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Paul Bellamy
4/30/2008 2:40:24 PM | I've diverged slightly from direct 401BG research lately, to look into the 2nd Strategic Air Depot at Abbots Ripton.
Built the other side of a country lane from Alconbury, it was the servicing and repair depot for the 1st Air Division including the 401st. 2SAD moved there from Little Staughton in February 1944.
The image below shows the relationship between Alconbury (WWII extent outlined green, dispersed sites not shown) and the Depot (outlined red, dispersed sites yellow).
Units based at Abbots Ripton as of 31st May 1944 were:
5th Air Depot Group:
Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron
5th Depot Repair Squadron
5th Depot Supply Squadron
35th Air Depot Group:
Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron
35th Depot Repair Squadron
35th Depot Supply Squadron
1st Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron
2nd Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron
10th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron
11th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron
39th Station Complement Squadron
2002nd Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation)
1145th Military Police Company (Aviation) (Less Detatchment A who were at 3 SAD, Neaton. )
1708th Ordnance Medium Maint Company (Aviation)
1840th Ordnance Medium Maint Company (Aviation)
904th Signal Depot Company (Aviation)
1097th Quartermaster Company (Service Group)
1580th Quartermaster Battalion (Mobile) (Aviation):
Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
1915th Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)
1978th Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)
2187th Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)
2468th Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)
Quite a lot of the site remains today, albeit with the dispersed sites modernised. These areas are the only part of the former Alconbury Airbase to remain in US hands.
I'm working on the 3D computer model, which may help anyone looking at the site in Google Earth or similar to identify the remaining buildings:
Rough outlined version of the model:
Cleaned up a little:
Looking at the northern three T-2 hangars, storage sheds in the lower right:
Closeup of the servicing apron:
TTFN,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
1/14/2009 7:49:23 PM | I've unearthed some aerial photo coverage from 1946, which includes the Abbot's Ripton Depot:
I've also found some more wartime photos of the Depot in operation.
Mr Southworth, feel free to ask if you want any info.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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fireman sam
4/15/2009 2:48:06 PM | Now Abbots Ripton was protected by 2002nd EFFPA,The 2131st EFFPA, protected Alconbury One wonders why giving that the Airfield size and the close proximity Abbots Ripton why there was a need for two different units , could understand maybe two fire stations(during USAF days there were two stations at Alconbury, one on the flight-line for Crash -Rescue, and one opposite the NCO's Club a Structural /Domestic Station with two Pumpers)
Has anyone any pictures or other information.
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