L to R Steven, Martin, Sean, Nick and Jamie
RAF Kimbolton
L to R Steven, Martin, Sean, Nick and Jamie
Mission 1
24/2/08
Target: RAF Kimbolton
Crew: 5, Jamie, Martin, Nick, Sean, Steve.
Met report: Temp 8c, Wind 10mph
Flak: No Flak or enemy resistance at all.
Found Target: spot on.
Returned home safely.
A Brief history
Army Air Force Station 117 Kimbolton is located 8 miles west of Huntingdon in
Cambridgeshire.
The airfield at Kimbolton was originally built in 1941 for the RAF with a 1340
yard long main runway. Hangar accommodations consisted of two standards T2 dispersed
on the western and southern sides of the airfield. In 1942 the airfield was
used by the American heavy bombers of the 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 17th
Bombardment Group (medium) and the 279th Bombardment group (heavy)
91st Bombardment group (heavy) arrived during September 1942 from Walla Walla
AAF Washington. The 91st was assigned to the 1st Combat Bombardment Wing of
the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-A flying B-17 Flying
Fortress. The squadrons were:
322d Bomb squadron (LG)
323d Bomb squadron (OR)
324th Bomb squadron (DF)
401st Bomb squadron (LL)
Due to the runways at Kimbolton not being strong or long enough for the safe
operation of the B17, there stay at Kimbolton was a short one, only a few weeks,
until they moved to RAF Bassingbourn on the 14th October.
17th Bombardment group (medium)
The 17th flew the B26 “Marauder” medium Bomber arriving in October 1942 from
Barksdale AAF Louisiana, they used Kimbolton as a transitory airfield on its
way to the North African campaign. Originally intended to use RAF Bassingbourn
but due to the move of the 91st the unit utilized Kimbolton as its shorter runways
would accommodate the smaller twin-engined Medium bombers. The group departed
in November for Telergma, Algeria. By December all elements of the 17th Bombardment
Group had left. After the departure of the B-26s extensions were made to the
NW-SE runway to facilitate the operation of fully loaded B-17s the runway was
strengthened and extended to 2000 yds. At the same time, the number of hardstands
was increased from 30 to 50.
The 17th consisted of the following squadrons
34th bomb squadron
37th Bomb squadron
95th bomb squadron
432d Bomb squadron
The 379th Bombardment Group (heavy) arrived on the 21st
May 1943 from Sioux City AAF Lowa. The 379th was assigned to the 41st Combat
Bombardment Wing of the Bombardment Division. Its Tail code was Triangle-K and
flew B-17 Flying Fortress. Squadrons were:
524th bomb Squadron (WA)
525th Bomb squadron (FR)
526th Bomb squadron (LF)
527th bomb squadron (FO)
The group engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic targets such as industries,
oil refineries, storage plants, submarine pens, airfields, and communications
centers in Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Poland, and Norway The 379th was
the most successful in all the Eighth Air Force heavy bombs groups, dropping
26,459 tons of bombs and exceeded all other UK Bomber Groups carrying out 330
missions between may 1943 and May 15th 1945. One B-17G, “Ole Guppy” had completed
157 missions. The 379th operating about 308 total Flying Fortresses losing 149
by the end of the war, a somewhat high 48% loss rate.
After V-E Day, the 379th Bomb Group was transferred to Casablanca, French Morocco
during June 1945. The unit was deactivated in place in Morocco during July.
In 1946 Kimbolton closed but was maintained in a “standby” status until 1960.
Most of the buildings were torn down and the concrete areas removed. Parts of
the old hardstands are used for go-kart racing, the kart clubs flag is the 379th
"Triangle K" symbol.