Nick, Rendle the Dog and I dodged the showers at lunchtime today to walk across the airfield to meet veterans from US squadron 486 and their families at the vintage rally taking place close to Great Waldingfield. A photo of some of the party is shown above, together with a picture of the main runway of the airfield as it is today.
The tent set aside for the visitors was full of interesting displays, maps and pictures of the area, not just as it was during 1944 when the bomber crews arrived, but also with plans for the new Chilton Woods development. This will edge a little way onto the airfield at the southern end. (It is not planned, as many seem to think, for development to penetrate far onto the area, which I hope will remain open and unspoilt). There are however plans to try to incorporate a permanent memorial somewhere prominent in the development to the Squadron who came to help Britain in its darkest hour.
The veterans had many interesting stories to tell. One told me how the air over Sudbury was known as ‘Buzz bomb alley’, and he said that he never ceased to be amazed at the hospitality and kindness he had received from people in Suffolk at a time when they were in danger and suffering from shortages and deprivation. Another, Burt, told me some interesting facts about the ship on which they sailed from New York (which I think was called (or renamed) the SS Ambassador). This was a converted Italian liner, which was requisitioned during the war for German troop movement. In 1943, presumably when Italy stopped fighting, the Italian crew took over the ship, disposed of the Germans, and sailed to America. It operated in the transatlantic convoys for the rest of the war. Burt commented that the ship had been very comfortable and the food excellent!
Altogether it was a very happy afternoon, with many local people coming to look at the exhibits and talk to the veterans to hear their stories and to meet their families. Many of the visitors had come to Suffolk several times. It is a pity that time has now marched on to such and extent that future visits are unlikely.
