Thurleigh airfield history book

The most famous american musician to play at the corn exchange during the war was glenn miller, but he wasnt the only celebrity to perform there. Thurleigh timeline digitised resources the virtual. The history of thurleigh airfield can be traced back to the autumn of 1940 when it was used as a base for bomber aircraft in wwii. On july 6, 1944, the royal family made an official visit to thurleigh airfield to christen a b17 honoring princess elizabeth. Bedford autodrome duathlon race 1 2020 nicetri events.

Full details may be found by clicking on either the book cover icon or on the publication title. A pictorial record of the airfield and its aircraft. View all hotels near 306th bombardment group museum on tripadvisor. It is home to the bedford autodrome which also houses thurleigh museum.

Then with the second world war came an airfield, with its large hangars and sprawl of prefabricated huts, and in 1942 the americans arrived. Raf thurleigh in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Another part of the site is used by bedford autodrome, a corporate hospitality centre. The 306th stayed longer than any other eighth air force combat unit at a single base and longer in england. Book online highest rated places of interest or tour operators on tripadvisor, promoting those where there is at least one tour or activity available to book on tripadvisor. Ww2 unit history book on the 8th af 306th bomb group h. When the family moved to colmworth bob worked at thurleigh airfield, again having to cycle to work each day. Twinwoods adventure, 36 twinwoods business park, thurleigh road, milton ernest, mk44 1fd. The second book covers 1954 to 1994, an amazing history of research and. Smh fleet solutions ltd thurleigh, airfield business park. The book begins with a history of bedfordshires airfields, covering. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. Thurleigh, a small village of some 700 inhabitants, once hosted a strategically important airfield during the last war which served as a base for american b17s, hosted the flying bedstead built by rollsroyce which became the forerunner of the harrier jump jet with its vertical liftoff, saw the arrival of concorde, and nearly became the.

Royal air force thurleigh or more simply raf thurleigh is a former royal air force station located 5 miles 8. 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. Cookies on oxfam we use cookies to ensure that you have the best experience on our website. M d dobson this book is essentially a catalogue of photographs of the airfield and the many aircraft, both resident and visiting,which used it over the period from its handing over to the royal air force in 1940 to the present day when it remains in operation as a civil aviation authority licenced airfield. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the b17s of the 306th bomb group began using the base. Thurleigh started life in july 1940 when work began on the site to construct a bomber command station for the raf. The eastern end remains in aviation use as bedford aerodrome. This is a small, private museum lovingly created by a couple who were local children when the american servicemen occupied the airfield at thurleigh during the war. It was my first visit to bedford autodrome to attend a bike track day organised by msv. Churchills most secret airfield first edition by bernard o connor isbn. And so thurleigh, about 6 miles north of bedford, remained small and insignificant over the centuries as men continued to dwell here and farm the heavy soil. Twinwoods adventure is a multiactivity adventure site near bedford that offers a range of thrilling activities for all ages.

For the majority of world war ii, the airfield was home to raf night fighters. Royal air force thurleigh or more simply raf thurleigh is a former royal air force station. Military aerodrome later large flight test base also known as bedford andor raf bedford. Thurleigh is a village and civil parish in north bedfordshire, england, about 6 miles 10 km north of bedford. Thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh, bedford mk44 2yp england. The landed on the main runway, and were taxied round the. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. A memorial to those who served stands proudly in thurleigh village. Thurleigh describes the history and the legacy of thurleigh airfield at. Promoting your link also lets your audience know that you are featured on a rapidly growing.

Raf thurleigh news newspapers books scholar jstor february. Check smh fleet solutions ltd in thurleigh, airfield business park on cylex and find. I was a b17 pilot with the 306th bomb group at thurleigh, a few miles northeast of bedford. It was located near the village of thurleigh, north of the town of bedford in england and was the site of aircraft experimental development work. Part of the site of the former airfield now accommodates thurleigh business park, and the runway is currently used for storage of new cars. Raf thurleigh in the second world war 19391945 the.

World war ii was entering its second year, the battle of britain had been won, the threat of invasion by germany had receded, and thoughts were turning to the offensive. He was held at stalag 17b braunau gneikendorf, near krems. Thurleigh was transferred to the united states army air forces eighth air force on 9 december 1942 and designated station 111, and used for heavy bomber operations against nazi germany. Rae bedford was a research site of the royal aircraft establishment between 1946 and 1994. Plus, see also a seperate entry for bedford aerodrome which has been established at the eastern end of this site military users. When a traveler builds a plan from this page, the itinerary automatically includes 306th bombardment group museum. A disused ww2 airfield now thrives with various businesses and even a race track. It is formed from the eastern 1100m of the original royal aeronautical establishment rae bedford ministry of defence aerodrome, which featured a massive 2 mile long, 90m wide main runway. Every plane is listed including missing aircrews, details of missions from start to finish and much much more. Raf thurleigh in the second world war, the wartime memories project.

This includes thurleigh museum which is dedicated primarily to the airfield and life in the area during world war 2. The thurleigh airfield was constructed on a plateau north. The glenn miller band played at the airfield on the 14th july 1944 and it was their first concert on an active airfield. This is a great way for travelers looking for a great vacation in your city or country to also experience 306th bombardment group museum. It was used initially for training both raf and polish personnel, but in 1942 was turned over to the usaaf and four squadrons of b17 flying fortresses moved in. One of my best research tools when writing a distant melody. In 1946 construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us. Thurleigh airfield became the first base in england to be handed over completely to the americans, giving them full sovereignty and control of these few acres. A history of the 306th bomb group h by robin dodson. In 1946 construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became know as the royal aeronautical establishment, bedford.

It was eventually modified to air ministry class a airfield specifications, with three. Get your 3day weather forecast for thurleigh, bedford, united kingdom. Collection of nearly 4,000 books on american topics, with. Thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh, bedford mk44. Check out thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh road map. The walk began with an exhibition, on sunday 4 october, at thurleigh village hall and along the way we took in some of the living quarter sites and the airfield itself,explaining the history behind the archaeology. Alexander vandegrift turn over operations on guadalcanal to us army under maj. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what. Irwin aaseby served as a gunner with the 306th bomb group from thurleigh.

During its time at thurleigh over 9,600 sorties had been flown with the loss of 171 aircraft in action and over 22,500 tons of bombs were dropped. Our great selection includes properties to rent from all leading thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh, bedford mk44 estate agents. Buy wings over thurleigh an aeronautical research heritage 1954 to 1994, oxfam, m d dobson, books, history. On 18th may 1942 an raf aircraft crashed at the airfield ww2arco23. Jan 30, 2020 thurleigh, a small village of some 700 inhabitants, once hosted a strategically important airfield during the last war which served as a base for american b17s, hosted the flying bedstead built by rollsroyce which became the forerunner of the harrier jump jet with its vertical liftoff, saw the arrival of concorde, and nearly became the. The historic airfield at thurleigh was home to the 306th bomb group of the 8th usaaf during world war two. The runway is full of brand new unregistered cars ready to go to new owners. Jun 12, 2016 a disused ww2 airfield now thrives with various businesses and even a race track. Peter, situated on an eminence, is a fine and ancient building of stone, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles end a central tower of norman date, containing a clock and 6 bells, a 6th bell and a clock dial being added in 1897, in commemoration of the queens diamond jubilee.

Wings over thurleigh an aeronautical research heritage. Thurleigh army airfield, home of the us 306 th bombardment group, becomes the first british base officially turned over to the us army air forces. This place is situated in bedfordshire county, south east, england, united kingdom, its geographical coordinates are 52 12 0 north, 0 27 0 west and its original name with diacritics is thurleigh. Adam crew of the 367th bombardment squadron, one of four squadrons in the 306th bg. Visit 306th bombardment group museum on your trip to thurleigh. If you continue browsing, well assume that you are happy to receive all our cookies. Luton, milton ernest hall, podington, tempsford, thurleigh, twinwood farm, and woburn. Back in the 70s thurleigh was considered as a 3rd london airportalong with. Thurleigh base and the squadron were known as the home of the eager beavers. Strong arrived at thurleigh, the raf airfield that housed the 306th, midyear 1944 and flew 35 bombing missions over france and germany. Plans for the development of thurleigh airfield as a part of a new national centre for aeronautical research were drawn up after the war.

Thurleigh air base richard claeys served with the us army air forces at thurleigh airfield in england during the later stages of world war ii. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. My two most significant memories of the war are cycling down to thurleigh airfiled to see the planes landind, such as b17 bombers. Carsite, telephone 01234 761 145, thurleigh, bedfordshire. A very detailed and comprehensive look at the 306th bombardment group who were based at thurleigh 194245. The yanks on a north bedfrodshire airfield during the second world war. Map of thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh, mk44 2yp.

This page is a guide to the published books generated under bahg. Rae bedford is the finest research and development establishment outside. Thurleigh boasts a church dating back to saxon times, but whose earliest surviving part is a norman tower and doorway built around 1150 and a baptist chapel, built in 1827. The bedford corn exchange was constructed in 1874 and was designed to be a concert venue. In the book a short illustrated history of the royal aircraft establishment, bedford, author arthur pearcy writes. It is run by a team of former staff from the establishment. In 1941, during world war ii, an airfield known as raf thurleigh was constructed on a plateau just north of the village for raf bomber command. Thurleigh pronounced thurlie was built for raf bomber. Pavenham womens book group the lost man by jane harper. Churchills most secret airfield first edition by bernard oconnor isbn. Another from whitwick green to riseley was eventually built over with the advent of thurleigh airfield, as was part of keysoe road. Graham smith in his volume hertfordshire and bedfordshire airfields in the second.

Raf thurleigh was an raf and usaaf base near thurleigh, bedfordshire, england in world war ii. Raf twinwood farm is a former royal air force station located 4 mi north of bedford, bedfordshire, england. Slightly less well known, but well worth a visit, is the 306 th bombardment group museum at thurleigh airfield now a business park, sited in an original wartime building donated by dr jonathan palmer, of bedford autodrome, and opened on 27. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. Thurleigh base and the 368th squadron were known as the home of the eager beavers. Thurleigh became the first base to be handed over to the americans and the tenure by. It was eventually modified to air ministry class a airfield specifications, with three converging runways, extended in 1942 to lengths of 6,000 feet runway.

A history of the 306th bombardment group by russell a. Oct 04, 2015 the historic airfield at thurleigh was home to the 306th bomb group of the 8th usaaf during world war two. In september 1942 personnel of the 306th bombardment group moved in and they remained until autumn 1945. The former airfield site is currently occupied by thurleigh business park, bedford autodrome and thurleigh museum. History the history of thurleigh airfield can be traced back to the autumn of 1940. Wings over thurleigh describes the history and the legacy of thurleigh airfield at rae bedford from its beginnings until its closure in 1994.

Bedford aerodrome thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh, bedford england. Thurleigh in world war two hosted by bedford borough council. Find a wide range of commercial properties to let in thurleigh airfield business park, thurleigh, bedford mk44. The bedford aeronautical heritage group exists to inform people about the history and achievements of the royal aircraft establishment at bedford. Bedford aerodrome is a licensed airfield owned and operated by motorsport vision ltd msv. The day itself was well run and organised, but the layout of the pits is strange you cant leave any cars or vans near the pits and have to park about a quarter of a mile away. It was located near the village of thurleigh, north of the town of bedford in england and was the site of aircraft experimental development work in the book a short illustrated history of the royal aircraft establishment, bedford, author arthur pearcy writes.