Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Hi I spent a fascinating couple of hours at Thorpe Abbotts this morning. The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable and the exhibits are in good condition and well-displayed. The only original buildings are the Watch Office/Control Tower and the Engine Shed. I took many pictures, but will share just a few that may be of interest here. Memorial to General LeMay erected by the 100th Bomb Group Association, USA Varian Centre, named after Horace L. Varian, Group Adjutant and later Ground Executive Exhibits in the Sad Sack Shack - named after a based B-17 lost on a raid on Berlin in 1944. (B-17 #42-38016 / Seaton’s Sad Sack Delivered Cheyenne 14/11/43; Kearney 8/12/43; Presque Is 9/12/43; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-B] Thorpe Abbotts 16/12/43; Missing in Action Berlin 6/3/44 with Stan Seaton, Co-pilot: Bill Clayton, Navigator: Chas Dewolfe, Bombardier: George Ofiesh, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Peter Hogan, Radio Operator: Joe Judd, Ball turret gunner: Bob Cook, Waist gunner: Loydell Malone, Waist gunner: Art Le Breque (9 Prisoner of War);Tail gunner: Leming Hull (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Rech/Ahrweiler, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3024. SEATON’S SAD SACK.) Exhibits in the Engine Shed Control Tower and exhibits Items found on the former airfield Panoramic view across the former airfield from the balcony of the Control Tower Engine Shed and granite plaque Granite plaque rescued from the 351st Squadron living area when the buildings were demolished in the 1950s Thanks for looking. 16 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Looks like a nice museum visit. Thanks for sharing these. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thanks Latinbear. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the images. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 A great collection of evocative pictures. Thanks for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 What a nice collection. I would like to go there myself sometime. The full size figures all dressed up are quit moving.... make s you think of how they worked at height in drafty B-17s. (One of them looks quite cool with the tinted goggles... sort of reminds me of a TIE Fighter pilot....) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thanks gentlemen. I'm pleased that you enjoyed them. I can thoroughly recommend spending a few hours there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thanks for that chap. One of those places I have been past the end of and never gone in. That will change. Once again, thanks very much. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 23 minutes ago, PLC1966 said: Thanks for that chap. One of those places I have been past the end of and never gone in. That will change. Once again, thanks very much. Thanks for the kind words. Definitely worth a visit. I'm certainly planning on heading back to the region to visit a couple of other 8th Air Force museums before the end of the summer season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Hi I stopped by to pay my respects at a couple of USAAF memorials on the way home. 34th Bomb Group Memorial St Mary the Virgin, Mendlesham, Suffolk Station 150 Boxted Airfield Memorial in Langham, Essex Looking towards the former airfield site The memorial incorporates some salvaged runway lights from the airfield with a nod to all the units that occupied the site during and after the war 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Another great set of pictures AD from what is one of my favorite USAAF memorials in East Anglia. It is good that the 100th ARW at nearby Mildenhall maintain a link with their wartime heritage. I suspect though that the Bloody Hundredth will be renumbered if/when the Wing relocate to Ramstein due to their WWII history, but at least the memorial to their earlier incarnation will remain. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Hi Mark. Thanks for the kind words. I suspect that you're right and the "boxed D" will soon be disappearing from the tails of the '135s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 I will be at Thorpe Abbots again on Sep 22 with a Friends of the Eighth meeting in the afternoon. If you are in the area, feel free to come and join us. The word from the 'hood is that Mildenhall will be staying open, for a variety of reasons - partly due to the vast fuel storage capacity and the back up distribution tanks at Thetford, which also supply Marham, Lakenheath and Honington. Too many restrictions imposed by Germany. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 26 minutes ago, bentwaters81tfw said: I will be at Thorpe Abbots again on Sep 22 with a Friends of the Eighth meeting in the afternoon. If you are in the area, feel free to come and join us. The word from the 'hood is that Mildenhall will be staying open, for a variety of reasons - partly due to the vast fuel storage capacity and the back up distribution tanks at Thetford, which also supply Marham, Lakenheath and Honington. Too many restrictions imposed by Germany. Thanks for the invitation, Bentwaters but regrettably I will be away on business on the 22nd. I hope that Mildenhall stays open. I wonder how much will depend on "The Donald" and his relationship with Mrs Merkel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Lovely shots, what a wonderful place 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 Thanks F-32. If you're ever in the area, I can highly recommend this museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Melo Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Remember me the movie "Twelve O'Clock High" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 I haven't seen the movie. I might have to track it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Well worth watching. No news on the forthcoming HBO series on the 8th and the 'Bloody Hundreth' in particular. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 1 hour ago, bentwaters81tfw said: Well worth watching. No news on the forthcoming HBO series on the 8th and the 'Bloody Hundreth' in particular. Ooh, I'll be keeping my eyes open for that too! Thanks for the heads-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Melo Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 (edited) 13 hours ago, Alpha Delta 210 said: I haven't seen the movie. I might have to track it down. You will enjoy. The combat scenes are real. Edited October 7, 2018 by Leo Melo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Melo Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 By the way, from 1964 to 1967 a tv series was made with the same title and characters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now