"Just-a-Snappin" Crash at Ludham Airfield - Research Project - PART ONE
By Linda and Brian Barden - 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum Volunteers We had a visit in May 2019 from Jim and Mary Blakely from the US. This was as a result of the research carried out by museum members into the crash site of "Just-a-Snappin" at Ludham Airfield in October 1943. Jim’s father, Everett Blakey, was the pilot of "Just-a-Snappin". Jim and Mary came on Saturday 11 May 2019 and were able to meet up with some of the museum researchers. They were also given a tou
THE 'FRIENDLY INVASION' REMEMBERED
We had a full house at the museum on 3rd September for our open day. Lots of visitors, military vehicles, re-enactors and people sharing their memories of living in and around Thorpe Abbotts airfield. Our event marked 40 years of our museum as well as 75 years since the USAAF arrived in East Anglia and significantly was held on the day on which in 1939 Britain announced it was at war with Germany. A big thank you to everyone who attended and supported our cause. Crowds cont
The Bloody Hundredth
The 100th Bomb Group gained the reputation as the ‘Bloody Hundredth’ due to the heavy losses they suffered. On their first mission alone the
The Creation of the Museum
In June 1943 the sleepy Norfolk village of Thorpe Abbotts became home to the 100th Bomb Group of the Eighth Airforce. Although the ‘friendly
The Glasshouse
Not to be missed on a visit to the museum is the panoramic views of the airfield from the glasshouse atop the control tower. Recreated as it
The Control Tower
Today our control tower is the star attraction of the museum housing some of our most prized collections but its history dates back to 1942.
Fighting Fear
Getting up each day to undertake notoriously dangerous missions took great courage from the men of the Eighth Airforce.
Billy Boy
The nose art of pilot Joseph P. Ricker's aircraft Billy Boy was inspired by the tiny baby bootie belonging to Ricker's son which hun
Silver Dollar
B17 Flying Fortress Silver Dollar began its service 20th January 1944 and following a short spell in the USA it was assigned to the UK on 2n
Mason and Dixon
Mason and Dixon was a long serving B17 Flying Fortress which was named after two 100th Bomb Group Officers, pilot Floyd Mason and navigator
