RAF Harrington: Difference between revisions
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The first [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] Group to use Harrington was the '''801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)''', arriving from [[RAF Alconbury]] on [[25 March]] [[1944]]. |
The first [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] Group to use Harrington was the '''801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)''', arriving from [[RAF Alconbury]] on [[25 March]] [[1944]]. |
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Its operational squadrons were: |
Its initial operational squadrons were: |
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* [[856th Bombardment Squadron|36th Bombardment Squadron]] |
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* 850th Bomb Squadron (C-47) |
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Both were equipped with [[B-24 Liberator]]s |
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The 801st Bomb Group became best known as the Carpetbaggers. The purpose of the Carpetbagger project was to fly "Special Operations" which entailed delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied countries. In addition, the 801st delivered clandestine personnel to the resistance groups in the field and occasionally brought back personnel from Nazi-controlled areas. Combat with the enemy was avoided as it only endangered the success of the mission. |
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In May, two additional [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] squadrons were attached to the group, those being: |
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To accomplish this mission, the 788th Bomb Squadron was temporarily assigned from the 467th Group, and the 850th from the 490th Group. These two squadrons flew clandestine missions to Occupied European Resistance forces until [[13 August]] [[1944]] when the squadron designations were given back to the original BGs. |
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: Attached from: [[490th Bombardment Group]] ([[RAF Eye]]) |
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: Attached from: [[467th Bombardment Group]] ([[RAF Rackheath]]) |
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The 801st Bomb Group became best known as the '''Carpetbaggers'''. The mission of the Carpetbaggers was to fly Special Operations missions which entailed delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied countries. |
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On [[8 August]] 1944, the '''[[492d Bombardment Group]] (Heavy)''' arrived at Harrington from [[RAF North Pickenham]]. The 492d was commanded by the '''14th Combat Bombardment Wing''' of the 2nd Bombardment Division. Its tail code was '''Circle-U'''. |
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The squadrons flew agents and supplies into southern France with B-24 Liberators that had all armament removed except in the top and tail turrets. In addition, the standard bomb shackles were removed from the bomb bay and British shackles were installed to accommodate special supply canisters. All unneeded radio gear was removed, as were the oxygen bottles. Flash suppressors were installed on the guns, flame dampeners were installed on the turbo-superchargers, and blackout curtains were installed over the waist gun windows. Light bulbs were painted red to spare night vision and special radio gear was added to assist in navigation and homing in on drop zones. The undersides of the aircraft were painted black to avoid detection by enemy searchlights. Combat with the enemy was avoided as it only endangered the success of the mission. Drops were also made using radio-navigation equipment. Supplies were also released in containers designed to be dropped from the existing equipment in the bomb bay. Pilots often flew several miles farther into enenemy territory after completing the drop to disguise the actual drop zone in case enemy observers were tracking the plane's movement. |
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It's operational squadrons were: |
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The B-17s flown by the 788th and 850th Bombardment Squadrons were employed to drop leaflets over Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Greece, and the Balkans. Some leaflets informed the citizens in occupied Europe of war news and Axis losses. Others urged German troops to surrender and offered safe passage through Allied lines. Seventy-seven percent of the German troops captured in France either had one of these leaflets or had seen one. The leaflets were a trusted source of news for the oppressed citizens of occupied Europe. They were widely read and some times carried for months and hidden in false pockets, hats, and shoes. Possession of one of the leaflets meant an automatic death sentence if caught by the Nazis. |
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The 492d entered service in early 1944, and suffered tremendous losses in July. In the words of one veteran, "the whole group was wiped out." Subsequently, the organization was transferred to Carpetbagger duty at Harrington less personnel and equipment, and assumed personnel, equipment, along with the Carpetbagger mission of the 801st. |
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In August 1944, the 801st Bombardment Group was absorbed by the [[492d Bombardment Group]] (Heavy). The 492d was a "hard luck" B-24 group which had lost 52 aircraft to enemy action in only 89 days, suffering 588 men killed or missing. Rather than try to rebuild the shattered group, the group was stood down and the surviving members were reassigned to other units in theater. |
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When assigned to Harrington, the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) was inactivated in a name-only manner. Headquarters and the ground echelon of the 801st were stood up as the 492d. The operational squadrons of the 801st were stood down and redesignated as the squadrons assigned to the 492d. These were: |
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The Group operated chiefly over southern France with [[B-24]]'s and [[C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]'s, engaging in operations transporting agents, supplies, and propaganda leaflets to resistance groups in Nazi occupied territory. |
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The Group ceased these missions on [[16 September]] [[1944]] to haul gasoline to advancing mechanized forces in France and Belgium, along with attacking airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and other targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany until February 1945. |
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* 406th Bombardment Squadron --> [[858th Bombardment Squadron]] (B-24) (9H) |
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* 850th Bombardment Squadron --> [[857th Bombardment Squadron]] (B-17) (9A) |
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* 788th Bombardment Squadron --> [[859th Bombardment Squadron]] (B-17) (X4) |
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After the units were redesignated, the squadrons attached to the 801st were returned to their previous units without personnel or equipment. |
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Also, in October 1944, the 492d began training for night bombardment operations and concentrated on night bombing of marshalling yards and goods depots in Germany, February-March 1945. |
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The Group ceased Carpetbagger missions on [[16 September]] [[1944]] to haul gasoline to advancing mechanized forces in France and Belgium, along with attacking airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and other targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany until February 1945. In October three of the 492d's squadrons, the 857th, 858th, and 859th, transitioned to night bombing operations. This proved to be a difficult transition, since the aircraft had been modified by the removal of the original bomb shackles and the oxygen systems. By mid-November, Headquarters, Eighth Air Force decided that the Carpetbagger aircraft just were not suitable and finally allocated oxygen-equipped B-24s for the new mission. The night bombing force of the 492nd became known as the "Black Liberators." |
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On 17 December, the 859th was deployed to the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] to perform special operations missions with [[Fifteenth Air Force]]. The squadron remained attached to a provisional group in [[Italy]] for the balance of the war. |
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The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for these operations, performed at night despite adverse weather and vigorous opposition from enemy ground forces. The 492d was also cited by the French government for similar operations over France in 1944. |
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| ⚫ | The 492d returned to clandestine "Carpetbagger" operations over Germany and German-occupied territory, using B-24, A-26, and British Mosquito aircraft in March 1945 to drop leaflets, demolition equipment, and agents. The Group received a [[Distinguished Unit Citation]] for these operations, performed at night despite adverse weather and vigorous opposition from enemy ground forces. The 492d was also cited by the French government for similar operations over France in 1944. |
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The unit flew its last Carpetbagger mission in April 1945 and then ferried personnel and equipment to and from the Continent until July. |
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The |
The unit flew its last Carpetbagger mission in April 1945 and then ferried personnel and equipment to and from the Continent until July. It returned to Sioux Falls AAFld, [[South Dakota]] during July and August 1945, and was redesignated as a [[B-29]] (Very Heavy) group to be used over [[Japan]]. However, the Japanese surrender canceled those plans and the Group was inactivated in October. |
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== RAF Bomber Command Thor Missile use == |
== RAF Bomber Command Thor Missile use == |
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Revision as of 02:15, 11 March 2009
| Royal Air Force Station Harrington USAAF Station 179
.png) | |
|---|---|
| Located Near Kettering, Northamptonshire, England | |
| File:Harrington-1945.jpg Photo of Harrington Airfield - 1945 | |
| Coordinates | 52°23′41″N 0°52′11″W / 52.39472°N 0.86972°W |
| Type | Military Airfield |
| Code | HR |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943-1945,1958-1963 |
| Battles/wars | European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 .svg)  Map showing the location of RAF Harrington within Northamptonshire. |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Eighth Air Force RAF Bomber Command |
| Occupants | 801st Bombardment Group (P) 492d Bombardment Group No. 218(SM) |
RAF Harrington is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 5.6 miles (9.0 km) West of Kettering in Northamptonshire across the B576 road.
USAAF use
The airfield was opened in September 1943 and was originally planned as a satellite for No. 84 OTU at RAF Desborough. The airfield was built by 826th and 852nd Engineer Battalions of the US Army intended for heavy bomber use and was completed in the spring of 1944.
Harrington was allocated to the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force and assigned USAAF designation Station 179.
801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)
The first United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force Group to use Harrington was the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), arriving from RAF Alconbury on 25 March 1944.
Its initial operational squadrons were:
Both were equipped with B-24 Liberators
In May, two additional B-17 Flying Fortress squadrons were attached to the group, those being:
- Attached from: 490th Bombardment Group (RAF Eye)
- Attached from: 467th Bombardment Group (RAF Rackheath)
The 801st Bomb Group became best known as the Carpetbaggers. The mission of the Carpetbaggers was to fly Special Operations missions which entailed delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied countries.
The squadrons flew agents and supplies into southern France with B-24 Liberators that had all armament removed except in the top and tail turrets. In addition, the standard bomb shackles were removed from the bomb bay and British shackles were installed to accommodate special supply canisters. All unneeded radio gear was removed, as were the oxygen bottles. Flash suppressors were installed on the guns, flame dampeners were installed on the turbo-superchargers, and blackout curtains were installed over the waist gun windows. Light bulbs were painted red to spare night vision and special radio gear was added to assist in navigation and homing in on drop zones. The undersides of the aircraft were painted black to avoid detection by enemy searchlights. Combat with the enemy was avoided as it only endangered the success of the mission. Drops were also made using radio-navigation equipment. Supplies were also released in containers designed to be dropped from the existing equipment in the bomb bay. Pilots often flew several miles farther into enenemy territory after completing the drop to disguise the actual drop zone in case enemy observers were tracking the plane's movement.
The B-17s flown by the 788th and 850th Bombardment Squadrons were employed to drop leaflets over Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Greece, and the Balkans. Some leaflets informed the citizens in occupied Europe of war news and Axis losses. Others urged German troops to surrender and offered safe passage through Allied lines. Seventy-seven percent of the German troops captured in France either had one of these leaflets or had seen one. The leaflets were a trusted source of news for the oppressed citizens of occupied Europe. They were widely read and some times carried for months and hidden in false pockets, hats, and shoes. Possession of one of the leaflets meant an automatic death sentence if caught by the Nazis.
492d Bombardment Group (Heavy)
In August 1944, the 801st Bombardment Group was absorbed by the 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy). The 492d was a "hard luck" B-24 group which had lost 52 aircraft to enemy action in only 89 days, suffering 588 men killed or missing. Rather than try to rebuild the shattered group, the group was stood down and the surviving members were reassigned to other units in theater.
When assigned to Harrington, the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) was inactivated in a name-only manner. Headquarters and the ground echelon of the 801st were stood up as the 492d. The operational squadrons of the 801st were stood down and redesignated as the squadrons assigned to the 492d. These were:
- 36th Bombardment Squadron --> 856th Bombardment Squadron (B-24) (5Z)
- 406th Bombardment Squadron --> 858th Bombardment Squadron (B-24) (9H)
- 850th Bombardment Squadron --> 857th Bombardment Squadron (B-17) (9A)
- 788th Bombardment Squadron --> 859th Bombardment Squadron (B-17) (X4)
After the units were redesignated, the squadrons attached to the 801st were returned to their previous units without personnel or equipment.
The Group ceased Carpetbagger missions on 16 September 1944 to haul gasoline to advancing mechanized forces in France and Belgium, along with attacking airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and other targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany until February 1945. In October three of the 492d's squadrons, the 857th, 858th, and 859th, transitioned to night bombing operations. This proved to be a difficult transition, since the aircraft had been modified by the removal of the original bomb shackles and the oxygen systems. By mid-November, Headquarters, Eighth Air Force decided that the Carpetbagger aircraft just were not suitable and finally allocated oxygen-equipped B-24s for the new mission. The night bombing force of the 492nd became known as the "Black Liberators."
On 17 December, the 859th was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations to perform special operations missions with Fifteenth Air Force. The squadron remained attached to a provisional group in Italy for the balance of the war.
The 492d returned to clandestine "Carpetbagger" operations over Germany and German-occupied territory, using B-24, A-26, and British Mosquito aircraft in March 1945 to drop leaflets, demolition equipment, and agents. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for these operations, performed at night despite adverse weather and vigorous opposition from enemy ground forces. The 492d was also cited by the French government for similar operations over France in 1944.
The unit flew its last Carpetbagger mission in April 1945 and then ferried personnel and equipment to and from the Continent until July. It returned to Sioux Falls AAFld, South Dakota during July and August 1945, and was redesignated as a B-29 (Very Heavy) group to be used over Japan. However, the Japanese surrender canceled those plans and the Group was inactivated in October.
RAF Bomber Command Thor Missile use
After the war, Harrington gradually fell into disuse returning to farmland. However the base received a new lease of life when it was selected to become one of the RAF's Thor missile sites in 1958. Three rocket launch pads were constructed together with ancillary buildings, the whole area being declared top security, fenced off and floodlighted.
The IRBM WS-315A missile system had a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,780 km) and was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation during 1955-56. Deployment with RAF Bomber Command began in December 1958 before being phased out with the advent of the manned V-bombers in 1963.
Civil Use
With the deactivation of the Thor missiles, Harringon was returned to agriculture. Almost all of the concreted areas of the airfield were removed for hardcore. Today, with the exception of some single-tracked agricultral roads that outline the former perimeter track, there is very little left of Harrington airfield.
See also
References
- Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
- Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- www.controltowers.co.uk Harrington
- mighty8thaf.preller.us Grafton Harrington
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
External links
- Carpetbagger Aviation Museum, Harrington, Northamptonshire
- 492ndBombGroup.com
- Modern-day photo gallery of Harrington
- Thor Missile Deployment in the UK
