Welford
Airfield
The foremost aircraft in the front row is B-24H-20-FO "No Name” 42-94910. The aircraft immediate behind ‘910' is B-24H-15-CF "Tender Comrade” 41-29369. Next is B-24H-20-DT 'Wolves Inc.' 41-28981 and then B-24H-15-CF 'Slick Chick' 41-29388. The next is thought to be B-24J-140-CO "Old Iron Pants/The Perfect Lady” 42-110168. In the rear row, the first aircraft can’t be identified. The second aircraft is B-24H-20-FO ’No Name' 42-94963. Next is B-24H-15-CF 'Slugger Jr.' 41-29397. The next aircraft can’t be determined. The next, and last identified, is our favorite...B-24H-15-FO “Witchcraft" 42-52534.
It is thought that the aircraft in the very far distance on the left are gliders (CG-4a’s?) used by the 101st Airborne that was stationed at Welford.
Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Rackheath.' Roger Freeman Collection
Location and aircraft identified by the 467th Bomb Group Association, with thanks to J. Peter Horne, archivist and Vice President of the Association for sharing the information with the American Air Museum.
Object Number - FRE 1980 - B-24 Liberators of the 467th Bomb Group lined up at RAF Welford. B-24 (4z-E+, serial number 42-94910) is visible in the foreground. It was taken...
Welford was planned as an RAF bomber Operational Training Unit, but was instead allocated to the USAAF for use as a transport airfield. It was built in 1943 to a standard design, with a 6,000 foot runway with two shorter runways, hardstandings and two T2 hangars. Accommodation for over 2,000 men was provided to the north of the airfield. The 315th Troop Carrier Group briefly occupied the base before transferring to Spanhoe. The 435th Troop Carrier Group occupied the airfield for most of 1944, taking part in the D-Day landings in June and in Operation 'Market Garden’ in September. Welford was handed back to the RAF after the end of the war in Europe, and the RAF used the airfield until the mid 1950s, when it was again handed over to the Americans. Welford became a United States Army Air Force logistics base, a storage site for munitions. It continues in this role today.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 437th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron 84th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-000258
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Glider Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19000082
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19129941 / O-778377
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11056297 / O-0259887
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13111084
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Nicknames: Sugar Blues
- Unit: 75th Troop Carrier Squadron 435th Troop Carrier Group
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 438th Troop Carrier Group 90th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 78th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 76th Troop Carrier Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)
