US Madingley and 355th Memorial Day Ceremonies -2022

[drgondog]

I escorted Bill (Tiger) Lyons to both the Madingley American Cemetary and Steeple Morden 355th FG Memorial ceremonies on Memorial Day. Suspected, but not confimed was that 98 yearr old 357FS/355FG pilot Bill had Covid and very weak on the 30th and 31st.

Colonel Kent Laughbaum and Mary were giants in the escort and travel arrangements - former Wing CO of 47th FW, 23rd FW and finally 355th FW.Picture by Laughbaum, Ken Wells, Lorinda Crow and me.

We stayed in Cambridge, one of my favorite UK places and did Not miss going to the Eagle Pub for fish n chips and English ale - as our air crew/pilot fathers did while serving during and after WWII. Still a major hagout for NATO, UK and US aircrews.

If you ever travel to Steeple Morden, Bassingbourn Royston, Debden area do NOT forget to eat and drink at Pig n Abbot in Abington Piggots to the west.

I suspect overoad on images so if a mod can reduce size, fine with me

 

[vikingBerserker]

How fricken cool is that!

 

[drgondog]

Forgot to note that St. Catherine's Church used to have a light at the top of the chapel steeple - which was NE of the NE runway and served as a blessed'outer marker for uncertain fighter pilots on final in nasty weather. In honor of Bill Lyons attendance (Jewish) the Churchrang the Church bells for the 4th or 5th time in history Drake/Spanish Armada, WWi and II are three, can't remember 4th (but doubt 1776 and 1812). Church dates to 13th Century.

 

[pbehn]

Forgot to note that St. Catherine's Church used to have a light at the top of the chapel steeple - which was NE of the NE runway and served as a blessed'outer marker for uncertain fighter pilots on final in nasty weather. In honor of Bill Lyons attendance (Jewish) the Churchrang the Church bells for the 4th or 5th time in history Drake/Spanish Armada, WWi and II are three, can't remember 4th (but doubt 1776 and 1812). Church dates to 13th Century.

That is an entirely fitting tribute to honour Bill and the men he represents. St Catherine's at Litlington are equally proud to have "done their bit" with the light on their tower to get the boys home and also their commemorative window for the 355th Fighter Group.

Quote
St. Catherine's Church tower was used as positioning focus for World War Two P47s and P51s landing at the nearby airfield home of the United States Army Air Force 355th Fighter Group.

In 1993 a stained glass window honoring the 355th—made in the USA—was installed in the Church. On May 16, 1993, the window was dedicated by The Bishop of Huntingdon The Right Reverend Gordon Roe.

St Catherine’s, Litlington

We look forward to welcoming customers to our regular Book Cafe - held on the first Saturday of each month, 10am-12noon. The parish church of St Catherine consists of a chancel with vestry, aisled and clerestoried nave with south porch and west tower. The earliest parts of the church...

shingaychurches.co.uk

 

[nuuumannn]

Yusss! Great post! The Eagle is the Must-Do in Cambridge. Had many a good bevvie there after going to an aviation event at DX...

 

[drgondog]

The Craftsman/artist that conceived and delivered the Chapel Stained Window is John Dobertin, who was a close friend of 357FS/355th Ace Bill Cullerton.

 

[drgondog]

Yusss! Great post! The Eagle is the Must-Do in Cambridge. Had many a good bevvie there after going to an aviation event at DX...

I was intrigued with the story of the barmaid's outline (shapely) traced on the ceiling as two pilots (IIRC) held her above thier heds while a third traced the outline. Would have been close to directly over my head when I took the picture of the walls and the bar in the back room.