Airfield Commemorative Association

Happy Bottom

70 years ago this month a famous American actor came to Ridgewell. Fresh from filming ‘Mr. Winkle Goes to War’, Hollywood star, Edward G. Robinson, arrived to christen a new B-17 in honour of his wife.

On 5 July 1944, Ridgewell came to a standstill. Not just for the war, but for movie actor Edward G. Robinson (alias "Rico" Bandello, a small-time crook from the movie, Little Caesar) who’d arrived to christen a new B-

17G which had recently been assigned to the 532nd Bomb Squadron. Base Chaplain James Good Brown was

one of the first to greet him. He was left suitably impressed. “What a man!” Brown later wrote. “Of all the actors who came

to the base, he showed the most human interest. He was never acting. He just wanted to walk around the base talking to the President—Dave Osborne men, and the men wanted to talk to him.” Chairman—Jim Tennet Robinson broke his gangster persona making the watching Treasurer—Jenny Tennet Secretary—Mike Land men howl with laughter when he announced that he was Membership Secretary—Alan Steel naming the new aircraft ‘Happy Bottom’ after his wife, Historian—Chris Tennet Gladys, which he cleverly mispronounced, ‘Glad Ass’. Volunteer—Monica Steel

The actor was a big hit. “When he left the base, he left with Aki Bingley several thousand men as his friends,” said Chaplain Brown. DEDICATED TO THE MEN OF RAF 90 SQUADRON, 94 AND 95 MAINTENANCE UNITS AND USAAF 381ST BOMB Newsletter JULY 2014 Sadly, Happy Bottom didn’t fare so well. Just eleven days later, on a mission to Munich, the aircraft was forced to ditch in the North Sea some 40 miles from the In this month’s issue... English coast. Fortunately the pilot, Jack McGregor, was skilful enough to bring her down alongside a Welcome to the July 2014 edition The service ended with a beautifully Chris Tennet waiting air/sea rescue boat. The crew managed to scramble aboard (without getting their feet wet) while of Ridgewell Airfield bagpiped rendition of Amazing A profile of Happy Bottom bobbed along on the surface. She remained there for a full half an hour before gently sinking Commemorative Association’s Grace. Association beneath the waves. She’d only managed eight missions. Compared to some of the 381st aircraft, though, quarterly newsletter. The Association wishes to thank the historian and she’d led a charmed life. After all, there were only a few that were christened by Hollywood royalty. On 22 June, 2014, members of the following for their generous l o n g - t i m e association, local villagers and donations: Lt. Col. John Arthur, Mr volunteer, Chris Eighth in the East other interested people took part in David Cole, Mr & Mrs Chadwick, Tennet. a memorial service to remember Mr A. F. Dye, Mrs S.E. Mackinnon, Thanks to a Heritage Lottery-funded initiative which is helping to explore the history of the those who lost their lives in the Mr Tony Steel, Mr Paul Fellows, A Brief History and its association with East Anglia, residents of Ridgewell and the surrounding area will soon be able to explosion of B-17F, Caroline, at Colin & Lynn, Locolines Ltd, Mr M u s e u m learn more about the work of this unique airfield. Ridgewell airfield on 23 June 1943. Andy Waller, Mrs Pat Morris, Mrs Curator, Jim The Eighth in the East project was set up to support the work of This year’s memorial service Josie Howe, Anna Roge (Veteran’s Tennet, outlines volunteers who care for this local heritage, and the Ridgewell follows that of the 70th anniversary daughter USA), Sonia Walsham, a brief history of Airfield Commemorative Association has been lucky enough to service which was held last year. Mike & Christine Land, Brian & RAF Ridgewell. be approved as one of those organisations that will benefit from Since then, membership secretary, Irene Bird, Charles Perriello a special Eighth in the East Community Grant. Alan Steel, has been busily (Veteran’s son USA), Andy Cox, Happy Bottom The grants focus on providing support to organisations, groups drumming up support and Kevin Wilson (381st BGMA On 5 July 1944, and museums that wish to engage in new ways with their local donations, whilst organising the Secretary USA), Jonathan Jones, Jim a new B-17G community to tell the story of the Eighth Air Force and its links construction of a permanent granite & Jenny Tennet, Mark Powell, Paul was christened to the region during World War Two. Thanks to the Eighth in memorial to the event. Great work, & Aki Bingley, Alan & Mary by a famous the East project, the Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Alan! Bingley, Alan & Monica Steel, ‘gangster’. Association Museum has been given funding to purchase a new Unveiled on 22 June, the memorial Anthony Wallbridge, Granite Block projector and equipment which will be used to begin a series of is still being constructed and should donated by Mr Trevor Thurgood. 8th in the East audio-visual talks for the local community and village history be in its permanent position at the Inscription Block donated by Irvin Details of a societies about the history of RAF Ridgewell. The equipment will also be used to present films and slide site of the explosion by November (Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative C o m m u n i t y shows at the museum on its open days. 2014. Association). Grant given to Needless to say, we are very pleased to have been chosen for one of the Eighth in the East’s grants, and The service was conducted by And last, but not least, the the museum by would like to thank the Eighth in the East project and the Heritage Lottery Fund for its valued support. Stambourne minister, Mr Adrian Association would like to thank the Eighth in the If your village society is interested in hearing one of our talks, please contact Jim Tennet at [email protected] Burr, and included a reading of the Nigel & Sue of Stonewriters for their East project. names of those who lost their lives. help and consideration. 4 The Winter of1 ‘44 © Michael Land

Located off the A1017 (formerly A604), Ridgewell Road, ,

Chris Tennet A Brief History

Q: You’ve made a number of scale aircraft models Museum curator, Jim Tennet (with a little help and inspiration from old friend, Derek Wyndham Mayes!) for the museum. Which is your favourite and gives us a brief history of the work of RAF Ridgewell and the museum. why? Although built for specific use by the US Army Air Force, Ridgewell Airfield was initially used as an R.A.F. A: I have two favourites. The first one being a 1/48 station, part of number 3 group in Bomber Command. Because the US 381st Bomb Group were not ready scale P-47 Thundebolt in and, despite many buildings not being completed, it was first used in January 1943 until June by RAF 90 markings (Station 357 Duxford). I'm quite a squadron flying Short Stirlings. Although there for only a short period, 90 Squadron suffered 31 incidents perfectionist with scale models, and this one I can't during that time, most of which were a total loss and claimed many lives. find anything wrong with. The other favourite is a The Army Air Force 381st Bomb Group, commanded by Colonel Joseph J Nazzaro, was 1/48 scale B-17, marked up as 43-37657 "The Fox" formed and trained at Pyote, Texas, being equipped with Boeing B17E Flying Fortresses. With its training Association historian, Chris Tennet, answers 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. The complete on the 2nd February, 1943 the group moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where it 'fine tuned' until the 9th questions about his time at the museum. model is not perfect, and I made a few mistakes but it May, 1943. Early in May, the commander learned that the group was destined for action in the European was the first one I had made since I was younger and theatre of war and on the 12th May, an advanced party flew, by means of Q: When and how did you first become aware of overall it's not bad. The story behind the aircraft is a C54 Skymaster aircraft, to Prestwick, Scotland. The B17 aircraft and RAF Ridgewell? particularly interesting, and will soon be in the their crews then began their transfer to England, departing Pueblo on the museum alongside the model. 4th of May to 'Smokey Hill' Army Base, Salinas, Kansas. The first A: I first became aware of RAF Ridgewell simply by aircraft departed Salinas for England on the 15th of May, 1943. Those living right next to it. I grew up in the village of Q: You’ve studied the history of the 381st BG in aircraft with long-range 'Tokyo-Tanks' flew direct to Prestwick. The Ovington and spent a lot of my youth playing with detail. Which event in its history never fails to remainder travelled via Bangor, Maine to Goose Bay, Labrador to Bluie friends on the old base. Combined with my love of impress you? West 1, Greenland to Keflavik Field, Iceland to Prestwick, Scotland and aircraft, my interest in the airfield took hold. finally to Bovingdon in Hertfordshire, England. Arriving on the 25th of A: There are far too many to choose from. One that May, they spent the next ten days being indoctrinated with the Q: How did you get involved in the Ridgewell springs to mind is the tale of Carolina Queen, unable knowledge necessary to fight over Europe. This mainly concerned 'Chug A Lug IV' comes into land at Ridgewell sometime during 1944 Airfield museum? to lower her landing gear and with no tools to drop additional defensive formation flying for the pilots and practice at the A: I was involved in the early stages of the museum, the ball turret for a belly landing, they passed the advanced gunnery school ranges over the Wash for the gunners. when it was an open air exhibition next to the tools in mid-air from Little Rockette (flown by Col Meanwhile, between the 9th and 26th May, the ground crews transferred from Pueblo to Camp Kilmer, New hospital site. Tony Ince, who started the collection, Hall) to ensure a successful landing. Jersey. After 14 days they embarked onto the 'Queen Elizabeth' arriving in Greenock, Scotland on the 1st invited me to come and help display the items once a June, 1943. They then travelled by rail to Great Yeldham in Essex, which was the nearest station to their new month during the summer. It was a lot of hard work Q: What is your favourite object in Ridgewell’s airfield, Station 167, Ridgewell, Essex, 26 miles S.E. of Cambridge, arriving on 3rd June, 1943. The as all the exhibits were stored in another airfield memorabilia collection? Americans christened the old L.N.E.R. (London and North Eastern Railway) single line railway, which building half a mile away. We did this every summer connected Marks Tey, and Haverhill to Cambridge, 'The Toonerville Trolley' because of its for a number of years, before we were offered part of A: Not a particular object, but I think we are antiquated and 'quaint' engines and rolling stock. one of the old hospital buildings as a permanent extremely fortunate to have our museum in one of the Building work was still on going when the 381st arrived but when completed, the airfield had three museum. original Nissen huts. It was one of the wards in the intersecting runways- two of 2,000 yards and one of 1,400 yards; 50 base hospital, and it's a great feeling to know that we aircraft dispersal bays; two 'T2' Hangers and accommodation for Q: You attended a 381st BGMA reunion in are keeping the memory alive in a place where 381st 2,900 men in temporary buildings. Nashville in 2010. What did you take away from men once walked. The most special items we have The 381st Bomb Group epitomised the tremendous courage and the experience? are always the personal items, such as William sacrifice made by the men of the United States Army Air Force A: It was an incredible experience for me, Scruggs' class A uniform and an original A2 leather under the most difficult operating conditions and against every particularly listening to stories being shared between jacket worn by Claude Mullins. single manned and unmanned ant-aircraft device that Germany could old friends. It makes it all seem more real to hear range against them, including air-to-air bombs and rocket projectiles. these tales first hand, of things experienced at such a Q: What would you like to see more of at the After 22 months of combat and the loss of 131 aircraft, the 381st young age. When I was 19 or 20 I was at college, but museum? B-17s of the 381st Bomb Group in the skies over East Anglia licked its wounds and departed from Ridgewell and the shores of these great men were risking their lives to free Britain forever. Europe from tyranny. Very humbling. I only wish I'd A: Anything from a B-17. An instrument panel, a Ridgewell was but one of the many airfields operated by the USAAF during the Second World War. Their had a tape recorder. Also while in Nashville I got to Sperry ball turret, a Browning .50 cal, maybe even an heroic stories and sacrifice was reflected throughout every airbase from which they operated. fly on CAF’s Texas Raiders. There were six of us on actual B-17. I can dream. The museum that is dedicated to the brave men of the RAF and the USAAF is open on the second Sunday of the flight, including 381st waist gunner Dick each month from April to September but we may be extending that for another month or two. For those who Schneider. It was something I'll never forget. wish to support the museum, there is a membership of £10 per year. 2 3