Cheers guys
Our final stop for the tour was at Boxted and we got there just as the light was beginning to fade...quite powerfull really as the trip wound down...so did the light ! . Boxted is about 4 miles north of Colchester and was home to quite a few units. We were aware of the 56th and the 354th fighter groups, but also this was home to the 386th Bombardment Group and Detachment B of the 65th fighter wing.
The 56th was also eventually known as Zemkes Wolfpack
The 354th was the first USAAF Fighter Group to get the P-51 B Mustang and was known as the 'Pioneer Mustang Group'
The memorial is on the remains of the old runway, southside of Park Lane, Langham.
56th Fighter Group in World War II
8th Air Force 56th FG
354thfightergroup
354th Fighter Group During World War II
Of note at the memorial was what at first glance appeared to be octagonal anti-landing blocks of some sort, however, getting the pics ready to post, Isee that there are runway light units at the base of the Memorial that look just like these block, so maybe they are old units placed upside down ?. Don't know but will have looksee and see what I can find out for you. I'll only add a few pics here, leaving Tony to finish off the rest
Well, would we do it again ?. Yes indeedy, and we will be either in '13 or more probably '14, and we'd like to hire a minibus and take a few of you around with us, that can make it.
We had 20 cheeky conversations that led to permission to explore further and take photo's, where normally, this wouldn't happen.
We had three museums opened up for us on non-opening days.
we met 100+ plus nice people and 1 odd dude with a Pheasant feather stuck behind his ear...he wasn't wearing a hat, just this bl**dy great big feather....kinda cool but deffo odd !
We came back with 5 brick's, an old hinge of some sort, and half an old USAAF Anglepoise lamp
We had 15 impromtu 'pit-stops' to look at things
We took far too many pics
We was knackered !
We was very happy
Its been a real hoot sharing some (Can't tell you all of the stuff
) of the highlights of the trip with you guys 'n' gals.
Roll on the next one of our 'Letsdropeverythingatthedropofahattourwithadaftnamethemeforitandwazzoffintothecountrysidewithcameras'