RAF Bassingbourn

RAF Bassingbourn opened in March 1938 in south Cambridgeshire, near Royston and some eleven miles south-west of Cambridge. It began life as a permanent bomber station under Bomber Command, initially home to medium-bomber squadrons flying types such as the Bristol Blenheim, Vickers Wellington and Fairey Battle. From 1940 the airfield turned over to training as No. 11 Operational Training Unit, preparing Wellington crews for frontline service. Even so, the station contributed aircraft to the war: a dozen of its Wellingtons took part in the first “Thousand Bomber” raid against Cologne on the night of 30/31 May 1942.

In late 1942 Bassingbourn passed to the United States Army Air Forces as Station 121. Its best-known resident was the 91st Bombardment Group, whose B-17 Flying Fortresses flew heavy daylight raids over occupied Europe until 1945, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations at a heavy cost in aircraft and men. The base also featured in wartime publicity, including the famous Fortress “Memphis Belle”.

After the war the station served Transport Command and later returned to Bomber Command, operating English Electric Canberra jets through No. 231 OCU until the RAF withdrew in 1969. The site then became Bassingbourn Barracks, an Army establishment that survives today alongside a small museum in the former control tower.