RAF Bassingbourn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids RAF Bassingbourn USAAF Station 121
Royston, Cambridgeshire in England
1955 Aerial photograph
RAF Bassingbourn Shown within Cambridgeshire
Coordinates	52°05′48″N 000°03′11″W / 52.09667°N 0.05306°W / 52.09667; -0.05306
Type	Royal Air Force station * Parent Station
Code	BS
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Bomber Command (1938-1942; 1951-1969) * No. 3 Group RAF * No. 6 (T) Group RAF * No. 7 (T) Group RAF * No. 92 (OTU) Group RAF Eighth Air Force (1942-1945) RAF Transport Command (1945-1949) United States Air Forces in Europe (1950-1953) British Army (1969 – present)
Site history
Built	1937 (1937)/38
Built by	John Laing & Son Ltd
In use	March 1938 - 2014 (2014)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation	24 metres (79 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 07/25 1,825 metres (5,988 ft) Asphalt 13/31 1,310 metres (4,298 ft) Asphalt 17/35 1,270 metres (4,167 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Bassingbourn, or simply RAF Bassingbourn, was an important air base in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located about 3 miles (5 km) north of Royston and 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Cambridge.

During World War II, it was first used by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Later, it became a key bomber base for the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Today, it is home to the Tower Museum Bassingbourn.

Building the Airfield

How Bassingbourn Was Built

RAF Bassingbourn was built by John Laing & Son between 1937 and 1939. It was placed on low, often wet ground. This swampy area created a constant mist, which was perfect for hiding the airfield from enemy planes.

The building work started in April 1937. The team had to rebuild some foundations because the ground was so soft. They also made the roads extra thick to prevent them from breaking apart. Bassingbourn became one of the prettiest RAF stations because hundreds of plum trees were planted there.

The Runways

At first, the runways were just grass. Lighter planes could use them, but heavier bombers would dig ruts. This made it hard for them to take off quickly.

So, in 1941–1942, three concrete runways were built. These were later made even longer to meet new standards. The main runway was extended to 1,825 meters (5,988 ft). The airfield also had seven miles of taxiways for planes to move around.

Bassingbourn used clever camouflage to hide its runways. Before concrete, the grass strips were painted to look like fields. After the concrete was laid, the areas between the runways were painted to look like farm crops.

RAF Use (1938–1942)

Bassingbourn RAF Station Crest

The airfield opened in March 1938. Early planes like the Hawker Hind and Bristol Blenheim bombers used it. At first, it was a training base for RAF aircrew.

When World War II began in September 1939, Bassingbourn became a training unit for Vickers Wellington bombers. It also used RAF Steeple Morden as a smaller, nearby airfield.

The station was attacked by German planes several times. On 13 August 1941, a bomb hit a building, killing 10 people.

In May 1942, planes from Bassingbourn joined the "Thousand Bomber" raid on Cologne, Germany. This was a huge attack involving many aircraft. Bassingbourn planes took part in more large raids until September 1942.

United States Army Air Forces Use

Personnel of the 91st Bomb Group on the parade ground at Bassingbourn

Personnel of the 91st Bomb Group at a Parade at Bassingbourn to celebrate their second year in the European Theatre of Operations, 17 September 1944.

In 1942, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) began using airfields in the UK. Bassingbourn became a headquarters for the 1st Combat Bombardment Wing. It was known as USAAF Station 121.

The 91st Bombardment Group

The 91st Bomb Group arrived at Bassingbourn on 14 October 1942. They flew Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. Bassingbourn was a well-equipped base, earning the nickname "the country club."

The 91st Bomb Group's planes had a special "Triangle A" symbol on their tails. Their squadrons also had unique codes:

• 322d Bombardment Squadron (LG)
• 323d Bombardment Squadron (OR)
• 324th Bombardment Squadron (DF)
• 401st Bombardment Squadron (LL)

B-17F-60-BO Flying Fortress AAF Ser. No. 42-29536 Mary Ruth, Memories of Mobile, 401st Bomb Squadron. This plane was shot down over Germany in 1943.

B-17G AAF Ser. No. 44-83575, flying as Nine-O-Nine of the 323rd Bomb Squadron. This is a restored B-17, not the original Nine-O-Nine from the war.

The 91st Bomb Group started combat missions from Bassingbourn on 7 November 1942. They mainly attacked important German targets like factories and airfields.

They received a special award, a Distinguished Unit Citation, for bombing marshalling yards (train yards) in Hamm, Germany, in March 1943. They earned a second award in January 1944 for attacking aircraft factories in central Germany despite bad weather and strong enemy attacks.

The group also helped with the D-Day landings in June 1944 by bombing enemy gun positions. They supported other battles, like the Battle of the Bulge, by attacking communication lines.

The 91st Bomb Group flew 340 missions until 25 April 1945. Sadly, 197 of their B-17s did not return to Bassingbourn. This was the highest loss for any US bomber group in the UK. After the war ended, the group helped rescue prisoners of war before returning to the United States.

Hollywood at Bassingbourn

Bassingbourn was a popular spot for movies and media during 1943.

• The documentary film Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress was filmed there. A propeller from the Memphis Belle plane is still at the base entrance today.
• Famous writer John Steinbeck wrote newspaper articles about the airfield.
• Actor Clark Gable was at Bassingbourn to make a gunnery film for the USAAF.
• The airfield was used for the fictional "28th Bomb Group" in the 1950 film Chain Lightning starring Humphrey Bogart.
• It was also a filming location for the 1955 movie The Dambusters.
• In 1986/87, Stanley Kubrick filmed parts of his movie Full Metal Jacket in the barracks. Fake palm trees were even left there for a few years!

Postwar Use

RAF Transport Command

The RAF took over Bassingbourn again on 26 June 1945. It became a major base for long-range transport planes. From 1948 to 1949, planes from Bassingbourn helped with the Berlin Airlift. This was a huge effort to fly supplies to the city of Berlin when it was blocked off.

United States Air Forces in Europe

Martin-Omaha B-29 Superfortress 44-86257, assigned to the 341st Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group. This plane was at Bassingbourn in 1950.

In the late 1940s, the United States Air Force (USAF) sent B-29 and Boeing B-50 Superfortress bombers to the UK. These deployments were a "show of force" to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They showed that the US was ready to respond to any aggression. These deployments were short, lasting from August 1950 to May 1951.

RAF Bomber Command

In February 1952, RAF Bassingbourn became the first place in the world to train pilots on jet bombers. They used English Electric Canberra bombers for 17 years. One of these aircraft is still on display at the barracks.

On 29 August 1969, the RAF handed the station over to the British Army. It was then renamed Bassingbourn Barracks.

British Army Use

A passing-out parade at Bassingbourn Barracks.

Bassingbourn Barracks opened in January 1970. It became a training center for new soldiers joining the British Army. Recruits would complete their basic training here before joining their regiments.

In 1993, it became the Army Training Regiment, Bassingbourn. It stayed a training location for almost 20 years. The barracks closed for training in August 2012. However, it reopened in December 2018 as the Mission Training and Mobilisation Centre.

Units Assigned

Many different units have been based at RAF Bassingbourn over the years. Here are some of them:

Royal Air Force

United States Army Air Forces

• 91st Bombardment Group (1942–1945)
• 94th Bombardment Group (1943)

United States Air Force

• 353d Bombardment Squadron, 301st Bombardment Group (1950–1951)
• 341st Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group (1950–1951)
• 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1951)

See also

• Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom
• List of former Royal Air Force stations
• List of British Army Barracks