former RAF Kimbolton

 Second World War 1939-1945, abandoned / shut down, RAF - Royal Air Force, draw only border, Army Air Field US, historical layer / disappeared object, former air force base

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RAF Kimbolton is a former World War II airfield in England, located 8 miles west of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. The airfield was originally built in 1941 for RAF Bomber Command, then expanded to Class A airfield standards for use by American heavy bombers during 1942. Kimbolton was assigned to the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. It was given the designation USAAF Station 117.

USAAF Station 117
At successive times the base was used by three successive USAAF Bomber Groups, as follows:

91st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The airfield was opened in 1942 and was first used by the USAAF Eighth Air Force 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Walla Walla AAF, Washington during September.

17th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The next USAAF unit to use Kimbolton was the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium), arriving in October from Barksdale AAF Louisiana. The 17th was originally intended to use RAF Bassingbourn. However, with the move of the 91st, the unit utilized Kimbolton as its shorter runways could accommodate their smaller, twin-engined medium bombers.

379th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
On 21 May 1943, the 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived from Sioux City AAF, Iowa.
The 379th was assigned to the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-K.

All three groups comprised four bombardment squadrons.

Postwar military use
After World War II, Kimbolton was closed in 1946 but maintained in a "standby" status until the early 1960s. After the Americans left the RAF used the base for basic training(square bashing).

Civil use
With the end of military control, most of the buildings were torn down and the concrete areas removed. However, parts of the old hardstands are used for go-kart racing since 1950. The kart club's flag is the 379th "Triangle K" symbol. In one of the buildings at the kart track there is a collection of memorabilia including photographs and pieces of aircraft wreckage. Once a month, MSA Kart Race Meetings are held there. On Saturdays, "banger racing" is held on one of the old loop hardstands.