Moulsford Manor

Military site
media-17290.png UPL 17290 Moulsford Manor, the rest home where crew of Destiny's Tot # 42-3119 were sent after ditching in the North Sea on July 26, 1943.

Identified rest home by comparing image with photo of Moulsford Manor: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/10237
See: Roger Freeman's 'Mighty Eighth War Manual', pg. 142 for another photo showing the same view of Moulsford Manor.

Object Number - UPL 17290 - Moulsford Manor, the rest home where crew of Destiny's Tot # 42-3119 were sent after ditching in the North Sea on July 26, 1943.

Run by the American Red Cross, Moulsford Manor was one of 16 country houses or 'flak homes' which housed airmen for Rest and Recuperation away from the stress of flying missions. Each serviceman was entitled to at least one rest period during their 25-30 mission tour.



The history of Moulsford Manor dates back to the 1100s and after changing hands many times, it become a hotel in 1929, and continued as such until it was taken over by the USAAF in May 1943 until 1945.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Detailed History

The village of Moulsford in Oxfordshire lies four miles south of Wallingford. The Manor is a fine, historic, country home, located on the banks of the Thames. Prior to WW2 it had been operated as a hotel. Opening on 13 May 1943, it was the third Rest Home to be established. It became closely associated with Buckland House, which opened three months later.



For USAAF combat air crews in the UK, home leave was impossible. So the doctors responsible for their well-being believed the next best thing would be Rest Homes, using the tranquility, comfort and freedom from military routine achievable at English country houses or hotels.



Aircrew could, at least once during their tour, come for a week away from the horrors of war. After which it was hoped they would return to their units, refreshed.



At the rest home, they were provided with civilian clothes. Uniforms only appeared for the evening dinner. Air Service Command supplied an administrative commanding officer, an adjutant and enlisted helpers. A Medical Officer, rotated each week from operational units, provided any necessary emergency care or medical advice.



American Red Cross girls acted as hostesses, supervising the recreation and dining. The American Red Cross also employed and managed the civilian staff needed to run the house and maintain the grounds.



Moulsford Manor was initially set up to house enlisted men, but later became home to 35 officers. As of November 1944, 10 rooms had been made available to the Ninth Air Force, with the remainder allocated to the 3rd Air Division, Eighth Air Force.



Since the war, the Manor has changed owners and role on several occasions but reverted to being a private home in 1994.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32507462
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron 422nd Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16061487
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32392925
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35380608
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35518960
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio operator Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Peoria Belle
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Reworked the balance of information between the station summary field and the detailed history field.

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

Report to Surgeon, HQ, Eighth Air Force 11 December 1944; 'Flak' Houses Then And Now, Thomas, After the Battle

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / D A Lande, from Somewhere in England (Airlife Publishing, UK, 1991).
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/moulsford_manor.html

Moulsford Manor: Gallery (11 items)