RAF Bodney Airfield

The original RAF Watch Office at Bodney c.1943 (© USAAF via Peter Randall)

1. Watch Office with Ops room for Bomber Satellite Stations, 15898/40
2. Watch Office for All Commands, 343/43

1. Demolished
2. Derelict, this control tower was repaired after being hit by a P-51D on D-Day

Other Buildings:

3/40 to 5/43, opened as a satellite to Watton. RAF Bomber Command Squadrons 21, 82 and 105 based here for short time.
5/41, 90 Sqn, first RAF Sqn to fly the new Fortress Mk1s on operations.

Transferred to 8th USAAF 5/43.
7/43 to 2/45 and 4/45 to 11/45, 328th, 486th and 487th Fighter Squadrons of the 352nd Fighter Group 'The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney' with P-47D Thunderbolts, started operations 9/43, converted to P-51D Mustang 4/44. Major George Preddy, the 8th USAAF top scoring P-51 ace (27 victories) was based here until his death by 'friendly' AA fire on Christmas day 1944. 12/44 to 4/45, Group was temporarily based in Belgium. Lost 118 aircraft in combat, claimed 519 air and 287 ground kills. 352nd FG awarded Distinguished Unit Citation 8/4/44 for Brunswick escort mission, 487th FS awarded DUC 1/1/45 for the destruction of 23 enemy aircraft, the only 8th AAF Squadron to be independently awarded a DUC.
11/45, Group left for the USA and the station closed.

The second control tower - seen 6/45 (© USAAF via Peter Randall) and 2002 (© Mark Brotherton)
In the pre-dawn darkness of D-Day, Lt. Robert Frascotti was killed when his P-51 Mustang collided with the control tower on take-off

RAF and USAAF Station

Operational Fighter

3 grass, steel mat laid by USAF 1943

4 1/2 miles west of Watton

Bodney airfield 1940-45 - 352nd FG -

Bodney Airfield
Airfield Today:	Agriculture
Tower Type:	1. Watch Office with Ops room for Bomber Satellite Stations, 15898/40 2. Watch Office for All Commands, 343/43
Tower:	1. Demolished 2. Derelict, this control tower was repaired after being hit by a P-51D on D-Day
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	3/40 to 5/43, opened as a satellite to Watton. RAF Bomber Command Squadrons 21, 82 and 105 based here for short time. 5/41, 90 Sqn, first RAF Sqn to fly the new Fortress Mk1s on operations. Transferred to 8th USAAF 5/43. 7/43 to 2/45 and 4/45 to 11/45, 328th, 486th and 487th Fighter Squadrons of the 352nd Fighter Group 'The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney' with P-47D Thunderbolts, started operations 9/43, converted to P-51D Mustang 4/44. Major George Preddy, the 8th USAAF top scoring P-51 ace (27 victories) was based here until his death by 'friendly' AA fire on Christmas day 1944. 12/44 to 4/45, Group was temporarily based in Belgium. Lost 118 aircraft in combat, claimed 519 air and 287 ground kills. 352nd FG awarded Distinguished Unit Citation 8/4/44 for Brunswick escort mission, 487th FS awarded DUC 1/1/45 for the destruction of 23 enemy aircraft, the only 8th AAF Squadron to be independently awarded a DUC. 11/45, Group left for the USA and the station closed.

RAF and USAAF Station
Airfield:	Operational Fighter
Opened:	3/1940
Closed:	11/1945
ID Code:	BO
USAAF Station:	141
Runways:	3 grass, steel mat laid by USAF 1943
Hangars:	2 T2, 5 Blister
County:	Norfolk
Location:	4 1/2 miles west of Watton
OS Ref:	TL840995
Links:
©:	1969 & 1993 Photographs © Steve Bond 2002 Photographs © Rob Pritchard & Mark Brotherton