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Alexandria Army Air Base

Military site : airfield

  • TB-17G 42-102768 at Alexandria AAF. A bomber crew that later served with the 452nd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption: 'Front row L to R: J Stock (Pilot), M L Potter (Co-Pilot), E P Agnello (Bombardier), J C Taylor (Navigator). Rear: W J Hermanson (Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner), H Gazawau (Radio Op), S Shuey (Waist Gunner) D J Papa (Ball Turret Gunner), ? Moulton (he left crew), R D Beard (Tail Gunner). Photo about June 1944

    TB-17G 42-102768 at Alexandria AAF. A bomber crew that later served with the 452nd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption: 'Front row L to R: J Stock (Pilot), M L Potter (Co-Pilot), E P Agnello (Bombardier), J C Taylor (Navigator). Rear: W J Hermanson (Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner), H Gazawau (Radio Op), S Shuey (Waist Gunner) D J Papa (Ball Turret Gunner), ? Moulton (he left crew), R D Beard (Tail Gunner). Photo about June 1944

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  • B-17F-DL LADY GRACE Alexandria, LA 1944 (AL) ( see B-17F-DL 42-3019 at Alexandria, Jan 1944 as possible match.)

    B-17F-DL LADY GRACE Alexandria, LA 1944 (AL) ( see B-17F-DL 42-3019 at Alexandria, Jan 1944 as possible match.)

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  • B-17F-DL LADY GRACE Alexandria, LA 1944 (AL) ( see B-17F-DL 42-3019 at Alexandria, Jan 1944 as possible match.)

    B-17F-DL LADY GRACE Alexandria, LA 1944 (AL) ( see B-17F-DL 42-3019 at Alexandria, Jan 1944 as possible match.)

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  • Colorized photo of the Sam Peak crew. Photo taken spring 1944 at Alexandria Air Base in Alexandria, Louisiana. Front Row L to R: Samuel L. Peak, Victor R. Romasco, Thomas J. Tracy, Allen Osterberg. Back Row L to R: Murl F. Simmons, Richard Oberlin, Frank A. Welke Jr., Robert F. Scharff, Redin R. Kilpatrick, Max L. Rockey. Kilpatrick and Tracy not assigned with 534th BS.

    Colorized photo of the Sam Peak crew. Photo taken spring 1944 at Alexandria Air Base in Alexandria, Louisiana. Front Row L to R: Samuel L. Peak, Victor R. Romasco, Thomas J. Tracy, Allen Osterberg. Back Row L to R: Murl F. Simmons, Richard Oberlin, Frank A. Welke Jr., Robert F. Scharff, Redin R. Kilpatrick, Max L. Rockey. Kilpatrick and Tracy not assigned with 534th BS.

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  • Left to right: Unknown Lt., Lt. Roy Rice, Lt. Sam Peak, Lt. Sanford White, Lt. Allen Osterberg

    Left to right: Unknown Lt., Lt. Roy Rice, Lt. Sam Peak, Lt. Sanford White, Lt. Allen Osterberg

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  • Back row left to right: Lt. Roy Rice, Lt. Sam Peak, Lt. Victor Romasco Front row left to right: Lt. Allen Osterberg and unknown Lt.

    Back row left to right: Lt. Roy Rice, Lt. Sam Peak, Lt. Victor Romasco Front row left to right: Lt. Allen Osterberg and unknown Lt.

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Detailed history

The base was opened on 21 October 1942 and performed Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircrew training. It was placed on inactive status on September 23, 1946, although a small cadre of Army and Air Force personnel (331 Composite Squadron) remained assigned to Alexandria Municipal Airport throughout the late 1940s.

Its major operating units were:

United States Army Air Forces
67th Airdrome Squadron, 1 February 1943 – 25 March 1943
471st Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943 – 7 May 1943
469th Bombardment Group, 7 May 1943 – 1 April 1944
221st AAF Base Unit, 25 March 1944 – 1 March 1945
329th AAF Base Unit, 1 March 1945 – 23 September 1946

English Heritage's record description

Not yet known

Service

People

  • Willard Beaird

    Military | Private First Class (6th Grade) | B-17 Gunner

  • John England

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
    Flight leader 362nd FS 357th Fighter Group March 1943 - Feb. 1945 ...

  • Wilton Fremaux

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
    Wilton Fremaux enlisted on September 14, 1942. 26 missions; B-17 Flying Fortress; T/SGT; Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner. He was from Alexandria, Louisiana. He was stationed at Kimbolton, England with the 379th Bomber Group, 524th Bomb Squadron....

  • John MacCallum

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 11 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Sorau Germany mission 11-Apr-44 'Tenny Belle' exploded in mid-air near Downham Market, England. Killed in Action (KIA) Awards: AM, PH.

  • Howard Polizzo

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner / Armorer | 379th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA). Plane exploded mid-air near Downham Market, England ...

Number
Not yet known
Known as
England Air Force Base
Construction date
1939
USAAF from date
21 October 1942
USAAF to date
23 September 1946
Closure date
1991

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
07 July 2021 14:20:27 Emily Changes to known as, usaaf to date, construction date, closure date and person associations
Sources

https://www.alexandria-louisiana.com/england-air-force-base.htm
Date Contributor Update
28 March 2018 04:14:53 TennyBelle Changes to name, latitude, longitude, usaaf from date, construction date, closure date and history
Sources

Wikipedia
Date Contributor Update
15 March 2018 01:40:19 Tom22 Created entry with name, latitude and longitude
Sources

This picture was taken at the 211th AAF BU (Combat Crew Training Station-Heavy) Alexandria Army Air Field, LA. The "Stencil" type number were unique to this base.

Hope this a help,

Tom

Tom

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