February 2021

12 Buckden Roundabout February 2021 The Bombardment Groups close to Buckden were as follows: 379 - Kimbolton 306 - Thurleigh 305, 384 - Grafton Underwood 401 - Deenethorpe 92 - Alconbury 303 - Molesworth 351 - Polebrook 457 - Glatton Following D - Day and the liberation of France enemy, interfer- ence with radio beacons became low risk, allowing the RAF to reduce the number of frequencies used per Splasher site to one and, as Allied forces moved East, Splasher radio beacons were established on the Continent. In this wartime site plan, below, number 16 Splasher beacon Brampton Grange is quite clearly marked just north of Water- meadows. Building 351 is the transmission station and is the large building in the photograph; 352 A - H are the aerial poles; and the smaller building in the photograph, 343, is the Standby Set House containing standby generators. The site was looked after by the USAAF 311 Signals Company who later became 38th Signals Platoon and operated out of Brampton Grange. Established at the Grange Hotel, Brampton, and officially known as RAF Brampton Grange, it was also the location of the First European Theater of Operations US Army Bombardment Wing (BW) Headquarters. It was later renamed the 1st Bom- bardment Division (BD) on 13 September 1943 to end confu- sion of the term "wing" with the operational combat wings. In December 1944, it was renamed again, becoming the 1st Air Division (AD). The 1st BW/BD/AD directed combat operations of Boeing B - 17 Flying Fortress bomber and fighter groups un- der its command from August 1942, to 25 April 1945. It was an administrative headquarters which relied on RAF Alconbury for logistical support and its flying requirements. Wartime Brampton was also home to a searchlight unit on what is now the Anglia Water site on Bromholme Lane. Manned by the Royal Artillery and the ATS, they also operated a sound locator but owing to flooding on this site the locator was moved to Bellfield, on the left of the Huntington Road just west of the Splasher site. Acknowledgements: John Shere, whose comments walking one day were the cata- lyst for this article and Royal Observer Corps Heritage for their assistance. Terry Hayward for reviewing the article and confirming a num- ber of references. Jeff Hawley from the Airfield Research Group References: The Mighty Eighth War Manual by Roger A Freeman. Additional internet references available on request. (Continued from page 11) Splashers and Bunchers