Why Only at USAAF Bases?

On Sunday I was able to visit the 93 BG museum at Hardwick, and what a collection they have. The selection of photographs on display was quite incredible.

This started a little ponder. In Norfolk & Suffolk we have lots of museums at the wartime temporary airfields, such as Harwick, Thorpe Abbots and many more. However, take the short trip up into Lincolnshire and there are only a handful of museums etc at the wartime temporary airfields. Of these, perhaps the Metheringham Visitor Centre is the most well known, and efforts are being made by AiX members to start something at Bardney. However, there does not seem to be the same interest in Lincolnshire as there is in Norfolk and Suffolk. East Kirkby is exceptional for what it is and what it does, and probably falls outside the sort of thing I have in mind of a small, locally run, museum, heritage centre or whatever you might what to call it.

Is it a lack of interest from the locals or a general lack of interest in the RAF? Was the opportunity lost 20 or 30 years ago before large-scale removal of runways and demolition of buildings?

Anyone got any thoughts?

Nice little memorial room to 103 & 576 squadron at Elsham Wolds in the water works office! rafelshamwolds.com/ I think you now have to arrange your visit in advance...

Another point is that the RAF seemed to be far stricter with the use of cameras than the USAF ( and possibly that cameras/film were not available), so other than the 'official' RAF type photographs, there are not nearly as many of RAF bases resulting in a lot less potential display material.

I do have thoughts along similar lines WJT.
Many of the airfields that were under both Eighth & Ninth AF control have memorials. They also had, in some cases, regular visits from Veterans over the years, with some Bomb Group's vets returning every two years. Those airmen of the Eighth and Ninth seemed to have formed a great affinity with their former airfields. In most cases they did not move airfields very often. It was not uncommon for ground personnel to have spent a long time at the base before moving to airfields on the continent, or returning to the USA.

I have a theory that it was this sense of belonging that caused local people to build on the interest for the returning veterans. Museums might well have sprung up to cater for the returning airmans need to see and identify artifacts from their past wartime life. These places have become instrumental in recording and preserving the history of the US Fighter and Bomb Groups of East Anglia.

But the RAF Squadrons and their ground elements seemed to have been permanently on the move, especially in Fighter command or the 2nd TAF. Nightfighter and Intruder squadrons in this neck of the woods rotated fairly often between Castle Camps, Bradwell, Hunsdon and West Malling. Even II(AC) Squadron at Sawbridgeworth were in and out of the airfield on a regular basis.

Now Bomber Command didnt seem to move about as much, But what I have found is again based on my own theory. RAF personnel I have spoken to dont really seem that enamoured with their old airfields, dont get me wrong though, they are immensely proud of their wartime career...just not with the airfields they were based at! Not many show a great need to revisit their old airfields, I found that out when contacting former airmen prior to the dedication of the two airfield memorials we built. When asked if they had ever been back not one said they had. Most did not even recognise any part of the airfields when they did visit!

Maybe, and again this is only a theory, this has rubbed off on the local aviation enthusiasts. Why go to the bother of providing a museum or visitors centre if no one returned to visit. The American veterans always seemed to arrive by the coachload thus provoking interest. If RAF personnel returned to visit their old airfield, it was more likely to have been on their own with their wives for ten minutes on a wet wednesday afternoon in November...with no one to see them.

Again it might be down to location, routes passing through the airfields of Lincolnshire are scattered. Unless you have reason to be there, the airfields remain largely remote, Maybe the byways of Norfolk and Suffolk are travelled more by greater numbers of visitors to the area on their way though to the towns of the East coast. Of all the Canadian Halifax Squadrons in Yorkshire , is there really only Elvington to remind former aircrew in the county of their deeds?

We would dearly have loved to have a visitors centre at Hunsdon, We wanted the old parachute store as a museum for the airfield but were turned down on rights of way & Health and Safety grounds by the landowners. Maybe this is a factor in the airfields of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. but maybe, just maybe the deeds of the USAAF prove to be more 'sexy' to the public than the RAF. After all there is great interest in the 'Mighty Eighth' just as when you go to visit Normandy. In some cases the interest there seems to be more geared towards the American involvement, with the Canadian and British coming second, or am I just cynical?

Anyway food for thought though!

Some good points coming out here.

I must be honest and say that it was the opinion of a lot of members of the RAF who served in Lincolnshire that the locals werent keen on the RAF. I suppose its the same in all the Garrisons, and yes I do class Lincolnshire as a Garrison. Also as regards the American troops in WWII they would have been seen as "exotic" by the locals, but talk to anyone who served in the British forces and ask them their opinion of the Americans!

And I might be slightly off topic!

This is a good thread and topic, probably deserves to be in the airfield general section.
I can't add much to it really as I haven't visisted any of the old USAAF stations, but obviusly looking around here and on the interent it does seem they are well recognised by memorials and small museums.
I'm very disapointed that here in Wales that the history of the RAF stations seem to be completely ignored (apart from maybe Carew).
Davidstow Moor has two museums of course so this generalism dosen't apply to all the 'temporary' RAF airfields.
Another thing that always amazes me about the USAAF airfields is just how much archives there are for them, including film footage, pictures, personal accounts etc.
Was this because the Americans were generally speaking richer and able to record this stuff in the first place?
Even most of the archive material I have on St Mawgan actually came from American sources.

Yes your right, even today the RAF (and the other services)doesnt really care about its history and also its PR image.

Dont forget as well that the USAAF had quite a few people from Hollywood serving in its ranks so that probably helped as well.

It's as bad in the NorthWest for memorials and museums considering the vital work undertaken particularly during WW2. There are a couple of "big" museums notably in Manchester: the IWM and the Science museum.

I don't go along with the theory that all the UK RAF personnel were trated badly by the locals, many of the books I have read do mention the odd ideosyncrasy by the locals. Then many had lost their lands albeit for the duration of the war and some like the inhabitants of a farm in Metheringham airfield, were given only 2 weeks notice to leave their property. Many speak fondly of the friendliness of the locals. Much of this could be put down to the basic home comforts of the airfields.....made as temporary structures for the duration of the war and the absolute speed in which squadrons were moved into their new bases. Many of these were unfinished when their new inhabitants were shipped in. Again using Metheringham as an example, many areas of the airfield accomodation were unfinished on the arrival of 106 squadron and it was left to members of the squadron to improve their lot the best they could.

The thought of doing a 10 hour mission braving fighters and flack and landing to sleep in a nissen hut with one stove to heat it in winter gives me a feeling of utmost admiration for these people. Many bomber squadrons based in Lincolnshire remeber fondly the pubs in the area and the warmth of the comraderie of their brothers in arms. These are the things that should be remebered at our airfields. It's why I personally love to visit these places, imagine what went on here 70 or so years ago.

The places themselves deserve recognition for this factor, the ordinary people who did extraordinary things in very basic living conditions.

And by a memorial I don't mean a bland block of granite either!

As an aside, there are very few memorials in Leicestershire to the airfields in the area. Some of our airfields such as Ratcliffe and Braunstone pre date WW2. Others were OTU's, some had an important role in the lead up to D-Day. Desford was a basic training airfield; Geoff Welham did his basic training at Desford. Memorials exist but many don't do the places justice.

Having said all this, I think it's great that the USAAF is remembered by us for the sacrifices they made flying from our airfields. They gave us so much in modern culture and their bravery and courage and confidence (and PX) was an inspiration to all. I went to Madingley with Richenda about 15 years ago and pausing over a grave stone muttered......"your a long way from home son....thanks Yank"

Mick

I agree with you about the North West, Prestons museum in the Harris library has nothing about Dick Kerrs, English Electric or BAC.

WiganMick59;57949 wrote:

The thought of doing a 10 hour mission braving fighters and flack and landing to sleep in a nissen hut with one stove to heat it in winter gives me a feeling of utmost admiration for these people. Many bomber squadrons based in Lincolnshire remeber fondly the pubs in the area and the warmth of the comraderie of their brothers in arms. These are the things that should be remembered at our airfields. It's why I personally love to visit these places, imagine what went on here 70 or so years ago. The places themselves deserve recognition for this factor, the ordinary people who did extraordinary things in very basic living conditions.

Very well said.

Graham