Thurleigh

Airfield
A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.' media-379028.jpg FRE 1162 A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1162 - A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a...

Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their home from 1942 to December 1945. Placed on care and maintenance at the end of the war, the airfield was then used as an aircraft test and development centre until it was sold in 1996.

Connections

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

People

Aaron E Cuddeback

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-442742
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
The insignia of the 367th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group.

Albert Guy D'Amico

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-754471
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Arnold B Derifield

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-735980
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Alton Vernon Dodd

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38404948
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Albert J Doine

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12043922
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

41-24470

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sons of Fury
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'

41-24471

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Four of a Kind
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

41-24472

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

41-24474

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Floozy
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have 'Thurleigh' in their biography fields.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Thurleigh: Gallery (84 items)

Ambulances parked at Thurleigh, home of the 306th Bomb Group, January 1945. Written on slide casing: 'Ambulances parked near field awaiting bombers dept.'

Object number: FRE 5945 - Ambulances parked at Thurleigh, home of the 306th...

Personnel of the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group outside the combat room at Thurleigh. Written on slide casing: '369 BS/ 306 BG.'

Object number: FRE 5949 - Personnel of the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb...

A P-47 Thunderbolt used as a hack plane by the 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh. Written on slide casing: 'WW S-? P-47 Thurleigh.'

Object number: FRE 5952 - A P-47 Thunderbolt used as a hack plane by the...

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group fly in formation over Thurleigh. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Jul 1943.' [stamp] annd '274709.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PHOTO SHOWS:- A formation of Fortress Bomber flying over the airfield.'

Object number: FRE 6385 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group fly...

A P-51 Mustang on the hardstanding at Thurleigh, home of the 306th Bomb Group. Image via Ben Marcilouis. Written on slide casing: '9H:L, 1st SF, Thurleigh.'

Object number: FRE 6911 - A P-51 Mustang on the hardstanding at Thurleigh...

A P-47 Thunderbolt ("War Weary") of the 56th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant-Colonel David Schilling. Written on slide casing: 'Schilling's A/C at Thurleigh.'

Object number: FRE 7500 - A P-47 Thunderbolt ("War Weary") of the 56th...

First Lieutenant Charles F Jones of the 303rd Bomb Groupn plays skittles in one of the recreation rooms at Molesworth. He was transferred to the United States Eighth Air Force from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238734.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Delighted to be with the American lads. I transferred from the Royal Canadian Air Force in November and am now on the job as a first Lt" It is 1st Lt Charles F Jones speaking

Object number: FRE 927 - First Lieutenant Charles F Jones of the 306th Bomb...

Object number: UPL 16769 - 1st Lt. John McKee, pilot of the Rose O' Day...