The next USAAF unit to use Kimbolton was the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium), arriving in October from Barksdale AAF Louisiana.

However, with the move of the 91st, the unit utilised Kimbolton as its shorter runways could accommodate their smaller, twin-engined medium bombers.

The 17th consisted of the following squadrons: The 17th flew the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber, and used Kimbolton as a transitory airfield on its way to the North African campaign.

The group engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic targets such as industries, oil refineries, storage plants, submarine pens, airfields and communications centres in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Poland.

The Group received another DUC for flying without fighter protection into central Germany to attack vital aircraft factories on 11 January 1944.

During the Battle of France, the Group bombed enemy positions to assist ground troops at St Lo during the breakthrough, 24–25 July 1944, attacked German communications and fortifications during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, and bombed bridges and viaducts in France and Germany to aid the Allied assault across the Rhine, February–March 1945.

It held records as far as bomb tonnage dropped — 26,459 tons — more than any other unit including those operational before the 379th arrived in the UK.

After some time had passed, and "Topper" kept coming home, the crews thought it would be bad luck to complete the nose art, including adding the correct name.

Among the last significant buildings to survive were the airfield's two control towers (one earlier and smaller than the other) which had both become increasingly derelict before they were demolished in 1977.

Additionally, a public footpath crosses the main area where one of the two control towers once stood, the foundations of which are still recognisable among the farmland.