RAF Grafton Underwood airfield

12 B-17's return to Grafton Underwood after the first VIII USAAF and 97th BG heavy bomber mission 17/08/1942 (© USAAF via Adam Smith)

Grafton Underwood airfield

Watch Office with Operations Room Type A, with control room & crew briefing room Nissen Huts and building updates - 15898/40, 7344/41, 13079/41 and 4170/43

Demolished in the 1980s

Other Buildings:

/41 to /42, 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit with Liberators.
The first Station in England to receive an 8th US Army Air Force flying unit and the first to launch a USAAF heavy bomber operation, to Rouen, on the 17th August 1942.
05/42 to 06/42, 15th Bombardment Squadron (L) training with Douglas Bostons, moved to Molesworth.
07/42 to 09/42, Elements of the 97th BG (H) with B-17s from Polebrook.
09/42 to 12/42, 364th, 365th, 366th and 422nd BS of the 305th BG 'Can Do' commanded by Colonel Curtis LeMay, moved to Chelveston.
Airfield then rebuilt and improved.
04/43 to 05/43, 337th, 338th, 339th and 413th Bombardment Squadrons of the 96th BG with B-17s, moved to Andrews Field.
05/43 to 06/45, 544th, 545th, 546th and 547th Bombardment Sqns of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Keep the Show on the Road' with B-17s, flew (approximately) 320 missions before moving to France.
10/45 to , 236 MU for vehicle storage and sales. Airfield sold 1959.

Grafton Underwood airfield

Grafton Underwood 1944 (© USAAF via Mark Brotherton)

1973 (© Steve Bond)

(above) B-17G 'Pauline' Winter 1944/45 (© USAAF)

Click Here for more superb wartime photos of the 384th BG at
Grafton Underwood

(above left) 384th BG C.O. Lt Col Theodore Milton (above right) The end of the war is announced from the control tower May 1945 (below) Captain Bonnett in the Bombardiers nose position of a B-17 c.1944 (All © USAAF)

RAF Grafton Underwood airfield

Operational Bomber

3x - tarmac and wood chips, extended in 1942

Northamptonshire

4 miles NE of Kettering

- 15th BS - 96th BG - 97th BG - 305th BG - 384th BG -

Grafton Underwood airfield 1942-59

RAF Grafton Underwood airfield
Airfield:	Operational Bomber
Opened:	/1942
Closed:	01/02/1959
ID Code:	GU
USAAF Station:	106
Runways:	3x - tarmac and wood chips, extended in 1942
Hangars:	2x - T2
County:	Northamptonshire
Location:	4 miles NE of Kettering
OS Ref:	SP923813
Links:
Photo ©:	All photographs copyright © as stated
- 15th BS - 96th BG - 97th BG - 305th BG - 384th BG -

Grafton Underwood airfield
Airfield Today:	Agriculture
Tower Type:	Watch Office with Operations Room Type A, with control room & crew briefing room Nissen Huts and building updates - 15898/40, 7344/41, 13079/41 and 4170/43
Tower:	Demolished in the 1980s
Other Buildings:	Few
History:	/41 to /42, 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit with Liberators. The first Station in England to receive an 8th US Army Air Force flying unit and the first to launch a USAAF heavy bomber operation, to Rouen, on the 17th August 1942. 05/42 to 06/42, 15th Bombardment Squadron (L) training with Douglas Bostons, moved to Molesworth. 07/42 to 09/42, Elements of the 97th BG (H) with B-17s from Polebrook. 09/42 to 12/42, 364th, 365th, 366th and 422nd BS of the 305th BG 'Can Do' commanded by Colonel Curtis LeMay, moved to Chelveston. Airfield then rebuilt and improved. 04/43 to 05/43, 337th, 338th, 339th and 413th Bombardment Squadrons of the 96th BG with B-17s, moved to Andrews Field. 05/43 to 06/45, 544th, 545th, 546th and 547th Bombardment Sqns of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Keep the Show on the Road' with B-17s, flew (approximately) 320 missions before moving to France. 10/45 to , 236 MU for vehicle storage and sales. Airfield sold 1959.
Grafton Underwood airfield