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Boxted

Military site : airfield

  • P-47D Thunderbolt (LM-J, serial number 44-19780), named

    P-47D Thunderbolt (LM-J, serial number 44-19780), named "Teddy", undergoing maintenance work at Boxted air base. The aircraft was flown by Major Michael J. Jackson of the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Late 1944.

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  • Ground crew affix a 500 lb. bomb to the underside of starboard wing of a P-47 Thunderbolt at Boxted air base where the 56th Fighter Group were based. Late 1944.

    Ground crew affix a 500 lb. bomb to the underside of starboard wing of a P-47 Thunderbolt at Boxted air base where the 56th Fighter Group were based. Late 1944.

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  • Ground crew carry out checks and maintenance work on P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-X, serial number 44-20626) probably at Boxted air base where the 56th Fighter Group were stationed. Late 1944.

    Ground crew carry out checks and maintenance work on P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-X, serial number 44-20626) probably at Boxted air base where the 56th Fighter Group were stationed. Late 1944.

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  • Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group prepare a P-51 Mustang (GQ-U, serial number 43-6737) for a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P51B, 354th FG 1st Unit Equipped, Boxted.'

    Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group prepare a P-51 Mustang (GQ-U, serial number 43-6737) for a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P51B, 354th FG 1st Unit Equipped, Boxted.'

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  • Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang after a mission Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Boxted.'

    Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang after a mission Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Boxted.'

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  • Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group fit a Packard Merlin engine into a P-51 Mustang. Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA, OWIL 21145 AIRMADA OF LIBERATION Mechanics tear down and tune up motors and parts of one of the fast P-51 Mustang fighters on the Ninth US Air Force in England. The fighting Ninth is pounding enemy-held railway centers, airfields, shipping and military objectives on the Continent in preparation for spearheading the liberation of Nazi-held Europe. KX, Serviced by London OWI to list B.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Changing packard Merlin Engine in a Boxted Factory, men of 354 FG 9th Air Force.'

    Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group fit a Packard Merlin engine into a P-51 Mustang. Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA, OWIL 21145 AIRMADA OF LIBERATION Mechanics tear down and tune up motors and parts of one of the fast P-51 Mustang fighters on the Ninth US Air Force in England. The fighting Ninth is pounding enemy-held railway centers, airfields, shipping and military objectives on the Continent in preparation for spearheading the liberation of Nazi-held Europe. KX, Serviced by London OWI to list B.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Changing packard Merlin Engine in a Boxted Factory, men of 354 FG 9th Air Force.'

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  • Two P-51 Mustangs of the 354th Fighter Group take off from Boxted airfield. Printed caption on reverse: '10372 AC- 9th AF North American P-51

    Two P-51 Mustangs of the 354th Fighter Group take off from Boxted airfield. Printed caption on reverse: '10372 AC- 9th AF North American P-51 "Mustangs" taking off from an airfield in England. US Air Force Photo.'

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  • Six pilots of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, stand in front of P-51 Mustang

    Six pilots of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, stand in front of P-51 Mustang "M for Margie" beside No 2 Hangar at Boxted. Left to right they are: Lieutenant Wah Kau Kong, Captain Wallace Emmer, Captain Don Beerbower, Captain Jack Bradley, Lieutenant James Parsons and Captain James Cannon. Passed by the censor 27 January 1944.

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  • Captain Wallace M Emmer of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Capt Wallace M Emmer, 353FS/354th FG. 3/44 Boxted. 14 air victories, 5th ranking 9AF ace at VE Day.'

    Captain Wallace M Emmer of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Capt Wallace M Emmer, 353FS/354th FG. 3/44 Boxted. 14 air victories, 5th ranking 9AF ace at VE Day.'

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  • At Boxted air base, Staff Sergeant Robert E. Robischon of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, re-arms each of the eight 50 calibre machine guns on a P-47 Thunderbolt whilst Master Sergeant James H. McGee and Sergeant John A. Koval attach a bomb to the undercarriage of the port wing. The 56th Fighter Group were stationed at Boxted between 18 April 1944 and 9 September 1945. Printed caption on reverse of print: '53459 A.C. - Arming up the plane for a mission over France. S.Sgt. Robert E. Robischon, Syracuse New York. Rearms the four 50 caliber machine guns while M.Sgt. James H. McGee, Pine Bluff, Ark. and Sgt. John A. Koval, Rochester, N.Y. attaches bomb..'

    At Boxted air base, Staff Sergeant Robert E. Robischon of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, re-arms each of the eight 50 calibre machine guns on a P-47 Thunderbolt whilst Master Sergeant James H. McGee and Sergeant John A. Koval attach a bomb to the undercarriage of the port wing. The 56th Fighter Group were stationed at Boxted between 18 April 1944 and 9 September 1945. Printed caption on reverse of print: '53459 A.C. - Arming up the plane for a mission over France. S.Sgt. Robert E. Robischon, Syracuse New York. Rearms the four 50 caliber machine guns while M.Sgt. James H. McGee, Pine Bluff, Ark. and Sgt. John A. Koval, Rochester, N.Y. attaches bomb..'

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Boxted was built for heavy bombers and became operational from May 1943. In the few months B-26 Marauders of the 386th Bomb Group were stationed there, there were two night attacks by the Luftwaffe. On 17 August 1943, one man was killed when bombs fell amongst the Nissen huts.
The next unit to fly from Boxted was the 354th Fighter Group, a Ninth Air Force group temporarily under control of VIIIth Fighter Command. They flew escorts for long-range bombing missions, including the first P-51 Mustang mission in the ETO. In preparation for the invasion of Normandy, the 354th moved to Lashenden in Kent, and the 56th Fighter Group took their place. This unit was one of the most famous in the Eighth Air Force, on account of its high numbers of 'ace' pilots. For a large part of 1944 the base also hosted an air-sea rescue unit at its northern edge, a nearby farmhouse being used as the its administrative building.
Roger Freeman, author of 'The Mighty Eighth' series of books about the USAAF, lived nearby and frequented the base during the war. His father, a farmer, had permission to cut grass at the airfield to make hay.

Detailed history

Not yet known

English Heritage's record description

The site of a former military airfield opened in 1943 and closed in 1947. The airfield was mainly used by units of the United States Army 8th Air Force, principally 386th Bomber Group, and 56th Fighter Group, and also by 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force and 65th Air Sea Rescue. Dispersed barrack sites were located to the south of the flying field. After American forces left the base in September 1945 the Royal Air Force flew Mosquitos and then Meteor (early jet) aircraft from the base. The establishment of the base was run down and Boxted closed as an active military airfield in 1947. The airfield was used for crop spraying into the 1960s but the site returned to agricultural use and is now covered by orchards

Service

Units

People

  • John Aagaard

    Military | Enlisted Man | 56th Fighter Group
    John Aagaard served in the 1126th Quartermaster Company, which was attached to the 56th Fighter Group in England.

  • Sidney Abell

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 56th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 62FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 5th ERS.

  • Ralph Aberth

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 56th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 62FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

  • Thomas Adcock

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 56th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 61FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

  • Lyle Adrianse

    Military | Brigadier General | Fighter Pilot | 56th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 63FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. 101 combat missions. Transferred after promotion to HQ Sqn 65th Fighter Wing.

  • William Aggers

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 495th Fighter Training Group
    Assigned to 61FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Baled out during navigation mission when visual contact with leader was lost in overcast in P47 41-6401 Returned to Duty RTD. 31-Dec-43. Transferred to 495FTG 8AF USAAF.

  • Frank Aheron

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 56th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 62FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Killed in crash at Cranfield following mechanical failure of P-47M 44-21125. Canopy covered in oil, engine misfiring before crashing 2 miles north of Cranfield, Died Non Battle DNB.

  • Richard Akard

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
    First lieutenant in the Air Force during World War II, assigned to 352FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron. Flew 90 European missions and received both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal (5 OLC), as well as...

  • Paul Albers

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 56th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 63FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

  • Edgar Albert

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
    Assigned to 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort Romilly Sur Seine, having attacked some Fw190's, section was bounced by three Bf109's out of the sun. Lt Albert broke left whilst his element leader broke right and into the E/A....

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Aircraft

  • 41-31576 Dinah Might

    B-26 Marauder

  • 41-34947 'Lady Luck'

    B-26 Marauder
    554BS, 386BG, 9AF "Lady Luck". Lost 10-Feb-44 when flak shell hit fuel tank of starboard wing, wing detached at nacelle and A/C tumbled on fire. France. 1 x POW, 5 x KIA. MACR 2082. ...

  • 41-34958 Hazard

    B-26 Marauder
    B-26C-15-MA 41-34958 "Hazard" [RG:F] was assigned to the 386BG/552BS at Boxtred, UK. On 9-Sep-43 the aircraft was shot down by a direct hit of anit-aircraft fire while attacking the coastal defenses around Boulogne, France. 4 of the crew were killed,...

  • 41-34971 Pay Off

    B-26 Marauder
    B-26C-15-MA 41-34971 "Pay Off" was assigned to 386BG/554BS at Boxted, UK. The aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter as well as flak on 22-Aug-43 while on a mission to bomb the German airfield of Beaumont Le Roger, France. The fighter attack set the...

  • 42-102661 Big Dog

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Hunter 9/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 544BS/384BG [SU-L] Grafton Underwood 1/5/44; transferred with group to Istres for mapping duties; Salvaged 9AF Germany 29/12/45. BIG DOG.

  • 42-25711 'Bubbles'

    P-47 Thunderbolt
    Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 5ERS, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) rescue mission last seen struggling on instruments in adverse weather conditions 20 miles NE of Southwold over North sea. Pilot 1Lt John W Clark Killed in...

  • 42-26258 Moptop's Pride

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-28543 Pat

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-28623

    P-47 Thunderbolt
    Assigned to 61FS, 56FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Strafing mission to Oil tanks in Frankfurt. A/C abandoned, pilot Capt Gordon J Blake Prisoner of War (POW). 18-Nov-44. MACR 10333.

  • 42-28688

    P-47 Thunderbolt
    P-47 Thunderbolt 42-28688 62nd FS, 56th FG, 8th AF, part of the famous Zemkes Wolfpack, this plane was lost on a sweep of Koblenz when hit by flak 18th December 1944. Pilot 2nd Lt Haggard bailed out and became POW. MACR 11308.

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Number
150
Known as
Not yet known
Construction date
Not yet known
USAAF from date
Not yet known
USAAF to date
Not yet known
Closure date
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
03 September 2019 12:37:31 Emily Changes to english heritage description
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record TM 03 SW 62
Date Contributor Update
14 December 2016 12:00:06 SavvyGA Changes to description
Sources

Addendum: Roger Freeman's wartime links with the airfield.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:02:16 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

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