Nearly all of the photographs are taken at Bovingdon - many by the Press - these may include a few taken by Charles Brown. Most of the shots of aircraft getting airborne were taken at Bovingdon on September 4th 1942. There are a few which are taken elsewhere. For all the images except, one or two, and records I thank The American Air Museum in Britain. Roger Freeman's classic book 'The Mighty Eighth' (1970) has as always been a very great source of information.
The 92nd BG consisted of four Bombardment Squadrons: 325-326-327 and 407. The first B-17s of the 92nd to arrive at Bovingdon on August 18th 1942 were those of 326BS who had flown non-stop Gander to Prestwick, 500 gallons of extra fuel was carried in the bomb bay to achieve this. During the rest of the month the remaining squadrons took the same routing, the last B-17s arriving at Bovingdon on August 28th 1942. These B-17s which were Mark F models were then passed to the 97th BG at Polebrook/Grafton Underwood in exchange for their B-17 Mark E models. Nearly all these B-17Es pictured here had recently flown with the 97th on the first American heavy bomber raid mounted from England when on August 17th 1942 Rouen, Sotteville railway marshalling yards were paid a visit. At Bovingdon the 92nd settled into a programme of combat crew indoctrination and training. This included four combat missions from Bovingdon, the first of which was flown on September 6th 1942 when 14 Fortresses of the 92nd followed those of the 97th to attack the Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte. Two Fortresses were shot down, one from the 97th and one
Baby Doll from the 92nd - these were the first Fortress casualties of the European War. On January 4th 1943 the 92nd commenced their move from Bovingdon to Alconbury where their training continued until combat ready, leaving behind elements of 326BS and others to form what became the 11th CCRC.
Both 41-9017
Heidi Ho
41-9020
Phyllis You might remember that Mrs Roosevelt sat in the cockpit of
Phyllis (whose tail had been chewed up by
Flaming Mayme while en-route to bomb Lille)
Sgt G.F. Murray astride the tail fin of 41-9023
Yankee Doodle
41-9026
Baby Doll - ditched English Channel with loss of all crew, the result of enemy action September 6th 1942
A similar photograph of
Baby Doll way back on this thread was accompanied by this notice:
The B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9026 nicknamed "Baby Doll" ) of the 92nd Bomb Group takes off. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed caption on reverse of print:
Training American Bomber crews in England, Sept 1942. Preparing for the day when the might of the American and British Air Forces will strike together against the heart of Germany are many U.S. Army Air Corps bomber crews with their giant Flying Fortresses. They are completing their training over here at airfields which the American authorities have taken over from the R.A.F. and will soon be ready to go into action alongside their comrades who are already bombing the Germans in occupied territory. This picture taken at an American Bomber training school somewhere in England shows a Flying Fortress taking off from an airfield in England.
Handwritten on reverse:
Central Press Photos Ltd.
41-9042
Berlin Sleeper Bovingdon October? 1942
41-9043
Peggy D
41-9045
Stinky newly arrived at Bovingdon
41-9089
Johny Reb Image dated September 4th 1942
41- 9100
Birmingham Blitzkrieg Possibly Bovingdon but probably later at Kimbolton
41-9125
Prowler
41-9148
Boomerang
41-9154
Bat Outa Hell with only one mission marked up probably Polebrook rather than Bovingdon.
41-2578
Butcher Shop (1943)
41-9051
Flaming Mayme
Flew into Skiddaw September 14th 1943 while on a navigation exercise Alconbury to Edinburgh. All on board killed. At the time with 482BG/813BS (A new oboe equipped Pathfinder Squadron). Image Ian D.B. aircrashsites.co.uk with thanks.