RAF Duxford airfield, 78th FG

Duxford

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Duxford control tower with rooftop observation post added by the 78th FG, in the background note the observation post on the corner of the hangar 1944 (© 78th FG, USAAF)

RAF Duxford - Battle of Britain airfield
Airfield Today:		Imperial War Museum airfield with many annual air shows
Tower Type:		1. 1917 Watch Office single storey hut, replaced with later 1941 tower 2. Observation post mounted on corner of hangar 3. Watch Office for All Commands 12779/41
Tower:		1. 1917 Watch Office now used for displays 2. Removed post-war 3. 12779/41 still in use for Flying Control (now has post-war VCR added)
Other Buildings:		Most including guardroom, ops block, church, gun butts, hangars, runways, perimeter track, Technical and Domestic sites
History:		Built as an RAF fighter base in 1918, twinned with nearby Fowlmere. 8 Sqn here 1919-20, then 2 FTS. Station enlarged between 1928 and 1932. 01/04/23, 19 Squadron formed here and were the first to receive the Mk1 Spitfire in 1938. Operational during the Battle of Britain, involved in the 'Big Wing' controversy. RAF Fighter Command Sqns operating here were: 19, 56, 66, 133, 181, 195, 222, 242, 264, 266, 310 312, 601, 609, 611, AFDU. /42, Transferred to USAAF. 10/42 to 04/43, 350th Fighter Group flying P-39 Airacobras, moved to N Africa. 04/43 to 11/45, 82nd, 83rd and 84th Fighter Squadrons of the 78th Fighter Group 'The Duxford Eagles' from Goxhill flying P-38 Lightning, then P-47 Thunderbolts until 12/44 when they converted to P-51D Mustangs, flew 450 missions. 12/45 to 07/61, RAF returned flying Meteors, Hunters and Javelins. Now home to the main aircraft display and air shows of the Imperial War Museum.

Please Note! this is NOT the official IWM Duxford website; use the link below

Inside the control tower, note the B-17 outside 1944 (© 78th FG, USAAF)

Snowball fight outside the Briefing Room winter 1944-45 (© 78th FG, USAAF)

P-47D Thunderbolt 1944 (© 78th FG, USAAF)

A modern recreation of Colonel Landers P-51D Mustang 'Big Beautiful Doll'
2000 (© Robert Truman)

The original 'Big Beautiful Doll' in a blast pen that still exists near the American Air Museum
1944 (© 78th FG, USAAF)

RAF and VIIIth USAAF Fighter Station
Airfield:	Operational Fighter
Opened:	03/1918
Closed:	31/07/1961
ID Code:	DX
USAAF Station:	357
Runways:	1x - grass, with PSP added from 11/1944, single concrete added 1949
Hangars:	3x - double and 1x - single Belfast Truss, 8x - Blister
County:	Cambridgeshire
Location:	8 miles S of Cambridge
OS Ref:	TL464558
Links:	www.iwm.org.uk/duxford
©:	All photographs copyright © as stated
Films:	1967, Frank Sinatra and Edward Fox were here during the filming of the spy film 'The Naked Runner' which shows Duxfords derelict hangars, buildings and control tower. 1968, 'The Battle of Britain' during which the single Belfast Truss hangar was blown up (without permission!).
RAF Duxford airfield - 78th FG -


1917 Watch Office	1942 Watch Office


2002 (© Edward Lowdell)	1999

RAF Duxford - 78th FG -

RAF Duxford airfield - 78th FG -