Exceptional thanks to those who revitalised this memorial to the Greatest Generation, Thorpe will be a lasting legacy to them all. When you pay respects those wonderful people who greet you with friendliness and warm, you're all a credit to the fallen and those bets still around, many thanks.
They were a fantastic generation, greatly missed. I met one in Oxford in 1994 who was on his way to a reunion he was sat in the same pub as me and the wife when I noticed the squadron insignia on his leather jacket ,I thanked him for his service and offered to buy him a drink but he had to meet someone, but we managed a bit of a chinwag lovely chap
Many thanks for making and posting this piece about one of the many WW2 bases in the UK. Honouring the service of the brave young blokes of the war from the US.
Its a very nice gesture to have a museum in memory of those that scarified the lives in the name of freedom and those who came back to see where they served and to remember their fallen comrades .
My dad was stationed at Thorpe Abbotts. He flew on the Lucky Lee~ Top turret gunner/TTE~So blessed to visit there with my Air Force son a couple of years ago~so humbled~ so grateful for the wonderful job continually being done!
Great work by all concerned - THEN and now! We must always remember and rejoice for their presence. And well done to the spirit of all who worked to keep the memories alive at the location here.
@David Lance I really don’t know why I’m replying to you. All my life, as a professional Jazz Musician, I’ve traveled the World, and extended my hand to all people. You paint a picture of “ et cladis completum mundi “ If You Are an older person, there is possibly no hope for you. If you are young, there may be a glimmer !. Kind Regards, John Fenner.
Thank you for this video! These men sacrificed, many with their lives. After all these years to create a place they can visit, to remember fellow crew members, friends or an old barracks they slept in while stationed there is comforting. Sadly, there are few of these warriors left. It's good to know the good people of England haven't forgotten their cost of freedom. Freedom isn't free.Thanks!
My dad was a B-17 radio operator flying out of North Africa as part of the 99th Bomb Group. He was a left waist gunner in combat. His B-17 was shot down over Sicily on his 21st mission. Wounded and taken prisoner, he spent 22 months as a POW, escaping twice.
In 85 i was 19 and working for the NT in nw England I met a b17 pilot who said the last time he was over here he was about 20 and had the same hair cut so rubbed my hair for luck :-) A nice guy and i thanked him for what he'd done for us I hope he had a good life in the USA
Thanks for posting this video, my respect to that young generation who fought against tyranny and succeeded with so much sacrifice. We the younger generations have so much to learn from them. Our modern technology has made us so arrogant and forgetful, forgetting the values and wise lessons from they instilled in us.
It was 78 yrs ago today one of the most influential men I've ever known lost his entire crew. Heading to Oschersleben Germany they took a direct in the bombay instantly killing Willam Dashields entire crew. George had been wounded on a prior mission and wasn't allowed to fly this day even after pleading with the flight surgeon to clear him for duty. Every yr on January 11th since his passing I drink a toast in their honor.
I'm so choked watching this and am planning to visit and hope to bring some of our boy scouts just wish I knew about it earlier as I would have dearly loved to have met an actual veteran am so glad this record has been made. Thanks and respect to all...
Outstanding museum, visited there twice ! Great tribute to those who flew and served from there ! Thanks for sharing and creating this video! Lest We Forget! TC
Absolutely agree, been there two or three times. I am fascinated by military history and have visited many military museums, big and small, over 50 years but this is the one I want to go back to and don't mind admitting I've shed a tear or two there. Very moving place even for someone who has no connection except through history books. Need to go again soon!
I recently finished reading Masters of The Air & it was EXCELLENT. While we didn't have anyone in the Air Corp in WWII we did have one in the Navy & one in the Marines. I feel truly fortunate to have heard some of their stories first hand, we miss you Brownie & Norm. Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!
Diss United Kingdom 🇬🇧 “ if tomorrow never comes “. The average life expectancy of an 8th Air Force B-17 crewmen in1943 was 11 missions. Flak, fighters, terrible weather, midair collision, a myriad of snares for aircraft operations. United States Army Air Corp. “ never turned back due to enemy action “.
My dad's first cousin Guiher Gene Greenwood was in the 100th. He did his first mission in January 1945 and flew until the end of the war. He was the co-pilot on the Laurence Lazzari crew. He stayed 32 years in the Air Force and retired in 1975.
My late father's good friend & partner in a law firm was a navigator on a B-17. His name was Olin G. Wellborn & he had some harrowing stories about what he witnessed. I just ordered the book Masters of the Air , & can't wait to see the mini series based on this book by Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks. This stuff fascinates me.
Navigators had to have thick skins because they were always the butt of jokes. Even after flying the mission, his charts and mission logs would be gone over and any omissions for positions, winds, headings or times would face the harshest criticism. 🧐
Who better than the iconic, Tom Hanks, to bring the project to light. My dad, though he was not my dad when he served as he was the oldest called up ( 45) was a gunner in "Fletcher's Castoria" I never realized the impact as my father never would talk about it - RIP - dad and see you soon In honor of James Hubert WHITTON
I would absolutely love to visit. My dad’s first cousin was Gale Cleven (my 2nd). I heard many stories of him growing up. We are so used to having our last name mispronounced, but I just wanted to say it’s pronounced Cl + even.
@03:43 ever wonder why men turn the props over like this in old movies. This actually has a purpose. On round engines like what the these WWII aircraft have Pratt & Whitney or the Wright Cyclone engines on the bottom cylinder if the engine hasn't been ran in a while or usually after 30 minutes after shutdown oil begins to drain to the lower most cylinder and they turn the prop over like that so when they started up it doesn't hydraulic lock. If that does hydraulic lock like that they can just take out the two spark plugs on the bottom most cylinder drain the oil out of the spark plug holes reinstall the spark plugs and start it up This is the reason why on startup it smokes because all the oil drains to the lower most cylinder
"Baptism of fire" If you survived that first mission you might make the average number of missions (11). Statistically you knew you were going to die before the "dangling carrot" (return to the States) mission number 25 could be achieved. When it started to be achieved by too many/too many crew killed/maximum effort needed etc...they put it out to 30 missions... then 35. warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/wwii-b-24-liberator-hot-stuff-setting-record-straight.html#:~:text=Hot%20Stuff%20was%20the%20first,missions%20on%20February%207%2C%201943.&text=Memphis%20Belle's%20crew%20completed%2025,without%20any%20loss%20of%20life). The Germans couldn't do that...war on two fronts, terrible losses..."fly 'til you die".
Incredible. Those men will live on for eternity English and American!
Exceptional thanks to those who revitalised this memorial to the Greatest Generation, Thorpe will be a lasting legacy to them all. When you pay respects those wonderful people who greet you with friendliness and warm, you're all a credit to the fallen and those bets still around, many thanks.
The Greatest Generation, Thank you for your sacrifice.
They were a fantastic generation, greatly missed. I met one in Oxford in 1994 who was on his way to a reunion he was sat in the same pub as me and the wife when I noticed the squadron insignia on his leather jacket ,I thanked him for his service and offered to buy him a drink but he had to meet someone, but we managed a bit of a chinwag lovely chap
These men humble me, Thank you so much for your courage & sacrifice 🇬🇧❤️🇨🇦🇺🇸
Many thanks for making and posting this piece about one of the many WW2 bases in the UK. Honouring the service of the brave young blokes of the war from the US.
Its a very nice gesture to have a museum in memory of those that scarified the lives in the name of freedom and those who came back to see where they served and to remember their fallen comrades .
My dad was stationed at Thorpe Abbotts. He flew on the Lucky Lee~ Top turret gunner/TTE~So blessed to visit there with my Air Force son a couple of years ago~so humbled~ so grateful for the wonderful job continually being done!
Did your father get to return to Thorpe Abbotts after the war?
He was a prisoner of war for 14 months~he never returned to TA @@johnhickman106
Without a doubt, the GREATEST generation. THANK you for your sacrifices. God bless you all. You kept the world a much safer place.
Brilliant video about courageous men. With each one that dies, this world gets colder and more dangerous again...
God bless them all Total Respect true Legends of the Sky's and not forgetting the ground crew
Great work by all concerned - THEN and now! We must always remember and rejoice for their presence.
And well done to the spirit of all who worked to keep the memories alive at the location here.
50 missions!!.."Chris"..you are a hero for sure, you might not know it but you are.
That golden generation that did so much in the cause of justice and freedom I salute you all. 🇺🇸🇬🇧
David Lance. You don’t seem to like anything. There is still time for you to learn to appreciate humanity.
I hope it doesn’t take you very long.
@David Lance I really don’t know why I’m replying to you. All my life, as a professional Jazz Musician, I’ve traveled the World, and extended my hand to all people. You paint a picture of “ et cladis completum
mundi “ If You Are an older person, there is possibly no hope for you. If you are young, there may be a glimmer !. Kind Regards, John Fenner.
Thanks for coming over and help to maintain a free world.
Thank you for this video! These men sacrificed, many with their lives. After all these years to create a place they can visit, to remember fellow crew members, friends or an old barracks they slept in while stationed there is comforting. Sadly, there are few of these warriors left. It's good to know the good people of England haven't forgotten their cost of freedom. Freedom isn't free.Thanks!
My dad was a B-17 radio operator flying out of North Africa as part of the 99th Bomb Group. He was a left waist gunner in combat. His B-17 was shot down over Sicily on his 21st mission. Wounded and taken prisoner, he spent 22 months as a POW, escaping twice.
my grandfather was in the 99th
In 85 i was 19 and working for the NT in nw England
I met a b17 pilot who said the last time he was over here he was about 20 and had the same hair cut so rubbed my hair for luck :-)
A nice guy and i thanked him for what he'd done for us
I hope he had a good life in the USA
Thanks for posting this video, my respect to that young generation who fought against tyranny and succeeded with so much sacrifice. We the younger generations have so much to learn from them. Our modern technology has made us so arrogant and forgetful, forgetting the values and wise lessons from they instilled in us.
It was 78 yrs ago today one of the most influential men I've ever known lost his entire crew. Heading to Oschersleben Germany they took a direct in the bombay instantly killing Willam Dashields entire crew. George had been wounded on a prior mission and wasn't allowed to fly this day even after pleading with the flight surgeon to clear him for duty. Every yr on January 11th since his passing I drink a toast in their honor.
A great WW2 museum, the USAAF would be proud of you.
Please continue to keep up your fantastic work...God Bless you all...
thank you
Truly Beautiful!!❤🥺
This vid touches the heart.
God bless all those who served and struggled to retain our freedoms.
I'm so choked watching this and am planning to visit and hope to bring some of our boy scouts just wish I knew about it earlier as I would have dearly loved to have met an actual veteran am so glad this record has been made.
Thanks and respect to all...
My grandfather served their Oscar L Edge Radio Gunner 418th Kincannon Crew
My next door neighbor was crew chief on Lamay's B-17. Archie Gordon. RIP
Outstanding museum, visited there twice ! Great tribute to those who flew and served from there ! Thanks for sharing and creating this video! Lest We Forget! TC
Absolutely agree, been there two or three times. I am fascinated by military history and have visited many military museums, big and small, over 50 years but this is the one I want to go back to and don't mind admitting I've shed a tear or two there. Very moving place even for someone who has no connection except through history books. Need to go again soon!
“Never has so much be owed to so few”
You have captured a piece of history - well done!
True American heroes
I recently finished reading Masters of The Air & it was EXCELLENT. While we didn't have anyone in the Air Corp in WWII we did have one in the Navy & one in the Marines. I feel truly fortunate to have heard some of their stories first hand, we miss you Brownie & Norm. Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!
as someone who lives in the area and explored much of it i have seen allot of the old buildings still standing damaged but standing
Visited several times,its well worth a look.
Diss United Kingdom 🇬🇧 “ if tomorrow never comes “.
The average life expectancy of an 8th Air Force B-17 crewmen in1943 was 11 missions.
Flak, fighters, terrible weather, midair collision, a myriad of snares for aircraft operations.
United States Army Air Corp. “ never turned back due to enemy action “.
The Air Crews with the 100th BG at Thorpe Abbotts suffered greatly during the war over the skies of Europe. 🇺🇸😢
My dad's first cousin Guiher Gene Greenwood was in the 100th. He did his first mission in January 1945 and flew until the end of the war. He was the co-pilot on the Laurence Lazzari crew. He stayed 32 years in the Air Force and retired in 1975.
Thank you
That was good, thank you for sharing.
While not on bombers, the "Box D" flies on the tails of RAF Mildenhall's KC-135R fleet. The 100th ARW is the only USAF unit flying a WWII tail flash.
My late father's good friend & partner in a law firm was a navigator on a B-17. His name was Olin G. Wellborn & he had some harrowing stories about what he witnessed. I just ordered the book Masters of the Air , & can't wait to see the mini series based on this book by Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks. This stuff fascinates me.
Navigators had to have thick skins because they were always the butt of jokes. Even after flying the mission, his charts and mission logs would be gone over and any omissions for positions, winds, headings or times would face the harshest criticism. 🧐
Excellent video and people 👍
Who better than the iconic, Tom Hanks, to bring the project to light. My dad, though he was not my dad when he served as he was the oldest called up ( 45) was a gunner in "Fletcher's Castoria" I never realized the impact as my father never would talk about it - RIP - dad and see you soon In honor of James Hubert WHITTON
Great people to come back to where they fought for freedom .
Very moving video tribute. I will make it to that museum one day!
It’s a shame that Thorpe Abbotts is one of the few bases partly preserved ,out of so many.
Good to see that there are plans in the works for Bungay (Flixton)....more power to the elbow!👍🏻👍🏻
...my dad was stationed at Great Ashfield with the 350th BG...got there shortly after D Day...
I would absolutely love to visit. My dad’s first cousin was Gale Cleven (my 2nd). I heard many stories of him growing up. We are so used to having our last name mispronounced, but I just wanted to say it’s pronounced Cl + even.
The greatest generation of them all
Humility stands out in the war generation.As opposed to the shallow self promoting me me me, new generation.
Thanks
Freedom and democracy was worth fighting for.
@03:43 ever wonder why men turn the props over like this in old movies. This actually has a purpose. On round engines like what the these WWII aircraft have Pratt & Whitney or the Wright Cyclone engines on the bottom cylinder if the engine hasn't been ran in a while or usually after 30 minutes after shutdown oil begins to drain to the lower most cylinder and they turn the prop over like that so when they started up it doesn't hydraulic lock. If that does hydraulic lock like that they can just take out the two spark plugs on the bottom most cylinder drain the oil out of the spark plug holes reinstall the spark plugs and start it up This is the reason why on startup it smokes because all the oil drains to the lower most cylinder
Great days , even with a war going on people had so much more integrity and honor 🎖 as some of these feral folk ya see today,no comparison
Flew my airplane. Great!
heroes
Lest we forget.
the bloody 100th...
Dewey look 74 at most
Should have never put new guys in the rear.. how many died because of this stupid decision?
"Baptism of fire" If you survived that first mission you might make the average number of missions (11). Statistically you knew you were going to die before the "dangling carrot" (return to the States) mission number 25 could be achieved. When it started to be achieved by too many/too many crew killed/maximum effort needed etc...they put it out to 30 missions... then 35.
warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/wwii-b-24-liberator-hot-stuff-setting-record-straight.html#:~:text=Hot%20Stuff%20was%20the%20first,missions%20on%20February%207%2C%201943.&text=Memphis%20Belle's%20crew%20completed%2025,without%20any%20loss%20of%20life).
The Germans couldn't do that...war on two fronts, terrible losses..."fly 'til you die".
Very good video but if you turned off the music, we could hear these vets ; otherwise their speech is muffled.