RAF Alconbury airfield

Bomber Satellite Watch Office 2001 (© Dan McKenzie)

RAF Alconbury airfield

Brownfield site for housing or distribution centre

Three control towers have been built here:
1. Watch Office with Operations Room for Bomber Satellite Stations 7345/41, observation room added to pattern 13079/41
2. Watch Office for all Commands 343/43
3. Post-War USAFE Control Tower

1. Survived in 2001
2. Disused in 2003
3. Survived in 2001

Other Buildings:

Opened as satellite to Upwood with Fairey Battles of 63 Sqn, became satellite to Wyton 09/39. Then used by 15, 40 and 156 bomber Sqns.
Transferred to 8th USAAF control 08/42.
09/42 to 12/42, 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) the 'Travelling Circus' with B-24 Liberators, 9th Oct 1942 first mission flown from Alconbury, moved to Hardwick.
12/42 to 09/43, 92nd BG (H) 'Fames Favored Few' moved here from Bovingdon with B-17's. Flew 4 missions in 1942, then a CCRU 08/42 to 05/43, then reformed as a combat group, resuming combat missions 05/43, moved to Podington.
04/43 to 06/43, 95th BG (H) here from the USA with B-17 Flying Fortress, moved to Framlingham.
20/08/43 to 06/45, 812th, 813th and 814th Bombardment Squadrons of the 482nd BG (H) a Pathfinder unit equipped with B-17 and B-24's. Originally operated under the 92nd BG, 03/44 became operational radar development unit, engaged in combat missions, testing radar equipment and training pathfinder crews. Aircraft usually flew from other airfields as lead aircraft for other Bomb Groups. The only BG to be formed in England, lost 7 aircraft in combat.
11/45 to 09/48, 264 MU here until closure.
08/51 became USAF Primary Installation, upgraded and modernised, USAF units arriving 06/53.
01/09/94 to 15/04/95, USAF base closed.

RAF Alconbury airfield

Two views of the observation room that once stood on top of the Watch Office for all Commands
1945 (© USAF via Adam Smith)

Alconbury's Watch Office for all Commands 1945 (© USAF via Adam Smith)

Watch Office for all Commands c.1990 (© Fred Cubberley)

Watch Office for all Commands 2003 (© Mark Brotherton)

RAF, USAAF and USAFE Alconbury

3x - concrete, tarmac extended in 1942 and again post war

4 miles north west of Huntingdon

Airfield tour by Dan McKenzie: www.bunkertours.com
Airfield history by Paul Francis www.rafalconbury.4t.com

RAF Alconbury airfield

RAF Alconbury airfield - 92nd BG - 93rd BG - 95th BG - 482nd BG -

RAF, USAAF and USAFE Alconbury
Airfield:	Bomber Station
Opened:	17/05/1938
Closed:	15/04/95
ID Code:	AY
USAAF Station:	102
Runways:	3x - concrete, tarmac extended in 1942 and again post war
Hangars:	2x - T2
County:	Cambridgeshire
Location:	4 miles north west of Huntingdon
OS Ref:	TL211767
Links:	Airfield tour by Dan McKenzie: www.bunkertours.com Airfield history by Paul Francis www.rafalconbury.4t.com
©:	Photo of RAF Alconbury Sign also © Dan McKenzie, Airfield Research Group
RAF Alconbury airfield

RAF Alconbury airfield
Airfield Today:	Brownfield site for housing or distribution centre
Control Tower Type:	Three control towers have been built here: 1. Watch Office with Operations Room for Bomber Satellite Stations 7345/41, observation room added to pattern 13079/41 2. Watch Office for all Commands 343/43 3. Post-War USAFE Control Tower
Towers:	1. Survived in 2001 2. Disused in 2003 3. Survived in 2001
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	Opened as satellite to Upwood with Fairey Battles of 63 Sqn, became satellite to Wyton 09/39. Then used by 15, 40 and 156 bomber Sqns. Transferred to 8th USAAF control 08/42. 09/42 to 12/42, 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) the 'Travelling Circus' with B-24 Liberators, 9th Oct 1942 first mission flown from Alconbury, moved to Hardwick. 12/42 to 09/43, 92nd BG (H) 'Fames Favored Few' moved here from Bovingdon with B-17's. Flew 4 missions in 1942, then a CCRU 08/42 to 05/43, then reformed as a combat group, resuming combat missions 05/43, moved to Podington. 04/43 to 06/43, 95th BG (H) here from the USA with B-17 Flying Fortress, moved to Framlingham. 20/08/43 to 06/45, 812th, 813th and 814th Bombardment Squadrons of the 482nd BG (H) a Pathfinder unit equipped with B-17 and B-24's. Originally operated under the 92nd BG, 03/44 became operational radar development unit, engaged in combat missions, testing radar equipment and training pathfinder crews. Aircraft usually flew from other airfields as lead aircraft for other Bomb Groups. The only BG to be formed in England, lost 7 aircraft in combat. 11/45 to 09/48, 264 MU here until closure. 08/51 became USAF Primary Installation, upgraded and modernised, USAF units arriving 06/53. 01/09/94 to 15/04/95, USAF base closed.
RAF Alconbury airfield