Enigma Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Great pcs! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 On one foggy day, three B-17's collided on the end of the secondary runway in an incident that became known as the "Grand Slam". Amazingly, no body was hurt, though the three B-17's were 'Catagory E' write offs. The collision took place at the lower left of the picture. The thin concrete line heading towards the upper right corner is all that remains of the secondary runway. The Technical Site is in the wood to the left. The area of concrete upper right is the intersection between the two secondary runways. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/grand_slam2.jpg[/img] The view from the ground with the Tech Site wood in the background. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/grand_slam1.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Drapers Farm, the location of the crash site of B-17 "Hang The Expense". The tail wheel steering lock broke on take off causing a vibration in the tail. Pilot Frank Valesh aborted the take off, but then couldn't hold the Fortress straight on the runway. It swung right and crashed through two oak trees ending up in the Farm Yard. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/drapers_farm.jpg[/img] Here is the other surviving dispersal, and the small hanger that was built on it. At one time it housed a light aircraft, but now seems to be the location of a scrap yard. In the bottom of the picture, you can still see the outline of the removed loop dispersals in the grass. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/dispersal_hangar2.jpg[/img] http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/dispersal_hangar1.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Across the field of dispersals next to the Control Tower, lies the Base Emergency Control Bunker. This is where base defence would be co-ordinated should the airfield be attacked. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/bunker.jpg[/img] Near to the village of Upper Billingford, is one of the barrack sites. This one was for the 351st bomb Squadron. While the barracks have gone, the ablution blocks remain, along with several brick/earth blast shelters. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/351st_ablutions.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Also not far from Upper Billingford are these 350th BS concrete Barrack Huts. The museum tried to dismantle one of these to move to the museum site but the reinforced concrete buildings proved to hard to dismantle. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/350th1.jpg[/img] http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/350th2.jpg[/img] Finally, an overall aerial of the airfield, taken in 1997. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/ta/aerial.jpg[/img] That's all from me. I hope you enjoyed the behind the scenes tour. For further information about the 100th Bomb Group, see the 100th's own website http://www.100thbg.com/index.htm Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Nice one Steve very, very imformative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 That last photo shows the location of the other remaining spectacle hard standing very well. You can't get this sort of Birds eye view when your on foot! I think you should pass-up the offer of the local bash in the summer Steve and instead make Operation Bolero - Tour of the Dromes a priority - you could certainly save my vocal chords when we do the Thorpe Abbotts bit! I have a friend in Diss who as a child, came home from school to find 'Hang The Expense' in the grounds of the farmyard you mentioned. It was a big thrill for him and his friends of course. Your photo's of the site inbetween the the A-143 and Upper Billingford where the many huts still remain make interesting viewing. After those strong winds a fortnight ago, they are now in even worser state than they were before. Photo's to follow hopefully :roll: Just like the Titanic, every year that goes by erodes a little more of our history away :cry: Check-out http://www.redballexpress.co.uk for the new recommended reading section for anyone interested in this type of thread. Cds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest matt Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hi Steve, Great pics,thanks for sharing. Do you know what type of generators would have been housed in the generator buildings on Eighth bases? and do any survive in situ?(I guess I probably already know the answer to that...all scrapped post war). Cheers, Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I'm not sure of the make, but I think they were big petrol generators, I'm sure the museum at TA used to have one on display several years ago. It was removed to make space for other displays. I may even have a photo of it somewhere. I'll have a dig around and see what I can find. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest matt Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Thanks Steve,that's great! I don't remember seeing one at TA but it's a while since I was last there when the museum was open. Being into large stationery engines and more than a little interested in the history of the Eighth I'd love to find a base emergency generator to restore,but at the same time I wouldn't want to remove one from it's context if it were still in situ. It would certainly be the other end of the scale to my latest project which is almost finished,a Homelite C-10 APU from a B-17/B-24. Cheers, Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I think you should pass-up the offer of the local bash in the summer Steve and instead make Operation Bolero - Tour of the Dromes a priority - you could certainly save my vocal chords when we do the Thorpe Abbotts bit! Cds Had a chat with wifey, and she's gonna check her holiday chart. We were going to take the jeep to Norfolk/Suffolk earlier in June for a weeks holiday, but might see if we can change it to the week leading up to Bolero so we can stay in the area and do the tour. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 That would be brilliant Steve! Recent pictures of the wind damage at Thorpe Abbotts as advised earlier. Cds http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w205/suzannewitton/HMVFPictures010.jpg[/img] http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w205/suzannewitton/HMVFPictures009.jpg[/img] A lovely shot of Captain Charles Cruickshank - who was the pilot of B-17 F Bas*ards Bungalow - He hardly looks old enough to ride a bike let alone command a B-17 and crew. http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w205/suzannewitton/HMVFPictures016.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 That first picture is just too sad. I hope the museum can collect up the parts for possible future rebuild on the museum site. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Thanks Jessie, briliant thread! Can we use this on the front page of the new server as a battlefield tour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Of course you can. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted February 9, 2007 Author Share Posted February 9, 2007 Thanks Jessie - Brilliant Thread ?? :? It was me who posed the Thread - not some 4x4 Jeep :-o :-o Really Joris ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Whoops, sorry mate.. Must have been the lack of coffee... * hides * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 Thanks Jessie - Brilliant Thread ?? :? It was me who posed the Thread - not some 4x4 Jeep :-o :-o Really Joris ;-) Yeah but come on Clive - Steve pulled one out of the hat here :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted February 10, 2007 Author Share Posted February 10, 2007 I think I'll try to 91st at Bassingbourn next time :? At least I know something about that Group :roll: Cds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 I think you're fairly safe with the 91st BG and Bassingbourn. I don't know quite so much about the 1st Division Groups. I've had a long connection with Thorpe Abbotts and the 100th Museum starting in the early 90's. On honeymoon in the USA in July 2000, I stayed the 4th July weekend with the Dolores Lautman, sister of Frank E Valesh, the pilot of B-17 "Hang The Expense". As soon as I got my jeep, that was painted in 100th BG, 351st BS Markings. My first 1/10 scale R/C B-17 "Hang The Expense" is on display there, for which the 100th BG Foundation in the USA made me an Honorary member. I'd like to fly the 17 feet span version there too one day. It has already flown out of Debach and Seething. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 Great story Steve and glad to have you aboard operation Bolero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 Hi Steve, Great pics,thanks for sharing. Do you know what type of generators would have been housed in the generator buildings on Eighth bases? and do any survive in situ?(I guess I probably already know the answer to that...all scrapped post war). Cheers, Matt. Behind the two women and the pole, is the generator that I was talking about that was at Thorpe Abbotts in the mid 1990's. Unfortunately this is the best picture I have of it. I'm not sure where it went after removal, but I have a feeling it wasn't scrapped. You could try contacting the museum and see if they know what happened to it, or for any more info about the base generator. Thorpe Abbotts Museum Steve [attachment deleted by admin] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 Clive, I hope you don't mind me reworking one of your pictures, but after you said "You can almost hear the B-17 running its engine up against the chocks.", I had to do it. Here's a ghostly B-17, with the number 4 engine just kicking into life. Actually, it's my 1/6 scale aircraft, but the original picture was taken at Thorpe Abbotts, a bit further up the 351st perimeter track during the 2000 reunion. Steve [attachment deleted by admin] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 If anyone is interested in a more in depth look around Thorpe Abbotts, I have a 55 page, 5MB PDF file with photos, maps, and captions. A few screen prints have been attached to give you an idea of what it is. If you want a copy, send me a PM with your email address. Steve [attachment deleted by admin] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 PM sent matey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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