RAF Deenethorpe: Difference between revisions
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'''RAF Deenethorpe''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield in [[England]]. The field is located 9 miles NE of [[Kettering]] in [[Northamptonshire]]. |
'''RAF Deenethorpe''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield in [[England]]. The field is located 9 miles NE of [[Kettering]] in [[Northamptonshire]]. |
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== USAAF Use == |
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=== 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy) === |
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The 401st Bomb Group consisted of the following operational squadrons flying [[B-17]]s : |
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* 612th Bomb Squadron (SC) |
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* 613th Bomb Squadron (IN) |
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* 614th Bomb Squadron (IW) |
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* 615th Bomb Squadron (IY) |
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The 401st BG operated chiefly against strategic targets, bombing industries, submarine facilities, shipyards, missile sites, marshalling yards, and airfields; beginning in Oct 1944, concentrated on oil reserves. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for striking telling blows against German aircraft production on 11 Jan and 20 Feb 1944. |
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In addition to strategic missions, group operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications prior to the Normandy invasion and on D-Day, Jun 1944; support for ground operations during the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul, the siege of Brest in Aug, and the airborne attack on Holland in Sep 1944. |
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The Grop flew missions against enemy forces during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by assaulting transportation targets and communications centers in the battle area; and support for the airborne attack across the Rhine in Mar 1945. |
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After [[V-E Day]], the group returned to the United States, arriving at [[Sioux Falls|Souix Souix Falls AAF]] during [[August]] [[1945]] where it was deactivated. |
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== Postwar Use == |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 15:30, 31 August 2006
RAF Deenethorpe is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 9 miles NE of Kettering in Northamptonshire.
USAAF Use
401st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The airfield was opened in October 1943 and was first used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Great Falls AAB, Montana, arriving in November.
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 Oct 1944, concentrated on oil reserves. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for striking telling blows against German aircraft production on 11 Jan and 20 Feb 1944.
In addition to strategic missions, group operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications prior to the Normandy invasion and on D-Day, Jun 1944; support for ground operations during the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul, the siege of Brest in Aug, and the airborne attack on Holland in Sep 1944.
The Grop flew missions against enemy forces during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by assaulting transportation targets and communications centers in the battle area; and support for the airborne attack across the Rhine in Mar 1945.
After V-E Day, the group returned to the United States, arriving at Souix Souix Falls AAF during August 1945 where it was deactivated.
Postwar Use
After the war, Deenethorpe was used by the Royal Observer Corps, then sold and returned to agriculture in 1946
See also
References
- Freeman, Roger A., Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now, 1978
- www.controltowers.co.uk Ridgewell