Thurleigh

Airfield
A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.' media-379028.jpg FRE 1162 A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1162 - A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a...

Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their home from 1942 to December 1945. Placed on care and maintenance at the end of the war, the airfield was then used as an aircraft test and development centre until it was sold in 1996.

Connections

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-748164 / O-742818
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807967
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 39826549
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner, Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-726189
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dixie Demo II
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
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
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Audrey
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Excalibur
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have 'Thurleigh' 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).

Thurleigh: Gallery (84 items)