WASP in England: May 5th – May 11th, 2011

By WASP Bernice Haydu

Our Hosts, THE GREATEST GENERATIONS FOUNDATION,  President Timothy Davis, Alicia Harms, Vice President of Communication and Jon Bunyak, Chief Financial Officer.

WASP on the trip, Elaine Harmon, Shirley Kruse, Bee Haydu.

From London our first stop was Duxford Air Museum, Cambridgeshire County,  about one hour north of London and 10 miles south of Cambridge.  Our first day ended at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket, Suffolk.  Accommodations and food the best.

The next day we visited Lavenham Air Base the site of  where the air base had been during the war.  This is where Staff Sgt. Mike Quering (one of our group) had been stationed in WWII.   He was an Armorer Gunner in B17 Bombers with the 8^th Air Force.  The runways and most of the buildings were no longer there having been given back to the farmers but we could make out most of the outline.  We learned from Mike what it was like some 67 years ago.

Then to  Mendlesham Airfield, Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK, also north of London.  This was where Major Joseph Clark had been stationed. He was a B17 pilot having completed 31 missions. Again, the location had been returned to the farmer and yet we could make out where the runways had been, especially since some portions of runway remained.  Joe could still hear the engines of the B17’s taking off.

Next  Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire County,  Thurleigh Airfied where Staff Sgt. Homer Goodman, ball turret gunner on B17’s had been stationed.  His first mission was on D Day June 6, 1944.  On his 30^th mission he was shot down in enemy territory.  He spent 6 weeks hiding behind enemy lines.  He came back with the advancing infantry.  Although the field had been returned to the farmers, a tower was preserved in which a museum was established.  We could see from the tower the runway layouts.

Most memorable and touching was to observe these three veterans re-live their life of so many years ago. We listened to their individual experiences, so vivid we could imagine being there.  Now amongst the beautiful fields of yellow flowers and greenery it seemed almost impossible this could have happened.  Yet, on each field we visited we saw some of the remains of  bomb shelters, Quonset huts, buildings, bomb storage pits, etc.

May 9^th we made our way to London and the Kensington, another first class hotel. Our leader and driver, Timothy Davis, has got to be the best driver in the world.  He could squeeze through impossible places. Anyone who has visited London in particular would appreciate his driving expertise.

We visited Churchill War Rooms and museum in the original underground location.  An eerie experience going beneath the ground and seeing how they lived and conducted the war during those years.

The Imperial War Museum is a must, covering many wars and so complete it would really take about 4 days to see everything.

The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial was another beautiful and interesting place.  Mike Quering and Bee Haydu were privileged to do the flag lowering and folding at the end of the day.

Of course, we also saw the many important sites in London and throughout England, enjoyed many pubs – great eating (and drinking),  places where so many gather.

I encourage anyone desiring to take a trip to the many offered by The Greatest Generations Foundation to visit their website www.tggf.us.  There you will find an application form you can submit.