RAF Rattlesden: Difference between revisions

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RAF Rattlesden is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 9 miles SE of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

USAAF Use

The airfield was opened in 1942 and was used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force. Rattlesden was given USAAF designation Station 126 (RS).

447th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

The 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived from Harvard AAF Nebraska on 29 November 1943. the 447th was assigned to the 4th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Square-K". It's operational squadrons were:

708th Bomb Squadron (CQ)
709th Bomb Squadron (IE)
710th Bomb Squadron (IJ)
711th Bomb Squadron (IR)

The group flew the B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign and served chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization.

From Dec 1943 to May 1944, helped to prepare for the invasion of the Continent by attacking submarine pens, naval installations, and cities in Germany; ports and missile sites in France; and airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany. During Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry. Supported the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944 by bombing airfields and other targets near the beachhead. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul and the effort to take Brest in Sep. Pounded enemy positions to assist the airborne invasion of Holland in Sep. Also dropped supplies to Free French forces during the summer of 1944.

Turned to strategic targets in Germany in Oct 1944, placing emphasis on sources of oil production until mid-Dec. 2nd Lt Robert E Femoyer, navigator, won the Medal of Honor for action on 2 Nov 1944: while on a mission over Germany, his B-17 was damaged by flak and Femoyer was severely wounded by shell fragments; determined to navigate the plane out of danger and save the crew, he refused a sedative and, for more than two hours, directed the navigation of the bomber so effectively that it returned to base without further damage; Femoyer died shortly after being removed from the plane.

During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, the group assaulted marshalling yards, railroad bridges, and communications centers in the combat zone. Then resumed operations against targets in Germany, attacking oil, transportation, communications, and other objectives until the war ended. During this period, also supported the airborne assault across the Rhine (Mar 1945).

Returned to Drew Field Florida in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Postwar Use

After the war, the field was closed in 1946.

References

Freeman, Roger A., Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now, 1978
www.controltowers.co.uk Rattlesden
mighty8thaf.preller.us Rattlesden

External links

This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 === 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) ===
+The '''447th Bombardment Group (Heavy)''' arrived from Harvard AAF [[Nebraska]] on [[29 November]] [[1943]]. the 447th was assigned to the 4th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Square-K". It's operational squadrons were:
-th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
+* 708th Bomb Squadron (CQ)
-November 1943-August 1945 B-17
+* 709th Bomb Squadron (IE)
+* 710th Bomb Squadron (IJ)
+* 711th Bomb Squadron (IR)
+The group flew the [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign and served chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization.
-Aircraft ID Code
-Square-K
+From Dec 1943 to May 1944, helped to prepare for the invasion of the Continent by attacking submarine pens, naval installations, and cities in Germany; ports and missile sites in France; and airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany. During Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry. Supported the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944 by bombing airfields and other targets near the beachhead. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul and the effort to take Brest in Sep. Pounded enemy positions to assist the airborne invasion of Holland in Sep. Also dropped supplies to Free French forces during the summer of 1944.
-th Combat Bombardment Wing
+Turned to strategic targets in Germany in Oct 1944, placing emphasis on sources of oil production until mid-Dec. 2nd Lt Robert E Femoyer, navigator, won the [[Medal of Honor]] for action on 2 Nov 1944: while on a mission over Germany, his B-17 was damaged by flak and Femoyer was severely wounded by shell fragments; determined to navigate the plane out of danger and save the crew, he refused a sedative and, for more than two hours, directed the navigation of the bomber so effectively that it returned to base without further damage; Femoyer died shortly after being removed from the plane.
+During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, the group assaulted marshalling yards, railroad bridges, and communications centers in the combat zone. Then resumed operations against targets in Germany, attacking oil, transportation, communications, and other objectives until the war ended. During this period, also supported the airborne assault across the Rhine (Mar 1945).
+Returned to Drew Field [[Florida]] in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
 == Postwar Use ==