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!

Book Recommendation

I've just started reading this. I borrowed it from the local library, but I'm going to have to buy it. A fascinating read for anyone who has an interest in what the Eight did over here.

Virtual Cemeteries

I'm still trying to find locations for a couple of memorials, so while I'm waiting, I've been looking up the gravesites of the boys who are mentioned on crash memorials in the area. Find a Grave is a valuable resource, and I have set up two virtual cemeteries: one for those buried in the American cemetery at Madingley, Cambridgeshire, and another for all of them.

Here they are:

American Cemetery at Madingley

USAAF

I've also put these links in the "links" section of the blog.

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.