Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Official Website of the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association.
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
Grafton Underwood Visitors Guide
UPDATED GRAFTON UNDERWOOD VISIT INFORMATION
Updated 3 August 2023
Access to the Museum site and the airfield area is restricted, but the "Communal" side of the base is generally accessible to all.
If you plan a visit and would like someone available to explain the area, or would like access to the restricted areas, you or your guide should contact:
with enough advance notice for appropriate arrangements to be made.
A few days should be sufficient but the more notice the better.
And please note that while access to restricted areas is possible by contacting the team, access is only available on certain days.
You may visit the "Communal" side of Grafton Underwood Airfield (east of Brigstock Road) on your own or with a local guide - see below.
Please be sure to stay on defined roads and pathways, and respect the interests of neighboring properties.
The aircraft operations area, including runways and related areas, is located on the west side of Brigstock Road.
This area is now primarily agricultural, with frequent forestry and hunting activities.
The landowner does not permit public access to this area;
however, the 384th Museum Visit Team should be able to arrange access and provide a tour around the site so make sure you get in touch with them ahead of your proposed visit.
Looking northward up the main street, little appears changed in the Village (left),
While on the former airfield (right),
small sections of the three runways and very few of the airfield buildings remain.
But evidence of its former use abounds.
From foundations and roads to earthworks and underground outposts,
one can imagine the activity in wartime,
and conjure visions of what Dad, Grand-dad, or Uncle Bob might have experienced.
Grafton's population comprises approximately 131 souls (2021 census).
The Village includes - in addition to the Airfield and Monument,
St. James the Apostle Church, and the Village Hall
(where Matt Smith hosts occasional 384thBG/aviation-related film & talk nights).
The community hosts occasional 'open garden' events, such as each Sunday in August they host cream teas by the brook.
The Village also welcomes back ex-servicemen and their families who come visit
the place which in time past was such an important part of their lives.
Amongst the more permanent reminders of the 384th BG (H) presence at Grafton Underwood in WWII is a
granite memorial situated on the airfield upon the main runway, a stained glass window in
St. James the Apostle Church⇗
(weekdays during summertime the church is opened by the church warden; at other times it is open weekends only),
a Saint Christopher statue and bell in the Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Kettering.
Additional Information About Grafton Underwood
Earlier versions of Grafton Underwood Visitors Guides:
2009⇓,
2006⇓,
1991⇓.
These files will download when clicked on.
Each file is suitable for printing in pamphlet form, for personal use only.
Note: some of the information in these guides is known to be out of date.
So - you are planning to visit Grafton Underwood, to explore your father's (uncle's, grandfather's,...) WWII airfield.
The first thing you should know is that assistance is available, if you want it or need it,
at every step of the way to advise and guide you on your journey.
The best part is that this advice, assistance and guidance is provided to visitors by volunteers without charge.
Who ya gonna call?
The primary contact for Grafton Underwood Airfield visits is the Museum Visit Team - use the button above to contact them.
They have secured permission from local landowners to enter private property for the purpose
of showing visitors around the area of the wartime Grafton Underwood Airfield.
We recommend that you contact them
early in your planning process
to discuss arrangements.
Just explain who you are, and who your 384th service member is - or the source of your interest if not related.
You should also use the other features on the website to learn about his assignments, promotions,
and combat missions - having that information will suggest to the Team which areas of the airfield
might hold particular interest for you.
Of course, you can do it by yourself.
I did my myself several times - just drove out to the village and visited the monument,
toured the airfield "Communal area" (personnel billeting area), got the key
[NOTE: access to church has changed since I visited - see below.] to the Church and saw "the window".
I used a couple of books ("Airfield Focus: Grafton Underwood" and "Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now")
as guides.
I found that was fine for visits on which my time was very limited (an hour or two),
but having someone advise you, and possibly guide you can help in several ways.
For instance, while there is plenty to see and do without having someone guide you,
certain parts of the airfield (former aircraft operation area, runways and perimeter track, bomb dumps, etc.)
are private: you are advised to respect the private boundaries.
Also there are times when certain areas are off-limits, for instance, due to hunting or farming operations.
The Team have been granted permission by the landowners to guide visitors through many of those
private areas, and they are also informed about the periods when access is restricted.
Another option would be a commercial tour operator,
such as British Tours⇗.
[NOTE: Neither 384thBombGroup.com nor 384th Bomb Group, Inc., endorse any service provider,
or receive any consideration therefrom.]
When to Go?
The answer is obvious: "When you can!"
But you may wish to coordinate your visit with local events at the airfield or nearby.
Two dates stand out: Memorial Day and Remembrance Day (like our Veteran's Day).
Visiting during the times of these holidays affords the opportunity to observe first-hand
the everlasting gratitude English citizens display for our troops.
In addition, Matt Smith, a Museum Trustee, hosts frequent meetings and events in and around Grafton Underwood
at which you will likely meet many people who are interested in meeting you!
But What About The Weather?
Imagine the thrill of standing at the monument - located near the south end of the main runway -
while the wind knifes through straight off the North Sea, with rain or snow beating down on you.
Or a bone-chilling pea-soup fog.
Now that would give you an appreciation of what our guys experienced.
And, while the aircrews fought their way through the difficult meteorological conditions,
the groundcrews worked on the aircraft in the open, with no protection from the elements.
But ... what about the weather?
When planning, you can count on Summer being warmer than Winter.
But at any season you should be prepared for precipitation.
And, some flexibility in wardrobe is recommended - the old "layering" approach is a good thing,
even in the Summer!
Generally, Summer is warm, but not "hot" by US standards
- temperatures above 90F/32C are uncommon -
and evenings are cool.
Winter is cold, and wind and rain or snow often make it bitter.
I have toured in all seasons and can report that I enjoyed every experience,
including the memorable February visit to Madingley and North Pickenham in a fierce, frigid rainstorm,
ending thankfully at the Flying Fortress Pub in Bury St. Edmunds.
Travel
Getting to England (assuming you are not already there)
No longer will we travel to England as previous generations did, aboard oceanic passenger ships,
arriving at Southampton.
Modern travel by air will bring you to one of several airports around the country.
The first step is to select an arrival airport that is convenient to your intended destinations,
including Grafton Underwood.
These two maps will help orient you to the location of Grafton Underwood in England.
Note that Grafton Underwood is a short distance northeast of Kettering, in Northamptonshire,
which is less than 100 road miles from London's Heathrow Airport.
Getting Around England
The public transportation system in England is excellent.
One can board a train in Heathrow (for instance) and be in Kettering in just over two hours.
That journey requires two connections in London connected by a ride on "The Tube",
but it is easily do-able for the hardy traveller.
If you choose the train to get to Kettering,
you will find that the Kettering depot is near the center of town - no real surprise there!
My preference is to rent a car at the arrival airport, but I am comfortable with driving in England.
Having a car gives you the freedom to vary your route and take advantage of opportunities along the way
- and there will be many!
One note of caution - driving in London is best left to the professionals:
don't do it, as there are many better in-city travel options,
including The Tube, buses, taxis, tour buses, etc.
Accommodations
If you wish to stay in Kettering (and have arrived by rail), several hotels are an "easy" 1/4 mile walk
from the station, and there are other accommodations a little farther on.
Otherwise, the usual sources for hotel accommodations should be consulted.
"The Last Mile"
Once in the Kettering area - depending on your mode of travel - you will want to get to the airfield.
Here is a link to a map showing the route: Market Square,
Kettering, to the monument in Grafton Underwood⇗.
With a car, or a friend/guide with one, reaching and touring the airfield is easy.
Otherwise, you may need to contact a local taxi or tour firm that will accommodate you.
You Made It! Now What?
What to see in Grafton Underwood
This map will orient you to the layout of the airfield.
[NOTE: The future Museum site is north of Broadway, approximately where it says "Fuel Dump" on the map.]
Additional detailed airfield maps can be viewed, downloaded and/or printed from the
Gallery⇗.
Naturally, Team members will want to show you the monument and the stained glass window in
St. James the Apostle Church.
They will also show you the "Communal" area and the airfield area proper, providing it is safe to do so -
farming activity and hunting have priority over visitors at all times.
Don't forget to stroll thru town and note the thatched roofs, the canal, the telephone box - lots to see!
And, while you are in the area, and if you have time,
consider visiting Molesworth Airfield, AAF Station 103, home of the 303rd BG and 41st Combat Wing HQ,
Kimbolton Airfield, AAF Station 117, home of the 379th BG, now an industrial estate, and
Harrington Airfield, AAF Station 179, home of the Carpetbaggers (clandestine operations), with a nice museum.
And here are some aerial views looking to the Northeast (left) and to the Southwest (right),
courtesy of Peter Hinson, 1998.
Additional information about the Grafton Underwood area:
Back in 2019, site clearance by the Boughton Estate uncovered two long forgotten about structures on the Headquarters Site of the old airfield at RAF Grafton Underwood.
On the edges of Grafton Park Wood, many of the basic buildings on the site had succumbed to years of neglect and weather damage,
with the might of nature lending a hand in their final demise. With the site now thick in undergrowth and scrub, and buried below years of fallen debris,
only the Operations Block and Norden Bomb Sight Store remained standing.
This was as a testimony to their construction - they were key buildings and designed to be survivable in the instance the airfield came under attack,
their substantial structures had just about been able to withstand over 75 years of decline.
Once uncovered, a decision was needed on their future. For the Estate, their purpose was limited.
For a group of local enthusiasts who had an avid interest in the airfield, headed by Neill Howarth (384th Bombardment Group Museum Chairman),
their historical value was very much appreciated. In 2019, the first meeting of what was to become the 384th Bombardment Group Museum was held in
the Village Hall at Grafton Underwood, to discuss the feasibility and interest of creating a Museum on site,
with potentially the two remaining buildings as focal points of such a project.
At this point, there were many obstacles to overcome.
Negotiations & discussions would be needed with Boughton Estate,
the owners of the buildings and the land they sat on. Was there support of a group of volunteers to take such a project on?
Would there be interest in such a project from the wider community?
Discussions Start…and stop
Discussions began during the latter part of 2019 with Boughton Estate,
before a halt was forced in Jan 2020 as the full effect of Covid-19 fell across the UK.
The project remained on hold for the rest of the year, with the lock down rendering further progress at this point impossible.
First Workday
By early 2021, with the country returning to some kind of normality, the project was able to recommence.
Whilst discussions were underway with the Estate regarding building purchase and land lease,
work was allowed to commence on the site with regards to clearing the substantial amounts of undergrowth that now choked the area -
the first workday being held on April 10th 2021 with a fledgling Volunteer work force.
Work continued regularly with Volunteer teams clearing the site.
It was a mammoth undertaking, but gradually the site started to clear and take shape.
Hidden elements were uncovered - hut bases, bicycle racks, pathways etc - and the buildings cleared of debris.
Buildings Purchased and Lease Agreed
After much work to ensure the requirements of both the Estate and the Museum were covered,
an agreement was finally agreed for the Museum to take ownership of the buildings and to lease the area of land that was to become the Museum site.
This was completed & signed on 30th October 2023.
The Future
Work continues on the site to return it to something comparable to its wartime condition.
The Operations Block and Norden Bomb Site Store will continue to be worked on to preserve their character,
and to return them to 1940's condition both inside and out, giving visitors the opportunity to step back in time.
The construction of the Visitor Centre on the original site of the Station Headquarters Offices will give visitors an opportunity
to step inside and learn the history of the airfield, the 384th Bomb Group and the many people whose stories helped build the legacy of the unit.
In time, as resources allow, there are the options to add the Finance Offices, and Briefing Rooms also back onto their original bases.
The project will continue to evolve as time passes, we're all excited to see what the future holds.
Everyone is working hard to ensure that people visiting Grafton Underwood experience a fully comprehensive visit
of the military areas along with seeing the Stained Glass window in St James the Apostle church and also to
paying their respects at the Memorial located on the former airstrip, which the Museum are now Custodians of since 2024.
Matt Smith follows in the footsteps of Quentin Bland, who, as a child in Grafton Underwood during WWII
formed a deep appreciation for the effort and sacrifices by the men of the 384th.
That feeling carried Quentin over into lifelong voluntary service to the 384th,
which Matt Smith now carries on.
Neill Howarth is a local resident who is the Chairman of The Friends of the 384th,
a group that organized to develop and operate a Museum on the airfield.
Neill, and the volunteers that work to bring the Museum into existence,
dedicate countless hours to all the big and small tasks necessary to achieve their goal.
Keith Andrews grew up in Kettering, and had an interest in military aviation from a very young age.
"I have many vivid memories of visiting Grafton Underwood with my mother & father when a young boy.
The place was magical to me then and I would return home to build models of B17’s.
Then came working life, marriage and children.
About 30 years had passed when my mother told me of a meeting being held to look at setting up a Museum.
Maybe I should go along, she said.
I did, and now I get to tie in my book-keeping day-to-day career alongside being Treasurer (amongst many other things!) for the Museum project."
The 384th Bomb Group, Inc. and the 384th Bomb Group website staff is grateful to
Matt, Neill, Keith,
and all Volunteers and friends of the 384th for their keen interest in,
and dedication to, the 384th Bombardment Group.
Their unflagging support of the 384th is helping to ...
