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{{Short description|RAF air base in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox military structure
{{Infobox military installation
|name= RAF Thorpe Abbotts<br>USAAF Station 139
|name= RAF Thorpe Abbotts<br />USAAF Station 139
|ensign=[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]]
|ensign=[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]]
[[File:Eighth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).png|60px]]
[[File:Eighth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).png|60px]]
|location= [[Diss]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]]
|location= [[Diss, Norfolk|Diss]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]]
|coordinates = {{coord|52.38|1.22|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|coordinates = {{coord|52.38|1.22|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|image= Thorpeabbotsafld-13nov46.png
|image= Thorpeabbotsafld-13nov46.png
Line 15: Line 16:
|map_alt =
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Location in Norfolk
|map_caption = Location in Norfolk
|type= [[Royal Air Force station]]
|type= [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]]
|code=TA
|code=TA
|built=1942
|built=1942
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|condition=
|condition=
|ownership=[[Air Ministry]]
|ownership=[[Air Ministry]]
|controlledby=[[File:US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg|20px]]&nbsp;[[United States Army Air Forces]]<br>{{air force|United Kingdom}}
|operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<BR>[[United States Army Air Forces]]
|garrison=[[File:Eighth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).png|20px]]&nbsp;[[Eighth Air Force]]
|controlledby = [[Eighth Air Force]]
⚫
|garrison=[[100th Air Refueling Wing#World War II|100th Bombardment Group]]
|commanders=
⚫
|occupants=[[File:100thbombgroup-emblem.jpg|20px]]&nbsp;[[100th Air Refueling Wing#World War II|100th Bombardment Group]]
|battles= [[European Theatre of World War II]]<br />Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945
|battles= [[European Theatre of World War II]]<br />Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945
<!-- begin airfield information -->
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| FAA =
| TC =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO =
| elevation = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| r1-number = East/West 10/28
| r1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| r1-surface = Concrete 6300ft
| r2-number = NNE/SSW 22/04
| r2-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| r2-surface = Concrete 4200ft
| r3-number = NNW/SSE 17/35
| r3-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| r3-surface = Concrete 4200ft
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!-- end airfield information -->
}}
}}
[[File:100arw-tail.jpg|right|thumb|Tail of a 100ARW Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker, Serial 58-0100, displaying the crest of RAF Mildenhall and the historic "Square-D" badge as used by the unit during the second world war]]
[[File:100arw-tail.jpg|right|thumb|Tail of a 100 ARW Boeing KC-135R-BN Stratotanker, Serial 58-0100, displaying the crest of RAF Mildenhall and the historic "Square-D" badge as used by the unit during the second world war]]


'''Royal Air Force station Thorpe Abbotts''' or more simply '''RAF Thorpe Abbotts''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[Royal Air Force station|station]] located {{Convert|4|mi}} east of [[Diss]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]].
'''Royal Air Force Thorpe Abbotts''' or more simply '''RAF Thorpe Abbotts''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|station]] located {{Convert|4|mi}} east of [[Diss, Norfolk|Diss]], [[Norfolk]], in eastern [[England]].


The station was built for the RAF use but handed over to the [[United States Army Air Forces]] in 1943 and upgraded for heavy bomber squadrons.
==History==

⚫
RAF Thorpe Abbotts was built during 1942 and early 1943 for the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) as a satellite airfield for [[RAF Horham]] but the rapid buildup of the [[Eighth Air Force]] resulted in both airfields being handed over to the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF). The thirty-six hardstandings originally planned were increased to fifty. Two T-2 hangars were erected, one on the east side of the flying field and one on the south side adjacent to the technical site. This and several of the domestic sites were in woodland stretching south and bordering the [[A143 road|A143 Diss to Harleston road]].<ref name="Freeman2001p217">{{Harvnb|Freeman|2001|p=217.}}</ref>
==Second World War==
[[File:Target Dossier for Brockdish, Norfolk, England - DPLA - 848f42b6399c0dfa2e146d4aaa4d9f60 (page 1).jpg|thumb|left|RAF Thorpe Abbotts on a target dossier of the German [[Luftwaffe]], 1943]]
⚫
RAF Thorpe Abbotts was built during 1942 and early 1943 for the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) as a satellite airfield for [[RAF Horham]] but the rapid buildup of the [[Eighth Air Force]] resulted in both airfields being handed over to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The thirty-six hardstandings originally planned were increased to fifty. Two T-2 hangars were erected, one on the east side of the flying field and one on the south side adjacent to the technical site. This and several of the domestic sites were in woodland stretching south and bordering the [[A143 road|A143 Diss to Harleston road]].<ref name="Freeman2001p217">{{Harvnb|Freeman|2001|p=217.}}</ref>


===United States Army Air Forces use===
===United States Army Air Forces use===
Thorpe Abbotts was given USAAF designation Station 139,<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/thorpe-abbotts |title=Thorpe Abbotts |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref> (TA).<ref name="CT">{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Thorpe_Abbotts.htm |title=Thorpe Abbotts Airfield |publisher=Control Towers|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref>
Thorpe Abbotts was given USAAF designation Station 139,<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/thorpe-abbotts |title=Thorpe Abbotts |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|access-date=20 February 2013}}</ref> (TA).<ref name="CT">{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Thorpe_Abbotts.htm |title=Thorpe Abbotts Airfield |publisher=Control Towers|access-date=20 February 2013}}</ref>


====100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)====
====100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)====
The [[100th Air Refueling Wing#World War II|100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)]] arrived at Thorpe Abbotts on 9 June 1943, from [[Kearney AAF]] [[Nebraska]]. The 100th was assigned to the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, and [[USAAF unit identification aircraft markings|the group tail code]] was a "Square-D".<ref name="M8">{{cite web|title=100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)|url=http://mighty8thaf.preller.us/php/1Unit.php?Unitkey=100|publisher=Mighty 8th Cross-Reference|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref> Its operational squadrons were:<ref name="M8"/>
The [[100th Air Refueling Wing#World War II|100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)]] arrived at Thorpe Abbotts on 9 June 1943, from [[Kearney Air Force Base|Kearney AAF]] [[Nebraska]]. The 100th was assigned to the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, and [[USAAF unit identification aircraft markings|the group tail code]] was a "Square-D".<ref name="M8">{{cite web|title=100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)|url=http://mighty8thaf.preller.us/php/1Unit.php?Unitkey=100|publisher=Mighty 8th Cross-Reference|access-date=20 February 2013}}</ref> Its operational squadrons were:<ref name="M8"/>
* [[349th Air Refueling Squadron|349th Bombardment Squadron]] (XR)
* [[349th Air Refueling Squadron|349th Bombardment Squadron]] (XR)
* [[350th Air Refueling Squadron|350th Bombardment Squadron]] (LN)
* [[350th Air Refueling Squadron|350th Bombardment Squadron]] (LN)
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* [[418th Flight Test Squadron|418th Bombardment Squadron]] (LD)
* [[418th Flight Test Squadron|418th Bombardment Squadron]] (LD)


The group flew the [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. In combat, the 100th operated chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended.<ref name="Maurer1980p171">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=171.}}</ref>
The group flew the [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. In combat, the 100th operated chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended.<ref name="Maurer1980p171">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=171.}}</ref> The group gained the nickname "The Bloody Hundredth" due to its heavy losses during eight missions to Germany when the group experienced several instances where it lost a dozen or more aircraft on a single mission, whereas most units suffered losses in consistent small amounts.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/>
The group gained the nickname "The Bloody Hundredth" due to its heavy losses during eight missions to Germany when the group experienced several instances where it lost a dozen or more aircraft on a single mission, whereas most units suffered losses in consistent small amounts.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/>


From June 1943 to January 1944, the 100th Bomb Group concentrated its efforts against [[airfield]]s in France and naval facilities and industries in France and Germany. The 100th BG received a [[Distinguished Unit Citation]] for seriously disrupting German fighter plane production with an attack on an aircraft factory at [[Regensburg]] on 17 August 1943.<ref name="Maurer1980p171"/> One memorable raid on 10 October 1943, that the 100th BG made on [[Münster]], ended up with the only surviving 100th BG B-17 that went out on the raid, the ''Royal Flush'' (B-17 ''42-6087'') commanded that day by [[Robert Rosenthal (USAF officer)|Robert Rosenthal]] and flown by his regular crew, returning safely on just two working engines and both waist gunners seriously wounded, to Thorpe Abbotts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:black-week&catid=18:special-interest |title= Black Week (October 8-14, 1943) - Munster - 10 Oct 1943 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=100thbg.com |publisher=100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation |access-date=October 8, 2018 |quote=A/C 42-6087 "ROYAL FLUSH" 418TH LD-Z - LT ROBERT ROSENTHAL - P[ilot] - CPT -- FLEW 52 MISSIONS - The only crew to return from the mission with two engines shot out and two crew members seriously wounded.}}</ref>
From June 1943 to January 1944, as part of the [[Combined Bomber Offensive]] the 100th Bomb Group concentrated its efforts against [[airfield]]s in France and naval facilities and industries in France and Germany. The 100th BG received a [[Distinguished Unit Citation]] for seriously disrupting German fighter plane production with an attack on an aircraft factory at [[Regensburg]] as part of the [[Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission]] on 17 August 1943.<ref name="Maurer1980p171"/>


On 10 October 1943, the bomb raid that the 100th BG made on [[Münster]], ended up with the only surviving 100th BG B-17 that went out on the raid, the ''Royal Flush'' (s/n ''42-6087'') commanded that day by [[Robert Rosenthal (USAF officer)|Robert Rosenthal]] and flown by his regular crew, returning safely on just two working engines and both waist gunners seriously wounded, to Thorpe Abbotts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:black-week&catid=18:special-interest |title= Black Week (October 8-14, 1943) - Munster - 10 Oct 1943 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=100thbg.com |date= 10 April 2012 |publisher=100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation |access-date=8 October 2018 |quote=A/C 42-6087 "ROYAL FLUSH" 418TH LD-Z - LT ROBERT ROSENTHAL - P[ilot] - CPT -- FLEW 52 MISSIONS - The only crew to return from the mission with two engines shot out and two crew members seriously wounded.}}</ref>
⚫
The unit bombed airfields, industries, marshalling yards, and missile sites in western Europe, January – May 1944. Operations in this period included participation in the Allied campaign against enemy aircraft factories during "[[Big Week]]", 20 – 25 February 1944. The group completed a series of attacks against Berlin in March 1944 and received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for the missions.<ref name="Maurer1980p172">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=172.}}</ref>


⚫
The unit bombed airfields, industries, marshalling yards, and [[Operation Crossbow|missile sites]] in western Europe, January – May 1944. Operations in this period included participation in the Allied campaign against enemy aircraft factories during "[[Big Week]]", 20 – 25 February 1944. The group completed a series of attacks against Berlin in March 1944 and received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for the missions.<ref name="Maurer1980p172">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=172.}}</ref>
⚫
Beginning in the summer of 1944, oil installations became major targets. In addition to strategic operations, the group engaged in support and interdictory missions, hitting bridges and gun positions in support of the [[Invasion of Normandy]] in June 1944. The unit bombed enemy positions at [[Saint-Lô]] in July and at [[Brest, France|Brest]] in August and September Other missions were striking transportation and ground defences in the drive against the [[Siegfried Line]], October – December 1944; attacking marshalling yards, defended villages, and communications in the [[Ardennes]] sector during the [[Battle of the Bulge]], December 1944 – January 1945; and covering the [[Operation Varsity|airborne assault across the Rhine]] in March 1945.<ref name="Maurer1980p172"/>


⚫
Beginning in the summer of 1944, oil installations became major targets. In addition to strategic operations, the group engaged in support and interdictory missions, hitting bridges and gun positions in the [[Transport Plan|transportation plan]] preparations for the [[Operation Overlord|invasion of Normandy]] in June 1944. The unit bombed enemy positions at [[Saint-Lô]] in July and at [[Brest, France|Brest]] in August and September Other missions were striking transportation and ground defences in the drive against the [[Siegfried Line]], October – December 1944; attacking marshalling yards, defended villages, and communications in the [[Ardennes]] sector during the [[Battle of the Bulge]], December 1944 – January 1945; and covering the [[Operation Varsity|airborne assault across the Rhine]] in March 1945.<ref name="Maurer1980p172" />
⚫
The 100th Bomb Group received the French [[Croix de guerre]] with Palm for attacking heavily defended installations in Germany and for dropping supplies to [[French Forces of the Interior]], June – December 1944.<ref name="Maurer1980p172"/>

⚫
The 100th Bomb Group received the French [[Croix de Guerre]] with Palm for attacking heavily defended installations in Germany and for dropping supplies to [[French Forces of the Interior]], June – December 1944.<ref name="Maurer1980p172"/>


The 100 BG flew its last combat mission of World War II on 10 April 1945 which was number 306.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/>
The 100 BG flew its last combat mission of World War II on 10 April 1945 which was number 306.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/>
Line 63: Line 91:
In December 1945, the group returned to [[Camp Kilmer]], New Jersey. Group personnel were demobilized and the aircraft sent to storage. The unit was inactivated on 21 December 1945 and redesignated as the 100th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy).<ref name="Maurer1980p172"/>
In December 1945, the group returned to [[Camp Kilmer]], New Jersey. Group personnel were demobilized and the aircraft sent to storage. The unit was inactivated on 21 December 1945 and redesignated as the 100th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy).<ref name="Maurer1980p172"/>


===Postwar use===
== Postwar use ==
[[File:Thorpe Abbotts Control Tower.jpg|right|thumb|The Control Tower which now forms part the [[100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum]]]]
[[File:Thorpe Abbotts Control Tower.jpg|right|thumb|The Control Tower which now forms part of the [[100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum]]]]
After the war, the airfield was transferred to the RAF on 27 June 1946. After many years of inactivity, Thorpe Abbotts was closed in 1956.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/>
After the war, the airfield was transferred to the RAF on 27 June 1946. After many years of inactivity, Thorpe Abbotts was closed in 1956.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/> With the end of military control, the airfield was largely returned to agricultural use with most of the perimeter track, runways and hardstands removed. A small airstrip was built on a part of the former perimeter track which is used for light aircraft.<ref name="Freeman2001p217" /> The control tower was restored in 1977 and was turned into the [[100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum]]. Several World War II era buildings remain in various states of decay.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.100bgmus.org.uk/history.aspx|publisher=The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum|access-date=20 February 2013}}</ref>

==Current use==
With the end of military control, the airfield was largely returned to agricultural use with most of the perimeter track, runways and hardstands removed. A small airstrip was built on a part of the former perimeter track which is used for light aircraft.<ref name="Freeman2001p217"/> The control tower was restored in 1977 and was turned into the [[100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum]]. Several World War II era buildings remain in various states of decay.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.100bgmus.org.uk/history.aspx|publisher=The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Royal Air Force|World War II}}
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}
*[[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum]]
*[[100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum]]
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===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
*{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Freeman|2001}}|reference=Freeman, R. ''Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now. After the Battle''. London, UK: Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2001. {{ISBN|0-9009-13-09-6}}.}}
*{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Freeman|2001}}|reference=Freeman, R. ''Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now. After the Battle''. London, UK: Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2001. {{ISBN|0-9009-13-09-6}}.}}
*{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Maurer|1980}}|reference=Maurer, M. ''Air Force Combat Units Of World War II''. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.}}
*{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Maurer|1980}}|reference=Maurer, M. ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 96: Line 121:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorpe Abbotts}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorpe Abbotts}}
[[Category:Airfields of the VIII Bomber Command in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Airfields of the VIII Bomber Command in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Norfolk]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in England]]

Latest revision as of 22:50, 29 October 2024

RAF Thorpe Abbotts
USAAF Station 139
Diss, Norfolk, England
Thorpe Abbots Airfield - 13 November 1946
RAF Thorpe Abbotts is located in Norfolk
RAF Thorpe Abbotts
Coordinates52°23′N 1°13′E / 52.38°N 1.22°E / 52.38; 1.22
TypeRoyal Air Force station
CodeTA
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Controlled byEighth Air Force
Site history
Built1942
Built byJohn Laing & Son Ltd.
In use1943-1956 (1956)
Battles/warsEuropean Theatre of World War II
Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945
Garrison information
Garrison100th Bombardment Group
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
East/West 10/28  Concrete 6300ft
NNE/SSW 22/04  Concrete 4200ft
NNW/SSE 17/35  Concrete 4200ft
Tail of a 100 ARW Boeing KC-135R-BN Stratotanker, Serial 58-0100, displaying the crest of RAF Mildenhall and the historic "Square-D" badge as used by the unit during the second world war

Royal Air Force Thorpe Abbotts or more simply RAF Thorpe Abbotts is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Diss, Norfolk, in eastern England.

The station was built for the RAF use but handed over to the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 and upgraded for heavy bomber squadrons.

Second World War

[edit]
RAF Thorpe Abbotts on a target dossier of the German Luftwaffe, 1943

RAF Thorpe Abbotts was built during 1942 and early 1943 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a satellite airfield for RAF Horham but the rapid buildup of the Eighth Air Force resulted in both airfields being handed over to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The thirty-six hardstandings originally planned were increased to fifty. Two T-2 hangars were erected, one on the east side of the flying field and one on the south side adjacent to the technical site. This and several of the domestic sites were in woodland stretching south and bordering the A143 Diss to Harleston road.[1]

United States Army Air Forces use

[edit]

Thorpe Abbotts was given USAAF designation Station 139,[2] (TA).[3]

100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

[edit]

The 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived at Thorpe Abbotts on 9 June 1943, from Kearney AAF Nebraska. The 100th was assigned to the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Square-D".[4] Its operational squadrons were:[4]

The group flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. In combat, the 100th operated chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended.[5] The group gained the nickname "The Bloody Hundredth" due to its heavy losses during eight missions to Germany when the group experienced several instances where it lost a dozen or more aircraft on a single mission, whereas most units suffered losses in consistent small amounts.[1]

From June 1943 to January 1944, as part of the Combined Bomber Offensive the 100th Bomb Group concentrated its efforts against airfields in France and naval facilities and industries in France and Germany. The 100th BG received a Distinguished Unit Citation for seriously disrupting German fighter plane production with an attack on an aircraft factory at Regensburg as part of the Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission on 17 August 1943.[5]

On 10 October 1943, the bomb raid that the 100th BG made on Münster, ended up with the only surviving 100th BG B-17 that went out on the raid, the Royal Flush (s/n 42-6087) commanded that day by Robert Rosenthal and flown by his regular crew, returning safely on just two working engines and both waist gunners seriously wounded, to Thorpe Abbotts.[6]

The unit bombed airfields, industries, marshalling yards, and missile sites in western Europe, January – May 1944. Operations in this period included participation in the Allied campaign against enemy aircraft factories during "Big Week", 20 – 25 February 1944. The group completed a series of attacks against Berlin in March 1944 and received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for the missions.[7]

Beginning in the summer of 1944, oil installations became major targets. In addition to strategic operations, the group engaged in support and interdictory missions, hitting bridges and gun positions in the transportation plan preparations for the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The unit bombed enemy positions at Saint-Lô in July and at Brest in August and September Other missions were striking transportation and ground defences in the drive against the Siegfried Line, October – December 1944; attacking marshalling yards, defended villages, and communications in the Ardennes sector during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945; and covering the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.[7]

The 100th Bomb Group received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for attacking heavily defended installations in Germany and for dropping supplies to French Forces of the Interior, June – December 1944.[7]

The 100 BG flew its last combat mission of World War II on 10 April 1945 which was number 306.[1]

In December 1945, the group returned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. Group personnel were demobilized and the aircraft sent to storage. The unit was inactivated on 21 December 1945 and redesignated as the 100th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy).[7]

Postwar use

[edit]
The Control Tower which now forms part of the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum

After the war, the airfield was transferred to the RAF on 27 June 1946. After many years of inactivity, Thorpe Abbotts was closed in 1956.[1] With the end of military control, the airfield was largely returned to agricultural use with most of the perimeter track, runways and hardstands removed. A small airstrip was built on a part of the former perimeter track which is used for light aircraft.[1] The control tower was restored in 1977 and was turned into the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. Several World War II era buildings remain in various states of decay.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Freeman 2001, p. 217.
  2. ^ "Thorpe Abbotts". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Thorpe Abbotts Airfield". Control Towers. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  4. ^ a b "100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)". Mighty 8th Cross-Reference. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  5. ^ a b Maurer 1980, p. 171.
  6. ^ "Black Week (October 8-14, 1943) - Munster - 10 Oct 1943". 100thbg.com. 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2018. A/C 42-6087 "ROYAL FLUSH" 418TH LD-Z - LT ROBERT ROSENTHAL - P[ilot] - CPT -- FLEW 52 MISSIONS - The only crew to return from the mission with two engines shot out and two crew members seriously wounded.
  7. ^ a b c d Maurer 1980, p. 172.
  8. ^ "History". The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. Retrieved 20 February 2013.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Freeman, R. Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now. After the Battle. London, UK: Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2001. ISBN 0-9009-13-09-6.
  • Maurer, M. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
[edit]
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