A big thank you must go out to Robert Dyball and all the organisers for a most excellent day on Saturday 18th June. The reunion of the 385thBG, Great Ashfield Airfield, Suffolk, England.
Around 25 veterans plus their families arrived at the airfield at 11am and were escorted in down what is left of the main EW runway by Fred Dunn in his 385th BG Jeep.
During the day the Veterans were taken around the old airfield in various wartime vehicles with one of the vets driving a jeep around the first time since WWII ! After lunch we were all treated to a great slide show and talk by Ian McLachlan who has a massive knowledge of the 385th and very interesting it was too.
We put on display a propeller blade from a 385thBG 550thBS B.17 42-30364, flown by 2nd Lt. Paul M. Yannello and his crew which crashed on 26th September 1943, excavated in 1977 the crash was caused by a mid-air collision on the let down from an aborted mission to the Rheims-Champaigne area. to read more on this CLICK HERE.
I would like to thank all the veterans I spoke to many of them and hearing the stories of the missions was fascinating and very emotional.
I will add a page to our museum website over the next couple of day with many pictures from the day.
Propeller From Yanellows B.17
Fred Dunn escorts the coach carrying the 385th vets
By: kev35 - 19th June 2005 at 22:16
What a superb and uplifting thread. It is fantastic to see so many veterans here. A wonderful tribute to their service and sacrifice.
Kind regards,
kev35
By: Colin Wingrave - 19th June 2005 at 20:56
Hyperlinks now added to pictures.
By: Colin Wingrave - 19th June 2005 at 18:56
Hi Bluenoser, if you want to send me your email address I can send you some larger shots I took about 50 or so
By: BlueNoser352 - 19th June 2005 at 17:15
Outstanding Photo’s Colin!
Colin:
Thanks for the link to the website you provided, looks like you guys had some good weather for that day. Noted that some of the runway or taxi ways are still there….looks like the opening scenes from my all time favorite film ” 12 O’Clock High” with Greg Peck ! I see some of the building are still standing, is there a museum there of some sort? Thanks for providing those great photo’s…..Long live the memory of the Mighty Eighth !!!!
A Salute from:
BlueNoser352!
By: Colin Wingrave - 19th June 2005 at 11:14
Just added page to museums website
I will ad links to larger pictures over the next few days and a 385thBG LINKS page.
Colin
By: BlueNoser352 - 19th June 2005 at 09:11
Colin thanks for those great photo’s !
Colin:
Thanks so much for you words here and thoughts on those men from the 385th BG returning to their former home during WWII. Love the photo’s and I hope you will scan more here ! Speaking as a long time associate member of The Mighty Eighth Historical Society I hold these men in high regard and I know they hold your nation and its people in very high regard as well. The men of The Mighty Eighth had a very special relationship with the people of the United Kingdom and did much to bring our two nations closer together! Hope the men of the 385th are having a great time in the UK and so glad that 25 are able to travel back to see their former home !
A Salute from:
BlueNoser352!
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June 19, 2005 at 8:10 am