Old Buckenham
Airfield
IWM, English Heritage Collection
Object Number - US_7PH_GP_LOC73_V_1010 - Aerial photograph of Old Buckenham airfield looking east, the bomb dump is upper left, the technical site and sick quarters are below the airfield, 9...
Allocated to the Eighth Air Force as a bomber base in 1942, Old Buckenham was built during 1942-43 with three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. The station was the exclusive home for the 453rd Bomb Group, equipped with B-24s, from December 1943 to May 1945. The 453rd enjoyed the distinction of having film star James Stewart as its Group Executive Officer during the Spring of 1944. Returned to the RAF in 1945, the station was used as a satellite for maintenance units until closed in 1960. Sold off during 1960-64, the site was then largely demolished and returned to agriculture. However, several original buildings and concrete pads remain at the site, the majority of which form part of Old Buckenham Airfield, with one hard runway and two grass strips.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37228561
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-713383
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39725258 at enlistment, then O-701423
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
![Allen H Bryson, Sol Greenberg and Albert J Gehrt of the 453rd Bomb Group in their underwear after a mission. Handwritten letter enclosed with print: '1 [left] Allen H Bryson- Pilot, 2 [right] Albert H Gehrt- Bombardier, 3 [center] Sol Greenberg- Navigator. Part of the crew of "The Gypsy Queen", 733rd Sqdn. 453rd Bomb Group at Old Buckenham. Taken in long johns, pistol and parachute harness after returning from a mission.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380674.jpg.webp?itok=FeDJ5j6d)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12182250
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Shoo-Shoo Baby
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Gypsy Queen
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Sleepy Time Gal
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)
Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (2nd edn, London, 2001)
Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)
http://www.oldbuck.com/en/home/
http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/old-buckenham
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Old_Buckenham
