Martlesham Heath Aviation Society
Welcome to Our Website
Welcome to Our Website
Welcome to Our Website
Towards in December 2024, the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society received an enquiry from the War Memorials Trust, asking if we owned, or knew of the owner of the USAAF 356th Group Memorial (the left one of the 3 in the photograph), located in Barrack Square, Martlesham Heath, as they had received a letter of concern about the condition of the name plate, where some of the names are difficult to read.
Since it was erected in 1946 on what was then the square within RAF Martlesham Heath, as can be expected, the condition of the memorial and the names on the metal plate, has deteriorated. Despite various local enquiries, approaches to East Suffolk and the Parish Councils, the American Cemetery at Cambridge and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, we have been unable to identify who actually became the owner of the Memorial following the closure and sale of the RAF Martlesham Heath site in 1963.
Consequently, in the public interest and with no claim for responsibility of ownership, the MHAS Trustees have been able, with a donation from a local firm of Solicitors and a grant from the Martlesham Parish Council, to place a contract for the restoration of the memorial. As can be seen in the photographs (a 'before' and 'after'), this work has successfully restored the metal plate and has made the 72 names much more readable.
MHAS is pleased to have been able help restore this memorial to enable us to continue to remember those who gave so much.
Read more on MHAS Table at the Anglia Business Exhibition 7th May
MHAS are delighted to announce that we have 'Wild' Bill Crump's flying jacket from his time here at Martlesham Heath. It was kindly donated to the museum by his four sons and is now displayed in the 356th Fighter Group room. We are very grateful to the Crump brothers for this kind gesture and are very proud to have this with us. Do come along and have a look.
To keep you up to date with what's happening in and around the Museum, plus related interesting information and pictures, we've created a new Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum Facebook page. Please search for us, take a look, and follow us to keep in touch.
As most of you will know one of our longest standing members Wally Mutimer passed away in November. His daughters, Tracy and Alison, recently visted the Control Tower to donate one of Wally's model planes which he bequeathed to be displayed within the museum. We will exhibit this with pride in remembrance of Wally and what a positive influence he was on all those that met him.
Please see below the link to the Remembrance Service on the Barrack Square. Many thanks to Katie Drake for her superb work.
http://www.mhas.org.uk/history/the-last-of-the-356th-fighter-group?stage=Stage
