1 January 2022

Dear Fellow USAAF enthusiasts

You will have seen that I have not been active on this site for some time. I will leave the blog alive for researchers, and I will respond to questions sent through the contact facility. But I will rarely, if ever, add any new content. There are many more, and better, resources out there now. I'm very happy to have been a part of the process. Thank you for your interest, and I hopefully pray for a happier, and healthier, New Year for you all. God Bless You.

I was contacted by a resident of North Lopham, telling me that the memorial stone is now completely legible. The photos he's sent show a very clean and well-kept space. Many thanks to the village for their respect and care for the memory of these young men. With Gary's permission, I share his photos here:

2nd Air Division Digital Archive

I can't believe I didn't post this immediately!

The 2nd Air Division Memorial Library launched their Digital Archive last month. I was able to attend the launch event, along with many other very interested parties. This is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in our subject. The collection consists of over 30,000 documents, including letters, photographs and memoirs. Enjoy!

2nd AD Digital Archive

490th Memorial at Eye

Eye Airfield Industrial Estate

52.33289, 1.13846
TM 13962 75168

Photos taken 29 May 2016

Two years in the planning, the new memorial for the 490th Bomb Group was dedicated on the 29th of May. A beautiful, sunny day, well supported. Well done, all!

Before the unveiling

The Memorial

The Ghost Crew with veteran pilot Si Spiegel

SS Peter & Paul, Griston Church Covenant

In St Peter & Paul Church, there hangs a Covenant, signed by Americans  who attended the church while stationed in the area. The signatures were transcribed several years ago, and I have taken that original typed list and tried to copy it below. It's hard to read--I know lots of these names are not correct. I'm going to arrange to get over later in the year to check them, and to transcribe the Covenant. The church is closed at the moment for restoration work.

William E McIvor
Aaron W Klein
Vincent M Lind (Ligre?)
William S Sagad (?)
Francis C Hunt
Earle W Griffith
Ray B Baer
Harry J Barnell
Raymond E Price
Kermit (?) C Swanson
Lloyd Wilder
Eugene J Fellencer (eer?)
Wilfred F Ratliff
Joseph A finan
Kenneth W Lewis
James S McKellar
Paul E Recktold
Raymond O Petree
Brambeth F Gillespie Jr
William C Sabb
Roy S Thomason
Randolph V Bates
Hasted (?) W Hall
Charles A Baughman
Harold Crush (Creach?)
George L Scroggs (Scaggs?)
Wilks H Palckala (?)
Walter E Cooper
Douglas W Hammer (?)
Grady E Davis
LaRue C Flegal (?)
John R Ragan
Edwin R Block
Alvin T Bergmann
Hector M McNall Jr (McNeill?)
Charles H Churchild
Walter S Koirsted
Wilber R Breinich
Eugene E Rush Jr
Adam Fillingor (?)
Bruce Lougeneaker
Roy C Kidney
David H King
Vinor John Hedden
Robert E Kidwell
Frederick R Hemmeter (?)
Wayne O Buckey
Lewis M Johnson
Buck M Mickelson
Phillip W Pennington
Herman S diBrandi
John C Curry
James E O’Marre (Mappe?)
Samuel Ransach
Charles R Goss
Raymond G Larkins (Jackins?)
Newell J Barscomb
Rupert (?) E Thornton Jr
Gary M Poole
Wesley A St John
John W SheelyGordon G Bentle
Warren J  Lessen (Larson?)
Charles J Spielor
John (?) Salter (?)
John E Mathews Jr
William C Jenkins
Pascoe G Rowe
Victor J Burger
Richard F Nordstrom (?)
John A Watt
Jack B Prather (Pruther?)
Eugene B Mills
Harlin E Bond
Fred R Bachmann
William H Norden (?)
Roy L Runyon (yar?)
Marvin C Ruyssell
Paul E Tunney
John W Gillaly
Harold J Hansen
John P Martin
John A Newman
H H Littlefield
Paul Schmidt
Clarence B Miller
William H Seiffert
Ralph L Averell (Austell?)
Dean W Davison
Duane H Dunning
Philip B DiDonato
Melvin T Ribblett
Ralph W Allen
J C Mink
William D Browne
Oliver R Halliman
Richard G Urdier (?)
John L Andrews
Robert L McVay
Kenneth C Kirk
Robert E Clodfelter (?)
Walter T Borran
James T Clark
William M Love (Cove?)
Byron L Spinks
Melvin H Sahs (?)

copied by CPH Wilson
Thetford

Copy transcribed by Laurie Atkins
7 August 2015

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.

Lavenham on VE Day

Loads happening over the VE Day weekend, but I learned that a new plaque was to be unveiled at the Control Tower on the Lavenham airfield, so I went along to that.