Very late reply REMF but it was 186 Squadron From Stradishall. A group of us are raising funds for a sculpture to commemorate the airmen from the five air crashes in our parish.

Ken thank you for making contact and for providing the information on Sgt Hayman . I look forward to further correspondence. You are the first family member to make contact with us, hopefully there will be many more . Regards Kevin.

Thanks Jeff you have been very helpful. What sort of level is Cat 3 . Any idea where I might find the accident report. American air museum?

Fresh news regarding the search for information on the US fighter that came down in Kedington. Today I went to meet an elderly couple who still live in the village and by chance the lady turned out to have witnessed the event. She was on her way home from a Sunday church service at around 12.15 pm and watched a single fighter coming in low over the village coming from Hundon- Stoke by clare direction , headed toward Haverhill , probably travelling along the line of the road now called Kings hill , It dipped suddenly somewhere near the top of the hill , so low that she felt it might have bounced off the road and then rose again to clear the brow of the hill only to crash on the other side . So the collision theory is probably out of the window. She also felt that it was late war or even just after the end of the war. I also met another elderly man in the village about three weeks ago to ask him what he remembered and he described the fighter as having a large radial engine on the front. It now seems likely that we are looking for a late or post hostilities Thunderbolt loss and probably a casualty as each witness talks of fire and at least two people have recalled ammunition going off.
I would be so grateful if anyone can narrow this down as the police record research seems daunting as there is no index and they are kept in a regional file. Best Regards Kevin

Update on the Kedington Suffolk air memorial which will honour the mainly Bomber command men who lost their lives in the parish. I am making a presentation to a meeting of the Community association, Local Legion, and the Parish council on 13th Feb. The good news is that we already have the go ahead as all parties are keen to make it happen. We intend to have an alloy casting of an angel in the new foyer of the community centre. I am still hitting a brick wall with regard to the fighter or fighters that came down behind Ruses farm in Kedington. My further meetings with elderly resident’s have not been much help but I think I am now looking for one aircraft probably US air force and either a Mustang, Thunderbolt,Lightening, or even a Spitfire! I am hoping for a little gem of evidence before the 13th. Kevin

Thank you both. I met Johan on Wednesday and he thinks that the item was on display and not in Storage. I made sure it was OK with him to appeal for info. It was good to see him again and catch up on what your group is doing. Lets hope it turns up. Best regards Kevin

Once again thank you all for donating. The Tufnol has been delivered and the drawings for the wheels are now with Cambridge precision. Regards Kevin.

Thank you Ken that is very kind of you. we should be ok on the wheels now. The casting pattern (second from last picture) went to the foundry this Wednesday so any left over will go to the cost of having that rear pulley block made. it should be done next week I will post a picture. Regards Kevin