Hello, For the past 10 years I have been writing material for a future published works on Bovingdon Air Station 112 in Hertfordshire England with my father. The book is from farmland to present day. I am looking for any information regarding Bovingdon no matter what the content. Photographs are very much needed!! The book is about the CCRC (Combat Crew Replacement Centre) with the B-17E's, and then all other units after 1946. Most concentrated part of the book is the CCRC. I need contact with any members who passed through Bovingdon during training or who were based there. Many famous people passed through here including the late Walter Matthau. The actor Bob Hope spent July 4th 1943 at Bovingdon with Frances Langford and all others in the Bob Hope Troupe. Famous films were made here such as 'The War Lover', '633 Squadron', 'Mosquito Squadron', and 'Hanover Street'. So far I have amassed much information and hundreds of photos from numerous people worldwide but I need more WWII photos from 1941-45. A lot of loose ends still need attention. If you have any input to make towards this book then please do not hesitate to contact me. Everything that is sent to me for scanning etc is returned ASAP to the owner. This project has become a labour of love for me and must be completed so if you can help please do contact me. My details are:- Mike & Dave Humphrey 239 Great Hivings Chesham Bucks HP5 2LP England Tel 44(0)1494-791258 after 7.30pm GMT email- [url "mailto:mike@chilternimageservice.co.uk"]mike@chilternimageservice.co.uk[/url] Thank you [signature]

Mike & Dave, The following information on the locations and units comes from UK Station Lists that were published at various intervals during the war. They show were US Army/Army Air Force units were on a particular day. It does not mean that the unit arrived or departed on that date, only that is where it was (think of it as a snapshot). A minus sign (-) following a unit indicates that part of the unit was elsewhere. Units at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire 21 June 1943 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 92 Bomb Group (Heavy), 326 Bomb Squadron 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 328 Service Group, Headquarters Squadron 346 Engineer General Service Regt, 1 Bn Company C 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal S M Company 1100 Ordnance Company AB 1132 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (Avn) (-) 14 August 1943 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, Group Headquarters Squadron 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 346 Engineer General Service Regt, 1 Bn, Company C 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal S M Company 1132 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 30 September 1943 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 11 Finance Distribution Section 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 440 Quartermaster Air Depot Platoon 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal S M Company 1132 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 1685 Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company, Det C 2900 Combat Crew Replacem’t Ctr Gp, HQ Squadron (-) 2903 Replacement Training Squadron (Provisional) Finance Detachment 112 14 November 1943 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron Finance Detachment 112 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 581 Quartermaster Sales Company (-) 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal S M Company 1132 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 1685 Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company, Det C 2900 Cbt Crew Repl Ctr Grp (Prov)(-), HQ & HQ Sqdrn (-) 2900 Cbt Crew Repl Ctr Grp (P), 2903 Repl Tng Sqdrn (-) Air Force Fillers 31 December 1943 1 Combat Crew Replacement Ctr Grp, 1 Repl Tng Sqdn 1 Combat Crew Replacement Ctr Grp, HQ & HQ Sqdn 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Det A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 581 Quartermaster Sales Company 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) (-) 1054 Signal S M Company 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group), Det A 1685 Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Co, Det C 1787 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 21 February 1944 1 Combat Crew Repl Ctr Grp (-), HQ & HQ Sqdrn (-) 1 Combat Crew Replacement Ctr Grp, 1 Repl Tng Sqdrn 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 594 Army Postal Unit 581 Quartermaster Sales Company (-) 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) (-) 1054 Signal S M Company 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group), Det A 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company (-) 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 31 March 1944 1 Combat Crew Replacement Ctr Group, HQ & HQ Sqdrn 1 Combat Crew Replacement Ctr Grp, 1 Repl Tng Sqdrn 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 581 Quartermaster Sales Company (-) 594 Army Postal Unit 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) (-) 1054 Signal S M Company 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company (-) 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 30 April 1944 1 Combat Crew Repl Ctr Grp(-), HQ & HQ Sqdrn (-) 1 Combat Crew Repl Center Grp, 1 Repl Training Sqdrn 2 Mobile Training Unit 8 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (HP) 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron 58 Quartermaster Sales Company, Detachment C 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 594 Army Postal Unit 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) (-) 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company (-) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 31 May 1944 1 Combat Crew Repl Control Group, HQ & HQ Squadron 8 Fighter Command, HQ & HQ Squadron, Detachment A 18 Weather Squadron, Weather Detachment 112 26 Station Complement Squadron 328 Service Group, 347 Service Squadron 594 Army Postal Unit 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) (-) 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company (-) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 30 June 1944 1 Combat Crew Replacement Center Group 1 Replacement Training Sqdn, 1 Cbt Crew Repl Ctr Grp 8 Fighter Command HQ & HQ Sqdn, Detachment A 26 Station Complement Squadron 58 Quartermaster Sales Company, 2 Platoon 307 Dispensary 328 Service Group (-), 347 Service Squadron 594 Army Postal Unit 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) (-) 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) (-) 1787 Ordnance S M Company (-) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 31 August 1944 1 Combat Crew Replacement Center Group 1 Replacement Training Squadron 9 Mobile Training Unit 26 Station Complement Squadron 307 Dispensary 347 Service Squadron 594 Army Post Unit 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maint. Company (Aviation) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 2977 Finance Detachment (Provisional) 31 October 1944 26 Station Complement Squadron 347 Service Squadron 594 Army Postal Unit Type F 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) 1071 Quartermaster Company (Service Group) 1402 Army Air Force Base Unit 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maint Company (Aviation) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 25 November 1944 26 Station Complement Squadron 307 Dispensary 347 Service Squadron 871 Army Postal Unit Type K 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) 1402 Army Air Force Base Unit 1412 Army Air Force Base Unit 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maint Company (Aviation) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 16 December 1944 26 Station Complement Squadron 347 Service Squadron 871 Army Postal Unit Type K 978 Military Police Company (Aviation) 1054 Signal Company (Service Group) 1402 Army Air Force Base Unit 1787 Ordnance Supply & Maint. Company (Aviation) 2128 Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) 2 May 1945 347 Air Service Squadron 871 Army Postal Unit Type K 1402 Army Air Force Base Unit 29 December 1945 61 Army Postal Unit Type F 324 Troop Carrier Squadron 371 Air Service Group 516 Troop Carrier Group 632 Air Mat Squadron 808 Air Engineering Squadron [signature]

Mike and Dave ---- I may be of some assistance if you have any specific questions. I processed through the Bovingdon CCRC in 1944. We were one in a pool of combat crews who had just flown our B-17 in from the U.S. and were waiting for assignment to an 8th Air Force bomb group. We were there about 10 days and then assigned to the 324th Sq, 91st BG. [signature]

Hi Sam Thank you for your message. Although Bovingdon trained many men I still find it extremely difficult to hear from any veteran that can tell me something about it. Probably because as you say the indoctrination was approx 10 days - a short time to remember some 60 years ago. Whatever you can remember we would love you to write about it if you feel you would like to. Just simple laymans terms of anything in particular that you remember about Bovingdon? All the things that make good enjoyable reading are the simple anecdotes, stories, etc. I have to ask, do you have any photos? I did get a few from Joe Saunders who worked in the Photographic Section but I need lots more and only hope this site may help me over time. I would like the details of the dates- times of your arrival and departure at Bovingdon, and what aircraft serial number was it? Can you remember which runway was in use? These are the type of things that interest me when you really get into it! Hope to hear from you Mike & Dave. [signature]

Mike and Dave --- I wrote quite a bit about life at Bovingdon in my novel, A Real Good War (see [url "http://www.b17sam.com/"]www.b17sam.com[/url]) We did not fly into Bovingdon. When we flew in from Kearney, Nebraska, we landed in Valley, Wales and proceeded by train to Bovingdon station at Hemel-Hempstead. I recall we all got pretty much loaded on our first time off from Bovingdon, when we went to a dance at the Watford Town Hall where I met a girl from Harrow. We left the next morning for the 91st at Bassingbourn. Sam Halpert [signature]

my father served in the CCRC at Bovington.  We both have been trying to get more information on Bovington for the past year and would be very interested in your finished work.
I will be seeing him next week and if you would have any specific questions, I would be more than glad to see what info he could offer, if you like.  Obviously, they would be more anicdotal, as you would have all the specific of the base.  From what he told me, he was in an administrative position, processing the crews through the base. 
thanks,
 
Ken

Since this thread just popped up for the first time since I have joined the forum, I'll add a bit to Phil's post on the units tat Bovingdon (although most of my information on UK units comes from him).  The 92d Bombardment Gp and its component squadrons (325th, 326th, 327th, 407th) were at Bovingdon from 18 Aug 42-6 Jan 43 (Combat Squadrons of the Air Force indicates the 326th remained there until July).  I believe the 328th Service Gp, 347th Service Sq, and 54th/1054th Signal Co arrived in the summer of 1942 as well (1100th Ordnance Co too?).  The 8th Weather Reconnaissance Sq (Prov) was there froom 28 Mar 44-9 Aug 44.  The 1402d AAF Base Unit and 1412th AAF Base Unit were part of the European Division,Air Transport Cd -- 1412th arrived 21 Oct 44 and left in Apr 45.  1402nd stayed until 15 Nov 45.
 

Bernie Shearon
Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)

Sam,
Just to say I just purchased your novel recently and really look forward to reading it. However, could you tell me if that was standard practice to ride into Bovington before 1944 as well, or did the past replacement crews fly into the base? Thanks,

SSgt Eric R. Griggs
Meteorologist
USAF

NB. BovingDon is the ex. USAF CCRC base between Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Herts and Chesham Bucks... whreas BovingTon is an army tank testing station much further West

Bovingdon was used for many purposes during WWII as can be seen from above listings(also some spies were trained and flown out and dropped into occupied countries for instance)... Major General Carl Spaatz  was certainly there around early '45 as the decision to bomb Dresden on Feb 14th was made. I have heard locally that there were pretty good 'shindigs' up at Bovo, as its known, with open invites for the local girls..

Subsequently, RAF Southern Transport/Communication Command took over, and of course several films were made on the airfield, The War Lover (Steve McQueen) early 60's, some of 633 squadron (Mosquitos) and Hanover Street(B25s) a few years later

RADIF & others,

The below excerpts from the orders of 1LT Clay Byers should help answer some questions you have asked.

Special Order No. 43
Headquarters AAF Station 102, APO 639
28 February 1944

6.  The fol O, (Navigators), WPGM and/or rail o/a 29 Feb 44, fr this Sta to AAF Sta 112 for TD not to exceed eleven (11) days. O will report to CAPT DILL, at Reception Center at 1200 hrs on 1 Mar 44. Reimbursement for nec and act expenseses not to exceed $4.00 per day for qrs and $1.25 per day for subs is atzd O while traveling only. Rat and qrs are furn at TD Sta.

G. Combs
Niece
First Lieutenant Clay Byers
Navigator Bombardier Radar
1st September 1944
482nd BG (Pathfinder)
389th BG
466th BG