RAF Witchford Memorabillia Collection & Ely Cathedral

Thanks for sharing these with us, This Airfield is only about 20 miles away from me, yet I didn’t know the museum existed! One to visit in the summer.

Many thanks for posting . I have always wanted to see the Witchford museum . At least I am the first to acknowledge them as there is a lot of bad manners on this forum recently.

Thanks for posting!

I teach at Sutton, just over the fence from the remains of RAF Mepal, which is also well commemorated at the Witchford museum. It’s a good display, open during office hours mainly (but throughout the year I believe) as it’s in the foyer of the Grovemere office building, who run the Lancaster Way Industrial Park.
The excellent curator, whose name has escaped me, opens it some Sundays as well.

Photos of the windo at Ely on my website here;
http://www.airfields.fotopic.net/ely

I didn’t know about the museum there and will make a point of visiting it this year.

Thanks for the photos, they are very nice.

Hi Dragon Rapide,

The museum is situated in the Grovemere Properties building. The curator is Barry Aldridge. It is open weekdays 10 am till 16:30 pm and on Sundays same hours (May to September). I do not have any contact details so please check before visiting as information changes.

The Bristol Hercules in the picture came from a No 115 Squadron Lancaster LL667 KO-R shot down close to Witchford 18/19.4.44 by a German intruder.

There is a very nice stained glass window memorial to Nos 2, 3,8 & 100 Group Bomber Command in Ely Cathedral.

Just found this http://visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/html/tourpages.asp?title=Where+to+Visit+Result&hier=Where+to+Visit&field1=7

Slightly off thread, for Dragon Rapide,there is a good book on a Lancaster crew that flew from Mepal with 75 Squadron “Luck And A Lancaster” by Harry Yates,DFC,Airlife 1999. There is a site map of Mepal airfield at the back of the book,and a picture of the now demolished control tower.

Photos of the windo at Ely on my website here;
http://www.airfields.fotopic.net/ely

I didn’t know about the museum there and will make a point of visiting it this year.

Thanks for the photos, they are very nice.

And thank you for informing me about the Memorial in the Cathedral.

I haven’t seen that yet!

As for the Witchford Collection, it is certainly well worth visiting!

Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time as there is so much to enjoy!

I’ve been twice now and I spent over two hours in there each time, and I still want to go back to make sure I haven’t missed anything.

Many thanks vulcanlover for the Museum pics and the wonderful account of Sergeant Alkemade’s remarkable story… i shall definately be paying a visit son.

Going off topic but in the classic cars photo to the left of the white Rover P5B is a very rare Austin 3 litre, basically an oversize 1800 Landcrab with MGC GT 3 litre straight six.

For those unfamiliar with the story of Nicholas Alkemade.

Flight Sergeant Nicholas Stephen Alkemade (1923 – 1987) was a tail gunner for a Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster bomber during World War II who survived a fall of 18,000 feet (5500 m) without a parachute after his plane was shot down over Germany.

On March 24, 1944, 21 year old Alkemade was a member of No. 115 Squadron RAF and his Lancaster II “S for Sugar” was flying to the east of Schmallenberg, Germany on its return from a 300 bomber raid on Berlin, when it was attacked by a Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 night-fighter, caught fire and began to spiral out of control. Because his parachute was destroyed by the fire, Alkemade opted to jump from the aircraft without one, preferring his death to be quick, rather than being burnt to death. He fell 18,000 feet (5500 m) to the ground below. His fall was broken by pine trees and a soft snow cover on the ground. He was able to move his arms and legs and suffered only a sprained leg. The Lancaster crashed in flames and the pilot Jack Newman and three other members of the seven man crew did not survive and are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.

He was subsequently captured and interviewed by the Gestapo who were initially suspicious of his claim to have fallen without a parachute until the wreckage of the aircraft was examined. He was then a celebrated POW before being repatriated in May 1945. (Reportedly the orderly Germans were so impressed that Alkemade had bailed out without a parachute and lived that they gave him a certificate testifying to the fact.) He worked in the chemical industry after the war and died on June 22, 1987.

Many thanks vulcanlover for the Museum pics and the wonderful account of Sergeant Alkemade’s remarkable story… i shall definately be paying a visit son.

Going off topic but in the classic cars photo to the left of the white Rover P5B is a very rare Austin 3 litre, basically an oversize 1800 Landcrab with MGC GT 3 litre straight six.

That one’s a beauty isn’t it?

The person I asked for permission to take photos of the cars owns it.

It reminds me of the 1957 Plymouth Fury as made famous by the Stephen King film and book Christine.

For those thinking of going…

It’s in the reception of the Grovemere Holdings Ltd. Building on the Lancaster Way Business Park. To get there take the A142 towards Ely and turn off at the Lancaster Way Roundabout.

Thanks for posting!

I teach at Sutton, just over the fence from the remains of RAF Mepal, which is also well commemorated at the Witchford museum. It’s a good display, open during office hours mainly (but throughout the year I believe) as it’s in the foyer of the Grovemere office building, who run the Lancaster Way Industrial Park.
The excellent curator, whose name has escaped me, opens it some Sundays as well.

Is there much in the way of remains of RAF Mepal?

If it’s worth visiting then I’ll go and have a look.

Lancaster II Bristol Hercules!

The Bristol Hercules Engine from a Lancaster that crashed on it’s way back to RAF Witchford…

Great shots of the Bristol Hercules engine…..I had no idea that such a large piece of Lancaster II was on display anywhere! 😮

I must have missed this thread while I was away on holiday…..thanks for posting.