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

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People

Allen H Robinson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12038047
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Alvin G Schuering

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-804412
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arthur C Schultz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37116718
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Albert Emmett Sewald

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 13107091
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Allen G Sigafus

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36614747
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer

Aircraft

Ground personnel of the 92nd Bomb Group prepare to load bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Boomerang". Passed for publication 17 Oct 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'New "Fortress" Makes History In The Air. Oct. 1942. The most striking development of the war in the air is undoubtedly the sensational success of the American "Boeing" Flying Fortresses in the daylight bombing of enemy-occupied territory. In the most recent operation 105 German craft were destroyed, probably destroyed or damaged,

41-9148

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102503) of the 306th Bomb Group.

42-102503

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Belle of the Blue
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron

42-102512

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group
Princess Elizabeth and an airman of the 306th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102547) nicknamed "Rose of York", that has been named in her honour, 6 July 1944. Written on slide casing: 'Rose of York.'

42-102547

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Elizabeth, The Princess, Rose of York
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (**-Y, serial number 42-102557) nicknamed "Ice Cold Katie" of the 306th Bomb Group, in flight.

42-102557

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ice Cold Katie
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

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)