Eighth in the East
This is the first in this series but in time I hope to expand the series to cover as many former WW2 8th AF bases as possible.
Bodney was established in 1940 as a satellite field for RAF Watton. The airfield was grass-surfaced and located on slightly rolling land with a hard surface perimeter track. Initially it was used by aircraft of No. 21 Squadron RAF and No. 82 Squadron RAF (No. 2 Group RAF RAF Bomber Command). They carried operations over France and later the Netherlands and even Norway. Their Bristol Blenheim IVs were joined on occasions by, in May 1941, 90 Squadron evaulating its new Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk 1s some Handley Page Hampdens for mining operations.
90 squadron suffered heavy casualties and the use of the Fortress I was discontinued. Towards October 1942, the Blenheims were changed to Lockheed Venturas but the squadron moved on to RAF Methwold before the Venturas were operational. In the summer of 1943 Bodney was turned over to the USAAF and was assigned designation Station 141. The field was then prepared for the use of the Eighth Air Force. Improvements to the field included the addition of steel mat and pierced-steel planking hardstands for use by the American fighters and extra taxiways and roads laid down in macadam and concrete.
In the summer of 1943 Bodney was turned over to the USAAF and was assigned designation Station 141. The field was then prepared for the use of the Eighth Air Force. Improvements to the field included the addition of steel mat and pierced-steel planking hardstands for use by the American fighters and extra taxiways and roads laid down in macadam and concrete. The airfield was opened in May 1943 and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force 352d Fighter Group. The group consisted of three squadrons:
328th Fighter Squadron (PE)
486th Fighter Squadron (PZ)
487th Fighter Squadron (HO)
The 352d arrived at Bodney during June 1943 from Republic AAF New York and began combat operations in July but the group was not wholly operational until September. Initially using P-47 Thunderbolts, until they received drop tanks, the missions were largely limited to the Dutch coast. The group flew numerous escort missions to cover the operations of bombers that attacked factories, V-weapon sites, submarine pens, and other targets on the Continent.
The 352d participated in missions that bombers struck German aircraft factories during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944, and after conversion to P-51s, received a Distinguished Unit Citation for performance in Germany on 8 May 1944 while escorting bombers to targets in Brunswick, the group routed an attack by a numerically superior force of German interceptors and then continued the battle against the enemy planes until lack of ammunition and shortage of fuel forced the group to withdraw and return to its base. Re-equipped with the P-51 Mustang on 8 April, the group flew counter-air patrols, and on many occasions strafed and dive-bombed airfields, locomotives, vehicles, troops, gun positions, and various other targets. P-51s of the 352d were identified by solid blue cowlings and rudders, for which the group was nicknamed "The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney".
There is parking just off the road. Please do not enter past the gate as this is am MOD training area that i still heavily used.if you look across the field behind the water tower you will be able to see some reminants of the airfield technical site and also some of the dispersal areas where the P51 Mustang aircraft would have been parked.
please bring your own pen.