Daily life at Winkton Airfield
All photos are credit Bill Lee via Friends of New Forest Airfields
Bill Lee was pilot with the 507th squadron of the 404th Fighter Group based at Winkton Advanced Landing Ground and a lifelong keen photographer. These are a few of the many photos he took of the 404th and Winkton, including some in colour.
Prepared in 1943 and opened in 1944, Winkton along with several other sites in the New Forest was selected for the construction of temporary Advanced Landing Ground airfield which would support the planned Allied invasion of Europe. Winkton was a home to the United States 9th Air Force’s 404th Fighter Bomber Group. The 404th consisted of 506, 507 and 508 squadrons, all of which operated the P47 Thunderbolt fighter. The operational role of the 404th was to use the P47 as a tactical fighter primarily deployed for ground attack. It was closed in September 1944.
Photos from FONFA
Visit: Winkton Advanced Landing Ground Overview for more information and links to other ALGs
You can find out more about the New Forest’s vital role in D-Day from Mulberry Harbour, to holding camps, road widening, advanced landing grounds, PLUTO and Embarkation by visiting our main page on D-Day in the New Forest.