OUR LAST HURRAH

MEMORIAL JUNKET X

Our recent trip back to England was a huge success and enjoyed by all who attended. There were a total of 73 who traveled from the States to attend this momentous gathering, in addition to our good English and Belgian friends. The numbers speak volumes about the camaraderie that has been solidified over the years and is still growing with each gathering. We had a couple of first timers and they were extremely pleased with the friendships and interaction they found in the Group.

Thursday, 8 Sep, was check-in and the electricity in the lobby seemed to increase with every arrival. Old friends and new were met with such warm and ecstatic greetings from all the early arrivals. Everyone knew at that time that this was going to be another great reunion… and it was, it really was!

Friday began with the Board meeting at 9:00 during which the site of the next reunion was decided. Unanimously, Washington, DC was selected for many reasons, but mostly because of the WW II Memorial that many had expressed a desire to see. The date has not been decided, but the Air Force Memorial will be dedicated in Oct, so that may be the right time to be there. During the Board meeting Bill Harvey and Don Thompson interviewed live on a local radio station, providing their experiences from more than 60 years ago.

Friday evening was our first outing to Frankie & Benny’s Restaurant for a sampling of their Italian cuisine and local beers and wines. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we all (well perhaps not Quentin) laughed about getting “chips” instead of pasta with our main courses.

Saturday began for most of us with another sampling of the fine breakfast lay-out the hotel provided and another chance to chat and exchange stories with each other. There were plenty of choices for both eating and people to share memories with before departing for Duxford. Don and Irene Thompson were responsible for head counts on the trip and did a magnificent job of making sure that all were accounted for. We only left two people behind at Duxford, but they both were at the banquet, so all was well.

Duxford was fabulous, even with the low ceiling and sporadic English drizzle. Several of our guys were interviewed at the media tent on the airfield while some headed for the American Airpower Museum at the far end of the airfield. While in the AAM, of course the key display was the B-17 Mary Alice and some media photographers requested that we gather all our veterans for a photo. Being the gracious guys they are, our heroes invited Captains Hines and Swanson, current USAF from RAF Lakenheath, to join in for the photo session. There were more than just media cameras flashing and clicking… Carol Alfter overheard an English lady speaking on her cell phone say, “I’ve got to go now, I have to take pictures of the Americans!” There must have been a dozen or more cameras taking in the spectacle that was the 384^th Bomb Group in front of a very well-preserved B-17… the guys were rather well preserved themselves.

The airshow followed the session in the AAM and the weather still had not improved, but those courageous (and lucky) pilots flew a low show that was superb to say the least. They flew everything from P-51s, to L-39s, to an F-86, to Spitfires, to Hurricanes and the Rapide, but the queen of the show was Sally B, which had starred in the movie Memphis Belle and still had her starboard side painted as that famous B-17. As Sally B taxied by, one could sense the profound silence among the crowd, just so everyone there could hear every cylinder of all four engines as she glided past. The take-off and all the flybys she performed were exactly what we had been waiting for and we were definitely not disappointed. That throaty, but mellow sound is something that just becomes part of our hearts and we were so grateful that she flew that afternoon.

The nearly maximum capacity banquet was that evening in the hotel ballroom. Among our guests were 8 current day USAF officers, their wives, and a Chief from the 48^th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath. Among them were Col Kent Laughbaum, Ops Gp commander and flight lead for the F-15E flyby the next day at Grafton Underwood, Capt Bob Hines, who organized the flyby, and our own third generation was represented by 1Lt Emily Alfter. Lloyd Whitlow presented a 384^th plaque and a print of The Fightin’ Hebe to Col Laughbaum for the 48^th’s support of our memorial on Sunday. Col Laughbaum presented the group with an American flag that had been flown in an F-15E over Grafton Underwood on 8 September. The meal was most excellent and the camaraderie was so exceptional that they were rolling tables out the door and we were still in the ballroom not wanting to say good-night.

Assembly and departure were as briefed and we were underway to Grafton Underwood at 0915 hours on Sunday. The coach took us to St James first for a very warm reception and services by Vicar Daniel Foote. Bill Harvey read eulogies for Barbara Bland and Annie Bagshaw who were both so involved with the Group in many ways including placing flowers at our monument. Roy Snyder read the eulogy for Howard Kaessner that moved all of us, and Don Thompson joined Vicar Foote in readings during the solemn service for the Group. This gathering at the Village church was filled with renewed friendships and lots of conversation before and after the services. The bus then departed for lunch in Corby and we got to see some of the airfield and lovely English countryside on the way.

Following the lengthy lunch, the bus returned us all to the Monument at the airfield for ceremonies that began at 3:30. Crowds of local citizens and interested people met us at the monument. The ceremonies went rather well and were supported by the British Legion of Desborough and the Honor Guard from RAF Lakenheath. The American and British national anthems were recited by all followed by prayers and words before wreath laying by several individuals and organizations. The solemnity of the occasion cannot be overstated and just when all of our hearts were in sync, there was the sound of jet fighters overhead that could not be seen, but the effect was tremendous. Col Laughbaum brought his fighters over the monument on time, but had to be saddened to not be able to descend below the extremely low cloud deck. The result was that almost to a person, it was very much like what our guys flew through to form up above the clouds before heading to Festung Europa with their lethal loads. In fact, Bill Wilkens said that the flyby put a lump in his throat. So, our deepest gratitude goes to the men and women of the 48^th FW who made it possible to fly the mission as briefed that afternoon.

When the crowds thinned and the “troops” were back on the coach, a short tour of the airfield was provided, and then a stop at the Geddington pub, the "The Olde Three Cocks" for complimentary drinks was next.  This was a famous Pub our members visited many times during their stay at Grafton and has a lot of history and memories for our members.  A few years ago, when Fritz Nowosad was the Sec/Treasurer, we made a surprise visit to the Pub as Fritz had spent many an evening there.  Fritz was kept on the coach until everyone had entered, and then was brought in.  They had hung a banner saying "Welcome Home Fritz"; he was very emotional and touched by this. As we headed back to the Marriott in Huntingdon, it was obvious to all that this had been a very memorable day and one not to be soon forgotten.

Monday morning saw everyone boarding the coach under the watchful eyes of Don and Irene again, as we departed for Madingly American Cemetery near Cambridge. This is a very beautiful, well maintained cemetery where some thirty of our own 384^th members are interred. Don Thompson led us in prayer at the mausoleum, with Bill Harvey reading the 23^rd Psalm, and Isabelle Engels providing a memorial she wrote to our departed heroes. Most of us had the privilege of placing a sprig of spruce and poppy at each 384^th grave, which had been conveniently marked with American and British flags beforehand. The weather this day was absolutely brilliant and enhanced the appearance of this beautiful resting place for our fallen American soldiers, sailors and airmen.

The bus then took us to a wonderful lunch in Cambridge where we had time to relax and reflect on the previous events of this well-organized and executed reunion of 384^th members and their families and friends. It was peaceful and warm that afternoon, unlike so very many days when our heroes suited up so early in the morning, climbed into their Fortresses, flew through cloud and fog to form the greatest armadas the world has ever seen, faced the fire and steel of the enemy over Europe, and returned shot up and barely flying only to have to use their superb airmanship skills to bring her home with as many men intact as possible. This was how it was 60-some years ago when the 384^th Kept the Show on the Road.

The farewell dinner at the hotel Monday evening was the last gathering on the agenda for this Junket. Although no speeches were made, there were copious amounts of warm conversation and good English food and drinks to be had. It was an evening most of us wished could last days and not hours because we were so thrilled to see everyone again and just didn’t want it to end with all of us going our separate ways again.

Tuesday morning saw many of us at breakfast, trying one last time to enjoy as much camaraderie as we could before everyone departed and everything fell silent at the Hotel. Most did not want to say good-bye, because it’s really not a good-bye, but rather until we meet again. The 384^th Bomb Group departed the English countryside once again… “as briefed.”

Frank Alfter

24 Sep 05