Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Bob Carson
On: 08/22/2002

Can anyone help me find a detailed layout of the Deenethorpe airbase circa early 1944? The ones I've found in various publications are very generalized, showing location of the various sites but not the actual building arrangements at each site.

Also, which site(s) was the 613th located at?

Thanks.

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: David Pearce
On: 08/22/2002

I have managed to obtain a detailed copy of the airbase fom The RAF Museum, Hendon, some years ago.

The plan, as far as I can see, was produced in Nov 44', each building is numbered and a description given in a Key. The plan, however, does not state which area the 613th was assigned to.

Also, you can try East Anglian Books, who also sell airfield plans.

The e-mail address fom east anglia books is -
www.eastangliabooks.com

Hope this has been of some help.

Dave

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: jacob wall
On: 08/23/2002

Greetings Bob,
contact Graham Bratley who has the original war office drawings of the base and he has knowlege of the squadron locations, if Graham is unavailable, contact me as I have the details.
Jacob wall

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Bob Carson
On: 08/29/2002

Thanks to you both.

RAF Museum has only small diagrams in a few books, most likely the same as I already have.

I E-mailed eastangliabooks and am waiting to hear back from them.

How would I go about contacting Graham Bratley? Is his e-mail address on this site somewhere and I just haven't found it yet?

Thanks again.

Bob

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: jacob wall
On: 08/29/2002

Graham's 'e' address is grahambratley@hotmail.com

if you have a problem contact me on jacob@akdamar.freeserve.co.uk

Best wishes, Jacob Wall

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Bob Carson
On: 09/05/2002

Jacob, thanks. :) I wrote Graham, and he'll be sending me a copy!

Bob

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Joe La Grasta
On: 10/06/2002

Hi Bob:
I am not sure what crew you were with and at what date you arrived at the 401st. I do happen to have a complete lay our of the base as it was in 1944. The problem is it is very large that I would have take a photo of it and try to mail it. You on the other hand would have to enlarge it to see all the buildings including the 613th where I was in. Hope I can help you.
Joe La Grasta---613th

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Win Bryson
On: 03/19/2003

Bob, Joe:

1. Has a copy of the Base map been received yet? If not, let me know - I (also) have a copy of the (large) RAF Base map with all the buildings - not 401BG use labeled, though. There are blue-print shops here (San Francisco) that can make Xerox copies and/or reductions (black lines on white background).

2. The 613SQ. quarters are "way-south" across the road that borders the south-end of the Field. The access-road to the 613SQ joins this road (at the 401BG Monument) about the mid-point of the Base property along the road. About a mile south on the access road, you turn west, and within a few hundred yards is the 613SQ. cul-de-sac - and beyond, the buildings.

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Win Bryson
On: 03/26/2003

1. Please "disregard my last" (sort of).  I tried to answer "from memory", without the info in front of me, which is always risky.

2. The parts of my prior reply that are "OK" are:
   a. The 613SQ. quarters is "way south" of the Airfield, across the Road (A427) from the 401BG Memorial and the airfield; and
   b. I'd be glad to send a photo-copy.

3. What I omitted was that there are several sources showing layouts or maps with facilities' labeled, but none I've seen with the Squadron I.D., specifically.  Examples:
   a. "Aviation in Northamptonshire" - Michael L. Gibson (UK), page 251: the drawing's "Site No.4 Quarters" 613SQ;
   b. "The Mighty 8th War Manual" - Roger Freeman, page ?: the drawing's "Site 4" is the 613SQ.;
   c. "Airfields of the Eighth" - Roger Freeman, page 67: the RAF aerial photo-montage of May 28, 1947's label "Barrack Site" references the 613SQ site that is just off the bottom edge of the photo; and
   d. The large-scale RAF Drawing of the base, with all buildings shown and labeled, "Site No.9" is the 613SQ.(just north of the also labeled "Yokehill Farm").

Hope that helps, and let me know if you still need a photocopy.

Re: Deenethorpe airbase and 613

Posted:
By: Norman P. Claxon
On: 04/28/2007

Hi Joe, do you have any info on the aircraft, Dorsal Queen ? A friend, Howard Crull, claims to have been shot down on that aircraft instead of Command Performance. Thanks.