g)
![Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (VK-D, serial number 41-24577) nicknamed "Hell's Angels" and Molesworth. Image stamped on reverse: 'Daily Sketch.'[stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'Hell's Angels and crew after her final mission. First bomber in the Eighth to fly 25 missions this original B-17F of 303rd BG was sent home to the US on a bonds tour. Molesworth personnel were allowed to autograph her as the photograph shows.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-418367.jpg.webp?itok=yKJZj3ln)
![Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game between missions. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257512.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Checker game between raids. Four airmen shown in the picture are (left to right) 2nd Lt Donald L Grant, navigator. Aged 23, and he comes from Sullivan, Ill. and holds the Air Medal and 2 Clusters, his wife Mrs DL Grant lives at R F D I Okolona Miss. Formerly employed as a truc](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378843.jpg.webp?itok=abToNZJE)
![Lucille Parker, Red Cross Aeroclub in a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 303rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 27 november 1943.' [stamp] and '39692.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse of photograph: 'Passed for publication 27 November 1943' [stamp].'OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE PHOTO DISTRIBUTED THRU OWI. Pro-HQ.-43-421. Lucille Parker, director of an Aeroclub at an 8th Air Force Bomber Station. She has parachuted from planes 189 times. She has 1,619 hours flying time as a p](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456637.jpg.webp?itok=8nH3PiiS)
