Skip to main content
Edit entry 

Gosfield

Military site : airfield

  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal", (VE-N, serial number 43-37675) nicknamed "Patches (Flak Magnet)", (VE-K, serial number 42-106994) nicknamed "Little Guy" and (VP-S, serial number 42-97059) nicknamed "Marsha Sue". Image via Ian MacTaggart.

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • A-20G-35-DO #43-9977 Talliwacker II Code: 6Q-N 410th BG - 647th BS - 9th AF

    A-20G-35-DO #43-9977 Talliwacker II Code: 6Q-N 410th BG - 647th BS - 9th AF

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • A-20J-15-DO #43-21745

    A-20J-15-DO #43-21745 "The Real McCoy" Code: 8U-S 410th BG - 646th BS

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • A-20K-15-DO #44-613

    A-20K-15-DO #44-613 "Helen" Code: 7X-T 410th BG - 545th BS

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • A two-seat P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed

    A two-seat P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Astra" of the 365th Fighter Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: '365 FG no Gosfield.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Suspect continent, post 7/44.'

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • P-47 Thunderbolts of the 365th Fighter Group line up for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '365 FG not Gosfield, post 7/44.'

    P-47 Thunderbolts of the 365th Fighter Group line up for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '365 FG not Gosfield, post 7/44.'

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • Crew huts at Gosfield, home of the 397th Bomb Group. Post war.

    Crew huts at Gosfield, home of the 397th Bomb Group. Post war.

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • Aerial photograph of the north end of Gosfield airfield, looking south east, the bomb dump is in the upper centre, 29 February 1944, taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC186. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

    Aerial photograph of the north end of Gosfield airfield, looking south east, the bomb dump is in the upper centre, 29 February 1944, taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC186. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • Aerial photograph of Gosfield airfield looking south east, 29 February 1944, taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC186. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

    Aerial photograph of Gosfield airfield looking south east, 29 February 1944, taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC186. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  • Aerial photograph of Gosfield airfield looking north west, the bomb dump is at the top 9 November 1943, taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC73. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

    Aerial photograph of Gosfield airfield looking north west, the bomb dump is at the top 9 November 1943, taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC73. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

    Show caption About this image
    1-5 of 14
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

First used as an airfield during the First World War, when known as Royal Flying Corps/RAF Sible Hedingham, it was built as Gosfield for the Eighth Air Force and then Ninth Air Force in 1942-43. Home to first the 365th Fighter Group, then the 397th Bomb Group 1944 and 410th Bomb Group, it was handed back to the RAF in 1945. The airfield was closed and mostly returned to agriculture in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was also used as a car test track 1968-87, and for light engineering and plant hire from the 1990s to date.

Service

Units

People

  • Julius Almond

    Military | Captain | 365th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 387FS, 365FG, 9AF USAAF. Flew 94 missions over France, Belgium, and Germany. Completed Tour Duty (ETD). ...

  • Westmoreland Babbage

    Military | Second Lieutenant | 416th Bomb Group
    Enlisted in California, and killed in action on 21 March 1945

  • Wilfred Cornwell

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Arm/Gunner | 410th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 647BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Gerolstein RR Bridge. Took direct flak hit to bomb bay, fell out of formation in flames, one chute seen to emerge before A/C hit ground and exploded. 22-Jan-45. Killed in Action ...

  • Andrew Essman

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Airplane Crew Chief MOS 059 | 397th Bomb Group
    Technical Sergeant Andrew W. Essman was the dedicated crew chief of Aircraft B-26B-55-MA 42-96191/9FN nicknamed “The Milk Run Special.” ...

  • Max Gunsolley

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 410th Bomb Group
    "In preparation for the Allies invasion of Normandy, France on 6 June 1944, Max and his fellow crew members (1LT Robert C. Bruce and SSgt Irving P. Hanflig) participated in round the clock bombing missions over heavily defended German positions in...

  • Donald Hillman

    Military | Colonel | Fighter Pilot 1055 single engine/DeputyGroup Commander | 365th Fighter Group
    CO 386th FS Deputy Gp CO 365th FG 146 missions 5 air kills MIA/POW Oct 7, 1944. MACR #9644 Post War: CO 94th FS (was on the cover of Life Magazine) CO 42nd BW and 92nd BW flying B-52s. Col USAF retired on Sep[t. 1, 1962.

  • Leo Kirschner

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Arm/Gunner | 410th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 647BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. 25 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Gerolstein RR Bridge. Took direct flak hit to bomb bay, fell out of formation in flames, one chute seen to emerge before A/C hit ground and exploded. 22-Jan-45....

  • James Lindamood

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 410th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 645BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Le Haye 7-Jun-44 in A-20 43-10205; A/C shed wing due to engine fire. Baled out over English channel. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 5653 ...

  • John Metz

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 410th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 645BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Le Haye 7-Jun-44 in A-20 #43-10205; A/C shed wing due to engine fire. Bailed out over English channel. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 5653 Awards: AM (OLC), PH.

  • Anthony Papaleo

    Military | Corporal | Fire Fighter
    Died in the Line of Duty when a 500 lb bomb from a burning Liberator exploded in the vicinity of Gosfield Airbase, England.

Show more

Aircraft

  • 42-21732 'Maxine IV'

    A-20 Havoc
    Assigned to 646BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Germany, ...

  • 43-10205

    A-20 Havoc
    Assigned to 645BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. On 7 June 1944 aircraft A-20 Havoc 43-10205 was assigned a target at LaHaye, France. On return the pilot John Metz called that the aircraft was on one engine and he was leaving the formation over the English channel...

  • 43-22065 'Paula E II' 'Bootsie'

    A-20 Havoc
    Assigned to 671BS, 416BG, 9AF. Transferred to 646BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Ahute railhead. Hit in wing by flak, 2 chutes seen to emerge before A/C impacted. 1 x KIA, 2 x POW. 25-Dec-44. MACR 11899. ...

  • 43-9489 Angel II

    A-20 Havoc
    Crashed at Brest, France on 6 September 1944, possibly as result of bomb exploding in bomb bay. Pilot 1Lt Earl Ray Bever, Jr., Armorer/Gunner SSgt Chester Walter Dunaj and Mechanic/Gunner SSgt Fred Lowell Yoos were killed. MACR 9102 & 16128

  • 43-9490

    A-20 Havoc
    Shot down by AA fire at Ouerre on mission to Dreux, France on 6 July 1944. Gunner SSgt James Fredrick Gage and Mechanic/Gunner SSgt Henry Edward Happel were KIA, the pilot 2Lt Theodore Roosevelt Stablein evaded capture and returned to Allied lines....

  • 43-9502

    A-20 Havoc
    Shot down by AA fire E of Grand-Couronne on a mission to Rouen, France on 4 August 1944. Pilot 1Lt Thomas Gerald Walsh KIA, gunner Sgt Karl Waldemar Haeuser POW and gunner SSgt Fred Herman POW. MACR 7932

  • 43-9894 'Thunderbird'

    A-20 Havoc
    Assigned to 647BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Saulautern mission hit in starboard engine, aflame and streaming white smoke, dropped out of formation and bellied in. Crew believed they were in friendly territory till L-4 landed, Arm/Gunner...

  • 43-9904 Mary Ruth

    A-20 Havoc
    Hit by flak 2km west of Allery, 15km south of Abbeville, France on 6 June 1944. ...

  • 44-182

    A-20 Havoc
    Assigned to 647BS, 410BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Gerolstein RR Bridge. Took direct flak hit to Bombay, fell out of formation in flames, one chute seen to emerge before A/C hit ground and exploded. 22-Jan-45. [3 x KIA] MACR 11925. ...

  • 43-9441

    A-20 Havoc
    Written off in a landing accident at Grantham on 11 July 1944. Pilot Gerald F. Dale.

Show more

Number
154
Known as
Not yet known
Construction date
Not yet known
USAAF from date
Not yet known
USAAF to date
Not yet known
Closure date
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:02:16 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979)

Share