78th Fighter Group

Home Sweet "Rutley*" . .

* - Duxford was assigned the Station radio call-sign "Rutley" by the RAF. The Station call-letters were " DX ".

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The 78th Fighter Group arrived in force at Duxford during early April of 1943, departing from it's training facility at

Goxhill, Lincolnshire

Approximately 1700 78th Fighter Group personnel would call Duxford home for the next two and 1/2 years.

Considered a "Country Club" in comparison to Goxhill, the accomodations were first class from the living quarters to the " on - site " recreation facilities. Other well established RAF facilities occupied by the 8th Air Force, including Debden, Bassingbourne, and Honington, offered the same amentities as Station # 357.

The Main Gate viewed from Flight Operations. All 78th Fighter Group personnel had to pass through this Gate at least twice a day. Living quarters and other Group facilities were on the opposite side of the Royston / Newmarket public road(#A505) from flight operations and the flying field. ( Picture sources: " The Mighty Eighth in Colour ", R.A. Freeman, 1991, Arms and Armour Press, ISBN 1-85409-095-X )

Flight Operations and Support . .

An RAF aerial photo of Duxford Air Field taken in July, 1946. Click on the photograph for a larger detailed image. Note the 4100 foot PSP( Pierced Steel Plate ) runway, constructed in November, 1944. ( Picture Source: " Airfields of the Eighth ..Then and Now ", Roger A. Freeman, After the Battle Magazine, Battle of Britain Prints, Ltd., 1978 )

The main hangars, located on the North West side of the field, were utilized for major aircraft maintenance. Each Squadron was assigned a specific hangar. One hangar( a single bay Belfast type ) was actually used as the base theater. Aircraft were normally parked in dispersal areas(both in revetments and on hard stands) surrounding the field. Blister hangars also located around the field periphery were used primarily for mission staging, minor maintenance and storage of auxiliary fuel tanks.

Duxford Airdrome 1945 Site Plan. The PSP( pierced steel plate )runway was added in November, 1944. Note the Squadron dispersal locations( revetments, hard stands, blister hangars ) all around the perimeter of the field. Airfield defense points are also shown on this plan ( pillboxes and AA gunpits ). ( Picture Source: IWM Duxford( based on Air Ministry Drawing 3476/44) )

A P-47D going through a 100 hour inspection and repair inside the 84th Fighter Squadron hangar at Duxford. ( Picture Source: "Eagles of Duxford", Garry L. Fry via Duke Morrison , Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., 1991, ISBN: 0-92625860-2-1 )

A 78th P-51D Mustang is being fueled and armed in a Squadron staging area. The Blister hangar in the background is being used for auxiliary fuel tank storage. ( Picture Source: "Duxford Diary", East Anglian Avaition Society, reprint, 1975)

A view from the North west of Duxford Air Field from in front of the Control Tower. Crash vehicles stand by in case of an emergency. Note the jeep painted with checkerboard markings to the west of the building. A UC-64 Norseman is parked just to the southwest. A B-17 nose bubble was used on the roof as a control booth. ( Picture Source: "Eagles of Duxford", Garry L. Fry, Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., 1991, ISBN: 0-92625860-2-1 )

An aerial photo of the Duxford control tower taken from the South. Note the Station call letters(DX) on the ground in front of the tower. The hangars in the background are the 84th Fighter Squadron hangar(right) and the base theater(left). The water tower can be seen in the upper left corner. The Royston / Newmarket road(A-505) runs East/West directly behind the hangars. Living Quarters are on the North side of the road. ( Picture Source: Garry L. Fry )

A view of the inside of the Duxford Control Tower. Note the visiting B-17 parked just to the west. All flight operations at Duxford Air Field were carried out during daylight hours. Duxford was not equipped for night flying. ( Picture Source: "Duxford Diary", East Anglian Aviation Society, reprint, 1975)

Extensive service facilities including machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, electrical, instrument and hydraulic shops were located in the "Technical" areas close by the main hangars. Mobile units providing these services were also available. Inspection services were provided around the clock on a very strict and never ending schedule.

A P-47 pitot tube being serviced / calibrated on the flight line at Duxford. The aircraft ia a 83rd Fighter Squadron P-47, s/n 42-22482, HL-, "5PO". A 200 gallon unpressurized auxiliary fuel tank is mounted to the fuselage. ( Picture Source: "Eagles of Duxford", Garry L. Fry via Sam Beckley , Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., 1991, ISBN: 0-92625860-2-1 )

The 83rd Fighter Squadron Communication Section service a P-47 radio. Left to right are Ben Wrenn, Garland Flowers(Section Chief) and Charles Powers. ( Picture Source: "Eagles of Duxford", Garry L. Fry via Sam Beckley, Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., 1991, ISBN: 0-92625860-2-1 )

Other operations support services including carpentry, parachute repair / packing, photography and radio service were also available on site.

The roads, grounds and buildings in and around the Duxford Airdrome were maintained with a rural appearance and landscaping for the purpose of camouflage. The objective was to make the drome appear to be another typical sleepy but picturesque English village. As a result of this appearance, it was sometimes difficult for returning 78th aircraft, depending on weather conditions, to locate the field. A landmark that all the pilots searched for was the water tower.

The Duxford Air Field water tower. A welcomed sight for returning 78th pilots from long missions over the ETO. ( Picture Source: "Duxford Diary", East Anglian Avaition Society, reprint, 1975)

78th Fighter Group Medical Staff and Thriplow Hospital

Duxford and the 78th Fighter Group maintained a dispensary which housed dental clinics, doctors examination rooms and offices, a first aid room and treatment rooms. Each Fighter Squadron was assigned a Flight Surgeon and a team of supporting medical technicians. This staff and the dispensary were very capable of handling the daily "sick call" requirements of the personnell and most "operational emergencies". The serious cases were transferred via ambulance to nearby general hospitals.

78th Fighter Group Flight Surgeons on the flightline at Duxford. Lower Left - Robert W. Wells; Lower Right - Allen G. Johnson; Upper Right - William G. MacDonald; Upper Left - Kent N. Hunt ( Picture identification made by William R. Alexander, 9/8/00 ) ( Picture Source: "Duxford Diary", East Anglian Aviation Society, reprint, 1975 )

Approximately two miles from the Air Field was Thriplow Hospital. Thriplow was staffed and maintained by the 78th Fighter Group for patients requiring longer term treatment and rest. Visit the Thriplow Hospital as it was:

Thriplow Hospital

Duxford Today . .

Some of the service buildings, hangars and the control tower are maintained today at Duxford Airdrome as part of the Imperial War Museum's complex including the American Air Museum.

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A Duxford Airdrome Belfast type hangar and the control tower photographed in 1990 ( Picture Source: D.A. Lande, " From Somewhere in England ", Motorbooks International, 1991, ISBN 0-87938-448-4 )

The Duxford control tower photographed in September, 2000. ( Picture Source: Harold Carlson )

The Duxford Base Headquarters Building photographed in September, 2000. This building is located off the Royston / Newmarket highway(A-505) between the main gate and the 82nd Fighter Squadron hangar. ( Picture Source: Harold Carlson )

The American Air Museum at Duxford. ( Picture Source: Imperial War Museum )