Colerne

Airfield
The control tower at Thurleigh air base. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible in the background. Image via Mike Bowyer A veteran has written on the reverse: 'From Mike Bowyer 3/72 from collection of wing/Co. 76 sqd. Halifax at Home. RAF station WWII.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WW:G 25729, GY:X.' media-379027.jpg FRE 1161 The control tower at RAF Colerne. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible in the background. 306BG B-17Fs 42-5729 (WW-G) and 42-29554 (GY-X) diverted to RAF Colerne following the 16th April 1943 mission to Lorient. Image via Mike Bowyer A veteran has written on the reverse: 'From Mike Bowyer 3/72 from collection of wing/Co. 76 sqd. Halifax at Home. RAF station WWII.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WW:G 25729, GY:X.' Roger Freeman Collection

Removed the association to Thurleigh.

Object Number - FRE 1161 - The control tower at RAF Colerne. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible...

Built in 1940 as an RAF Fighter Station, with US fighters based here in late 1942.

Connections

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

Detailed History

Located 4 miles NE of Bath, RAF Colerne opened in September 1940 and served throughout WW2 in the twin roles of Maintenance Unit and Fighter Command station. For a brief period Colerne had, as lodgers, P-38F Lightnings of the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, USAAF. The Group had been re-assigned from the 8th Air Force to the 12th Air Force for the North African Campaign. Their stay at Colerne was from 15th September 1942 to 6th November 1942 when they departed to Chivenor, Devon for staging.

Colerne remained an important RAF Station until the end of March 1976. Immediately afterwards the whole site was taken over by the Army as Azimghur Barracks.

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mason's Morons, Shangri-La Lil
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group work on a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5081) nicknamed "Luscious Lady". Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photographs.' [stamp], 'Keystone Press.' [stamp] and 'Sacred.' [stamp] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Luscious Lady
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

"The Mighty Eighth", by Roger Freeman

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / http://www.nettleden.com/venues/colerne/
http://www.chew76.fsnet.co.uk/colerne/colerne.html

Colerne: Gallery (7 items)