RAF Bassingbourn airfield - 91st Bomb Group in WW2

A B-17 Flying Fortress passes the Control Tower 1943 (91st BG, USAAF)

RAF Bassingbourn airfield - 91st Bomb Group

Army Barracks, restricted entry

1. Pre War Fort type 207/36, modified with extra floor and extended tower
2. Replaced post-war with Control Tower, Vertical Split Control Type 2548c/55, now demolished

1. Tower preserved as a museum to the 91st Bomb Group
2. Demolished in the 1990s.

Other Buildings:

Most of the original wartime buildings remain in Army use, 3 of the 4 C Type hangars, runways, perimeter track, ops block, pillboxes

1938 to 09/42, Operational R.A.F. Bomber Command Station, Squadrons based here (mainly with Wellingtons): 35, 98, 104, 108, 215.
Transferred to 8th U.S.A.A.F. Command 10/42.
14/10/42 to 06/45, 322nd, 323rd, 324th and 401st Bomb Squadrons of the 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'The Ragged Irregulars' commanded by Colonel Stanley Wray moved here from Kimbolton.
Famed as the base of the B-17F 'Memphis Belle' and immortalised in the wartime film of the same name with many scenes shot here (1990 remake filmed at Binbrook). Flew 340 missions, losing 197 B-17's.
06/45 to 06/49, Transport Command with Liberators then Yorks.
08/50 to 04/53, 353rd Bomb Sqn of the 301st BG with B-29s. 01/51, Airfield transferred to USAFE control. Later used by RB-50s of the 38th Sqn, 55th SRW, and B-50s of the 341st BS, 97th BG and 96th BS, 2nd BG.
/51 to /69, 231 and 237 OCU, RAF Bomber Command with Canberras, Mosquitoes and Meteors. Now used for army infantry training.

RAF Bassingbourn - 91st Bomb Group

Front 1998 (© Robert Truman)

1944 (© 91st BG, USAAF, via Terry Flemming)

RAF Bassingbourn airfield - 91st Bomb Group

Operational Bomber

3x - concrete/tarmac, all extended in 1942

3.5 miles NW of Royston

Photographs of the 91st BG Here
'The Memphis Belle' - the 1990 film of this name was actually shot at Binbrook

RAF Bassingbourn control tower museum

RAF Bassingbourn - 91st Bomb Group

RAF Bassingbourn airfield - 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) -

RAF Bassingbourn airfield - 91st Bomb Group
Airfield:	Operational Bomber
Opened:	/03/38
RAF closure:	19/05/69
ID Code:	BS
USAAF Station:	121
Runways:	3x - concrete/tarmac, all extended in 1942
Hangars:	4x - C Type
County:	Cambridgeshire
Location:	3.5 miles NW of Royston
OS Ref:	TL330462
Links:	Photographs of the 91st BG Here 'The Memphis Belle' - the 1990 film of this name was actually shot at Binbrook RAF Bassingbourn control tower museum
©:	All photographs copyright © as stated
RAF Bassingbourn - 91st Bomb Group

RAF Bassingbourn airfield - 91st Bomb Group
Airfield Today:	Army Barracks, restricted entry
Tower Type:	1. Pre War Fort type 207/36, modified with extra floor and extended tower 2. Replaced post-war with Control Tower, Vertical Split Control Type 2548c/55, now demolished
Tower:	1. Tower preserved as a museum to the 91st Bomb Group 2. Demolished in the 1990s.
Other Buildings:	Most of the original wartime buildings remain in Army use, 3 of the 4 C Type hangars, runways, perimeter track, ops block, pillboxes
History:	1938 to 09/42, Operational R.A.F. Bomber Command Station, Squadrons based here (mainly with Wellingtons): 35, 98, 104, 108, 215. Transferred to 8th U.S.A.A.F. Command 10/42. 14/10/42 to 06/45, 322nd, 323rd, 324th and 401st Bomb Squadrons of the 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'The Ragged Irregulars' commanded by Colonel Stanley Wray moved here from Kimbolton. Famed as the base of the B-17F 'Memphis Belle' and immortalised in the wartime film of the same name with many scenes shot here (1990 remake filmed at Binbrook). Flew 340 missions, losing 197 B-17's. 06/45 to 06/49, Transport Command with Liberators then Yorks. 08/50 to 04/53, 353rd Bomb Sqn of the 301st BG with B-29s. 01/51, Airfield transferred to USAFE control. Later used by RB-50s of the 38th Sqn, 55th SRW, and B-50s of the 341st BS, 97th BG and 96th BS, 2nd BG. /51 to /69, 231 and 237 OCU, RAF Bomber Command with Canberras, Mosquitoes and Meteors. Now used for army infantry training.
RAF Bassingbourn - 91st Bomb Group