Report Page 3

 

The reunion began with a visit to the US cemetery at Madingly for a wreath laying ceremony en-route from London. There were visits to the 390th Museum at Parham & Framlingham castle, a banquet at Framlingham College, and a visit to Bury St. Edmunds. Our first 40s dance was held at the Red Feather Club, a visit to Sandringham House with dinner at Dunston Hall, a visit to the 100th museum at Thorpe Abbotts and the hog roast at Horham community centrealso to hear the 95th Bells being rung organised by Philip at Horham church. The logistics of coaches and host families getting our Guests to the right place at the right time, everything to Military precision A Big Thank You and Well Done.

 

To have 20 veterans visit us was an Honour in its own right but to be able to see their faces on the main runway gave anyone there that day a sense of emotion and satisfaction when the B-17 Sally B flew over our heads, a day personally that will stay with me for the rest of my life! Thank You Norman Feltwell for arranging the Sally B flypast making this a truly historic day at Horham.

 

Grace Hammesfahr & her Family have been regular visitors to our Grand Open Day for many years, Grace officially opened the Blue Lounge on the Thursday evening prior, Grace has been a stalwart supporter of all our projects at the Red Feather Club, many bricks were sold with many donations being generated by her in the US, over 200 guests were in attendance for the opening, with many Mid Suffolk & Suffolk County Council representatives in attendance who had given our Association much support  & advice during the recreation of this building.

 

Fundraising and finances have been Very paramount with a building project of this scale, all invoices, grant funding being kept under close scrutiny by our treasurer John Kirkum, whilst also planning the reunion, Well Done & Thank You John, Helen Krawczyszyn our Secretary has kept all our correspondence in order and undertook the ‘buy a brick’ fundraising and manufacture as well as giving many hours of time for the reunion, also taking care of memberships and our mailing of newsletters, a lot of hard work behind the scenes has gone on I can assure you.

 

The Grand Open Day was an outstanding success, an USAF Honour Guard & Guest Speaker was arranged by Frank Sherman, Andrew Castleden kindly was the Master of Ceremonies, with 95th Veteran Guy Greene giving a response, Thank You Frank & Andrew. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side during the ceremony but it was another historic occasion to have so many Veterans present, to Honour them and their Countrymen for their sacrifices during World War 2. Many stall holders from other airfield Associations were present as well as military vehicles, re-enactors all gave our 2500 visitors plenty to enjoy & see.

 

Unfortunately the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight could not flypast but the Sally B made up for that!, a service was held at St Mary’s church Horham afterwards, a wreath was laid on the 95th Bomb Group memorial adjacent to the church by 95th Veteran Earl Jostwick, Thank You to Reverend David Streeter.