Memphis Belle B-17, 1943

RAF Bassingbourn

History of RAF Bassingbourn

Listed building:

Control Tower. 1936, adapted 1943. Built to designs of the Air Ministry’s Directorate of Works and Buildings. Rendered brick with asphalt roof.

Although associated with some of the RAF’s first 1000 bomber raids, Bassingbourn – opened as a medium bomber base in March 1938 – is more widely known through its function from 1942 as the USAAF’s flagship station. The control tower, a 1934 design, was extended in association with the remodelling and extension of the airfield in 1942, prior to the arrival of the 91st Bomber Group in October. Proximity to Cambridge and London facilitated visits by many dignitaries, including Eisenhower and the King and Queen, and the ‘Ragged Irregulars’ were chosen as the subject of Wyler’s celebrated colour film of an American bomber raid, known to millions as the ‘Memphis Belle’. It was also the home of the restored ‘Shoo Shoo Baby,’ now in the Wright Patterson Museum, Dayton, Ohio. One of the 4 ‘C-type’ hangars has been demolished.

1936 11 05
The Air Ministry propose to construct a RAF station at Bassingbourn and approached South Cambs RDC about the possibility of obtaining a supply of 15,000 gallons of water a day. This could be obtained from Croydon Hill at a cost of 10d per 1,000 gallons. The scheme would take 20 months to implement and would also serve nearby parishes. But did any of the parishes want piped water? It would mean a rate of over four shillings for Litlington, Shingay and Wendy and there had been too much money spent on water already, all of which was money wasted. 36 11 05c & d

1938 08 05a
Some 900 aircraft are taking part in an exercise testing the air defence of Great Britain. The attacking force will have 36 bomber squadrons (some from Bassingbourn and Wyton) while the defenders will consist of 23 fighter stations and 14 bomber squadrons, including planes from Duxford, Debden, Feltwell, Mildenhall and Stradishall. Anti-aircraft and searchlight batteries will be spread across the Eastern Counties. Bombers will fly without navigation lights unless other aircraft approach and fighters are forbidden from attacking below 1,000 ft 38 08 05a plane crashes at Melbourn – 38 08 08. Mayor made tour of town, all in darkness apart from one or two lighted windows – 38 08 08b

1938 08 11
Water scheme including Bassingbourn aerodrome – 38 08 11 & a

1939 04 19
The inquest on a 19-year-old aircraftman who shot himself while on sentry duty at Bassingbourn airfield failed to find any evidence as to what had led him to commit suicide. He had been issued with a rifle and five rounds of blank ammunition. Police found the empty case of a live cartridge in the magazine. There was no blank ammunition anywhere. Later the missing rounds were found in another airman’s coat pocket. It seemed he had taken the wrong coat by mistake. 39 04 19a

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The first attack on the airfield was on 5th April 1940 when a solitary plane released ten bombs damaging some buildings. In August 1940 11 men were killed when a single bomb hit a barrack block. In 1941 concrete runways were built.

For the ‘Thousand Bomber Raid’ on Cologne in May 1942, 20 Wellington bombers from Bassingbourn, normally used for training were enrolled. In October 1842 the base was transferred to the 8th USAAF Command and became the base of the B-17 Memphis Belle.

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LO contacted us in 2026 with information about her father, Squadron Leader Douglas Haig Palmer RNZAF. He trained as a navigator in Canada. After further training in the UK, he was posted to No. 11 OTU at Bassingbourn. He collected photos Steeple Morden; no date is given, but a detailed  look at where he was by examining his logbook, NZ Defence File and personal notebooks indicates he was at RAF Bassingbourn from May to late June 1942.  During this time, he formed a crew and these photos show the known crew members. To my knowledge and research, lots of publicity photos were taken and it’s possible that’s what these were.

Wellington at Methwold June / July 1943. Bruce Davis, Gunner / Bombaimer, Eric Moore, gunner, Doug Palmer, Navigator, Harold Player, Pilot, Ron Stewart, Wireless Operator.

Avro Lancaster at RAF Scampton with Harold, Bruce, Doug, Eric, Bryn Tefler, Flight Engineer, ? and Ron Stewart