Which airfield?

Scotland? Prestwick maybe?

B26s, B17s, B24s, C47s, C54s and a very snazzy follow me Jeep.

www.britishpathe.com/video/usa-marauders...land/query/marauders

Great bit of film, interesting to see the DP camo pattern on the B-17. Wondering if it's one of the unarmed transport conversions?
The airfield looks like it might have two watch offices, maybe that will help id it?

Isn't this the watch office on the hotel roof at Prestwick?



This is almost certainly B-17E 41-9175 of the 97th Bomb Group shortly after arriving from the USA. '175 was routed via Prestwick:

A fascinating piece of footage. It's incredible to think that many hundreds of aircraft were flown into Prestwick from the US during WW2 using the North Atlantic Ferry Route ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_air...oute_in_World_War_II ). For the B-26, this involved a journey of various stages from Maine, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, and Prestwick; although I believe that the "heavies" could fly directly from Newfoundland to Prestwick after being fitted with bomb-bay fuel tanks.

I've been doing some research into the aircraft visible in the footage...

Around 30 seconds into the footage, a B-26 Marauder named "Mary J" appears. Written on the fuselage alongside their stations are "Lt. R. ?. Sala, Co-Pilot"; "Lt. E. F. Dinan, Navigator"; and "Lt. B. B. Young, Pilot", and I assume that these men flew this aircraft to Prestwick from the US. They were assigned to the 386 Bomb Group, 553 Bomb Squadron. Lt. Barnett B. "Skip" Young is first mentioned in the 386BG history for mission number 11 on September 2, 1943, so he must have arrived in the UK prior to this date ( www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/011.htm ). Lt. Robert Louis Sala was shot down on 386BG mission number 187 on May 29, 1944 (MACR #5126) and became a POW ( www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/187.htm ).

Around 02:27 into the footage, a B-26 appears with tail number 132013. This aircraft (41-32013, B-26B-35-MA, The Arkansas Traveler, 387BG, 559BS, TQ-P) was shot down by fighters on Feb. 25, 1944 (Macr# 2332).

The first echelons of the 386BG arrived at Prestwick between May 5 and June 3, 1943, followed by the 387BG on June 23-24, 1943. However, some echelons were often delayed by bad weather, and replacement crews were also continually being sent over. The North Atlantic Ferry Route was only used during the summer months, as the weather during the winter months made the route extremely hazardous.

It's also worth noting that the B-26s in the footage have the revised National Insignia (the star and bar), where two white rectangles were placed on either side of the star (and the entire device was bordered with red, and later with blue). This insignia was used from June 29, 1943 onwards ( www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1452 ). The B-17 appearing in the footage does not have the revised cocarde (it has a star without the bar). One possible explanation is that B-26s were often collected from the factory or depot shortly before departure to the UK, and so it's likely that the revised cocarde was applied at the factory. I believe that the application of revised cocardes to aircraft in the field was not usually given a high priority.

It's possible that the aircraft could have been returning to the US, but unlikely as none of the aircraft have RAF squadron identification codes on their fuselages (e.g. TQ-P) and the 386 and 387BG Marauders would have had either a yellow or yellow/black horizontal band applied to the vertical stabilizer (tail fin) after October 16, 1943.

I therefore don't agree with the date in Pathe's title "USA Marauders - England 1944". From the dates above, I would assume that the footage was taken during the period June 29 to September 2, 1943, unless any of you knowledgeable folk know otherwise ???

A very interesting three minutes of can shots possibly for the commentary to be added at a later date.
The following items stood out to me and those with more detail knowledge of operational war time airfields could possibly comment or correct.
The airfield appears more North Eastern American than North West England and the ground crews appear so relaxed and also the airmen exist the B17 with painted over tail number appear as if they have just had a taxi ride across the airfield prior to departure rather than exiting the aircraft after any long flight.
The plane finishes appear pristine as if they have just come out of the paint shop and the manner in which the aircraft are parked indicates that are not at risk from surprise air attack.
The following can be observed if you press the video pause button using the run time indicator on the bottom of the video as my comment marker.
The caterpillar tractor at 0:22 had no light restrictor masks fitted on either of its two head lamps.
Did any Air Corp-US Army gasoline bowsers get shipped in to the UK as shown at 0:24
The tractor and trailer unit seen passing behind the jeep in the opposite direction at 01:58
Hanger types with camouflage seen at 02:20 & 02:30
Communication tower in the middle distance at 02:35
Wing markings on the 4 engines aircraft at 02:57
Conical hill mound in the middle distance at 03:20
White or Silver aircraft on the far side of the airfield at 03:25
Possible commentary for this reel could have been the delivery of aircraft for the bombing campaign or as build up to D Day but never received any air time at the cinema.
Many hours of these silent can shots were to be cut or edited out of existence so it’s great to see one that survived and it also appears to have two examples of a real time four finger edit on the reel.

Harboda77;127786 wrote:

The following can be observed if you press the video pause button using the run time indicator on the bottom of the video as my comment marker.
The caterpillar tractor at 0:22 had no light restrictor masks fitted on either of its two head lamps.

Not at all unusual to see Cletracs in the UK with bare headlights.

Did any Air Corp-US Army gasoline bowsers get shipped in to the UK as shown at 0:24

Standard AAF bowsers were in general USAAF use in the UK by mid-late 1943. The one in shot is a 4,000 gal. F-1 semitrailer, superceded by the simplified F-1A as the war progressed.

Hanger types with camouflage seen at 02:20 & 02:30

I believe these three hangars still survive at Prestwick.

Communication tower in the middle distance at 02:35

This appears to be the tower of St Cuthbert's Church, alongside the airfield. The next still (2.26) shows this a lot more clearly, along with the antenna on top of the WWII watch office on the hotel roof. A couple of white-painted RAF Coastal Command B-24s can also be seen.

Conical hill mound in the middle distance at 03:20

This would seem to be the spoil heap of Auchincruive colliery, formerly also alongside the airfield.

White or Silver aircraft on the far side of the airfield at 03:25

The left-hand pair of these look to be Coastal Command B-24s again, the other one may be a Coastal Command B-17.

Interestingly, the culvert seen at 3.03 carrying the Pow Burn under the wartime runway is still in use.

All the best,
PB

Here is another for the detectives, the aircraft is a Boulton and paul T1/37 ,Which airfield could it be,? is it Martlesham, ?

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Regards Ian

[IMG]/community/127865=12815-Baldonnel 1920 Handley Page 0-400 .jpg[/img]
A contact sent me this photo which he thought was taken at Baldonnel Ireland 1920, but I have my doubts. The small shed to the right between the HP the aeroplane sheds does not appeare on any Irish aerodrome site plans I have looked at. Would anyone have an idea where the photo was taken and possibly when. Please contact me at via www.avsitesireland.com. Thank you.

Regards,
Hugo.