Polebrook airfield history books

Dispatched to polebrook, northamptonshire with a film crew of five in april 1943. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. Proceeds benefit the 351st bomb group memorial association. As a small established company with a great reputation we can provide you with a professional and friendly service. Buckingham army air field local and regional history books. There is evidence that polebrook as a settlement dates back to 400 bc, where the village consisted of mainly farms.

The 97th bomb group used polebrook first, before the 351st bomb group moved to the airfield in the spring of 1943. 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. Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. Royal air force station polebrook or more simply raf polebrook is a former royal air. Polebrook is called pochebroc in the domesday book, and was the centre of a large.

We also publish books on a wide variety of subjects to help you understand, value, care for and enjoy your historic environment. The units stayed at the airfield until 1947 after which time polebrook became a satellite of raf upwood. This series of books provides a fresh userfriendly look at the military airfields of the british isles. Polebrook memorial polebrook, northamptonshire, uk. The raf used the base for operational trials including of b17 flying. A smaller tablet, bearing a map of the former airfield, is set into the ground a few yards to the. A b17 flying fortress serial number 42107124 of the 351st bomb group flies over polebrook. The airfield was built on rothschild estate land starting in august 1940. Major ladoux tried to assist the crew to land their bomber at raf polebrook.

Lincolnshires haunted airfields mj wayland ghost historian. Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months. There are a few sights more unsettling than that of an abandoned airfield or a hangar after dark, places that were often subject to events of considerable historic trauma or sadness. Corby town,railway station,the old clay holes and site of the old black hills.

Truemper and ssgt mathies, being escorted by major elzia ladoux, commanding officer 509th bombardment squadron, aboard my princess. 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. With aircrew and support personnel the station had. Ludford magna airfield focus pamphlet includes 41 photos and 2 maps. Rafusaaf polebrook, northamptonshire derelict places. My father was stationed in england at polebrook during wwii, and i would like to visit his airfield with my children. The parish contains also the hamlet of armston, and is in oundle district. Polebrook, a village, a parish, and a hundred, in northampton. Hi all it may be of interest to see a list of airfield related aviation books published during 2003. It was from polebrook that the united states army air forces eighth air force carried out its first heavy bomb group boeing b. See all books memories of polebrook lodge read and share your memories of polebrook lodge itself or of a particular photo of polebrook lodge.

History of polebrook in east northamptonshire map and. Smallest tablet is set into the ground a short distance in front of pyramid memorial. The population including armston at the 2011 census was 478 history. 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. Captain clark gable in his war time capacity as captain of gunnery at an american bomber station somewhere in britain. Polebrook wwii airfield information peterborough forum.

The series includes at least one cartographically drawn map and a datafile that describes all known units, including their codes, that used a particular airfield. Our warehouse storage site is steeped in history, based on a former world war ii air base located 3. Main memorial formed by a large rectangular plinth surmounted by a pyramid. Airfield warehousing ltd polebrook, polebrook airfield. Captain clark gable in his war time capacity as captain of. Six weeks after kegelmans raid, the eighth air force launched its first heavy bomber mission. Polebrook wwii airfield oundle message board tripadvisor. Polebrook airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Polebrook is a village in northamptonshire, england. 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. Airfields of the eighth then and now after the battle. Clark gable at the waist gun position of his flying fortress on raf polebrook airfield, northamptonshire, uk, june 1943. A glazed cabinet containing a visitors book stands nearby.

Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. This summer month, shes in texas with her aunt clo and uncle grif. Polebrook station 110 aircraft, airfields and airshows. I also include a short list of similar proposed books to be published in 2004. Spacious warehousing in polebrook, oundle with airfield. Here are 5 of the uks most supernaturally active airfields. American airmen in britain during the second world war imperial. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what. Most of the books are authored by 351st veterans who share accounts of life at polebrook airfield and their wartime experiences.

Polebrook airfield is a former world war ii airfield located 3. Ltd, it had short runways which were lengthened for usaaf heavy bomber use. The 351st bomb group at polebrook, april 1943 may 1945. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Many of the 8th air force groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in europe but before. 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. Polebrook airfield, polebrook, oundle, peterborough, pe8 5ly.

The farms were mainly centred on the modern day village of ashton. The airfield was declared inactive in october 1948. Include a photo containing, at minimum, the monument and your gpsr. Polebrook airfield, memorial car park, northamptonshire. Journalist and author chris wadsworth collaborates with matt johnson, manager and historian at the southwest florida museum of history, to take readers on a trip back in time, as the proud history of buckingham army air field comes alive through vivid photographs and the stories of the soldiers and civilians who once called buckingham home. Raf polebrook in the second world war 19391945 the. 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. First raid for the mighty eighth warfare history network. An established author, he also lectures on raf history. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british. Books about polebrook lodge area browse 34 photo books on polebrook lodge and the surrounding area.

In december 1959 a thor missile site was established at polebrook with the unit staying until august 1963. Grif has just landed a flight control job as did bettys dad who sends air mail. They also feature, alongside many others, in iwms new book somewhere in england. Part group history, part travelogue, bowmans book offers an interesting capsule history of famous b17 units and the bases they are forever linked with. 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. The book was expanded and reprinted in 2008 as the 351st bomb group the duty to. Fighter aces are seen as gods and heroes by society and history. Polebrook airfield polebrook, northamptonshire united kingdom pe8 5ln commemoration. It was from polebrook that the united states army air forces eighth. Valor at polebrook, by david poole, depicts the b17g flying fortress, ten horsepower, flown by 2lt walter e. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june. Royal air force station polebrook or more simply raf polebrook is a former royal air force station located 3.

Polebrook wwii airfield information peterborough message. Providing secure commercial storage in polebrook, oundle. Rafusaaf polebrook, northamptonshire raf polebrook is a former world war ii airfield located 3. At polebrook, the rothchild country estate in northhampshire, the 351st base unit was to be comprised of the 508th, 509th, 510th and 511th squadrons. Bomber bases of world war 2, airfields of 2nd air division usaaf. Wed prefer a photo containing you at the monument, but we. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. Bowman describes 16 airfields such as grafton underwood, kimbolton, bassingbourn, polebrook and thurleigh. Airfield warehousing ltd, registered as a limited company in england and wales under company number. Watch office with met section 51840, later circular addition to roof. Over 200 airfields were occupied or newlybuilt by the usaaf. Airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression.