Capturing Cambridge
  • search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Crew of Short Stirling N3669 of 15 Squadron, chalking up their 62nd raid at Bourn.

RAF Bourn

History of RAF Bourn

AH sent this note in 2023:

My first boss at Lloyd’s of London was Don McClelland DFC. After two tours on bombers he joined 162 Sqn at Bourn in 1945 as a pilot. He flew the last bomber sortie of WW2 in Europe of Bomber Command . The raid was against the German port of Kiel. I visited the airfield which I understand will be a housing estate. I was able to drive onto the airfield.  Don died in the 1980s.


RAF Bourn


Bourn Airfield was constructed for Bomber Command in 1940 as a satellite airfield for Oakington. From 23rd July 1941 it was used by 101 Sqn Wellingtons for training and from February 1942 was fully operational. Next 15 Squadron were based here with Stirlings and then in 1943 97 Squadron with Lancasters. In 1944 105 and 162 Squadron Mosquitos used the airfield.

 

Contribute

Do you have any information about the people or places in this article? If so, then please let us know using the Contact page or by emailing capturingcambridge@museumofcambridge.org.uk.

Licence

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Dear Visitor,

Thank you for exploring historical Cambridgeshire! We hope you enjoy your visit and, if you do,  would consider making a donation today.

Capturing Cambridge makes accessible thousands of photos and memories of Cambridge and its surrounding villages and towns. It is run by the Museum of Cambridge which, though 90 years old, is one of the most poorly publicly funded local history museums in the UK. It receives no core funding from local or central government nor from the University of Cambridge.

As a result, we are facing a crisis; we have no financial cushion – unlike many other museums in Cambridge – and are facing the need to drastically cut back our operations which could affect our ability to continue to run and develop this groundbreaking local history website.

If Capturing Cambridge matters to you, then the survival of the Museum of the Cambridge should matter as well. If you won’t support the preservation of your heritage, no-one else will! Your support is critical.

If you love Capturing Cambridge, and you are able to, we’d appreciate your support.

Every donation makes a world of difference.

Thank you,
Roger Lilley, Chair of Trustees
Museum of Cambridge