Geedee and Rocketeer's 8th Army Air Force Tailwheel Tour 2012

Gnomey · Nov 12, 2012

Excellent shots guys!

Aaron Brooks Wolters · Nov 12, 2012

Looking forward to more of the photos of this place! Excellent job you two!

Rocketeer · Nov 12, 2012

Leiston was cool and another moving site. It is lovely how the owner of the site has kept its history alive. They have plans to expand the museum which is great. We went around the site to parts of old taxiway and runway. We found what we think was a fighter dispersal which was quite overgrown.

When my grandad was walking along the beach at Felixstowe in the mid 80s, he found a p51D canopy that had washed up from a wreck that was likely from a Leiston machine. I have the strengthener bar which had broken off.

Aaron Brooks Wolters · Nov 12, 2012

More good stuff Tony! Thank you!

Rocketeer · Nov 12, 2012

You're very welcome!

Crimea_River · Nov 12, 2012

Thanks for this next installment guys.

Airframes · Nov 13, 2012

Excellent. Looks like that second 'Maycrete' hut was in use until relatively recently.

Wayne Little · Nov 13, 2012

Fantastic stuff Fellas...

B-17 Buff · Nov 13, 2012

Geedee said:
Cheers dude, you should think about doing a seperate thread perhaps ?

Maybe I should (and a proper introduction!)

This continues to be a fantastic and entertaining 'virtual' tour with your commentary and anecdotes, truely fantastic effort. I had a girlfriend from Leiston once but never got to see the old airfield - I remember her telling me that her and her teenage friends used to drive around on the old runways in friends cars - before they had licences!

Geedee · Nov 13, 2012

Thanks for your comments guys, very much apreciated and there is still more to come, including some astonishing facts at one of the sites we visited that almost defies belief !

Here's some more from Leiceston.

I did like the fact that the Museum building is firmly anchored to the ground at each corner !!, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a seperate section for my friend Joe about his exploits at the airfield.

And I could have spent at least a weekend poking around in the undergrowth at the old peri-track and fighter pan !

Aaron Brooks Wolters · Nov 13, 2012

Is the P-51 still there or in your front yard Gary? Just kidding. More great material sir. I am going to be upset when this is over. Enjoying this immensely.

Geedee · Nov 14, 2012

Aaron Brooks Wolters said:
Is the P-51 still there or in your front yard Gary?

Nope, still there dude, one in the family is enough....WAIT...Aaaargh, I can't believe I just said that ?!!!!!

Gnomey · Nov 14, 2012

Good shots guys!

Rocketeer · Nov 20, 2012

Next after Leiston was Metfield, home of the 491st BG....

Geedee · Nov 21, 2012

Metfield as Tony has already mentioned was the home of the 491st Bomb Group. They flew the B-24 but as we were in the immediate vicinity, it seemed only right to drop by the Memorial and pay our respects.

Welcome
8th Air Force 491st BG
491st Bomb Group

I really liked the way the airfield runway layout was cut into the slabs in front of the Memorial itself. There was a surprising amount of peri-track still in use by the farming community and to drive onto it, upto an intersection and then get out of the car and look around at the wide open expanse and picture in your minds eye, the happenings of all those years ago....it gives you pause for thought.

I mentioned earlier that there was a surprise on its way at one of the sites we visited. Metfield has a surprise that in its history that some may find hard to grasp...

On July 15th 1944, a bomb detonated whilst being unloaded at the bomb dump...this caused a chain re-action and 1200 tons (yes, One Thousand Two Hundred tons !!!)...of explosives cooked off and rocked the countryside. Five B-24's were written off and five men lost their lives in the accident. I can only hope that they knew nothing about it when it all happened. I personaly find it hard to picture the scene as it would have unfolded, and I have a pretty vivid imagination !. How these kids left behind, went on about their daily business after this event almost defies description...they may have been kids, but in my eyes, they were Men !

Also at Metfield , the 353rd Fighter Group...

http://www.netherhall47.freeserve.co.uk/
http://www.8thafhs.org/fighter/353fg.htm
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/M/Metfield.htm

Airframes · Nov 21, 2012

Excellent stuff yet again Gary and Tony.
I know exactly what you mean about the atmosphere and feelings when standing on the wide open, often windswept, areas of these old airfields. It's difficult to explain, unless experienced, and for our American friends, who perhaps have not had the chance to benefit (?!!) the experience of witnessing all four seasons in a day on aWW2 British airfield, where history was made, well, if you ever get the chance - do it!

Crimea_River · Nov 21, 2012

Great stuff guys. Poignant pictures and words.

Rocketeer · Nov 26, 2012

We then dashed off to Bungay, which was the home of B24s. Not much of the airfield remains. But there is the awesome Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. This is next to a lovely pub which is ideal for some nice food washed down by English ale!
I have added a pic of a B24 in Bungay colours that lives at Pima AM in Arizona.
The Museum has a stunning collection of 8th AF relics and items which will firmly bring out the human side of the war.

Airframes · Nov 26, 2012

Good stuff Gary, and another museum I must visit !

Crimea_River · Nov 26, 2012

Nice ones Tony.

Geedee and Rocketeer's 8th Army Air Force Tailwheel Tour 2012

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