Merryfield

Airfield
Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division at Merryfield, home of the 441st Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '441st Troop Carrier Group, US Army, Merryfield, England. We dropped the 101st Paratroop Division at Normandy. This photo is one of our squadrons. ' media-408745.jpg FRE 3376 Handwritten caption on reverse: '441st Troop Carrier Group, US Army, Merryfield, England. We dropped the 101st Paratroop Division at Normandy. This photo is one of our squadrons. ' Roger Freeman Collection

The previous caption mistakenly suggests that this image shows paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division and then quotes the caption on the reverse of the picture which confirms that it does not. I have therefore removed mention of the 101st from the caption.

Object Number - FRE 3376 - Handwritten caption on reverse: '441st Troop Carrier Group, US Army, Merryfield, England. We dropped the 101st Paratroop Division at Normandy. This...

Originally named Isle Abbotts, the station was built during 1942-43 as a potential RAF bomber base, but completed in 1944 as a Ninth Air Force transport base. Renamed Merryfield in September 1943, by the time it opened in February 1944 there were three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two T2 hangars. It was first occupied by the 441st Troop Carrier Group from April to September 1944. IX Troop Carrier Command continued to use the station to ferry supplies and personnel until it was handed over to the RAF in October 1944. The RAF continued to use the station as a transport base until the airfield closed in 1946, although it was retained as a reserve airfield. Re-opened from 1951 to 1961 as an RAF training and photographic reconnaissance base, as an RN training base, and also used for test flying by the Westland Aircraft Co, the process of closing the site and and selling the buildings began during the 1960s. That was halted in 1971 when the RN claimed what remained for redevelopment as a helicopter training base. Renamed HMS Heron (II) in May 1972, Merryfield remains in use as an RN Air Station (RNAS), satellite to HMS Heron (I), RNAS Yeovilton.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 302nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17024130 / O-684219
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 302nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-684307
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 302nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33016401 (enlisted tags)
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 302nd Troop Carrier Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 5: Military Airfields of the South-West (London, 1982)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Merryfield

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/M/Merryfield.htm

Merryfield: Gallery (6 items)