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765:, a group Commander of the 306th BG. The fictional counterparts of Thurleigh and the 306th Bomb Group were "Archbury" and the "918th Bomb Group," the number 918 being derived from 306 multiplied by 3. The opening scenes of the film were however filmed at former RAF Chelveston, a station several miles to the north where the 305th Bomb Group was based.
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Thurleigh was one of 28 fields listed for use by the U.S. Eighth Air Force on 4 June 1942, tentatively designated station B-4, and was allocated on 10 August 1942. The RAF had found that the initial construction of
Thurleigh was inadequate for the combat weight of B-24 bombers. After the departure of
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of their life during the war. This film is used by both the
British Royal Navy and U.S. Navy as an example of leadership styles in their Leadership and Management Training Schools for officers and enlisted personnel. The Air Force's College for Enlisted Professional Military Education also uses this
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from mid-2001 onwards). As of early 2007, QinetiQ have sold their remaining stake in the
Bedford Airfield site (as well as the nearby 'Wind Tunnel' site) and are planning to relocate the remaining staff to
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in 1940 by W & C French Ltd. 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the village of
Thurleigh on farmland between the farms of Buryfields, Bletsoe Park, Manor, and Whitwickgreen. It was eventually modified to
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aircraft (which required a very long runway) that ultimately never went into production. One local road was dropped into a cutting so that it would not sit above the level of the runway.
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the RAF, Thurleigh's runways were lengthened, increased in thickness, and additional hardstands constructed to Class A standards so it could accommodate a USAAF heavy bomber group.
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Lockheed/Vega B-17F-10-VE Flying
Fortress Serial 42-5744 "Dollie Madison" of the 369th Bomb Squadron. This aircraft returned to the United States on 2 November 1943
792:. Due to the cost and impracticality of relocating the Advanced Flight Simulator system the site retains some of its development work (under the banner of
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659:. The group struck locomotive works at Lille, railway yards at Rouen, submarine pens at Bordeaux, shipbuilding yards at Vegesack, ball-bearing works at
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The protagonist of the story, Brigadier
General Frank Savage, group commander of the fictional 918th Bomb Group, was possibly modelled on Colonel
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From 16 September 1943 though 25 June 1945, Thurleigh served as headquarters for the 40th Combat
Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bomb Division.
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which is dedicated primarily to the airfield and life in the area during the Second World War. The eastern end remains in aviation use as
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The airfield was decommissioned in
February 1994 after a lengthy study determined that flight operations should be centralised at
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The 306th Bomb Group flew its 342nd and final mission on 19 April 1945, the most of any Eighth Air Force B-17 unit except the
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aircraft, and remained at
Thurleigh until 1 December 1945. That was the longest tenure of any U.S. air group at a UK base.
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06-24) and 4,200 feet (runways 18-36 and 12-30). Thurleigh was unique among bomber bases in having four T2 type metal
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Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings
Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
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RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912
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Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-55-DL Fortress 44-46604 and Boeing B-17G-95-BO Flying Fortress 44-48676 of the 306th Bomb Group
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With the end of military control, the airfield has been divided into two parts. The southern part is now known as
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The 306th led the Eighth Air Force on its first mission to bomb a target in Germany on 27 January 1943, attacking
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Starting in 1946, construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became known as the
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specifications, with three converging runways, extended in 1942 to lengths of 6,000 feet (
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on 9 December 1942 and designated Station 111, and used for heavy bomber operations against
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mission against aircraft factories in central Germany in which all groups were awarded a
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is frequently cited by surviving bomber crew members as the most accurate depiction by
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1228:. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980.
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in early 2008, finally ending the site's long association with military aviation.
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This article is about the Second World War RAF station. For post war use, see
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film as an education aid in its Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academies.
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808:(DERA). DERA consolidated its experimental flying operations at
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USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
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The airfield was closed in 1997 with the RAE having become the
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Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom
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1188:. London, UK: Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2001.
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Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now. After the Battle
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who flew the initial daylight bombing missions against
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Airfields of the VIII Bomber Command in Bedfordshire
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United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978
709:. The 306th Bomb Group received a second DUC during
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60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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511:Thurleigh (pronounced "thur-lie") was built for
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596:With the essential construction completed, the
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1079:https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/1304765856
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440:1,280 metres (4,199 ft) Concrete
432:1,280 metres (4,199 ft) Concrete
424:1,828 metres (5,997 ft) Concrete
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1274:United States Army Air Forces - Thurleigh
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
3107:Royal Air Force stations in Bedfordshire
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941:Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust
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878:List of former Royal Air Force stations
480:located 5 miles (8.0 km) north of
1677:Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
1226:Air Force Combat Units Of World War II
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806:Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
1600:List of equipment of the RAF Regiment
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899:Air Force Historical Research Agency
611:. Its operational squadrons were:
552:No. 18 Operational Training Unit RAF
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1501:Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service
737:and book about bomber crews of the
492:. Thurleigh was transferred to the
1741:Combined Cadet Force (RAF section)
14:
1013:"306th Bombardment Group (Heavy)"
376:Squadron Leader D. A. Batwell RAF
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1657:Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
1269:Historic Thurleigh Photo Gallery
893: This article incorporates
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1751:RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
1631:List of serving senior officers
598:306th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
592:306th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
531:where most bases had only two.
391:306th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
45:needs additional citations for
1259:306th Bombardment Wing website
564:No. 2813 Squadron RAF Regiment
550:The airfield was also used by
547:at Drigh Road on 4 June 1942.
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3004:United States Army Air Forces
739:United States Army Air Forces
494:United States Army Air Forces
380:Colonel C. B. Overacker USAAF
293:United States Army Air Forces
1167:The Mighty Eighth War Manual
1015:. Mighty 8th Cross-Reference
214:Location within Bedfordshire
27:Second World War RAF station
1526:RAF Mountain Rescue Service
1521:RAF Search and Rescue Force
1148:The Mighty Eighth War Diary
707:Distinguished Unit Citation
642:Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
183:RAF Thurleigh 12 March 1943
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1682:Warrant Officer of the RAF
1377:Operational Training units
1169:. pp. 267, 276, 313.
1165:Freeman, Roger A. (1991).
1146:Freeman, Roger A. (1990).
1127:Freeman, Roger A. (1970).
628:369th Bombardment Squadron
622:368th Bombardment Squadron
616:367th Bombardment Squadron
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1626:List of notable personnel
1557:Royal Auxiliary Air Force
1423:Satellite Landing Grounds
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1108:Bishop, Cliff T. (1986).
634:423d Bombardment Squadron
545:China-Burma-India Theater
467:Royal Air Force Thurleigh
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1662:Air Member for Personnel
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703:1st Bombardment Division
675:, aircraft factories at
1672:Air Member for Materiel
1264:306th Bomb Group Museum
822:Thurleigh Business Park
574:Radar Research Squadron
264:Royal Air Force station
20:. For current use, see
895:public domain material
694:on 16 April 1943, and
671:, a chemical plant at
569:Central Gunnery School
535:RAF Bomber Command use
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1562:RAF Volunteer Reserve
1201:Jefford, C G (1988).
937:"Bedford (Thurleigh)"
856:United Kingdom portal
539:Its first use was by
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336:W & C French Ltd.
1595:List of RAF missiles
1578:List of RAF aircraft
1496:RAF Medical Services
1481:RAF Chaplains Branch
541:No. 160 Squadron RAF
397:Airfield information
366:Garrison information
244:52.22972°N 0.47472°W
54:improve this article
2776:801st (Provisional)
1756:RAF Benevolent Fund
1691:symbols and uniform
1324:Ministry of Defence
1056:. 2013. p. 85.
751:Twelve O'Clock High
730:Twelve O'Clock High
724:Twelve O'Clock High
640:The group flew the
382:September 1942-1945
378:1942-September 1942
240: /
1736:Air Training Corps
1652:Chief of Air Staff
1516:RAF Music Services
1054:Key Publishing Ltd
763:Frank A. Armstrong
698:, 17 August 1943.
513:RAF Bomber Command
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416:Length and surface
303:RAF Bomber Command
299:Controlled by
249:52.22972; -0.47472
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1234:0-89201-092-4
1231:
1227:
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1216:1-85310-053-6
1212:
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1199:
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1176:0-87938-513-8
1172:
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1157:0-87938-495-6
1153:
1149:
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1138:0-87938-638-X
1134:
1130:
1125:
1121:
1119:1-869987-00-4
1115:
1111:
1106:
1105:
1100:
1093:, p. 00.
1092:
1087:
1084:
1081:Openstreetmap
1080:
1075:
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1038:Mighty Eighth
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942:
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932:
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928:
926:
922:
919:, p. 63.
918:
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897:from the
896:
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879:
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839:
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831:
828:, as well as
827:
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810:Boscombe Down
807:
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786:Boscombe Down
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688:Wilhelmshaven
685:
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653:Low Countries
650:
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471:RAF Thurleigh
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333:Built by
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208:RAF Thurleigh
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124:
121:
113:
110:February 2013
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
23:
19:
3003:
2272:Westhampnett
2246:
2172:Nuthampstead
2107:Kings Cliffe
2052:Great Dunmow
2007:East Wretham
1907:Bassingbourn
1853:World War II
1645:appointments
1476:RAF Regiment
1462:branches and
1392:Glider units
1244:
1225:
1202:
1185:
1184:Freeman, R.
1166:
1147:
1128:
1109:
1101:Bibliography
1091:Freeman 2001
1086:
1074:
1067:Freeman 2001
1062:
1046:Lincolnshire
1037:
1017:. Retrieved
956:
944:. Retrieved
917:Jefford 1988
912:
887:
838:
821:
819:
803:
783:
772:
760:
750:
728:
727:
715:
700:
681:
673:Ludwigshafen
646:
639:
609:"Triangle H"
608:
602:Wendover AAF
595:
587:
583:
549:
538:
518:Air Ministry
510:
501:Nazi Germany
486:Bedfordshire
473:is a former
470:
466:
465:
356:Battles/wars
313:Site history
279:Air Ministry
166:Bedfordshire
131:
116:
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
2499:Bombardment
2406:Bombardment
2359:VIII Bomber
2277:Wormingford
2117:Knettishall
2027:Framlingham
2002:Earls Colne
1987:Deenethorpe
1957:Cheddington
1947:Bushey Hall
1902:Attlebridge
1887:Aldermaston
1621:Other ranks
1387:Ferry units
1224:Maurer, M.
1209:: Airlife.
1019:19 February
997:Maurer 1980
980:Maurer 1980
961:Maurer 1980
946:19 February
816:Current use
799:Farnborough
769:RAE Bedford
745:during the
696:Schweinfurt
661:Schweinfurt
558:Other units
341:In use
247: /
235:000°28′29″W
223:Coordinates
18:RAE Bedford
3101:Categories
3076:Fourteenth
3071:Thirteenth
2202:Rattlesden
2162:Mount Farm
2157:Molesworth
2147:Mendlesham
2067:Harrington
2057:Halesworth
1962:Chelveston
1766:RAF Museum
1541:Operations
1506:RAF Police
1464:components
1397:Misc units
1331:formations
1207:Shrewsbury
884:References
373:commanders
232:52°13′47″N
80:newspapers
3086:Twentieth
3081:Fifteenth
2257:Wattisham
2247:Thurleigh
2212:Ridgewell
2192:Rackheath
2187:Polebrook
2182:Podington
2102:Kimbolton
2077:Honington
2017:Fersfield
1972:Daws Hill
1952:Chalgrove
1922:Bovingdon
1917:Bottisham
1882:Alconbury
1609:personnel
1571:equipment
1444:Squadrons
1362:Squadrons
1333:and units
904:Citations
790:Wiltshire
755:Hollywood
735:1949 film
686:yards at
665:Stuttgart
580:USAAF use
412:Direction
344:1941-1946
158:Thurleigh
3061:Eleventh
2347:Commands
2300:Ie Shima
2267:Wendling
2252:Tibenham
2222:Shipdham
2217:Seething
2197:Ramsbury
2152:Metfield
2122:Lavenham
2062:Hardwick
2022:Fowlmere
1865:Stations
1784:timeline
1708:Roundels
1432:Regiment
1406:stations
1347:Commands
1042:Stamford
842:See also
711:Big Week
669:Hannover
651:and the
387:Garrison
285:Operator
168:in
3066:Twelfth
3041:Seventh
2785:Fighter
2452:Fighter
2310:Futenma
2287:Okinawa
2237:Sudbury
2142:Membury
2127:Leiston
2037:Goxhill
2032:Glatton
1997:Duxford
1799:commons
1779:history
1713:Uniform
1583:current
1449:Flights
1367:Flights
1050:England
794:QinetiQ
743:Germany
677:Leipzig
657:Germany
529:hangars
507:History
490:England
482:Bedford
478:station
406:Runways
346: (
323: (
170:England
162:Bedford
94:scholar
3046:Eighth
3026:Fourth
3016:Second
2492:Groups
2315:Yontan
2305:Kadena
2262:Watton
2207:Raydon
2097:Keevil
2092:Ibsley
2082:Horham
2072:Hethel
1982:Debden
1977:Debach
1932:Bungay
1927:Boxted
1912:Bodney
1897:Atcham
1789:future
1698:Ensign
1588:future
1418:Former
1413:Active
1352:Groups
1247:, 2005
1232:
1213:
1192:
1173:
1154:
1135:
1116:
733:was a
692:Bremen
684:U-boat
649:France
525:runway
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
3056:Tenth
3051:Ninth
3036:Sixth
3031:Fifth
3021:Third
3011:First
2948:315th
2922:507th
2917:496th
2912:495th
2907:479th
2902:413th
2897:364th
2892:362nd
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2872:356th
2867:355th
2862:354th
2857:353rd
2852:352nd
2847:350th
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2837:318th
2771:493rd
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2736:482nd
2731:467th
2726:466th
2721:458th
2716:457th
2711:453rd
2706:452nd
2701:448th
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2681:401st
2676:398th
2671:392nd
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2641:385th
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2621:381st
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2611:351st
2606:346th
2601:333rd
2596:323rd
2591:322nd
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2581:319th
2576:310th
2571:306th
2566:305th
2561:303rd
2556:301st
2551:100th
2479:301st
2443:316th
2399:Wings
2337:Units
1846:USAAF
1703:Badge
1439:Wings
1357:Wings
1340:units
437:18/36
429:12/30
421:06/24
318:Built
275:Owner
101:JSTOR
87:books
2979:67th
2974:25th
2943:62nd
2938:60th
2832:78th
2827:56th
2822:55th
2817:48th
2812:31st
2807:20th
2802:14th
2546:97th
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2536:95th
2531:94th
2526:93rd
2521:92nd
2516:91st
2511:44th
2506:34th
2474:67th
2469:66th
2464:65th
2438:12th
2390:3rdf
2364:VIII
2295:Bolo
1230:ISBN
1211:ISBN
1190:ISBN
1171:ISBN
1152:ISBN
1133:ISBN
1114:ISBN
1021:2013
948:2013
636:(RD)
630:(WW)
624:(BO)
618:(GY)
605:Utah
371:Past
348:1946
325:1940
321:1940
260:Type
73:news
2969:7th
2964:3rd
2797:4th
2792:1st
2459:6th
2433:5th
2428:4th
2423:3rd
2418:2nd
2413:1st
2385:2nd
2380:1st
2012:Eye
1851:in
788:in
56:by
3103::
1205:.
1150:.
1131:.
1052::
1048:,
1044:,
1040:.
1029:^
1004:^
987:^
968:^
939:.
924:^
836:.
749:.
554:.
503:.
488:,
484:,
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160:,
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1826:t
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1307:e
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108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
24:.
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