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The airfield was built in 1941. On 7th September 1942 the 306th Group started to arrive; with some of their B17s flying in the following week. From October 1942, the 306th Group mounted a long and arduous offensive suffering many losses.
The Group finally completed their long war on 19th April 1945 which was their 342nd mission; the second highest for any B17 Group. During its time at Thurleigh over 9,600 sorties had been flown with the loss of 171 aircraft in action and over 22,500 tons of bombs were dropped.
In 1946 construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became know as the Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Bedford. The airfield was finally closed in 1997.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Thurleigh
- 367th Bomb Squadron
- 368th Bomb Squadron
- 369th Bomb Squadron
- 423rd Bomb Squadron
I am looking for anyone who served with or knew my dad Captain Stephen Tanella He served as a bombadier on B-17G #42-102547 Rose of York (306th BG; 367th BS; GY-F) If anyone knew him please contact me. Thank you
I have been tracing the legacy of my brother's namesake, Richard Henry Claeys. Mr Claeys was a close friend of my father and grandfather in their hometown of St. Charles, Ill. He joined the US Army during the summer of 1941, was discharged and enlisted in the RCAF, where he attained the rank of Sargent Pilot in November 1942. He embarked for the UK, and was stationed at 14 (P) AFU (Ossington) from 22nd March 1943 to 4th May 1943. Two weeks later he was discharged and immediately enlisted in the USAAF. We do not know his assignments from then until 27th July 1944, when, then 2nd Lt. Richard H. Claeys, he joined the 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh and was assigned to the 368th BS.
He flew B-17 bombers from then on, ending the war with 71 missions credited, and earned an Air Medal and 9 oak-leaf clusters, the most such decorations of any Officer of the group. After briefly returning to the States, he returned to the European Theater and flew transport flights. Unfortunately, his unarmed C-47 lost its way during bad weather and flew over Yugoslavia on August 19th 1946. He and his crew were shot down, and all perished.
His RCAF graduation from the Canadian Archives
Richard Claeys just after the war.
A link to his memorial at Arlington is: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rhclaeys.htm. I would appreciate any photos of Ossington from the general period when he served there.
Thank you for helping to preserve the legacy of the men and women who came forth to protect our freedom.
" A Home Away from Home" My tour with the US 8th AF began in September of 1943 when I was assigned to the 306th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron. Our location was seven miles North of Bedford in the Midlands and the village was identified as Thurleigh. I was a radio operator/gunner in a B17 Flying Fortress. I flew in several planes during my 31 mission tour, but the two most notable were named "Cavalier" and "Rose of York". The former returned us to our base on October 14, 1943 after a terrible mission to Schweinfurt Germany and the latter was named for and christened by Princess Elizabeth, the current Queen of England on July 6, 1944. My leisure time, spent in the town of Bedford, usually involved the cinema, Red Cross Club, Corn Exchange and attending church on Sundays when there was no mission. One day while attending evening service at St. Pauls Methodist Church, a lady approached me and invited me to supper. With some reluctance I accepted and discovered she was the mother of four young girls who had been evacuated from the South East Coast. The family name was Barkham and her daughters were Joan 16, Ann 14, Doreen 9, and Brenda 6. Her husband, an officer in the British Army was stationed down on the South Coast. They had a small brown dog named "Sandy". The family welcomed me with open arms and it did not take long to "break the ice". The asked me hundreds of questions about the US, my family, work and comvictions and I in turn learned much about them. The night ended too soon and I promised to return to their home on a future visit to Bedford.
It was not long before I began the walk to their home on Waterloo Road each time I was able to get to town. We attended church together, went to the cinema, took short walks and met many other friends during my visits. Being born in England and emmigrating to the US at a very young age, I found that our likes and dislikes were much the same. We had so much enjoyment and never lacked for something to say or do. I had found a new home a long way from my home in Pennsylvania.
This friendship was to last for eight months, and when I completed my operational tour in July of 1944 I had to tell them I would soon be leaving the Bedford area and returning to my home in the States. They held a big going away party for me and invited many of their friends and neighbors. We had such a grand time, but when it was time to leave there was a sadness which took the place of laughter. I cautioned them that I did not know the exact date I would be leaving, but they would understand if I did not show up in a day or two that I probably had shipped out. Brenda, the youngest, with tears in her eyes sat on my lap and asked when I would be coming back. I could only say "After the War" Of course we would write, but that is not a good substitute for a personal visit.
It was twenty years later in July of 1964 when I returned to England for a visit. The Barkham family had returned to the Hastings area on the Southeast Coast and all of the girls were married. Little Brenda had moved to Scotland so I did not get to see her. I returned several times since then. Mr. and Mrs. Barkham and Doreen had died and the other three daughters lived in different parts of England.
I shall never forget the love and kindness shown to this airmen in 1943-44 when I became a member of their extended family. I shall never forget the kindness and love which was shown to me by the Barkham family during my tour of operation in 1943-44.
George G. Roberts.
I am researching a B-17 that was named after my home town of Ponca City, oklahoma. The name of the plane was "Miss Ponca City". She flew out of Thurliegh with the 423rd bomber sqaudron of the 306th bg. She was shot down on September 12, 1944. One of the crew members names was James "Buck" Hughes. If you have any information on the plane or her crew please email me.
I am desperately trying to track down any information to give me an idea of what the internal layout of Thuleigh's WWII control tower looked like. Photos, plans, drawings, ANYTHING! Can you help? Many thanks
Update
If you contact the www.bedford.gov.uk/tourism they have a leaflet entitled Bedford ww11 Airfield Trail. There is a 306th Bomber group Heritage museum. Thurleigh tel: 01234 708715.
Hope this information will be of help. JACK A TURNER.
Update
I have just discovered a website all about control towers and thought it may be useful to you. http://www.controltowers.co.
Reply:
Absolutely brilliant!!!!!!!!!!
I have contacted the site and they have sent me a floor plan of the control tower.
Thank you very much for help. Angelo
Photographs
List of those who served here.
- 2nd Lt. Richard H. Claeys. 368th BS 306th BG Read his Story
- Lt. J.A. Creamer. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- Lt. W.W. Dickey. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- James "Buck" Hughes
- S/Sgt. H.L. Langan. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- T.E. McMillan. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- T/Sgt. C.J. Merriwether. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- George G. Roberts. 306th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron. Read his story
- S/Sgt. R.C. Schnoyer. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- Lt. J.M. Stewart. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
- Capt. Stephen Tanella. bombardier. 367th BS. Read his Story
- T/Sgt. Jack M. Wheeler. 367 Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Read his story
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch.
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