Debden in WW2 History | World War II Database

12 Sep 1942

United Kingdom

RAF Debden in Essex, England, United Kingdom was transferred to the United States Eighth Air Force (Station 356) becoming the home to the US 65th Fighter Wing. ww2dbase [Debden, England | AC]

1 Jan 1944

United Kingdom

Colonel Donald Blakeslee took control of USAAF 4th Fighter Group at RAF Debden in North Essex, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Debden, England | CPC]

16 Sep 1944

United Kingdom

13 He III bombers of I/KG53 of the German Air Force from Varelbusch, near Bremen, Germany took off to launch V-1 flying bombs, one crashed and exploded on take off killing the crew. 3 of the aircraft were intercepted and shot down over the sea. Royal Naval gunners hitting 2 and the other by a Mosquito aircraft of 96 Squadron flown by Lieutenant Ian Dobie. As they crossed the British coast 2 more were shot down by a Tempest aircraft flown by Flight Officer Bud Miller USAAF of 501 Squadron. Of the bombs launched, one hit a water tower at Saffron Walden, a market town in Essex. The tower was at the end of the runway of nearby Debden airfield and shook the men of 4th Fighter Group billet there. General Sir Fredrick Pile in charge of Britain's anti-aircraft defences noted that after an interval the attacks were being stepped up and he was having trouble shifting the guns into places where they could combat the bombs being launched by aircraft. ww2dbase [V-Weapons Campaign | Vergeltungswaffe 1 | Debden, England | HM]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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