Thinking of visiting the airfield at Grafton Underwood?

Are you planning on visiting Grafton Underwood to follow in the footsteps of a relative who was stationed here or who had links to the airfield?

What to do?
If so, PLEASE get in touch with the Museum via email @ 384thbgmusuem@gmail.com or click on to the link below for further information and use the 'contact us' link, prior to your arrival in the UK.

Why?
Whilst certain areas of interest are available to view publicly - the Memorial, the Church window and some of the communal areas, for example - much more is inaccessible due to it being on private land that is strictly off limits. The Museum is the only body in the UK that can negotiate access to all areas in conjunction with the landowners, the Boughton Estate. We are indebted to the Estate for their support with this.

What happens?
Prior notice is essential and will enable us to arrange a visit to the flying side of the airfield (all on private land), to some of the restricted areas within the Communal sites and also, of course, full access to the Museum site and buildings. An understanding of the person of interest will allow us to focus such a tour specifically around them - we can arrange visits to their Squadron Communal area, dispersal points for aircraft etc. None of this is possible without prior notice to ourselves.

How can we help?
We want to ensure anyone taking the time and trouble to travel gets the full, complete experience from your visit. There is much to see, besides this being set in a beautiful area of typical Northamptonshire countryside. We can assist in travel arrangements, collection/drop offs at local railways stations, provision of refreshments and flowers for laying at the Memorial, for example - in short, whatever you need we will do our very best to provide. It’s highly likely whatever you are in need of, we have already been asked to solve – so we’re confident we can find the answer for you!

How long do I allow for a visit?
As long as you can afford to! There is lots to see – it can easily be made into a day’s visit. Alternatively, if time is limited, still get in touch and we can work out a plan to ensure the time is used wisely for you.

Where is the airfield?
The airfield is just outside of the village of Grafton Underwood, near Kettering. There are direct rail links from Kettering into London and the midlands, it is about a ten minute drive from the railway station to the airfield. There are also good rail links into Huntingdon, which is around a twenty minute drive from the airfield. Taxis would be readily available from both stations, however it may be possible that as part of your visit a member of the Volunteer team meets you and brings you to site.

What’s next?
So you are keen to come and visit – that’s fantastic. In which case simply get in touch with dates, details of your itinerary and the name of the person who your interest stems from originally – all of these will help us build up a plan for your visit.

Please remember, the 384th Bombardment Group Museum is a volunteer run project – we are often asked why we all put the effort into the project that we do when very few of us have direct links to the airfield, or 384th personnel, ourselves.

There are many reasons as to why our volunteers are involved. A common theme however between us all is that we are passionate about what we do, and we would love to share that passion and enthusiasm for the 384th and our project with you – please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you and have the opportunity to meet you, and hear your story.

384th Bombardment Group Museum Team