The B-24 from Bätterkinden takes off from this airfield on 13 July 1944. B-24 H-20-FO, Serial No. 42-94989, Marking: IG-N, Nik-Name: Battlin Baby, 8t Air Force, 448th Bomb Group, 713rd Squadron, Mission: Saarbrücken (D)
Sadly the time has come for me to say goodbye as the Sunday, October 1st Open Day will be my last as I leave for good. Both Ron and I at 89 and 90 years of age have health problems now we are the last of the original group of volunteers who started the Tower Association in 1987 after the tower was opened and dedicated during a 448th Bomb Group Reunion but I had started my 448th B G Collection in 1984 after the 448th came over to dedicate two memorials one on airfield the other in Seething village churchyard and I started writing to the 448th veterans and also those who had lost loved ones and had donated to the funds for the memorial stones. 80 Years ago when the first American troops arrived on Seething Airfield it made such a great impact as by November 1943 around 3,000 young servicemen came to live just over a mile away from our small rural village. In those far off days we had no electricity, no phones, just a phone box, only water from wells, just one large family radio used mainly for news, and newspapers which were often censored. Only 2/3 families in village had a car you either used a push bike or walked we but had a bus service to Norwich. We had been at war since Sept 1939 we were used to complete darkness except during air raids when searchlights would sweep the sky an then the glow in the sky as Norwich burned. The sky was busy with aircraft day and night including ‘our’ huge B-24 Liberators, and some fighter used on the base during practice missions. You carried your gas mask with you heard Bombs whistle as they came down when rare bomb attacks close by took place, heard/saw the latest long range rockets coming over one landing close by the base. So having our own ‘YANK’S’ living just down the road was such impact on every one in many different ways, and they left such a void after the last ones left and the airfield was used to store bombs and ammo with guards on the gate once again. Memories of the 448th BG Reunions here and in US the privilege of meeting many of the veterans of the 448th BG and their families, the many visitors to the Tower on open days pus the tour groups and many others on non-open days. Presenting the first ever wreath for the 448th BG on Memorial Day 1987 and involved thru the years until 2018. Attending the dedication and opening of the new 2nd A.D. Memorial Library also the American Air Museum at Duxford, but most important to me is the memories of all those 448th men and their families.Thank you all so much for your help and encouragement thru the years.
Pat & Ron
Hello Pat & Ron
Thank you very much for your very great support over this very long time. Thanks to you both and the Control Tower team you have made a huge contribution to the preservation of the history of the 448th Bomb Group, 8th Army Air Force in England. What you both have achieved is incredible, you have made it your life's work to build and develop the history and the Control Tower Museum of the 448th Bomb Group so that the history of the 448th Bomb Group is not forgotten. You always had an open ear when it came to questions about bombers of the 448th Bomb Group that made an emergency landing or crashed in Switzerland, when we visited you, we were always warmly welcomed by you like a member of the family. That was a very nice and great time. We wish you both a very happy retirement, above all good health and many happy hours together.
Kind regards, Rolf, B-17 Museum Utzenstorf, Switzerland
