Thanks to all for the replies. The GRP idea sounds like a good one. As it happens I do know someone who does that line of work which I hadn’t thought of.

Location details if anyone is interested. But bear in mind that there is now a mound of earth next to the gates on the right and on the opposite side of the road. There will be signs to warn approaching traffic of an exit and a ‘Museum Open Entarnce here’ sign in red letters with a white background.

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.937783,0.921886&spn=0.009723,0.01929&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.937709,0.921706&panoid=d7aiAWhaLbcGQloEL5mHjA&cbp=12,115.06,,1,3.2

http://www.boxted-airfield.com/boxted-airfield-museum

Just a ‘heads up’ that the Boxted Airfield museum is now ‘up and running’ after the official opening last month which was an invited person event.

Although the museum is relatively small it is a signifcant one since a great many well known and famous pilots flew from here. I think in time it will grow. There has been a lot of support from various people and the local community. The ‘Suffolk Coastal Strutt’ in particular have been most supportive. This is a small flying club whose members have their own light aircraft. Since 2006 when the last Boxted Airfield Historical Groups’ ‘Fly In’ was held – a two day public event – they have been holding their own private ‘Fly In’s at the airfield. This has helped to keep the old place alive and a large section of grassed landing strip has been retained by the relatively new landowner so this can occurr each year.

The SCS will be having a private Fly In next month (16th July) – emphasis on ‘private,’ but the public will be able to view from the road should that be of any interest. Light aircraft basically just come in land, stay a while then fly off again. There will not be anything displaying.

This is the Boxted Airfield Historical Groups’s website: http://www.boxted-airfield.com/boxted-airfield-historical-group

The Marauder fuselage will be brought over to the museum on most opening days for viewing.

Local Colchester newspaper article about the opening day: http://www.essexcountystandard.co.uk/news/9068185.Airfield_museum___s_tribute_to_US_fliers/

Just also worth mentioning – the whole project could not have happened without the kind permission of the landowners of the area where the nissen huts have been erected. Without the generosity of Tricia and Robin Gooding there would not be any museum. A big THANK YOU to Robin and Tricia!

(Chris).

‘Aircraft’ March 2011 edition

A small article about this Marauder fuselage in the above magazine. Please note however that Boxted is 2 miles outside Colchester (our post code is CO4 5ND) – Sudbury mentioned in the article is about 30 mins and 20 miles drive away.

We have found some info on marauder from the US.
B-26 #41-35253 was assigned to the 454th Bomb Squadron, 323rd Bomb Group. It had several names, being called “Black Magic IV” and “Mr. Shorty” at various points of time. It’s Battle number (painted on the side of the fuselage was RJ-S. That aircraft took part in the 323rd’s last mission of the war to Erding Aerodrome April 25, 1945. It was in Box II low flight. It’s crew that mission consisted of:

Pilot…………………….. 1Lt. J.R. Gray

Co-pilot………………… 1Lt. E.J. Nieusma

Navigator/Bombardier. Tech. Sgt. S.C. Farr

Engineer/Gunner…….. Tech. Sgt. R.R. Bozych

Radio/Gunner………… Staff Sgt. P.J. Heneghan

Tail Gunner…………… Tech. Sgt. R. McGuffey

‘ Flypast November 2010,’ yes it was our marauder that was featured.

I just wondered who painted it and where did it end up after the museum closed – just out of curiosity.

It must have been an effort to have hung it up there indeed.

We’ve had a bit of interest from two Aviation magazines generated as a result of this thread so ‘watch this space’ as they say for more info at a later date of articles.