RAF Podington was originally built for use as an R.A.F. Bomber Station, but the main occupants were the American 92nd Bombardment Group who arrived in September 1943. Known as “Fame's Favoured Few” their first mission from Podington was on 23rd September and 308 missions were completed to the end of the war. One of the 92nd Bombardment Group’s claim to fame is that they flew the secret Disney rocket bomb experimental missions early in 1945. The Group also lost 154 Flying Fortresses whilst at Podington, with each aircraft having a crew of 10 men. With the same number of personnel at this airfield, the impact of the American involvement in this area on the local population was quite unique.
305th Bomb Group Chelveston - R.A.F. Chelveston was built in 1941, and the American 305th Bombardment Group moved in to the base in September 1942. Known as the "Can Do" Group, they completed 337 missions suffering their heaviest loss on 14th October 1943 raid to Schweinfurt, when they lost 13 B-17s of the 18 taking off from Chelveston. Many times, the aircraft would take off from the airfield in the early hours on their raids over Germany. At the peak of their time at Chelveston, there were as many as 2,894 men stationed there. They were to lose 154 Flying Fortresses during their time at this important base and it is essential that their missions are not forgotten.
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