Newsletter - Seething Control Tower Museum

 Station 146
Tower Association
Newsletter
Seething Airfield, Norfolk
E-ISSUE
76
March
2014
They came as
friends
They left as
friends
They stayed
friends
This is the newsle er of Sta on 146 Tower Associa on, remembering the sacrifices made by members of the 448th Bomb Group who were based at Seething Airfield.
Chairman’s Chatter.
Hello again everybody, it’s that me again. I hope you are all well and ge ng over the Winter with it being said over here in the UK being the we est on record. However we are all looking forward to our Summer season and I am reliably informed that on our first Open Day on Sunday May 4th, weather per‐
mi ng, there will be a fly‐in and hopefully there will be some warbirds included. Later in May there should be some American visitors from the Heritage League coming over to Norwich for their 2014 Conven on. We hope they will find me to come and visit the Tower, they will be very welcome.
Our Tower membership has fluctuated with losses and gains , being reasonably stable and I would like to congratulate one gentleman member by the name of Leo Conner who is approaching his 99th birthday, and I hope Leo that you con nue with your good health and well being into the future. Again as you all realise we do welcome member‐
ship and if any of you out there have friends and rela ves who would be interested in joining us please direct them to our membership secretary Jim Turner whose details are in the newsle er. Jim’s details are also on our website www.seethingtower.org To return to our open days please note (and I men oned this in the previous newsle er) the annual charity air day takes place on Sunday Sep‐
tember 7th which coincides with our normal Tower Open Day. This is a pay on the day event for all but as usual the Tower will be open with the usual free admission. The air show is in the process of being arranged and two definite bookings are the Breitling Wingwalkers and Mark Jeffries the Bri sh Aero‐
ba c Champion. There will be the usual mix of a rac ons on the ground comprising visi ng stalls, museums, mili‐
tary and classic vehicles and renactors. Music again will be provided by the excellent 18 piece swing band with hopefully this me some danc‐
ers. We can only hope for some good weather on the day and indeed for all our Open Days this year as this is testament to all the hard work and effort put in beforehand to make it all happen. Station 146
Pat’s Piece
Chairman’s Cha er, Cont...
I have recently heard some news that the old Headquarters building on the Airfield has recently had some renova on work done, and has had a dy up. Over the last year the owners have cleared the area around the building and I hear that it is ge ng a new life, and let as a Garage. It will be used for the repair of motor vehi‐
cles and will be opening shortly for business, more later. I would like to wish you all a great summer and hope to see as many of you as possible on our Open Days. Tony. Well Christmas and New Year are over once again, Ron & I wish to thank all of you who made contact by cards, le ers or the internet; it is so special to hear from you and get news of you and your families. Since the last newsle er we have had Remembrance Sunday on the 10th November, in the morning we had our service in the village church, and Nancy Turner presented the wreath for the 448th Bombardment Group (H) at the memorial stone in the Village Churchyard, we all then walked down the road to our vil‐
lage memorial stone it is for those lost from Seething village during WW1 and WWII, also those from Mundham village in WWII. Here I laid the wreath and Major Le Coq read out the names of those who lost their lives among them my uncle William in WW1. Then a er a brief lunch Ron and I le for the airfield to open up the Control Tower and prepare for the Remembrance Parade of the 221 Squadron (GT Yarmouth) Air Cadets at the Tower Memorial Stone at 1400 hrs. Tony and Rachael Jeckells, Kate and Geoff Jenkinson and Dot Kent came to join us and also members of Wingtask, Seething Airfield. Those present from the 221 ATC were Flight Lt Tracie Cameron, Flying Officer Tim Shand, Adult Sgt Leah Cameron, Cadets were; Flight Sgt Sophie Cameron, Cpl Aaron Olley, Cadets Cameron Kerrison, Jasmine McGregor, and Sebas an Southgate. Cpl Aaron Olley laid the wreath, Cadets Jasmine McGregor and Cam‐
eron Kerrison read two poems, also present Carl Cameron who is the chairman of the Squadron’s Civilian Commi ee A er the ceremony everyone come into the Tower for a welcome hot drink and biscuits. Flight Lt Tracie Cameron thought it would be good to read out the WWII poem again as it was difficult to hear outside due to the noise of wind Tracie had seen this on the internet and though it would be appropriate for today. I was in the Tower kitch‐
en and couldn’t believe it when I heard her start to read the po‐
em, so went thru as she finished speaking and I men oned that it was by a 448th airman who had been shot down, his name was Allen Johnson a gunner in the 715th Sqdn. Tracie had no idea it was a 448th man; she had seen it on the inter‐
net and thought it would be suitable for such an occasion. Tony Jeckells (Chairman) Seething Tower Associa on. 18, Park Close, Thurton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 6AU, UK. Tel: 011 44(0)1508 480635 tony.jeckells@ scali.co.uk 2 ALLEN M JOHNSON. CREW 75, 715TH SQUADRON. Allen was 20 years old when he arrived at Seething Base as the engineer/top turret gunner of crew 75 his Pilot was Jack L Mercer, they were shot down on their 16th mission on June 21st 1944 their target was Berlin, Allen was injured and he bailed out. He was a acked a er he landed near Berlin but was rescued by some Military Flak gunners, he was then taken to a hospital in Berlin with the Co‐pilot who had been shot in his throat and later died of an infec on due to lack of drugs. Allen was moved around to other hospitals and he was then sent to Stalag 4 but a er a few days they were all moved ahead of the Russians and finally ended up in Stalag The photograph on the right was taken when he arrived at Stalag 1 he had been a POW for about 7 months. Of his crew 5 men died and 5 survived those KIA were the two waist gunners, tail gunner and ball turret gunner and the Co‐pilot. The Pilot, Bombardier, Navigator, and Radio Operator all became POW.s. Allen wrote “My Buddies” in memory of his crew and many other poems while a POW. 2 My Buddies They say he died in glory Whatever that may be If dying in a burst of flame is glory Then glory is not for me. In the briefing room that morning He sat with clear eyes and strong heart Just one of the many gunners Determined to do his part. My buddy had the guts alright He sought not glory nor fame He knew he had a job to do And his crew all felt the same. But death had the final word And in its log, it wrote his name For my Buddy died that morning, In glory, in a burst of flame. Also in November via the Tower website a request came in for informa on on Summer W Stevens of the 448th BG who was KIA on 22nd December 1943 the first mission flown by the 448th. This request came from Kevin Macomber of Massachuse s Fallen Soldiers, their ul mate goal was to find a family member and do a story on him. The Pilot of his crew was 2ND Lt Edward D Hughey Jr, I contacted Mr Roy Thomas in US who was such a great help finding family members of those 448thmen KIA at Kessingland 22/4/44. Roy found out that Summer was born in 1922 and was a resident of Maine most of his life but enlisted in 1942 in Massachuse s, he le messages with members of the family. Another November request was from Jim Pla he was helping a friend whose father was Sgt Michael Hill and they believed he had flown 31 missions and been involved with a terrible accident. He also requested photos of all sides of Control Tower as he wanted to do a diorama of it with a Nissen building and runway with a B24 si ng on it, also he asked were the 448th a/c drab or silver. The pilot of Sgt Hill was 2nd Lt Carl Holt they arrived at Sta on 146 Seething, on 15th July 1944 and they flew over 30 missions; the last one was on Feb 14th 1945. The accident they men oned was on January 2nd 1945, at 1310 hours a war weary B24 42‐100322 “Come Along Boys” was taking off from Seething to BAD2, Warton, Lancashire to pick up a new a/c to take back to base, a total of 19 men were on board, some to pick up a new B24 for the 448th BG, others going on a pass plus members of the ground crew there to help with the new B24. An extract from a report states: “A low bank of clouds was encountered at flight al tude, Lt Holt, climbed above a deck of clouds and broke out at 3500 the navigator gave an ETO of 1440hrs however the pilot saw a break in the clouds, le ng down to approximately 1000 at 14‐30. The navigator was having trouble with the Gee Box but finally got a fix and told the pilot to trace a new heading to the des na on. (A er the accident it has been determined that the fix was in error ap‐
proximately twenty miles which placed them in hilly country rather than in a valley as presumed) The clouds forced them lower un l just at tree top level they went into a cloud whereupon the pilot pulled up, going on instrument’s and crashed into a hill top. RESPONSIBILITY. 100% personal error. 50% pilot error and 50% navigator’s error. RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTION TO PREVENT REPITITION. Ac on being taken to familiarize crews with all radio and naviga onal aids in the UK. Pilots Statem
ent (Extract)
: At 1445
side and we struck the mou
started to crash landed. The ntain
ship
deck and burn under the
fl
returned after clearing the shight
and with
Carey, pull
the help ofip I
ed
Lt
T
/
S
gt Loutha
of the top
n
pinned. I turret in which h clear
rear of thethen went around e was
to
mour in ship and found Lt the
control ca the waist caught b Seyb
around hisles which were wray the
pped
legs. After
managed
freeing him
to
ge
,
t
h
im
ship, wh
clear of
rapidly. ich was now bu the
rning
Carl H. Holt, 1 st
Lt., AC. David Earle has a book called “HELL ON HIGH GROUND” which has an account of the crash pages 76‐78. David Stansfield wrote up the crash in an ar cle called MILK RUN THAT TURNED SOUR: “Without warning the visibility dropped to zero. He hauled back on the s ck, a emp ng to climb away; at that instant the aircra hit Burn Fell. As the nose had been pulled up in order to climb over the hill the aircra hit belly first and began bouncing and tumbling up the hillside. Something caused the aircra to slew around it then backed into a very solid, five feet high boundary wall on top of the fell. The lucky were thrown clear, the unlucky ones, the few that were killed, were all in the rear of the aircra .” 3 Station 146
Pat’s Piece cont...
14 men had minor injuries, Sgt Mack S Thomas major injuries, and T/Sgt Philip Mazzaga , S/Sgt Edgar E Lyons, 2nd Lt Orvie O Casto, and 1st Lt James E Fields were all killed. Edgar Lyons was the ground crew chief and had a young child and wife back home; he is buried in Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Plot F, Row 6, and Grave 140. On 4th December the sons of 2nd Lt John E. Hurley made contact and wanted to find out the names of aircra flown by their father Lt Hurley, who arrived at Sta on 146 Seething on 25th May 1944 as the Co/Pilot for Pilot Peter D. MacVean crew, 714th Squadron, the first mission known to have been flown by the crew is on June 2nd Lt Hurley completed 12 missions before being shot down on June 27th 1944 aboard B24 42‐ 50344 RED SOX on a mis‐
sion to Creil Airfield, France, they were hit by flak in the nose between #1 and #2 engines, they headed for the coast, but crew bailed out and the B24 exploded in mid‐
air and crashed The Bombardier 2nd Lt Lawrence E. Carney bailed out pre‐
sumed killed by ground fire on descent. Tail gunner Sgt Robert W Slack bailed out but his chute caught on tail of aircra , and he was found completely burned. 4 others P.D. MacVean crew. (see above) including Lt Hurley evaded capture and another 4 became Standing L to R. Larry Carney, KIA, John Hurley, RTD, Peter POW’s. Those that evaded capture were back in England MacVean, RTD, John Savich, POW; before 19/8/44. Si ng L to R. Charles Messerli, POW, Leo Williams, RTD Harry Pace, RTD Bob Slack, KIA, Marshall Adamson, POW, Names known of B24s flown on Lt Hurley’s missions are Jack Ruelle, POW. “BIM BAM BOLA‐ MY BUDDIE – NO NOTHING – RED SOX – BETSY JAY or Sunshine. Also on December 4th a web message from David Howe. My Mum Min Whitehead as the Secretary of WFG was kept busy liaising with Leroy Engdahl in America but sadly she was taken ill and died in August 1985 before the task was completed. (Restora on of Control Tower) Although he was devastated by his loss, Ralph my Step Dad came back a er a short break and resolved to carry out Min’s wishes culmi‐
na ng in an honour roll which now hangs on the wall upstairs. I have just found a photo book with photos taken on the dedica on day if you would like it please let me know. I thanked David and said we would love to have it and he also sent other photos of both of them via the internet. On December 9th a message came via the internet asking about a B17 that had made an emergency landing at Seeth‐
ing on March 6, 1944. “The bomber was badly damaged and en‐route to Thurliegh, Sta on 111, AAF, returning from Berlin. The plane had half her crew (four had bailed out over Holland) and one KIA on board. Thurleigh sent a plane for remaining crew. Since I live in the USA and can’t visit I was wondering if you held a tower log or if in my wildest dreams a photo or story was done on this event, I’m sure this did not happen every day. If not maybe you can send me in a direc on for possible informa on” I replied sending the extract from the Control Tower log and asked if he could send serial number and markings in case someone had taken a snap of it. The reply came back straight away “The plane was a B17, A/C no. 42‐31025. Tail marking would be a large triangle with an “H” inside the triangle, for 306th BG. Albert A. Adams was the pilot T/Sgt Keene who was KIA was my great uncle.” 4 4 On the right is the Control Log entry but sadly so far I have been unable to locate a photo or story. 23rd December. Evan Thomas a young man involved in research over here forwarded a request for info re bomb‐
ing raids inside Germany on Christmas Eve 1944 and in par cular the raid on Euskirchen Rail Yards. Also wanted the name of the plane flown by Barneycastle that was shot down on the Christmas Eve raid, and would like nose art of that B24 and the one flown by Camburn crew. And also what was the loss for the 8th USAAF B24’s that day. I sent them the story that John Birkhead had told me, he was on that mission as a replacement gunner with the Bar‐
neycastle crew. John Birkhead came over with Pilot Bernard Hanson’s crew as the tail gun‐
ner and was assigned to the 714th Squadron on July 26th 1944.He flew 27 missions with his crew having many close calls and damage to his B24’s. The crew consisted of Back row L to R. Cur s C Droullard, Radio Op, Earl Aldrich Co Pilot, Bernard Hanson, Pilot, William Richardson, Navigator, Ken Raridon Jr, Engineer/gunner. Kneeling L to R.*Linn Garrison, Jake Womack. Lee R Cosby, *John Birkhead. They flew their first mission on August 8th 1944 to France, but on December 24th on what was his 28th mission, he flew as a replacement gunner with Pilot L.C. Barneycastle and his crew also with him from the Hanson crew was Linn Garri‐
son, they flew as gunners. The mission was to Euskirchen, Germany, they a acked the target but coming out they were hit by flak, John felt a big jolt as the shell hit them and just had me to put on his chest parachute when the plane caught fire and blew up. Only 3 men survived John Birkhead, Linn Garrison, from Hanson crew and Rathan Newcomb the only survivor from Barneycastle crew. Those who were KIA were. Pilot L.C.Barneycastle, C/P Edward Hanson, Bombardier Bernard Fer‐
rari, Engineer George Patrick, R/Op. James Lunt, Gunners, Russell, Alvis, Roland Grubb. A er John landed and was star ng to collect his parachute he found he was surrounded by troops with rifles, the next day he joined other Allied prisoners who had to walk miles each day with not much food or water, one day some Hitler Youths met up with them and led them into the woods and the thought crossed their minds that they could be going to be shot, but what the youths wanted was the things the prisoners were wearing, John s ll had on his flying boots, but a er being threatened with a rifle to his gut he gave them up, one of the members of Hitler Youth, gave him a pair of overshoes, but these were not much use as they marched through snow. On the marches the Germans some mes made them sleep in cramped ca le cars parked at railway sta on that were a prime target for the Allied aircra . His foot developed sores and infec on set in, it took months of treatment a er his return to America before John could walk and s ll in 2010 it hurts every day. John and his wife Thelma have a ended some of the 448th Reunions in America that B24J 42‐50799 a er being hit by Flak,
were near enough for him to drive too, he does not like being in a crowded place, a 24/12/44
le over from his POW days. 5 Station 146
Pat’s Piece cont...
Right: John before his last flight and his days as a POW he lost 65lbs in weight during those dreadful mes. Far right: This photo was taken at the 448th Reunion in Washington D.C. when the group paid a visit to the New Memorial. I sent them this story and the mission report of 24th Decem‐
ber and the name of the B24 flown by the Barneycastle crew which was PATRICK DEMPSEY or LADY LORA. On 26th of December from someone in France, a message asks about B24J 42‐100430 lost on March 5th 1944, and says “Two American airmen were rescued by my parents I have some documents but would like a photo of this aircra where you can see the nose, I could send you the scans of these two airmen” a ached is a copy of the MARC. I have not had a reply from my e‐mails. B24J 42‐100430 an OD Aircra it had only flown 2 missions with the 448th one was on 2/3/44 and the next one it’s last on 5/3/44, so no name or photos. (Late news, have now photos of two 448th men and their rescuer, will be in the next newsle er) THE TARGET WAS Mont‐de Marsan France 29 aircra took off at 0730‐0759. They ran into problems with cloud condi ons, difference in wind at various eleva ons contributed to the constant over running of the 93rd by the 448th, Intense flak at target and targets of opportunity caused more problems, and they became approx. 5 miles behind CBW and reduced speed to allow two A/C damaged by flak to keep up thus widening the distance between the 448th and CBW. Enemy fighters a acked and shot down 42‐100430 previously damaged by flak, and 42‐100414. Friendly cover arrived and remained un l the French coast was reached. The English coast was crossed at Beachy Head at 1533 hours. Pilot William Ross was aboard 42‐100430. He evaded capture and returned before end of June 1944, also CP Ber‐
nard Reed, Bombardier Richard Grant also evaded capture, Navigator George Wenthe had a leg wound, he was tak‐
en to hospital and became a POW. NG. Norman Benson, Evader, wounded, also TG Jack Garre . RWG Charles Susino POW to hospital. LWG Eddie Guidry Evader, RO Wladyslaw Serafin Evaded, wounded and returned before end of June 44. Engineer/Sgt Arthur F Mied Died of wounds the same day in hospital his foot had been shot off and also hit in chest. On 31st December Michael Haddock made contact via Control Tower website about his Dad who was the Pilot of crew 45, Lloyd Hamilton Haddock flew 35 missions from June 1944, to December 1944. This photo on the le was taken for his wife before he le the USA to come over here. Michael sent over original mission forma on sheets for 34 of his Dad’s missions, they are so vital and fragile I consulted Michael re dona ng them to the 2nd AD Memorial archives where they have the correct facili es to store and preserve them for future reference, instead in the unheated and damp condi ons of the Control Tower, he agreed and I have made copies and provided an album so they will also be available for others to see during Tower Open days.
Lt Haddock carried Michael’s baby shoes in the cockpit on his missions flown from Sta on 146 Seething. He was a Pilot and arrived with his crew on June 21st 1944 as part of the 714th Squadron, 448th BG and flew 35 missions, the pilot usually flew his first mission with an experienced crew so no mission sheet for his first one, but it is so unusual for a pilot to have all the Opera onal Mission Forma on sheets he had flown but he had 34 of the 35 and to make it even more special he had pencilled in updates on aircra and crews that had changed since the sheets had been printed. 6 6 These are so important and have helped update lots of informa on on aircra and who was flying them on a par cular mission. Lt Haddock re‐enlisted again during the Korean War and flew 16 missions, on one occasion he flew General Mark Clark to the peace talks in Panmunjom. Lt Haddock re red from the USAF on February 13th 1967 and sadly passed away in December 1979 at the age of 60 in San Anto‐
nio, TX. Heard today from David Kohler with news about his book telling the story of Robert Holley who was KIA, his le ers home were found in the lo of house that David had bought and when he started research he felt sad that these boys who lost their lives figh ng for freedom were not commemorated, so decided to write Roberts story, it will be published by Tate Pub‐
General Mark Clark signing the Korean lishing located in Oklahoma City. Armis ce Agreement July 27th 1953. A message came via the web site on February 3rd it was from Michael Dolan, Capt. USAR (Ret) who is the son in law of the late Major Earl M Parks, 448th Bomb Group Navigator. Capt. Dolan said “Major Parks never spoke about his me in the service to his own family, but because I had been in the army during the Vietnam Era, he opened up to me. He had some amazing stories and told me that during the D Day opera ons he acted as the Group Navigator and served the Group un l the end of the war. “I am trying to keep his memories alive and have completed his ancestral linage back to 1066 when his ancestor owned a farm on the Isle of Wight. He was awarded two air medals and a Dis nguished Flying Cross. “I can probably get a copy of his medals to give to his grandchildren along with some history of his group, but I wonder how I might receive the original cita on for his medals? “ Navigator 1st Lt Earl M Parks on May 31st 1943 was in a small group of Officers and enlisted men who le Gowen Field for Orlando, Florida to a end the Academic Center, AAFSAT for a course of instruc‐
on for approx. 30 days and on comple on of this temporary duty to proceed to Wendover Field, Utah. In November 1943 he was the 712th Squadron Navigator and travelled over with Crew 16 whose pilot was Earl P Durley on board B24 41‐29208 “SHOO‐SHOO‐BABY” arriving at Sta on 146 Seething on November 30th 1943. This B24 was transferred to the 44th BG late in December 43. Crew 16 lost 4 gunners on a mission in January when a target marker went off in the aircra just before the target was reached, due to the smoke and fire the 4 gunners bailed out and became POW’s the fire was ex nguished and the rest of the crew made it safely back home with some Sta on 146 Seething of the crew suffering burns, but the majority of the crew completed their 30 missions before L to R: Milton S
efez, First Group Navigator, leaving for US. Minor Morgan, and 3rd Group Navigator I have copy of a Lead Crew Cer ficate of Commenda on for a mission to Aschaffenburg FEB 25TH 1945, and Commenda on for Major Parks and crew when he was the Navigator for the 24th March 1945 mission to deliver supplies to an Airborne Army which had been dropped behind enemy lines only a few hours earlier. Plus a request from the CO of AAF Sta on on 5th June 1945: “Request that Major Earl Parks be awarded the Cer ficate of Valor for excep onal and outstanding du es performed as the Group Navigator.” William W Snavely, Major, Air Corps. For the CO, 7th June “Approved.” Franklin W Miles. Major 7 Station 146
Pat’s Piece cont...
I thought it might be of interest to have a glimpse of life on Sta on 146 Seething 70 years ago, using some of the 448th records. In May 1944 Mobile Defence Platoons were created, Gun emplace‐
ments were dug around the perimeter and machine guns manned, guard posts were established at Headquarters, S‐2 and S‐3 buildings and in some living sites. A ‘Secret’ le er was received from Higher Command wri en by a high ranking officer who had formerly worked with American Para troops, and it was impressed upon the personnel on Sta on 146 that this base was par cularly vulnerable since it was closely situated to the East Anglian Coast. In spite of this among the recrea onal ac vi es during the month was the produc on of the GI musical comedy “MY DAY” wri en, produced and directed by airplane mechanic S/Sgt Ted Petaschnick of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a ached to the 459th Sub Depot, it was judged the best among the 2nd and 3rd Divisions, but lost against the 1st Division when it was judged by civilians. The sta on Orchestra & Chorus was directed by S/Sgt Eddie Schroeder who also arranged the songs for the Orchestra and the art work was by Cpl Eli Roffwarg, while the ligh ng was by Sgt Robert Becker. The Stage manager was Pfc John Waugh and Lt McLaughlin was the Officer for the Special Service Dep’t. The base theater hosted two visi ng shows during May and the cast of both a rac ons complimented the excellent theater and stage also the dressing rooms and ligh ng facili es. Sta on 146 Theater.
The excellent sta on orchestra con nued to make beau ful music for Officers and enlisted men’s dances on the base and provid‐
ing entertainment for civilians in the vicinity during “Salute the Soldier Week”. Their performance is of a highly professional calibre, our ‘own’ musicians have played professionally in pre‐war days, Sgt Fred James, guitarist, who strummed with Buddy Rogers & Clyde McCoy, Sgt Bob Prouty, pianist, who played five consecu ve seasons at the George Washington Hotel, West Palm Beach, Florida with Carl Hoppe, and Tech Sgt Bill Gauntry, guitarist, who was a star on the Southeast Atlan c seaboard radio network, others in the band include George Dupont. Piano accordionist, Caney on drums, Irish on Trumpet. Sta on 146 Band
Also in May 44 there was a welcome installa on of a 35 mm projec‐
tor for the cinema c division, so no more delays wai ng for a reel to be changed and no more worn out soundtrack, The new setup is so perfect , one could almost imagine himself to be in a civilian theater in pre‐OD days. Shows will now be held at 1400 & 1900 daily Films 9th & 10th May 44, “MR BIG” Donald O’Connor and “SHADOW OF A DOUBT” Joseph Co on. Hope this brings back some good memories for our 448th friends who are s ll with us and be of interest to other members. We have been so lucky in our local area and have not been affected badly with the extreme weather condi ons in our country, it’s so sad to see all the flooding and dal damage, and it seems to be affec ng all around our world in different ways. We have to make an early start ge ng our displays and albums ready to go back into the Control Tower due to a visit by a group of people from Poringland and Loddon who a end Lectures given by author Ian McLachlan who are coming on Thursday March 20th. 8 8 In May members of the Heritage League are coming over from America to Norwich, staying at the Maids Head Hotel close to Nor‐
wich Cathedral. They will be going to the Memorial Day service on Monday May 26th at Cambridge American Military Cemetery in the morning then Duxford later, other visits that include the 2ND AD Memorial Library, and some of the old war me bases mean they will have a busy few days. www.heritageleague.org As you can see elsewhere in the newsle er our September 7th Open Day is now the Seething Airfield Air Display so while entry to the Control Tower is s ll free you will be charged to enter the airfield for the Air Display and all the other ac vi es that will be taking place, let’s hope it’s lovely weather ! Warm good wishes to all especially those who are unwell, hope to see some of you who are able to travel at our Open Days. Patricia Everson, THE 448TH BOMB GROUP COLLECTION, p.everson448@b nternet.com 01508 550787, from US 011 44 1508 550787 Dates for your Diary 2014
May 2014
Sunday April 13th 2014
Heritage League Trip to Norwich
Annual General Meeting,
The visit will be from Sunday May 5th to Friday May 30th
Seething Tower Museum 10.30am
Sunday:
Arrive Norwich, check in Maids Head Hotel
Monday:
Trip to Madingley American Cemetery &
Duxford Air Museum
Tuesday:
TOWER OPEN DAYS 2014
Visit to the Memorial Library at the Forum
Wednesday: Trips to old bases and airfields
Sunday May 4th, Sunday June 1st, Sunday July 6th,
Thursday:
Attend meeting of Trust Governors plus
Friday:
End of visit. Preparations for return to
visits to local places of interest.
Sunday August 3rd, Sunday September 7th*,
Sunday October 5th
London for a special service at the
Note: * Charity Airday
American Chapel in St. Paul’s Cathedral
They would welcome local members to join them at some
of the events.
9 Station 146
HOW NOT TO INSTALL A HEATING SYSTEM Quite a few of our front‐line troops, showing the usual American ingenuity resourcefulness, and I suspect, a desire for privacy, plus elimina on of a long trip back and forth to work, had built themselves living quarters alongside their hardstands. Some were quite simple, others, in my opinion, would have challenged the abili es of first‐
class construc on engineers. In the main, the materials that went into them came from air‐
cra parts packaging materials, supplemented by whatever useful items that could be scrounged from wrecked aircra , and undoubtedly, with a wee bit of “moonlight requisi on‐
ing”. All of the shacks had some form of hea ng system, lights, home made furnishings, and they even had an intercom system between shacks created from military field telephones. One hacienda, I recall, also had a small garden plot, plus a few chickens and rabbits. Two of the building entrepreneurs, however, apparently desiring something in the way of sanitary comfort, decided to install a hot‐
water system. This consisted of copper tubing coiled around a Sybley stove, and from there up the wall, across the ceiling, and there it was a ached to the bo om of a 55 gallon drum mounted on a wooden rack high on the wall. In between, of course they had a wash basin, a plas c aircra bombardiers window, complete with faucet, a ached to the wall and hooked up with the coiled tubing around the stove. Finally, one night, all was in readiness for the system to be put in opera on. The first task, of course, was to fill the water supply drum with water, check for leaks, and proper opera on and then wait for the old Sybley to bring the water to some degree of com‐
fortable warmth. That’s when disaster struck. No one had thought to check the drum for any residue of it’s previous contents. As “luck” would have it, the drum had contained gasoline, or some other highly inflammable, and explosive liquid. When the first amount of water was introduced into the drum it, naturally, forced the combus ble residue down to the coiled tubing around the red‐hot stove, and “BOOM”, every thing went up in flames. Fortunately, the shack’s two plumbers escaped without serious injury. There’s an an ‐climax to this bit of nonsense. I, and all occupants of the flight‐line engineering office, rushed outside, and our first thought was that a B‐24 was on fire. One was parked directly in line with the burning shack and made a perfect silhoue e and ac‐
tually appeared to be the object on fire. I hollered to the clerk to call the fire department, grabbed a CO2 bo le, and ran, stumbled and fell in the mud on my way to what I supposed was a burning aircra . What I expected to accomplish with that li le 25 pound ex nguisher I’ll never know. When I got to the immediate scene of the “disaster” and saw what was actually burning, and, par cularly a er I had located the two uninjured tenants, I breathed a huge sigh of relief and le the rest of the rescue effort to the fire department. Walter Rude 448th A en on
Thanks to all who renewed their membership and also to all the new members who have recently joined us. We thank all of you for suppor ng the Tower and keeping the memories alive. As me passes we are losing some of our Members which is sad, we send our Condolences to their families, and hope that they will keep in touch with us. If you know someone who might be interested in becoming a member, ask them to get in touch with us. Thanks. Apologies that the last newsle er was not on the internet for those who requested it, hopefully all will be OK this me, for the rest of the members the newsle er will be mailed again. The Open Days during last Summer were supported well by many visitors and we are hoping it will con nue this year. I think that the visitors interest of what happened all those years ago is now growing. The events of commemora ng the 70 years of the arrival of the first Americans at the airfield last September Open Day made them think. I was asked a lot of ques on of what life was like around the airfield for a young lad, and they were surprised to hear what it was also like to have about 3,000 neighbours next to a village of 300 locals. Nancy and myself send thanks to all who sent Christmas cards and hope this year will be good for all of you. Stand Easy Jim Turner (Membership Sec.) The Beeches, Brooke Road, Seething, Norwich, Norfolk, NR15 1DJ Tel: 01508 550288 From U.S. 011‐44‐1508 550288 e‐mail: jimturner307@b nternet.com 1
10 © Copyright 2014 Seething Tower Associa on 18, Park Close, Thurton Norwich, Norfolk NR14 6AU, UK