Kimbolton

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Kimbolton airfield looking west, the bomb dump and technical site with a T2 hangar is on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/635. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-81.jpg RAF_106G_UK_635_RP_3217 Aerial photograph of Kimbolton airfield looking west, the bomb dump and technical site with a T2 hangar is on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/635. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_635_RP_3217 - Aerial photograph of Kimbolton airfield looking west, the bomb dump and technical site with a T2 hangar is on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph...

Planned for RAF use, Kimbolton airfield was built by W and C French Ltd. in 1941. The airfield was increased in size to accommodate a full US heavy Bomb Group, and the first such unit to us it was the 91st Bomb Group, who arrived in September 1942. They quickly switched to Bassingbourn, and for a time the B-26s of the 17th Bomb Group occupied the base. Kimbolton is most associated with the 379th Bomb Group, who were resident at the airfield from late 1942. The 379th was one of the most successful of all of the Eighth's Bomb Groups. The airfield was handed back to the RAF at the end of the war, and was eventually sold off in the early 1960s.

Connections

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

People

Anthony T Albach

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Anthony Lloyd William Amaya

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19040467 / O-733509
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Major Alex B. Andrews, an 8th Air Force HQ special observer, in the cockpit of a damaged B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lil Satan" of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '379 BG. 25/6/44, 245. Alex B. Andrews, B/Gen USAF (ret.), Box 2627, Raleigh NC, USA.'

Alexander Boyd Andrews

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-900076
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Observer

Albert E Batich

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-738808
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Abram Earl Birch

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15080111 / O-736083
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

Captain Mack McKay, a pilot of the 306th Bomb Group and his crew point to a "kill" marking painted on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 21 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Nazi Airfield Near Paris Blasted ... 300 Fighters Out. Nearly 300 RAF fighters provided an "umbrella" for a large force of U.S. Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers which made the first atack yesterday (Sunday) in daylight on Romilly-Sur-Seine, site of a big Nazi airfield 20 miles south-east of Paris. ... 21/12/42. O

41-24460

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Audrey

41-24570

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Panhandle Dogie
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
An airman of the 379th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: '161.' Press caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Associated Press [Stamp].

41-9100

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Birmingham Blitzkreig
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron 525th Bomb Squadron

42-102627

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Queenie

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have 'Kimbolton' 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).

Kimbolton: Gallery (112 items)

Two airmen of the 379th Bomb Group go for a walk in a field near Kimbolton. Written on slide casing: 'Kimbolton.'

Object number: FRE 10662 - Two airmen of the 379th Bomb Group go for a walk...

The brightly-painted 'assembly ship' B-17 Flying Fortress of the 379th Bomb Group on the 24th of July 1944. Official caption on image: "71524 A.C." Handwritten caption on reverse: '379BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A-71524 A.C. - This gaily painted leadship is used at an 8th Air Force base somewhere in England to organize formations as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" of the 379th Bomb Group take off on missions over enemy territory. 24 July 1944. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 10918 - The brightly-painted 'assembly ship' B-17 Flying...

A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their mascot "Scragg", with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32024) nicknamed "Swamp Fire". Image via Byron Clark. A printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.']. Rear Row, L to R. Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret, Roy Avery- Waist Gunner, Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret, John Rose- Waist Gunner, Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner, Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gun

Object number: FRE 1243 - A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their...

Staff-Sergeant Robert J Brockman of the 379th Bomb Group paints a mission marking onto the nose of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-39783, nicknamed "Blues in the Knight". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News Photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publciation 6 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '314922.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '' HB 35. S/Sgt. Robert Brackman chalks up 38th Bomb on "Blues in the night" ( See above for details).'

Object number: FRE 1246 - Staff Sergeant Robert J Brockman of the 379th Bomb...

A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-0003) nicknamed "Ol' Gappy". Printed caption on reverse: '.'70915 AC A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses in front of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Ol' Gappy" at an 8th Air Force base in England on 12 June 1944.'

Object number: FRE 1251 - A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B...

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses circle above a fellow B-17 (serial number 42-30720) of the 379th Bomb Group at Kimbolton. Printed caption on reverse: ' ' 71532 AC - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" of the 379th Bomb Group are circling their home base as they return from a bombing mission on 13 May 1944. England. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO 1361st Photographic Squadron Aerospace Audio-Visual Service (MAC).'

Object number: FRE 1254 - A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses circle above a...

Lieutenant Gleen Feltz, navigator, and Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack, pilot, of the 306th Bomb Group inspect bullet holes in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four Leaf Clover". Passed for publication 12 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns From Toughest Day Raid “Raked From Tail To Nose.” Some of the fiercest air battles of the war were fought yesterday, January 11, when Fortresses and Liberators attacked vital targets in North-West Germany in great strength. Swarms of fighters cam

Object number: FRE 4367 - Lieutenant Glenn Feltz, navigator, and Lieutenant...

Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack (pilot) and Lieutenant Glenn Feltz (navigator) of the 379th Bomb Group examine bullet holes in the top turret of their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four Leaf Clover". Passed for publication 12 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns From Toughest Day Raid "Raked From Tail To Nose". Some of the fiercest air battles of the war were fought yesterday, January 11, when Fortresses and Liberators attacked vital targets in North-West Germany in great strength. Swarms o

Object number: FRE 4741 - Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack (pilot) and Lieutenant...

Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack (pilot) and Lieutenant Glenn Feltz (navigator) of the 379th Bomb Group examine bullet holes in the tail of their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four Leaf Clover". Passed for publication 12 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns From Toughest Day Raid "Raked From Tail To Nose". Some of the fiercest air battles of the war were fought yesterday, January 11, when Fortresses and Liberators attacked vital targets in North-West Germany in great strength. Swarms of figh

Object number: FRE 4742 - Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack (pilot) and Lieutenant...

Joe Wall, Peterson and Ed Millson of the 526th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress, 21 September 1943. Official caption on image: "(GPR-85-4-379)(21-9-43)." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Ed Millson.' Printed caption with (handwritten additions) on reverse: '(Navigator) Joe Wall - Peterson - (Millson). Peterson was the first (379th) man to walk out from France ... he was shot down at St. Nazaire. This was taken after his return. He was 526 pilot.'

Object number: FRE 4746 - Joe Wall, Peterson and Ed Millson of the 526th...

Colonel Maurice A. Preston talks to a bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, led by Major William C Sipes, after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ragin' Red", 1 Jan 1944. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- Colonel Maurice A. Preston, of Tulare, California, C.O. of the bomb group, on left, greeting the leader of the group, Major William C. Sipes, of Tuscan, Arizona (third from right) and other members of his crew after the mission. On right, Major

Object number: FRE 4750 - Colonel Maurice A. Preston talks to a bomber crew...

Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack of the 379th Bomb Group eaxmines the top turret on his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four Leaf Clover", 11 January 1944. Passed for publication 12 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns From Toughest Day Raid "Raked From Tail To Nose". Some of the fiercest air battles of the war were fought yesterday, January 11, when Fortresses and Liberators attacked vital targets in North-West Germany in great strength. Swarms of fighters came up to challenge them, the defen

Object number: FRE 4756 - Lieutenant Arthur W. Mack of the 306th Bomb Group...