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RAF / USAAF Kimbolton Memorial
The airfield was originally built in 1941 for RAF Bomber Command, then expanded to Class A airfield standards for use by American heavy bombers during 1942. Kimbolton was assigned to the USAAF Eighth Air Force. It was given the designation USAAF Station 117.
The 91st was assigned to the 1st Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-A. The 91st stayed at Kimbolton only a few weeks, because the runways at Kimbolton were not strong or long enough for the safe operation of B-17s.
17th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The next USAAF unit to use Kimbolton was the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium), arriving in October from Barksdale AAF Louisiana. The 17th was originally intended to use RAF Bassingbourn. However, with the move of the 91st, the unit utilized Kimbolton as its shorter runways could accommodate their smaller, twin-engined medium bombers. The 17th flew the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber.
After strengthening of the runways on 21 May 1943, the 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived from Sioux City AAF, Iowa with B-17s. The 379th was assigned to the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-K.
The combat record of the 379th was the most successful of all the Eighth Air Force heavy bomber groups. It held records as far as bomb tonnage dropped - 26,459 tons - more than any other unit including those operational before the 379th arrived in the UK. It also exceeded all other UK Bomb Groups in the total number of missions flown, carrying out 330 between May 1943 and 15 May 1945.
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6370924
Image: © Adrian S Pye
Taken: 18 Jan 2020
0.04 miles
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Information board, RAF / USAAF Kimbolton Memorial
See https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6370910 for more information
Image: © Adrian S Pye
Taken: 18 Jan 2020
0.04 miles
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USAAF Kimbolton Memorial at the Bicton Industrial Estate
See https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6370910 and https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6370924 for more information
Image: © Adrian S Pye
Taken: 18 Jan 2020
0.04 miles
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Memorial to U.S.A.A.F. Kimbolton
Memorial stone to U.S.A.A.F. Kimbolton near to Stow Longa, Cambridgeshire. For more info on the WWII airfield see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Kimbolton
Image: © Keith Evans
Taken: 27 Feb 2008
0.04 miles
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Memorial to U.S.A.A.F. Kimbolton
Memorial stone to U.S.A.A.F. Kimbolton near to Stow Longa, Cambridgeshire. For more info on the WWII airfield see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Kimbolton
Image: © Keith Evans
Taken: 27 Feb 2008
0.04 miles
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Harvard Industrial Estate
Harvard Industrial Estate part of the Bicton Industrial Estate on the former site of RAF Kimbolton
Image: © Shaun Ferguson
Taken: 19 Mar 2009
0.08 miles
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Farm Road and Yellow Gate
The fields around here are served by a good number of hard surfaced roads rather than just tracks.
These are left over from a former WW2 airfield which used to be here and a lot of its road system still remains.
Image: © Des Blenkinsopp
Taken: 21 May 2019
0.15 miles
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Junction of Bigrams Lane and Stow Road
The concrete in the foreground is evidence of the airfield that was previously situated here.
Image: © Andrew Tatlow
Taken: 20 Oct 2006
0.18 miles
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Bigrams Lane
Bigrams Lane follows the line of the perimeter road of a former airfield. Remains of the perimeter road may be seen.
Image: © Andrew Tatlow
Taken: 20 Oct 2006
0.21 miles
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Bales in the Barley
Whoever farms here should be congratulated on keeping the footpaths so clear and obvious.
Image: © Des Blenkinsopp
Taken: 23 May 2019
0.24 miles