Date: 25th October 2006
Name: Marlene
Email: marlee::at::btconnect.com
Message: We are trying to find Ron Page to tell him of the sudden death of an old friend of his - Len Webster. We all knew each other once upon a time. If anyone know how we can reach him, please email me or better still call Lyn on 0208 000 0000 or Caroline on 0208 000 0000.
Many thanks for letting me post on here.
FOLLOW-UP to the above message
From: Marlene Plimley
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 8:41 PM
To: linn::at::barringer.co.uk
Subject: Re: MHAS GUESTBOOK
Dear Linn,
Thank you for your message.
We have located Ron Page. He was also a cab driver so we traced him through the cab drivers office.
Many thanks for all your help.
Regards,
Marlene
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Date: 23rd October 2006
Name: Simon Roberts
Email: simon::at::sroberts.f2s.com
Connection: Researching 1941 Wellington Crash
MH job: Currently serving RAF Engineer (1977 to present)
Located now:MOD Bristol
Message: Extremely interesting site. Very enjoyable. I am trying to find out the details of a Wellington Mk III X9826 KO-D of 115 Sqn that crashed whilst trying to land at MH on the night of 29/30 Aug 1941. I have the crew names and that FS Boyce died in Ipswich Hospital of his injuries. Has anyone got any memories or any more information? Were they limping home? Was the aircraft recovered? Any help would be gratefully received and acknowledged.
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Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 7:59 PM
Name: Jack Dorr
Email: hjdorr::at::aol.com
Connection: Many RAF friends
MH job: Comm Officer at Bentwaters
Located now: retired in Mansfield, Ohio USA
Message: I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters in mid fifties. Had a number of friends at RAF MH.
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Date: 28th August 2006
Name: Alexander Bonnet
Email: bonnetalexandre::at::belgacom.net
Connection: History 356 FG
MH job: n/a
Located now: Air force, Historical Museum Air Base Brustem (Saint-Trond), Belgium
Message: Very interesting site!
Who can give me any information about F/O Howard P. Maupin, Pilot P-47 of 356 FG, 360 FS. He was shot down by FLAK of Brustem air base on 20 March 1944 and crashed in Neerwinden, Belgium. The Belgian underground took care of him so that he could escape the Germans. MACR 3394 and serial P-47 42-22535.
Thanks
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ate: 25th August 2006
Name: Stephen Claypole
Email: SClaypole::at::dma-media.com
Connection: None
MH job: Chairman
Located now: DMA-Media Ltd (Sixth Floor) 33 Margaret Street, London W1G 0JD
Message: Looking for flyers who might have met an Australian Spitfire pilot called Alfred Francis James, referred to in Cal Younger's book "No Flight from the Cage" as "Jimmie" James. Believe he was at Stalag Luft III. He told various people through the years that he escaped but he appears to have been repatriated via Cairo by the International Red Cross. I am writing about him because some interesting papers have just been released by HM Government. James was shot down in northern France on April 25th 1942. He was burned about the face and was TPI for the rest of his life. In spite of this, he got himself arrested in China in l969. Spent over three years there being shouted at by the ed Guards. Is Cal Younger still about?
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From: Graham Dixey
Email: GEDixey::at::aol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 6:30 PM
Dear Sirs,
I served at Martlesham Heath from May 1951 to October 1953, as an Air Wireless Mechanic, later Air Wireless Fitter. It was my first posting after Radio School and was a great station on which to serve. I re-visited the site recently and was amazed to find the barrack blocks still intact. Gordon Kinsey, in his book, Martlesham Heath, says they were demolished to make way for the new road. In fact, the Airmen's Mess was demolished for this purpose, plus much else besides. The NAAFI (picture below) opposite the square has also gone. So has virtually everything else though in tramping around the site I found the remnants of the Fire Section - the remains of the hose drying tower and a single-story building, quite derelict. I must visit the Control Tower sometime when I can find its opening hours.
Any information on your Society would be of great interest.
Graham Dixey (ex-Cpl Air Wireless Fitter, no. 3508403)
RAF Martlesham Heath NAAFI, about 1952. Photo © Graham Dixey.
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Date: 12th July 2006
Name: Dr. Curt Wolters
Email: curtw::at::lummi-nsn.gov
Connection: Friend of ("Wild Bill") Crump, 356th Ftr Grp P-47 pilot
Located now: Bellingham, WA, USA; Chief Economist Lummi Indian Nation
Message: Bill and his squadron mates were instrumental in liberating my (then) country, Holland, 1944-45. I watched him and his fellow pilots regularly shoot up German supply trains on the Amersfoort - Ede Wageningen tracks, which ran behind our house. On one occasion they fatally hit a horse pulling a Wehrmacht ammo cart on the street parallel to the tracks. The horse's meat fed our starving neighborhood for more than a week!
Thanks, Martlesham Heath fighter pilots.
Here's to Bill (and his coyote mascot "Jeep")!
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Date: 28th June 2006
Name: Peter Fahy
Email: pefahy::at::onetel.com
Connection: Parents lived twixt Ipswich & Martlesham - I landed there!
MH job: did not serve at MH
Located now:retired
Message: Before WW2 I watched early Spits & Hurries at MH and vowed to fly them.
Glad you appreciate poetry and feel privileged that one of mine is in the MH Control Tower Museum. Happy memories of the Spitfire - Mk 1V 1X and X1 - mainly PRU and the vital groundwork done by Sidney Cotton.
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Date: 29th May 2006
Name: Al Niemi
Email: aeniemi::at::msn.com
Connection: My Dad was with the US Army Airforce
MH job: N/A
Located now:V-President Central Divison Mgr
Message: I would enjoy hearing from anyone who knew my father, Albert V Niemi, Captain, Airplane called the "Cape Codder", and member of the US 360th Flight Sq. God bless. . .
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Date: 27th May 2006
Name: Barry Hitchcox & Gail Cheeseman
Email: barry::at::hitchcox-photography.co.uk
Connection: 2 most interesting visits to research a relative
MH job: No direct connection with the service
Located now: 69 Grove Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 7G
Message: We are looking for any info/memories etc regarding Corporal Rita Mary CRANE, born 1920, known to be serving in the WAAF during 1942-44. Station unknown. Home address at time was Rushmere St.Andrew, Ipswich.
We are very grateful to Alan Smith and others connected with the museum for help received thus far.
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Date: 19th May 2006
Name: Edward (Ted) Lambert
Email: tedlambert::at::sympatico.ca
Connection:
MH job: station armourer S.A.C. 1950 1952
Located now:Toronto Canada retired
Message: would love to hear from anyone who remembers me especially from Fred Houghton and Tony Ticehurst, also armourers.
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Date: 22nd April 2006
Name: Roger Gifford
Email: mancpaddy::at::yahoo.co.uk
Connection: None
MH job:
Message: A very interesting site that I was directed to by an ex-RAF neighbour in special respect to "Wild Bill" Crump and his four legged co-pilot. Fascinating story and Ray confirms that when he was at Martlesham he went and saw the memorial to JEEP NMI COYOTE. I am currently sarting a collection, as I have found a source, of RAF isue Navigation Maps used. If I get one covering Matlesham I shall send details. The one I have so far has the Pilot/Navigators name on [Eastchurch]
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Date: 08th March 2006
Name: Peter Gilboy
Email: PGILBOY::at::telefonica.net
Connection: National Service
MH job: SAC. Pay Clerk - Jan. 1952 to Nov. 1953
Located now:Retired.
Message: RAF Martlesham Heath seems to haunt my mind. I have not forgotten the almost two years I spent there. I have lived abroad for many years now, but paid a visit there in 1999 and, regrettably, was unable to visit my old office (in the SHQ) because it is inside the BT Compound. In other respects, I remember that we used to go and see Ipswich Town, then in the Third Division. In fact, even now, further to Leeds United (my home team) I still check the fortunes of Ipswich from tine to time. Another memory is the five hour train trip from Peterborough to Ipswich on Sunday afternoon, on the way back after leave. We also had a good time with the cricket team. Was disappointed to see that the Airmen's Mess (not original but built by the Americans during the war I believe) had been pulled down to make way for a road. if my memory does not fail me, during my time there, it won a prize one year as the best Mess and was runner-up the other.
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Date: 04th March 2006
Name: Malcolm Cook
Email: mal.prostar::at::gmail.com
Connection: None, purely interest
MH job: None, too young even to do National Service
Located now: Dereham, Norfolk. Theatrical Manager.
Message: An excellent site well worth visiting. Jimmy 'Dixie' Deans was a much loved and respected close family friend who I am extremely proud to have known. Apart from the close family connection, there was another in that I managed 60's actor pop-singer John Leyton who featured in the film The Great Escape as Charlie Bronson's escape partner Willie the Tunnel King. I extend my very best wishes to all associated with MHAS, and to those who served in the RAF during WWII I extend my most sincere thanks.
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Date: 26th February 2006
Name: Edward Lambert
Email: tedlambert::at::sympatico.ca
Connection:
MH job: Armourer in station armoury S.A.C. 2 years
Located now:Retired living in Toronto Canada
Message: I would like to talk to any one that remembers me, I played football for the station team coach was a flight sergeant with B.L.E.U. I would like to meet up with Fred Houghton in particular,he was also an armourer with B.B.U.
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Date: 31st January 2006
Name: John A. Epley
Email: jrod21061::at::aol.com
Connection: Son of LtCol Thomas K. Epley, USAF, ret.
MH job: My father served with 361st ftr sqd, 356th ftr grp
Located now: Greer SC
Message: My father was a 1Lt (later Capt) assigned to 361st between July 1944 and 11 Nov 1945. I have found an entire roster of 361st officers (undated) in his military records. Included is John P. Perrin, 21A No. Vermont, Atlantic City, N.J.
Dad went on to serve 22 yrs, 8 mo with the Air Force, serving as instructor pilot, radar controller (Berlin Airlift), ground weapons controller (Korea), and finally communications squadron commander.
We lost him August 4th, 2003 at 81 years young. He celebrated his 80th birthday by taking a final flight in the ultra-lite aircraft he built at 75.
If anyone knew my father, I would appreciate an email. He flew P-47's and P-51's in England (his aircraft was QI-E, name "Toots" after his sister.
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Date: 31 January 2006
Name: Stanley Jones
Email: senoj::at::jeffnet.org
Connection: Researching life & death of Capt John P. Perrin USAAF
MH job: n/a
Located now:
Message: Do you happen to remember a Capt John P. Perrin 796729 who flew P47D 42-22533 Oct '43/May '44 out of Martlesham Heath?
He completed 65 missions/200-hrs combat duty with 361st Squadron.
In July '44 met his death in a P51D he was ferrying when the plane caught fire and crashed into a wheat field at Creswell, Stafford.
As a 7-year old I witnessed the accident. Would love to learn of anyone who knew him, have their comments, photo's, operational notes.
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Date: 5 January 2006
Name: John King
Email: jki44229::at::bigpond.net.au
Connection: Stationed MH May 54 to Feb 57
MH job: Sgt wireless fitter
Located now:Retired now Perth Western Australia
Message: Found your site yesterday, very interesting. I was responsible for all ground radio equipment including the off site VHF D/F. My workshop and office were the ground floor of the control tower. Had a 15cwt truck for getting around and a Mr Bunn (who lived nearby) was the driver. 2617
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