Podington

Airfield
A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.' FRE 735 FRE 735 A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.'

Tall man in center, fourth from Right, verified by son and grand-niece to be George E. O'Halloran from Wood Lake, NE, of 92nd Bomb Group, 327th SQ. Roger Freeman Collection

Info on George O'Halloran submitted by his grand-niece and confirmed by his son. 

Off

Object Number - FRE 735 - A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress...

Built originally to accommodate two RAF bomber squadrons, the first USAAF unit to occupy the base was the 15th Bomb Squadron in September 1942. Podington was then used as a satellite for nearby Chelveston. Work to lengthen the runways, although this was not wholly successful due to landscape problems: one of the runways remained 1,100 yards long, the shortest at any Eighth Air Force airfield. The 100th Bomb Group moved in for a short time in 1943, before being replaced by th 92nd Bomb Group. The 92nd left Podington at the end of the war in Europe, and the airfield was used by the Ministry of Defence for storage. After it was sold off in the 1960s, the airfield was developed into a home for drag racing, now known as 'Santa Pod'.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12164391
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16022483 / O-442762
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13033792
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37264777
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner/Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Captain Fred Dallas, a pilot of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9043) nicknamed "Peggy 'D' II". Image via BL Davies Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Office of War Information, American Embassy, London.' [stamp]. 'Passed by the censor no. 224594.' [caption] Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES SHOOT DOWN 13 IN BIG SWEEP VICTORY. Last Friday October 21, US Flying Fortresses, escorted by 400 Fighters including the Eagle Squadrons rece
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Peggy D Jr
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Turd Burd
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hells Kitchen
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24361) of the 301st Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2-10-42. Chelveston, 301BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Flying Fortress Raid French Factory. Associated Press Photo Shows:- A Flying Fortresses takes off for the raid on Meaulte. AP 252181. 5-10-42-N.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have 'Podington' 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)

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

Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 6: Military Airfields of the Cotswolds and the Central Midlands (Cambridge, 1983)

Podington: Gallery (90 items)