Hainford 2015

Hainford Village Hall

52.71740, 1.30041
TG 23006 18414

Photos taken 29 June 2015

Yesterday, a new memorial was dedicated in the Hainford Village Hall, Commemorating the crash of the Hookem Cow on 14 April 2015, it incorporates a model hand-made by a Dutch gentlemen who lives in the village. A beautiful remembrance, and a lovely ceremony. Many thanks to Trevor Hewitt.

Another One!

This memorial is on a private estate, so isn't generally accessible to the public, but I received a very kind invitation to view it. I've taken a couple of photos for you:

Beautiful, isn't it? It's propeller blade from B17 Pathfinder 42-97556, Shatzi, flown by the Donald MacGregor crew. On the night of 11/12 April, 1944, it was shot down by a German intruder, Two men were killed. In 1989, Donald MacGregor attended an informal ceremony here, and a time capsule was placed in the base of the memorial.

A full account of the crash can be found in the Ian McLachlan/Russell Zorn book, 

Eighth Air Force Bomber Stories.

American Museum in Britain entries

Here is what I've been doing today. I've added this memorial, the memorial in nearby St Barnabas church, and the plane, the "Lady Jane."  I've also added information to the crew. Regrettably, I can't find one of the crew members in the AAM database, so  I'll add Johnie J Jones, Flight Engineer, when I add the others I find are missing.

Lady Jane Memorial

Carlton Colville 2015

Today, in the cold and grey weather, there was a short ceremony remembering 2nd Lt. Robert Portsch and Staff Sergeant Douglas Seavert, who died when their plane crashed 70 years ago in a field near the village. It is so touching that, after all these years, the boys are still remembered.

Heavenly Body Crash

One of my Facebook readers sent this to me yesterday. Although the memorial isn't in Norfolk or Suffolk, it does commemorate a crash that involved a crew from Station 134, Brome/Eye. The "Heavenly Body" from the 490th Bomb Group. Thank you, Chris!

Chris says it is between Nailstone and Ibstock, Leicestershire. (Americans, this is pronounced Lester!). Here's the local history page from leicestershirevillages.com: Heavenly Body Crash

And a couple of other sites: Airfield Information Exchange, AAF blog

Belton Tavern

The Tavern

52.56495, 1.65775
TG 479 026
Photos taken 19 September 2014

60 Station Road South
Belton
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR31 9AA

Well. I thought I was done. I'd heard that this pub had some photos, but someone contacted me yesterday, and said that there was an actual memorial there. So, of course, I just had to visit.

Hilgay

Village War Memorial

52.55856, 0.38994
TL 621 983
Photos taken 17 September 2014

South Cove Again

South Cove: St Lawrence

52.36892, 1.67051
TM 499 808
Photos taken 12 September 2014

I had been in this church several times, looking for a rumoured Roll of Honour. I finally made contact with someone connected with the church, and it had been there all the time!

The church council has just approved a proposal to place a more permanent memorial in the church. 

Costessey: Longwater Lane Cemetery

52.64957, 1.20380
TG 168 105
photos taken 14 July 2014


This is a very small cemetery, quite easy to find. The memorial refers to a tree--I am under the impression that the stone is not in the original position, and it stands between two quite mature trees. Mystery.

Costessey: St Edmund

St Edmund, Costessey

52.66568, 1.21746
TG 176 124
photos taken 14 July 2014


The church is kept locked, but the key can be obtained from 2 Vicarage Close, or the Vicarage on Folgate Lane

Taverham

Taverham Mill Fisheries

52.67833, 1.19155
TG 158 137
Photos taken 14 July 2014

Commemorating the crash of Pappy's Chillun/Turnip Termite. The main body of the plane still lie in the lake here.

Entrance to the Mill, which is a nature reserve and fisheries.

Frettenham

Village Hall, Frettenham

52.71224, 1.31395
TG 239 178
photos taken 11 December 2013

Kingsley Crew

Frettenham Village History

This memorial, inside the village hall, commemorates the crash of the Belle of Boston. Trevor Hewitt was instrumental in getting this display installed. The cases are made from English Oak from trees in the village, and a village craftsman built them free of charge.

Trevor's grandfather and father pulled the crew from the Belle of Boston, which crashed on Frettenham Common on 8 May 1944 shortly after takeoff. When the memorial was dedicated  in 2004 the hall was packed to overflowing.

Items retrieved from the crash site.

Hainford

52.71094,1.30482
TG 233 177
photos taken 11 December 2013

Hookem Cow website

458th Bomb Group

Finally! We were able to spend a couple hours with Trevor Hewitt, who was responsible for this memorial, which lies at the place the fuselage of the Hookem Cow came to rest. Trevor is very knowledgeable about the three crashes in the area: The Sally, the Hookem Cow and the Belle of Boston. His father and grandfather pulled the crew from the Belle of Boston, which crashed on Frettenham Common.

This  is on the entrance drive to a farm, so is private property; please be respectful if you visit. The  memorial isn't very big, and looks better in the summer! This was a difficult memorial to find, so I'm very pleased to have been able to visit and learn so much from Trevor.

"Broad and High" Kirby Bedon

Links about the crash, with great information and pictures

When War Smashed Down

Wherryman's Web

467th Archive

Kirby Bedon Crash Site

52.60941, 1.37093
TG 283 066
Photos taken 27 November 2013

This is a small memorial, on the side of a field in Kirby Bedon, close to the site of the crash. You can park on Mill Hill, which is a one-track dirt road, just across from the entrance to the conservation area. You'll need to drag open the gate (be sure to shut it again!), and walk up to the memorial. We followed the track until the bracken got too thick, then walked around the field to the site of the memorial. Be sure to take your wellies!

Notes on Hainford

Since I'm having some trouble tracking down a couple of new leads, I thought I'd post a bit of information I have on one of the memorials I'm looking for: Hainford, Norfolk.

Hainford is the site of the Hookem Cow crash on 14 April 1945. She was a B24, flying out of Horsham St Faith. She has her own website, where you can find loads of information:

Hookem Cow

I have found the gravesites of the boys who died in the crash, and they can be found here:

USAAF burials

And here is a photo, from hookemcow.com, of the memorial at the crash site. I'm trying to track down the location, but have had no joy as yet. A couple of leads, but nothing substantial.

Gorleston

52.57175, 1.73361
TG 530 036
photos taken 25 October 2013

This is an RAF memorial, to the Number 24 Air Sea Rescue Unit, but it mentions two USAAF personnel who were killed during an ASR operation. It's on the harbour wall, at the mouth of the River Yare.

2nd Lieutenant James S. Mayall Jr, from California, was the Navigator. He was killed when his B17 ditched in the North Sea. He is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Sergeant Donald S. Downie Jr, from Mississippi, was the Ball Turret Gunner. He was killed on the rescue launch when the it was strafed and sunk by enemy aircraft. He is buried in Cambridge.

Find the accident report here

Harling Farm

52.44418, 0.94592
TM 003 869
photos taken 11 October 2013

This is a private residence, so arrangements should be made with Mr Michael Brown to view the memorial. A C-109 (A B24 Liberator being used as a tanker) crashed shortly after takeoff from nearby Snetterton, or Old Buckenham. There's a question about that. The plane narrowly missed the farmhouse, and the crew was killed. A woman living in the farmhouse at the time saw the plane flying directly toward her before the pilot swerved. Years later, a ring was found on the property, inscribed "Yours Ever, Jenny Lee." The ring was handed over to American visitors to be returned to the family. Hopefully, that is what happened.