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* 182nd Medical Dispensary
* 182nd Medical Dispensary


==== 31st Fighter Group ====
==== 495th Fighter Training Group ====
The 495th Fighter Training Group was an Eighth Air Force [[Operational Training Unit]] (OTU) which was formed in England to train newly-formed deployed fighter groups which arrived from the United States.<ref name="OTU">{{cite web|url=http://www.8thafhs.org/training/495t.htm |title=495th Fighter Training Group |publisher=Eighth Air Force Historical Society |accessdate=24 Mar 2015}}</ref>

The unit was initially organized as the '''6th Fighter Wing''' on 27 August 1942, under the control of [[VIII Fighter Command]].<ref name="OTU"/> During 1942 and early 1943, it trained pilots in combat operations as well as air-to-air-gunnery with the attached 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight.<ref name="OTU"/>. The training was conducted using Supermarine Spitfies and pilots drawn from the [[67th Observation Group]] at [[RAF Membury]] (AAF-466) and [[RAF Middle Wallop]] (AAF-449).<ref name="OTU"/>

The 6th Fighter Wing provided training to the following groups:
⚫
* [[31st Fighter Group]]
[[File:31fg-spitfire.jpg|thumb|Spitfire V of the 309th Fighter Squadron]]
[[File:31fg-spitfire.jpg|thumb|Spitfire V of the 309th Fighter Squadron]]
: It consisted of the [[307th Fighter Squadron|307th]], [[308th Fighter Squadron|308th]] and [[309th Fighter Squadron]]s.<ref name="Maurer1980p85">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=85.}}</ref>
The first American use of Atcham was the '''[[31st Fighter Wing|31st Fighter Group]]''',<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/atcham |title=Atcham |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref> consisting of the 307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons.<ref name="Maurer1980p85">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=85.}}</ref> The ground echelon of the 31st arrived from New Orleans AB, [[Louisiana]] on 11 June 1942, with the pilots following later in the month,{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} and was assigned to the Eighth Air Force.<ref name="Maurer1980p83">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=83.}}</ref> The group consisted of the following squadrons:
* [[307th Fighter Squadron]]<ref name="Maurer1980p85"/> (MX){{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}
* [[308th Fighter Squadron]]<ref name="Maurer1980p85"/> (HL){{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}
* [[309th Fighter Squadron]]<ref name="Maurer1980p85"/> (WZ){{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}


⚫
: The group arrived without assigned aircraft as its [[Bell P-39 Airacobra]]s were found unsuitable for long-distance formation ferry flights. Provided with British [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF), the 31st FG entered combat in August<ref name="Maurer1980p83"/> and supported a [[Dieppe Raid|raid made by Canadian, British, American, and French forces]] at [[Dieppe, Seine-Maritime|Dieppe]] on 19 August. The group also escorted bombers and flew patrol and diversionary missions.<ref name="Maurer1980p84">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=84.}}</ref>
'''Note:''' The 309th Fighter Squadron was based at [[High Ercall|RAF High Ercall]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}


⚫
: After its training was completed in August 1942, the 31st moved to [[RAF Westhampnett]] in Sussex before moving into Tafaraoui Airfield, Oran, [[Algeria]] on 8 November 1942<ref name="Maurer1980p85"/> as part of [[Twelfth Air Force]].<ref name="Maurer1980p84"/>
⚫
The group arrived without assigned aircraft as its [[Bell P-39 Airacobra]]s were found unsuitable for long-distance formation ferry flights. Provided with British [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF), the 31st FG entered combat in August<ref name="Maurer1980p83"/> and supported a [[Dieppe Raid|raid made by Canadian, British, American, and French forces]] at [[Dieppe, Seine-Maritime|Dieppe]] on 19 August. The group also escorted bombers and flew patrol and diversionary missions.<ref name="Maurer1980p84">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=84.}}</ref>


* [[14th Fighter Group]]
⚫
In August 1942, the 31st moved to [[RAF Westhampnett]] in Sussex before moving into Tafaraoui, [[Algeria]] on 8 November 1942<ref name="Maurer1980p85"/> as part of [[Twelfth Air Force]].<ref name="Maurer1980p84"/>

⚫
==== 14th Fighter Group ====
[[File:RAF Atcham - 14th Fighter Group - P-38 Lightning.jpg|thumb| An RAF airman talks to a pilot of the 14th Fighter Group on the wing of his P-38 Lightning at Atcham, England.]]
[[File:RAF Atcham - 14th Fighter Group - P-38 Lightning.jpg|thumb| An RAF airman talks to a pilot of the 14th Fighter Group on the wing of his P-38 Lightning at Atcham, England.]]
The '''[[14th Flying Training Wing|14th Fighter Group]]'''<ref name="CT"/> moved to Atcham on 18 August 1942 from [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton Field]], California<ref name="Maurer1980p58">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=58.}}</ref> and was assigned to the [[VIII Fighter Command]].<ref name="Maurer1980p57">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=57.}}</ref> The group consisted of the following squadrons:
: The 14th arrived at Atcham on 18 August 1942 from [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton Field]], California<ref name="Maurer1980p58">{{Harvnb|Maurer|1980|p=58.}}</ref>. It consisted of the [[48th Fighter Squadron|48th]] (ES) and [[49th Fighter Squadron]]s (QU).<ref name="Maurer1980p58"/>
⚫
* [[48th Fighter Squadron]]<ref name="Maurer1980p58"/> (ES)<ref name="IWM"/>
⚫
* [[49th Fighter Squadron]]<ref name="Maurer1980p58"/> (QU)<ref name="IWM"/>


Equipped with [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]]s, the 14th escorted [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] bombers to targets in France.<ref name="Maurer1980p57"/> In addition, fourteen P-38s of the 48th Squadron were sent on detached service to [[RAF Westhampnett]] and [[RAF Ford]] in southern England, where in co-ordination with British squadrons, the pilots engaged in a number of practice sweeps across the [[English Channel]].<ref name="IWM"/>
: Equipped with [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]]s, the 14th escorted [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] bombers to targets in France.<ref name="Maurer1980p57"/> In addition, fourteen P-38s of the 48th Squadron were sent on detached service to [[RAF Westhampnett]] and [[RAF Ford]] in southern England, where in co-ordination with British squadrons, the pilots engaged in a number of practice sweeps across the [[English Channel]].<ref name="IWM"/>


After flying sweep sorties during which there was no contact with the [[Luftwaffe]], in November 1942 the 14th was reassigned to the [[Twelfth Air Force]], and was transferred to [[Tafaraoui Airfield]], Oran, [[Algeria]]<ref name="Maurer1980p58"/> in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] (MTO) after the [[Operation Torch]] landings in North Africa.<ref name="Maurer1980p57"/>
: After flying sweep sorties during which there was no contact with the [[Luftwaffe]], in November 1942 the 14th was reassigned to the [[Twelfth Air Force]], and was transferred to [[Tafaraoui Airfield]], Oran, [[Algeria]]<ref name="Maurer1980p58"/> in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] (MTO) after the [[Operation Torch]] landings in North Africa.<ref name="Maurer1980p57"/>


==== 1st Provisional Gunnery Flight ====
From 2 January until 3 March 1943 the '''1st Provisional Gunnery Flight''' used Atcham for target towing using [[Westland Lysander]] and [[Miles Master]]s. The unit then moved to [[RAF Llanbedr]].<ref name="CT"/>

==== 495th Fighter Training Group ====
[[File:Atcham-p47-496ftg.jpg|thumb|Republic P-47C-5-RE Thunderbolt Serial 41-6530 of the 551st Fighter Training Squadron. This aircraft was formerly assigned to the 56th Fighter Group at [[RAF Kings Cliffe]]. This aircraft was condemned due to enemy action 16 April 1946]]
[[File:Atcham-p47-496ftg.jpg|thumb|Republic P-47C-5-RE Thunderbolt Serial 41-6530 of the 551st Fighter Training Squadron. This aircraft was formerly assigned to the 56th Fighter Group at [[RAF Kings Cliffe]]. This aircraft was condemned due to enemy action 16 April 1946]]
On 16 August 1943, the unit was re-designated as the '''2906th Observation Training Group''', and further was re-designated the 495th Fighter Training Group on 26 October 1943.<ref name="OTU"/> When the 14th Fighter Group moved out at the end of 1942, the unit switched to becoming a Replacement Training Group (RTU) and was assigned two RTU squadrons:<ref name="FTG">{{cite web|url=http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/480 |title=495th Fighter Training Group |publisher=American Air Museum in Britain|accessdate=24 Mar 2015}}</ref>
From November 1942 to October 1943 Atcham was host to '''6th Fighter Wing''', as a Combat Crew Replacement Centre, flying Spitfires and [[Bell P-39 Airacobra]]s, these being replaced with [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]s.<ref name="CT"/>
⚫
* 551st Fighter Training Squadron (VM)<ref name="FTG"/>

⚫
* 552d Fighter Training Squadron (DQ)<ref name="FTG"/>
In October 1943 6th Fighter Wing was renamed the '''2906th Observation Training Group,''' then renamed again as '''[[495th Fighter Group|495th Fighter Training Group]]'''.<ref name="CT"/> Operational squadrons of the 495 FTG were:{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}


As a Combat Crew Replacement Centre, the squadrons flew a mixture of hand-me-down aircraft, primarily planes which were considered not combat-ready to to high hours and being "war weary". It flew P-47 Thunderbolts, some P-38H Lightnings, and A-20 Havocs. Pilots trained were then assigned to both VIII Fighter Command and IX Fighter Command after completion of training.<ref name="FTG"/>
* 551st Fighter Training Squadron (VM)
* 552d Fighter Training Squadron (DQ)


The 495 FTG stayed until February 1945, moving to [[RAF Cheddington]]. From August 1944 the Ninth AF P-38s from the 496 FTG/554 FTS from [[RAF Goxhill]] used Atcham as a training field.<ref name="CT"/>
The 495 FTG stayed until February 1945, moving to [[RAF Cheddington]]. From August 1944 the Ninth AF P-38s from the 496 FTG/554 FTS from [[RAF Goxhill]] used Atcham as a training field.<ref name="CT"/><ref name="FTG"/>


===Back to Royal Air Force control===
===Back to Royal Air Force control===

Revision as of 21:05, 24 March 2015

RAF Atcham
USAAF Station 342
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Atcham Airfield – 9 May 1946
RAF Atcham USAAF Station 342 is located in Shropshire
RAF Atcham USAAF Station 342
RAF Atcham
USAAF Station 342
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
Controlled byRoyal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built1941 (1941)
In use1941–1946 (1946)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Garrison information
Garrison31st Fighter Group
14th Fighter Group
495th Fighter Training Group
RAF Flying Training Command

Royal Air Force Atcham or more simply RAF Atcham is a former Royal Air Force station located 5.0 miles (8.0 km) east of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, on the north eastern boundary of Attingham Park.

Initially built for RAF Fighter Command, during World War II its primary use was by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. It was mainly the home of the 495th Fighter Training Group, where pilots were trained to fly P-47 Thunderbolts although a few also were trained to fly twin-engined P-38 Lightnings for both Eighth and Ninth Air Force units.[1] Atcham continued to see use as a training base until it was returned to the RAF in March 1945.[2]

History

Royal Air Force

The airfield was opened in 1941 and was initially used by the Royal Air Force to house two squadrons of RAF Fighter Command with the first to arrive being 131 Squadron on 27 September 1941 with Supermarine Spitfires[3]

It was planned to open RAF Condover as a satellite station but when it opened in 1942 the RAF had decided to hand over the Atcham for American use.[citation needed]

United States Army Air Forces use

To support the USAAF, jurisdiction of Atcham Airfield was transferred from RAF Fighter Command to the USAAF on 15 June 1942 when a number of RAF stations were turned over to the Americans. It was designated as Station 342 (AP).[4]

USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Atcham were:[2]

  • 333d Service Group (VIII Air Force Composite Command)[5]
332d Service Squadron; HHS, 333d Service Group
  • 42d Service Group (VIII Air Force Composite Command)[6]
356th, 361st Service Squadrons; HHS 42d Service Group
  • 18th Weather Squadron

Regular Army Station Units included:

  • 1004th Signal Company
  • 1148th Quartermaster Company
  • 1761st Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company
  • 2020th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon
  • 182nd Medical Dispensary

495th Fighter Training Group

The 495th Fighter Training Group was an Eighth Air Force Operational Training Unit (OTU) which was formed in England to train newly-formed deployed fighter groups which arrived from the United States.[7]

The unit was initially organized as the 6th Fighter Wing on 27 August 1942, under the control of VIII Fighter Command.[7] During 1942 and early 1943, it trained pilots in combat operations as well as air-to-air-gunnery with the attached 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight.[7]. The training was conducted using Supermarine Spitfies and pilots drawn from the 67th Observation Group at RAF Membury (AAF-466) and RAF Middle Wallop (AAF-449).[7]

The 6th Fighter Wing provided training to the following groups:

Spitfire V of the 309th Fighter Squadron
It consisted of the 307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons.[8]
The group arrived without assigned aircraft as its Bell P-39 Airacobras were found unsuitable for long-distance formation ferry flights. Provided with British Supermarine Spitfires by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the 31st FG entered combat in August[9] and supported a raid made by Canadian, British, American, and French forces at Dieppe on 19 August. The group also escorted bombers and flew patrol and diversionary missions.[10]
After its training was completed in August 1942, the 31st moved to RAF Westhampnett in Sussex before moving into Tafaraoui Airfield, Oran, Algeria on 8 November 1942[8] as part of Twelfth Air Force.[10]
An RAF airman talks to a pilot of the 14th Fighter Group on the wing of his P-38 Lightning at Atcham, England.
The 14th arrived at Atcham on 18 August 1942 from Hamilton Field, California[11]. It consisted of the 48th (ES) and 49th Fighter Squadrons (QU).[11]
Equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings, the 14th escorted Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers to targets in France.[12] In addition, fourteen P-38s of the 48th Squadron were sent on detached service to RAF Westhampnett and RAF Ford in southern England, where in co-ordination with British squadrons, the pilots engaged in a number of practice sweeps across the English Channel.[2]
After flying sweep sorties during which there was no contact with the Luftwaffe, in November 1942 the 14th was reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force, and was transferred to Tafaraoui Airfield, Oran, Algeria[11] in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) after the Operation Torch landings in North Africa.[12]
Republic P-47C-5-RE Thunderbolt Serial 41-6530 of the 551st Fighter Training Squadron. This aircraft was formerly assigned to the 56th Fighter Group at RAF Kings Cliffe. This aircraft was condemned due to enemy action 16 April 1946

On 16 August 1943, the unit was re-designated as the 2906th Observation Training Group, and further was re-designated the 495th Fighter Training Group on 26 October 1943.[7] When the 14th Fighter Group moved out at the end of 1942, the unit switched to becoming a Replacement Training Group (RTU) and was assigned two RTU squadrons:[13]

  • 551st Fighter Training Squadron (VM)[13]
  • 552d Fighter Training Squadron (DQ)[13]

As a Combat Crew Replacement Centre, the squadrons flew a mixture of hand-me-down aircraft, primarily planes which were considered not combat-ready to to high hours and being "war weary". It flew P-47 Thunderbolts, some P-38H Lightnings, and A-20 Havocs. Pilots trained were then assigned to both VIII Fighter Command and IX Fighter Command after completion of training.[13]

The 495 FTG stayed until February 1945, moving to RAF Cheddington. From August 1944 the Ninth AF P-38s from the 496 FTG/554 FTS from RAF Goxhill used Atcham as a training field.[4][13]

Back to Royal Air Force control

Atcham was returned to the RAF Flying Training Command on 14 March 1945 becoming a satellite of RAF Ternhill. No. 5 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit ((P)AFU) and No. 6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). No. 577 Squadron RAF target towing with Airspeed Oxfords, Spitfires and Vultee A-31 Vengeances used the airfield until the end of the war.[1]

Atcham was abandoned on 22 October 1946 and disposed of on 20 January 1958.[1]

Current use

With the end of military control, Atcham airfield was returned to farmland with the runways being broken up and removed and the control tower demolished.[1]

Today there is little evidence of Atcham airfield. Some minor agricultural roads which were part of the perimeter track remain as access to farm fields, and the B4394 uses part of the former South West to North East runway. The three Callendar Hamilton hangars of the former technical site remain together in use with all the administration buildings, the whole complex forming the Atcham Industrial Estate northwest of the former airfield area.[1]

See also

References

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

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e Freeman 2001, p. 22.
  2. ^ a b c "Atcham". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 59.
  4. ^ a b "RAF Atcham airfield". Control Towers. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  5. ^ "333d Service Group". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  6. ^ "42d Service Group". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e "495th Fighter Training Group". Eighth Air Force Historical Society. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  8. ^ a b Maurer 1980, p. 85.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Maurer1980p83 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Maurer 1980, p. 84.
  11. ^ a b c Maurer 1980, p. 58.
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Maurer1980p57 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b c d e "495th Fighter Training Group". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 24 March 2015.

Bibliography

  • 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.
  • Jefford, C.G, MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • 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.
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