RAF Deenethorpe: Difference between revisions
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The worst accident occurred in December 1943 when a Fortress which failed to get off the ground careered over farmland and came to rest after crashing into a cottage on the edge of Deenethorpe village. The surviving members of the crew just had time to evacuate the wreckage and warn the villagers of the imminent explosion of the bomb load before it detonated damaging many houses in the village. The blast was felt in Kettering nine miles away |
The worst accident occurred in December 1943 when a Fortress which failed to get off the ground careered over farmland and came to rest after crashing into a cottage on the edge of Deenethorpe village. The surviving members of the crew just had time to evacuate the wreckage and warn the villagers of the imminent explosion of the bomb load before it detonated damaging many houses in the village. The blast was felt in Kettering nine miles away |
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After [[V-E Day]], the group |
After [[V-E Day]], the group departed from Deenethorpe in August 1945 and returned to Sioux Falls AAF where the unit was deactivated, personnel demobilized and B-17 aircraft sent to storage. |
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The group had flown 255 combat missions from Deenethorpe airfield. |
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'''Legacy''' |
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The unit was redesignated as the '''401st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)''' and allocaetd to the reserves. Activated as reserve [[B-29|Boeing B-29 "Superfortress"]] group on 26 June 1947 at [[Brooks AFB|Brooks AAF]] [[Texas]]. Re-designated '''401st Bombardment Group (Medium)''' in June 1949, Transferred to [[Biggs AFB]] [[Texas]]. Called to active service on 1 May 1951 at Biggs. Assigned to [[Strategic Air Command]]. Inactivated on 25 June 1951. |
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The [[United States Air Force]] '''401st Fighter-Bomber Wing''' was activated on 8 Feburary 1954 at [[England AFB|Alexandria (later England) AFB]] [[Louisiana]]. The 401st FBW was assigned to [[Tactical Air Command]] and equipped with [[F-86|North American F-86 "Sabre"]] aircraft. The wing was bestowed the honors and history of the USAAF 401st Bombardment Group upon activation. Redesignated '''401st Tactical Fighter Wing''' 1 July 1958 when reequipped with [[F-100|North American F-100 "Super Sabre"]] aircraft. Reassigned to [[Torrejon AB]], [[Spain]] 27 April 1966. Reequipped with [[F-4|McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II]] 1970. Reequipped with [[F-16|General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]] 1983. Redesignated '''401st Fighter Wing''' 1 October 1991. Reassigned to [[Aviano Air Base]] [[Italy]] w/o/p/e 21 May 1992. Inactivated 1 April 1994. Activated as '''401st Air Expeditionary Wing''' as part of [[Global War on Terrorism]] (2000s). |
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Current status undisclosed by USAF. |
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== Postwar use == |
== Postwar use == |
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Revision as of 09:54, 29 May 2007
RAF Deenethorpe is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 9 miles NE of Kettering in Northamptonshire.
USAAF use
Deenethorpe was assigned USAAF designation Station 128.
401st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The airfield was opened in October 1943 and was used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Great Falls AAB, Montana, in November. The 401st was assigned to the 94th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-S.
The 401st Bomb Group consisted of the following operational squadrons flying B-17s :
- 612th Bomb Squadron (SC)
- 613th Bomb Squadron (IN)
- 614th Bomb Squadron (IW)
- 615th Bomb Squadron (IY)
The 401st BG operated chiefly against strategic targets, bombing industries, submarine facilities, shipyards, missile sites, marshalling yards, and airfields; beginning in October 1944, concentrated on oil reserves. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for striking telling blows against German aircraft production on 11 January and 20 February 1944.
In addition to strategic missions, group operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications prior to the Normandy invasion and on D-Day, June 1944; support for ground operations during the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July, the siege of Brest in August, and the airborne attack on Holland in September 1944.
The Grop flew missions against enemy forces during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, by assaulting transportation targets and communications centers in the battle area; and support for the airborne attack across the Rhine in March 1945.
The worst accident occurred in December 1943 when a Fortress which failed to get off the ground careered over farmland and came to rest after crashing into a cottage on the edge of Deenethorpe village. The surviving members of the crew just had time to evacuate the wreckage and warn the villagers of the imminent explosion of the bomb load before it detonated damaging many houses in the village. The blast was felt in Kettering nine miles away
After V-E Day, the group departed from Deenethorpe in August 1945 and returned to Sioux Falls AAF where the unit was deactivated, personnel demobilized and B-17 aircraft sent to storage.
The group had flown 255 combat missions from Deenethorpe airfield.
Legacy
The unit was redesignated as the 401st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and allocaetd to the reserves. Activated as reserve Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" group on 26 June 1947 at Brooks AAF Texas. Re-designated 401st Bombardment Group (Medium) in June 1949, Transferred to Biggs AFB Texas. Called to active service on 1 May 1951 at Biggs. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Inactivated on 25 June 1951.
The United States Air Force 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated on 8 Feburary 1954 at Alexandria (later England) AFB Louisiana. The 401st FBW was assigned to Tactical Air Command and equipped with North American F-86 "Sabre" aircraft. The wing was bestowed the honors and history of the USAAF 401st Bombardment Group upon activation. Redesignated 401st Tactical Fighter Wing 1 July 1958 when reequipped with North American F-100 "Super Sabre" aircraft. Reassigned to Torrejon AB, Spain 27 April 1966. Reequipped with McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II 1970. Reequipped with General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon 1983. Redesignated 401st Fighter Wing 1 October 1991. Reassigned to Aviano Air Base Italy w/o/p/e 21 May 1992. Inactivated 1 April 1994. Activated as 401st Air Expeditionary Wing as part of Global War on Terrorism (2000s).
Current status undisclosed by USAF.
Postwar use
After the war, Deenethorpe was used as a RAF Recruiting Center, and later for several years the control tower was used as a lookout post by the local Royal Observer Corps. It was finally sold in 1963 and largely returned to agriculture. Part of the old main runway is now used as a private airstrip.
See also
References
- Freeman, Roger A., Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now, 1978
- www.controltowers.co.uk Deenethorpe
- mighty8thaf.preller.us Deenethorpe
- Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present