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Military site : airfield
P-38F-15-LO #43-2136 1st FG - 27th FS
"Airdrome at Chateaudun, France attacked by a large force of U.S. heavies."
"At Chateaudun, France, 30 miles northwest of Orleans, the often-hit bomber and reconnaissance airbase there was attacked 14 June 1944. More and more bombs may be seen plummeting earthward during the attack."
"Bombs dropped a few minutes before by B-17 "Flying Fortresses" of the 452nd Bomb Group burst on the hangar area of the Nazi airdrome at Chateaudun, France, 28 March 1944. 8th Air Force bombers daily hammered Nazi military installations to bring about a lasting peace. (Taken by Sgt Melvin S Jenner)."
"Bursting bombs can be seen partially covering the German airdrome at Chateaudun on 14 June 1944 as U.S. 8th AAF Consolidated B-24 Liberators attacked."
"High explosives and fragmentation bombs shower landing strips and dispersal areas at Chateaudun, France."
"Photo of Nazi airfield at Chateaudun, France, was taken a few moments before B-17 "Flying Fortresses" of the 452nd Bomb Group released their bombs during their raid of 28 March 1944. Pock-marks on the runways indicate that these B-17s had made the trip before with good results. (Taken by Sgt Melvin S Jenner)."
"The entire landing area and runways are pitted with bomb craters at the Chateaudun airdrome in France. The most recent attack on this German airdrome 14 June 44 by U.S. 8th AAF heavies was designed to make the field proper serviceable. Two two-bay hangars have been severely damaged by direct hits and many dispersal areas disrupted."
"The Nazi airfield at Chateaudun in occupied France was pounded by Flying Fortresses of the U.S. 8th AF on March 28. Two large concentrations in the north and northwest sections of the field hit hangars, dispersal areas, and barracks."
"Nut Cracker" Douglas-Long Beach B-17F-10-DL Flying Fortress, s/n 42-2985, 414th BS, 97th BG, 12th AF. Hit by flak on 1 August 1943 mission to bomb the airfield at Naples, Italy. 5 KIA, 5 POW.
During World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps. The airfield was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and its primary use was that of a heavy bomber airfield, with concrete runways, hardstands and taxiways. Billeting and support facilities consisted of tents. The 2d Bomb Group and the 97th Bomb Group were the primary tenants at the airfield, both flying B-17 Flying Fortresses missions over targets in Italy; Tunisia; Sicily and Sardinia. The 1st Fighter Group flew escort for the Fortresses, as well as attacking enemy ground targets of opportunity.
Known units assigned to the airfield were:
HQ 5th Bombardment Wing, March– August 1943
HQ 7th Fighter Wing (later 47th Bombardment Wing), 11 January – 1 March 1943
1st Fighter Group, ca. 16 Feb 43 - 29 Jun 43[1] Lockheed P-38 Lightning
27th, 71st, 94th Fighter Squadrons 2d Bombardment Group, 27 April – 7 June 1943,[2] B-17 Flying Fortress
20th, 49th, 96th, 414th Bombardment Squadrons 97th Bombardment Group, 8 February – 1 August 1943,[3] B-17 Flying Fortress
340th, 341st, 342nd, 429th Bombardment Squadrons 37th Service Group, 12 Feb 43 - 12 Aug 43
26th, 49th Service Squadrons, 1033rd Signal Company, 1070th Ordnance Company (Air Base), 1680th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
When the Americans moved out in late 1943, the airfield was dismantled and abandoned. Today, there is almost no evidence of its existence, as the land has returned to agricultural use. Faint outlines of dispersal pads, runways and taxiways can be seen in aerial photography, and there may be a number of agricultural buildings on a former concreted aircraft parking/maintenance area to the south of the field.
Not yet known
Group
The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...
Group
Served on antisubmarine duty for several months after the U.S. entered World War II. In October 1942 was re-designated as 2d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and earmarked for combat. The group was transferred on paper to Geiger Field, Washington, where it...
Group
The 1st Fighter Group were initially deployed to Britain in the summer of 1942 as part of Operation Bolero. After shuttling through a number of different bases in the UK, the Group was reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force in September 1942 and supported...
Military | 387th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | photographer
He was a photo reconnaissance pilot with the Army Air Corps, flew missions from France and Belgium, including the Battle of the Bulge, in the winter of 1944/1945. Born February 20, 1924 and raised in San Leandro California, Bob enlisted at the age of...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner & Asst. Radio Operator | 97th Bomb Group
Military | Colonel | Pilot, instructor | 99th Bomb Group
Richard Ernest Evans grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. He started his flying career graduating from the Primary Flying School, Love Field, March 21, 1940, Class of 40-E. He continued his flight training, transferred to Flight #8 Advanced Training...
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine | 1st Fighter Group
Flight leader 94th FS 1st FG
50 missions
3 ME-109s confirmed, 2 probable, 2 damaged
1 ship destroyed
Post war 123rd FIS OR ANG
Military | First Lieutenant | Squadron Intelligence Officer | 340th Bomb Group
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 92BG Bangor 2/8/42; 340BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42 THE RED GREMLIN; took Gen Eisenhower to Gibraltar (1st B-17 to Gib) with Paul Tibbets; Maison Blanche 13/11/42; Tafaraoui 22/11/42; Biskra 25/12/42; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered W Palm Beach 8/1/43; Assigned 414BS/97BG Biskra 28/1/43; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; Missing in Action Naples 1/8/43 with Bob Rast, Alvarado, Ponemone, Bigelow, Dibble, Shea, Anderson, Nichols, Smith, Mathews; flak hit knocked off wing, crashed...
P-38 Lightning
Flown by Capt Edward Newbury.
Lost on Feb 10, 1944 with pilot 2Lt Tom Collier KIA
P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
B-25 Mitchell
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 30 December 2021 22:10:46 | jmoore43 | Changes to history |
| Sources | ||
Added some punctuation in the "Detailed history" to aid readability. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 02:00:54 | 466thHistorian | Created entry with name, latitude, longitude, usaaf from date, usaaf to date and history |
| Sources | ||
