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IWM Duxford and Cambridge American Cemetery August 2020


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Hi

 

I have wanted to visit the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial for a long time, so a mate and I decided to pay our respects today and combined it with a visit to IWM Duxford.

 

We were pleased to see that Duxford seemed relatively busy, with all visitors wearing face coverings whilst inside.

 

The only flying we saw was a Chipmunk doing some aerobatics and the Classic Wings fleet doing local flights.

 

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I really wanted to capture the beautiful shadow!

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The beautiful and moving Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial

 

The site covers 30.5 acres with 3812 graves, and three sets of brothers. There are 5127 names on the Walls of the Missing.

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Inside the Visitor Centre

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Two of the statues guarding the 427-foot long Walls of the Missing

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The memorial

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The chapel inside the memorial

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The battle map inside the memorial

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Looking across the cemetery towards the memorial

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Thanks for looking.

 

 

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I still can't fathom how I managed to live in Cambridge for a year and a half and never go there...

 

... wait I remember. I was 21 and had a disposable income for the first time. At least I was in the Eagle on a regular basis so that counts as some kind of nod to aviation history

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2 minutes ago, Alpha Delta 210 said:

I lived in Winchester for several and only visited the historic sites when relatives visited from the USA!

Same, I lived right in Durham for 3 years and then still relatively locally for another 16 or so before I finally got around to visiting the Cathedral. 

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31 minutes ago, Latinbear said:

A very nice set of images. I like the wide angle shots. The cemetery looks like a fascinating and respectful place to visit.

 

Thanks for the kind words, Latinbear. I'm very pleased to have finally paid my respects at Madingley. 

 

31 minutes ago, Parabat said:

Great pics, the black and white unknown grave marker is particularly poignant. 

Thanks Parabat. I always find graves without a name to be very moving. 

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A wonderful and evocative set of images and some nice angles on the aircraft at IWM. I remember visiting Madingley with my Dad not long after I moved to Cambs in the early 90s. The WWII American cemetery was somewhere he was keen to visit and we went there one Autumn day when it was misty and visitors few. We were both very moved by the experience, the beauty and cleanliness of the surroundings, and the sheer spectacle of all the crosses marking the fallen, so far from their homelands.  Quite unexpectedly a lone Spitfire flew over us while we were there, a sight and sound that lives with me to this day.  A truly lump in the throat moment for us both. Your pictures reflect the solemn majesty of this wonderful place.

 

Mark

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Thanks Mark. It sounds like you had a very moving experience with your dad at the cemetery. I'm so pleased to have visited, and wish that I hadn't left it so long.

 

Thanks Dave. I'm pleased that my pictures have made you look forward to your trip. I'm sure that you won't be disappointed. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/10/2020 at 8:43 PM, LostCosmonauts said:

I still can't fathom how I managed to live in Cambridge for a year and a half and never go there...

 

... wait I remember. I was 21 and had a disposable income for the first time. At least I was in the Eagle on a regular basis so that counts as some kind of nod to aviation history

I was worse I lived in Cambridge itself from 1963 - 2010 and now live 17 miles outside the city. I finally went to visit the cemetery when it was part of the university’s history festival in 2018 (the university owned the land and donated it to the ABMC) I’m rather glad I did as not only was the guided tour fascinating, but at the end our guide asked me and an acquaintance I hadn’t seen for some years to assist her with the lowering of the flag. It’s larger than it looks while it’s flying and we learnt the secrets to folding it properly. An incredibly moving experience I was honoured to be allowed to perform.

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