Sutton Bridge

Airfield

Connections

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

Detailed History

Located immediately south of the A17 and nine miles west of Kings Lynn the airfield lay on the eastern side of the river Nene. Sutton Bridge's origins go back to the 1920's. Being close to the air to ground firing ranges on the Wash, the airfield was always associated with RAF gunnery training.

The USAAF's 1st Gunnery and Tow Target Flight were lodgers from May 10 1944 to 21 Nov 1944.

The airfield was abandoned in 1948 and no traces remain, save for a memorial near the east end of the bridge



The Military

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Service Numbers: 17077392 / O-767085
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Eighth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: O-819967
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 354th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-857593
  • Highest Rank: Flight Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Service Numbers: O-390284
  • Highest Rank: Captain

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: The Flying Ute / Windy
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Powers Girl
  • Unit: 6th Fighter Wing 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 67th Observation Group 109th Observation Squadron Headquarters (VIII Fighter Command) 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 333rd Service Group 52nd Fighter Group 332nd Service Squadron 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight

Revisions

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

The Military Airfields of Britain, EAST MIDLANDS; Ken Delve; Crowood Press, 2008. The Mighty Eighth War Manual; Roger A Freeman

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources