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- #121
Geedee and Rocketeer's 8th Army Air Force Tailwheel Tour 2012
- Thread starter Geedee
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B-17 Buff
Recruit
Finally, a place I know very well that has particular importance to me - great shots as always. 
T Bolt
Colonel
Very emotional reading that door. Brings all those old black and white nose art photos to life.
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Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Thank you Gary and Tony.
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- #125
Cheers dude, you should think about doing a seperate thread perhaps
?Thats it certainly does Glenn
Aaron, no worries mate, it was a real blast and its great being able to share with you guys
After leaving the Tower, we made a fairly shortish trip to Duxford for the Autumn Air Display. We've decided that we'd only post a few pics of the 51's and 17' instead of filling the page with general air show shots. Duxford is probably no longer a stranger to you guys so wont post too much at this time
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Great shots Gary!
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
More excellent material and photos, keep'em coming!
More excellent material and photos, keep'em coming!
Agreed!
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- #131
When we'd managed to drag ourselves away from Duxford, it was mad dash to Framlingham.
Framlingham was the home of two Bomber Groups, the 390th and the 95th and is about 3 miles SE of the town.
There is a museum in the origional Watch Tower, but unfortunately, when we got there, it was getting late, it was absoulutely 'chucking it down' and the Museum was also closed, so there are no pics from inside.
(This is not a problem as we will be making a return trip to catch up on this site...we also missed out on the following places by spending too long at duxford...
Bodney, home of the 352nd fighter group...Control tower and a few buildings remain, used by the Army, Memorial stone by Camp Entrance
Deopham Green, home of the 452nd Bomb Group...lots of runway and a Memorial by one of the taxi ways.)
Also at this Museum is a section on the British Resistance Organisation 1940 - 1944.
The 390th Bomb Group Home Page
The 390th Bomb Group
The 390th Bomb Group History Page
The 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation
95th Bomb Group
We did drive by a large hangar on the run in to the tower and there appeared to be some taxiway still in use, but I'm afraid I didn't get any pics of these.
Framlingham was the home of two Bomber Groups, the 390th and the 95th and is about 3 miles SE of the town.
There is a museum in the origional Watch Tower, but unfortunately, when we got there, it was getting late, it was absoulutely 'chucking it down' and the Museum was also closed, so there are no pics from inside.
(This is not a problem as we will be making a return trip to catch up on this site...we also missed out on the following places by spending too long at duxford...
Bodney, home of the 352nd fighter group...Control tower and a few buildings remain, used by the Army, Memorial stone by Camp Entrance
Deopham Green, home of the 452nd Bomb Group...lots of runway and a Memorial by one of the taxi ways.)
Also at this Museum is a section on the British Resistance Organisation 1940 - 1944.
The 390th Bomb Group Home Page
The 390th Bomb Group
The 390th Bomb Group History Page
The 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation
95th Bomb Group
We did drive by a large hangar on the run in to the tower and there appeared to be some taxiway still in use, but I'm afraid I didn't get any pics of these.
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Airframes
Benevolens Magister
More good stuff - keep it coming guys.
Framlingham is not far from my parents and holds many memories for me. Just after it opened (as a museum), my Grandad took me there; We heard a piston engine, ran out side to see a Pilatus P2 beating up the airfield 'on the deck'. It was being flown by John Watts who was a superb display pilot. He was one of the power houses behind bringing a Catalina to the UK in the 1980s. Sadly he was killed in a Tornado collision. These are two of my aviation heroes, both long gone...but not in my memories and my heart for my Grandad.
As GD says, very wet....took a few photos.
As GD says, very wet....took a few photos.
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Crimea_River
Marshal
I have regretfully neglected following this thread but spent the last two hours reading back from page 1 on this Remembrance Day. Gary, Tony, you guys have done a fantastic job of chronicling this trip and making us feel part of it. Thanks so much.
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Thank you Gary and Tony. More good material guys.
fubar57
General
Fantastic tour Gary and Tony.
Geo
Geo
- Thread starter
- #139
As Tony says, a great tour but a hint of sadness at the losses recorded.
And now onto the last day of the tour (Monday) and we jumped in the 'mail cart' and headed off in an 'over there' sort of direction to Leiston. Leiston was the home turf to the 357th Fighter Group (51's) and the 358th Fighter Group (47's) and a great memorial...errrr, two actually !... can be found on what is now a caravan site.
The 357th became know as the 'Yoxford Boys'. the story of how this happened is in one of the links
As we arrived at the site, we had a chat with a guy working (who turned out to be the site owner and a great bloke indeed) and he told us about a seperate memorial building farther down on the site itself and he then volunteered to go down and open it up for to have a look. Top bloke !!.
At the site entrance you are met by two things...a large metal pilot and a large scale '51. The pilot character was a rather jovial looking guy who had a lot of thought put into his construction (we met his brother at a location later on in the day !). Why is he holding a cup ?...simples really, the caravn site is called the Cakes and Ale. A little farther down the main road is a second memorial and we also found some peri-track.
The friends of Leiston Airfield, FOLA, UK airbase, 358th Fighter Group, 357th Fighter Group
357th Fighter Group
The 357th Fighter Group
8th Air Force Fighter Group - Littlefriends.co.uk
358th Fighter Group
8th Air Force 358FG
We have quite a few pics form this site so there is more to come. I'm also hoping to take my '51 there next year for their Memorial day...would be neat as I am friends (On FB) with one of the guys who flew here and he sometimes makes it over the Pond to come and pay his respects. Would love to be able to get him in my '51 !
And now onto the last day of the tour (Monday) and we jumped in the 'mail cart' and headed off in an 'over there' sort of direction to Leiston. Leiston was the home turf to the 357th Fighter Group (51's) and the 358th Fighter Group (47's) and a great memorial...errrr, two actually !... can be found on what is now a caravan site.
The 357th became know as the 'Yoxford Boys'. the story of how this happened is in one of the links
As we arrived at the site, we had a chat with a guy working (who turned out to be the site owner and a great bloke indeed) and he told us about a seperate memorial building farther down on the site itself and he then volunteered to go down and open it up for to have a look. Top bloke !!.
At the site entrance you are met by two things...a large metal pilot and a large scale '51. The pilot character was a rather jovial looking guy who had a lot of thought put into his construction (we met his brother at a location later on in the day !). Why is he holding a cup ?...simples really, the caravn site is called the Cakes and Ale. A little farther down the main road is a second memorial and we also found some peri-track.
The friends of Leiston Airfield, FOLA, UK airbase, 358th Fighter Group, 357th Fighter Group
357th Fighter Group
The 357th Fighter Group
8th Air Force Fighter Group - Littlefriends.co.uk
358th Fighter Group
8th Air Force 358FG
We have quite a few pics form this site so there is more to come. I'm also hoping to take my '51 there next year for their Memorial day...would be neat as I am friends (On FB) with one of the guys who flew here and he sometimes makes it over the Pond to come and pay his respects. Would love to be able to get him in my '51 !
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Airframes
Benevolens Magister
More good stuff guys. You really should think of putting all this together, along with maps, airfield plans and so on, into some sort of publication. Great work, and looking forward to more.
