This would be a sad day if this happens !

The control tower at Rougham was one of the very first airfield of the Mighty Eighth I visited on my many trips to the Uk in the 80’s …after buying a copy of the Roger Freeman’s book. I love the pub at one end of the runway and hope it will not be effected by this . Growth of course is not always a bad thing , but at the expense of old historic airfields is not good either. I was last there in 2000 and there were already many small companies on the site of the former home of the 94th BG, got premission to walk down the road to the tower and it was being restored , dont they still have small aviation related events there from time to time? Would hope that some of the sites can be preserved for historical reason’s…like the control tower and some of the hard stands. It seem sad that twenty years from now that place will be a housing track and no one will know what range of human emotions took place there by young men fighting for freedom. Many of whom rest forever not far from there at American Cementery outside of Cambridge. I knew a 94th pilot for many years after the war, Cliff Hatcher of Atlanta, who flew “Virgins Delight” out of Rougham. He was most active in the 94th BG Association and I enjoyed his many stories about his days in the Eighth and his love of that area of England and its people. Sadly he has passed on but hearing his many stories about flying combat mission from Rougham, he will not be happy to see this lovely countryside become a housing complex! One can try and understand how he must have felt coming back safely to Rougham 30 plus time after combat over the Reich ! Sure hope the Control Tower can be saved if a road is indeed cut across the field. I can still remember the feeling I had when I first saw the home of the 94th BG in person & visited the control tower , felt like Major Harvey Stovall in the opening scenes of “Twelve O’Clock High”. Many young men gave their all from that airfield, guess that’s why its hard to see them be developed into housing estates! Keep us posted here on what happens and thanks for telling us about this ! God Bless the men of the BIG SQUARE A & The Mighty Eighth !!!

BlueNoser352!

The American Actor Tom Cruise has been taking lesson in part to get ready for his new film…where a Yank comes over and shoots down over 45 German planes in The Eagle Squardon …..now the truth can be told that he was the top scoring american of WWII …even over **** Bong ! That were ML-407 has been ! ( just kidding..put away the battle axes) !

Ron: Well got to fly for free as a television news photojournalist and the B-24 and B-17 years ago….wouldl love to do the Mustang deal, well worth the money I say. Got to see a Russian Antonov 124 today here at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport….a massive four engine Russian Cargo aircraft. Not a fighter or bomber, but neat to watch it lower its front end and take on cargo bound for Europe ! Twenty-five hundered for the Mustang deal ??????????? Well ….something to think about…but that a two week trip to Europe . Guess insurance and fuel is now causing the cost of the experience to go up !

BlueNoser352!

Consul…..outstanding photography and great air to air shots of that lovely P-51 in flight, love that BlueNose P-51 in action !

All Hail to the men from Bodney!
BlueNoser352!

Gen Ike & Two seater Mustang !

Locobuster, seems I read at one time that the 4th Fighter Group operated a two seater P-51 and this one took Gen Eisenhower over the Normandy Beaches for a look around after D-Day. Some where I have seen this photograph and perhaps others here can scan this Mustang….great photo’s you have of the 20th ..enjoy the emails between you and Martin in Switzerland.

BlueNoser352!