Came across this rather interesting site on airfield defenses on the base at Bodney, part of the airfield security , of all the bases I have been to in the UK ( I should say all the former Eighth bases I have been to) I have never seen pillboxes or bunkers around the base like these! I noted the title…anti-invasion defenses . Guess they were built in case Operation Sea Lion became a reality!
http://pillboxesuk.4t.com/norfolk/bodney.html
BlueNoser352!
By: BlueNoser352 - 22nd May 2005 at 22:54
Thanks for the update guys!
Thanks men for the updates and additional info on security for bases of the Eighth. Guess I never saw any complexes likes these, of course been to Bodney on numerous occasions and saw these in person. I knew from reading the groups history that each USAAF 8th & 9th bases had security bunkers at each of their bases. Alan125, thanks and I noted your fathers relationship to Y-29 , where the 352nd moved to during the winter of 44/45 to support 9th P-47 Thunderbolts during the Battle of The Bulge campagin! Yes, the loss of Maj Preddy and its circumstances haunts many of the veterans of the 352nd to this day. If you look back a few pages on this forum, I posted numerous photo’s of Maj Preddy and his last two Mustangs on the forum…enjoy and thanks again !
A salute from:
BlueNoser352!
By: mustang500 - 22nd May 2005 at 20:41
similar to goxhills it had 3 pill boxes in hedge rows 2 north 1 south and the americans added a raised box to the battle head quaters on SW of the airfield they are still all there today and i think the BHQ was drained of water and restored and you can go into the one at NW near memorial though the anderson shelter part is flooded will try to dig out pics
thanks
By: allan125 - 22nd May 2005 at 20:12
Bodney / Asch
Hi BlueNoser352
Nice photos – pity it isn’t a bit more accurate “Major George Preddy the 8th USAAF top scoring P-51 ace (27 victories) was based here until his death 25/12/44. In December 1944 the Group left for Asche in France and later moved to Chievres in Belgium, arriving back at Bodney on 13th April 1945.”
I always believed that George Preddy was already operating from Y.29 when he was shot down on Christmas Day, in a “friendly fire” incident, having arrived there on 23 December.
Y.29 Asch is just south of Y.32 Ophoven, and they are both in Belgium. Dad has a personal involvement with Y.32 and was linked to Y.29 Asch by telephone to maintain USAAF and RAF liaison in January 1945.
cheers
Allan
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May 22, 2005 at 6:17 pm