And, while you are in the area, and if you have time, consider visiting molesworth airfield, aaf station 103, home of the 303rd bg and 41st combat wing hq, kimbolton airfield, aaf station 117, home of the 379th bg, now an industrial estate, and harrington airfield, aaf station 179, home of the carpetbaggers clandestine operations, with a nice. Raf polebrook was the first airfield to be completed out of a number in the northamptonshirehuntingdonshire area which were laid down for raf bomber command during late 1940 and early 1941. At airfield warehousing ltd the same handling team have been operating our warehouse space in peterborough for over 20 years. Back in 1984 we went to visit it, and i took a picture of him there with a monument to his former bomber triangle, but he did all.
This site is dedicated to the 351st bombardment group heavy, eighth united states army air force, based at polebrook, northamptonshire, england, during world war ii. Polebrook memorial polebrook, northamptonshire, uk world. In december 1959 a thor missile site was established at polebrook with the unit staying until august 1963. Smallest tablet is set into the ground a short distance in front of pyramid memorial. Apr 24, 2016 flight around polebrook airfield 351bg. Back in 1984 we went to visit it, and i took a picture of him there with a monument to his former bomber triangle, but. In may 1942 the usaaf 97th bg arrived with b17s, flying the first 8th air force heavy bomber mission to rouen marshalling yards on 17th aug 1942.
The population including armston at the 2011 census was 478. The 414 th squadron of the 97 th bomb group was briefly based here flying the boeing b17 fortress from the 11 th june to the 10 th november 1942. American airmen in britain during the second world war imperial. Polebrook was laid down for raf bomber command use in 19401941. Bomber bases of world war 2, airfields of 2nd air division usaaf. Sadly unable to be present for the ceremony, rick sent the following personal tribute, read by karen munton, md of airfield warehousing at polebrook. Our employees always treat your goods with absolute care. There is evidence that polebrook as a settlement dates back to 400 bc, where the village consisted of mainly farms. The royal air force raf also built decoy airfields to draw enemy fire away. Polebrook is called pochebroc in the domesday book, and was the centre of a large administrative area the polebrook hundred. The 97th bomb group used polebrook first, before the 351st bomb group moved to the airfield in the spring of 1943.
The government introduced rationing in january 1940 and each person received a ration book with coupons. Royal air force station polebrook or more simply raf polebrook is a former royal air force station located. While gps technology allows us to pinpoint any location on the planet, mark the location, and share it with others, waymarking is the toolset for categorizing and adding unique information for that location. The units stayed at the airfield until 1947 after which time polebrook became a satellite of raf upwood. Polebrook was initially laid down as an airfield for the raf in late 1940 early 1941. Bowman describes 16 airfields such as grafton underwood, kimbolton, bassingbourn, polebrook and thurleigh, the chapters being arranged alphabetically. The farms were mainly centred on the modern day village of ashton. Jan 01, 1999 airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression.
It was from polebrook that the united states army air forces eighth air force carried out its first heavy bomb group boeing b17 flying fortress combat mission on. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in the uk during world war 2. Polebrook wwii airfield oundle message board tripadvisor. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what. Providing secure commercial storage in polebrook, oundle. A memorial to fallen allies stilton village website. Main memorial formed by a large rectangular plinth surmounted by a pyramid. Our warehouse storage site is steeped in history, based on a former world war ii air base located 3. A glazed cabinet containing a visitors book stands nearby.
Major ladoux tried to assist the crew to land their bomber at raf polebrook. Lincolnshires haunted airfields weird history with. The airfield was declared inactive in october 1948. They remained at the base until the end of the war. Polebrook wwii airfield information peterborough message. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Over 200 airfields were occupied or newlybuilt by the usaaf. Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months. Northampton borough, polebrook, navisford, huxloe hundreds, and higham ferrers borough victoria county history 9781904356073. Rafusaaf polebrook, northamptonshire raf polebrook is a former world war ii airfield located 3. Polebrook airfield display in the hangar this website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket.
Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. Please let me know if i have missed any out, as i keep a substantial database of these nearly 3000 listings i have only listed airfield related aviation books, but i am sure there are many other aviation books available. Airfield warehousing ltd secure warehouse space in. Polebrook airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Photographs of world war two airfiield memorials in the united kingdom. Most of the books are authored by 351st veterans who share accounts of life at polebrook airfield and their wartime experiences. If you like local 2nd world war history, i highly recommend this book. The raf used the base for operational trials including of b17 flying fortresses. The 351st bomb group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at polebrook, northamptonshire from april 1943 to june 1945. Buy suffolk airfields in the second world war reprint by graham smith isbn. The initial construction was of three runways, the concrete runway lengths were 0826 at 1,280 yards, 1432 at 1,200 yards and 0220, 1,116 yards.
Valor at polebrook, by david poole, depicts the b17g flying fortress, ten horsepower, flown by 2lt walter e. Raf polebrook in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Their first experiences came as soon as they moved into the tower. Clark gable was stationed at the american airbase polebrook for the summer of 1943. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. The story of ten horsepower might have remained forever untold but for the diligent research of author rick school, who described the crews heroism in his book valor at polebrook. Polebrook memorial polebrook, northamptonshire, uk. It was from polebrook that the united states army air forces eighth air force carried out its first heavy bomb group b17 combat mission on august 17, 1942, and from which major clark gable flew combat missions in 1943. Here are 5 of the uks most supernaturally active airfields. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. It really is a most fascinating period in the 19th century, and has continued ever since. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
Accommodation for over 2,000 personnel was provided on sites built in woodland to the north of the station. Airfield warehousing limited all saints church, polebrook. They often heard mysterious morse code messages and saw phantom airmen walking around their home. It wasnt, it was then based at biskra airfield in algeria when the incident occurred, during a raid on tunis, on the 1 st february 1943. Polebrook wwii airfield information peterborough forum.
Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. This place is situated in northamptonshire county, east midlands, england, united kingdom, its geographical coordinates are 52 28 0 north, 0 25 0 west and its original name with diacritics is polebrook. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Experiencing war, the veterans history project of the library of congress. Many of the 8th air force groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in europe but before. They also feature, alongside many others, in iwms new book somewhere in england. The book was expanded and reprinted in 2008 as the 351st bomb group the duty to.
World war two airfield memorials in the united kingdom. Ltd, it had short runways which were lengthened for usaaf heavy bomber use. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The history of harrington airfield harrington aviation museum.
Part group history, part travelogue, bowmans book offers an interesting capsule history of famous b17 units and the bases they are forever linked with. Discovering our aviation history, and double listings. Lincolnshires haunted airfields weird history with ghost. It was assigned to the 94th combat wing, also at polebrook. Photographs of world war two airfiield memorials in the united. Former thor missile launch pad at polebrook airfield. Derelictplaces is a forum for people with an interest in the history and documentation of disused. Royal air force station polebrook or more simply raf polebrook is a former royal air force station located 3. In 1942, the airfield was handed over to the eighth air force. World war two airfield memorials in the united kingdom home. The groups most famous member was hollywood actor clark gable, who flew four five missions with them as an observer gunner for the making of recruitment film combat america. My father was stationed in england at polebrook during wwii, and i would like to visit his airfield with my children. Rafusaaf polebrook, northamptonshire derelict places. The airfield closed in 1947 and a new road cuts through the airfield.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Raf polebrook in the second world war, the wartime memories project. The airfield was built on rothschild estate land starting in august 1940. Airfield warehousing ltd, polebrook, polebrook airfield. Part of former thor missile launch pad at polebrook. Proceeds benefit the 351st bomb group memorial association. Media in category raf polebrook the following 16 files are in this category, out of 16 total. Truemper and ssgt mathies, being escorted by major elzia ladoux, commanding officer 509th bombardment squadron, aboard my princess. I also include a short list of similar proposed books to be published in 2004. For many years the gregory family lived in the wartime control tower at elsham wold. This page was last edited on 31 january 2019, at 06. The first squadron to operate from the field was no 90 who were flying boeing b17 flying fortress i aircraft.
The site was redeveloped in 1942 for use by the united states army 8th air force, redesignated station 110. Six weeks after kegelmans raid, the eighth air force launched its first heavy bomber mission. Oct 15, 2016 lincolnshires haunted airfields october 15, 2016 february 16, 2019 mj wayland haunted airfield, weird world war a faint throb of a lancaster returning in the morning mist, a light flickers in a disused control tower and a roar of laughter comes from the derelict pilots quarters. A b17 flying fortress serial number 42107124 of the 351st bomb group flies over polebrook. First raid for the mighty eighth warfare history network. Polebrook airfield, memorial car park, northamptonshire. Back in 1984 we went to visit it, and i took a picture of him there with a monument to his former bomber triangle, but he did all the research for that trip, and he is since deceased.
Perhaps the single biggest personal discovery i made in researching this book concerns the history of ballooning in the uk. A smaller tablet, bearing a map of the former airfield, is set into the ground a few yards to the. Harrington airfield, known as station 179 during ww2, was built by the 826th. Polebrook is a village in northamptonshire, england. The airfield is now disused, but remains a rich part of polebrook culture. Media in category 351st bombardment group united states army air forces the following 16 files are in this category, out of 16 total. Dispatched to polebrook, northamptonshire with a film crew of five in april 1943. Corby town,railway station,the old clay holes and site of the old black hills. The b17s were not a success and soon ceased operations over europe. As a small established company with a great reputation we can provide you with a professional and friendly service. Polebrook is called pochebroc in the domesday book, and was the centre of a large.
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