Parham Airfield Museum News and Events Page

Looking forward

Look out for our special open weekend running from 18th to 20th May 2012. With the final performances of Private Resistance by Eastern Angles. Plus re-enactments, military vehicles, side stalls etc.

November 2011

On 11th November, Framlingham College pupils attended for their annual wreath laying service as part of Remembrance Day.

Also in November, Barb Rastl visited, from Indiana USA. She is the daughter of Ralph Hartman. Ralph flew 35 missions with 570th Squadron. That crew claims the record of 35 missions flown in the shortest time, 88 days, from 23rd January to 20th April 1945.

Click on the image for a larger view

November saw the release of the film Resistance based on the Secret Army.

October 2011

In October, Mike Crosbie, son of Maurice “Bing” Crosbie, pilot in 569th Squadron visited the Museum.

Click on the image for a larger view

Richard Bushong, senior docent at Tucson, remembers living in the same hut as Maurice, and to this day, still talks about him every week, at Tucson! On a mission to Frankfurt, 20 minutes short of the target area, they had 3 direct Flak hits. Maurice was badly injured. The navigator Richard W. Maddox, bandaged his eye and administered First Aid, saving his life. Maurice helped the Co-Pilot fly to the target, still watching the instruments with his one good eye.

Mike took home a little bag of Parham soil to put on his father’s grave.

Click on the image for a larger view

Gary Jones visited us in October. Gary is the son of Raymond J Jones, 569th Squadron. He flew 29 missions as Top Turret Gunner /Radio Operator. Gary has a picture of his father in the William J Holt crew (and posing with actor James Cagney, known as Crew 24 in March 1944), during the naming of the aircraft “Yankee Doodle Dandee”. Mervyn, our historian, says their other claim to fame is that they never returned early from a mission for any reason.

Click on the image for a larger view

We also hosted 2 groups in October- the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and Rushmere School, who are studying WWII.

September 2011

We had a visit from Janet Keough and her son Craig in September. Janet is the daughter of E. Forrest Cooper and Dorothy Cooper. E. Forrest Cooper III served in 571st. Sadly, he died five years ago whilst attending the Louisville KY 390th Reunion. Janet is still actively involved in 390th Reunions and is pictured presenting the Museum with a photo of her father and a moving passage that she has written about his time with the 390th.

Click on the image for a larger view

July 2011

The Framlingham Beavers group enjoyed their visit to the Museum. We have also had visits from Kettleburgh and Earl Soham Cubs.

Click on the image for a larger view

June 2011

Judge James (Jim) Hill visited with his two sons and daughter-in-law. He was a cryptographer and we were able to show him his old office with its original door at the Headquarters site (the present inhabitants are pigs!) Jim remembers seeing Glenn Miller play at the 200th Mission Party in August 1944. He is surprised that the Museum has no display or information about this famous visitor- an omission we hope to put right. Does anyone else remember this concert? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Click on the image for a larger view

May 2011

On 7th May, we had a lovely get-together and barbecue at the Museum, with staff, members and friends of the Museum gathering to watch as the exhibit donated by Nancy and Bill Neave was presented by Peter Kindred to Barry Walton, the Museum Curator. Everyone had a very enjoyable afternoon and the exhibit is now sitting proudly in the upstairs room of the old Control Tower.

Click on the image for a larger view

February 2011.

11th February 2011 Bill and Nancy Naeve visited the Museum. The picture shows Bill and Nancy looking up the record of Bill's father's last mission, which they were delighted to find amongst Dick Drain's research.

Bill is the son of Daniel Alonzo Naeve who was in the 569th Group. He arrived in Framlingham in November 1943. He flew 3 missions as the navigator on the Gung Ho with a crew lead by Captain Robert Patterson. There was something wrong with the Gung Ho aircraft so the crew boarded the Coy Decoy for a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany. Unfortunately a short way into their mission an engine failed . They managed to complete the bombing run but fell out of formation on the return journey after flack had taken out a second engine. They abandoned the aircraft over Holland and unfortunately Dan was captured and ended up in Stalag Luft 1 and remained there until he was liberated in 1945.

Click on the image for a larger view

November 2010.

Framlingham College Cadets laid a wreath on Remembrance Day.

Click on the image for a larger view

Mrs Edileen Ireland shows her late husband's jacket to her Pastor and his wife, Patrick and Stephanie Moore, from Independence, Missouri. Ed Ireland, who donated the jacket to the museum, died last year.

Click on the image for a larger view

Also in November......

On November 19th 2010, Susan Rock and her husband visited. Susan is the daughter of Alfred F Cramer, 569th Squadron, stationed here from Aug 1st 1944 to Feb 19th 1945, during which time he completed 35 bombing missions.

October 2010.

Mr Jim Culp visited in October 2010. Jim is the son of Herbert J Culp, 568th Squadron. He flew as Waist Gunner/Tail Gunner and completed 30 missions on seventeen different aircraft. His pilot on Crew 06 was Jonathan D Briggs.

Click on the image for a larger view

Group visits to the museum.

Visits to the museum can be arranged for groups or school groups, please telephone the museum on 01728 621373 or E-mail parhamairfield@yahoo.co.uk

At Parham Airfield Museum we are very happy to welcome larger groups of visitors to the museum. We were pleased to welcome a group from Horham Baptist Church.

There were about 50 adults and 25 children in the group, Simon Ladd was kind enough to E-mail us a photo of the visit as well as some very kind comments.

"We really enjoyed our visit. The museum is fascinating and the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you again" Simon Ladd, Horham Baptist Church.

Horham Baptist Church visit photo

Click on the image for a larger view


	Looking forward Look out for our special open weekend running from 18th to 20th May 2012. With the final performances of Private Resistance by Eastern Angles. Plus re-enactments, military vehicles, side stalls etc. November 2011 On 11th November, Framlingham College pupils attended for their annual wreath laying service as part of Remembrance Day. Also in November, Barb Rastl visited, from Indiana USA. She is the daughter of Ralph Hartman. Ralph flew 35 missions with 570th Squadron. That crew claims the record of 35 missions flown in the shortest time, 88 days, from 23rd January to 20th April 1945. Click on the image for a larger view November saw the release of the film Resistance based on the Secret Army. October 2011 In October, Mike Crosbie, son of Maurice “Bing” Crosbie, pilot in 569th Squadron visited the Museum. Click on the image for a larger view Richard Bushong, senior docent at Tucson, remembers living in the same hut as Maurice, and to this day, still talks about him every week, at Tucson! On a mission to Frankfurt, 20 minutes short of the target area, they had 3 direct Flak hits. Maurice was badly injured. The navigator Richard W. Maddox, bandaged his eye and administered First Aid, saving his life. Maurice helped the Co-Pilot fly to the target, still watching the instruments with his one good eye. Mike took home a little bag of Parham soil to put on his father’s grave. Click on the image for a larger view Gary Jones visited us in October. Gary is the son of Raymond J Jones, 569th Squadron. He flew 29 missions as Top Turret Gunner /Radio Operator. Gary has a picture of his father in the William J Holt crew (and posing with actor James Cagney, known as Crew 24 in March 1944), during the naming of the aircraft “Yankee Doodle Dandee”. Mervyn, our historian, says their other claim to fame is that they never returned early from a mission for any reason. Click on the image for a larger view We also hosted 2 groups in October- the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and Rushmere School, who are studying WWII. September 2011 We had a visit from Janet Keough and her son Craig in September. Janet is the daughter of E. Forrest Cooper and Dorothy Cooper. E. Forrest Cooper III served in 571st. Sadly, he died five years ago whilst attending the Louisville KY 390th Reunion. Janet is still actively involved in 390th Reunions and is pictured presenting the Museum with a photo of her father and a moving passage that she has written about his time with the 390th. Click on the image for a larger view July 2011 The Framlingham Beavers group enjoyed their visit to the Museum. We have also had visits from Kettleburgh and Earl Soham Cubs. Click on the image for a larger view June 2011 Judge James (Jim) Hill visited with his two sons and daughter-in-law. He was a cryptographer and we were able to show him his old office with its original door at the Headquarters site (the present inhabitants are pigs!) Jim remembers seeing Glenn Miller play at the 200th Mission Party in August 1944. He is surprised that the Museum has no display or information about this famous visitor- an omission we hope to put right. Does anyone else remember this concert? If so, we would love to hear from you. Click on the image for a larger view Click on the image for a larger view Click on the image for a larger view May 2011 On 7th May, we had a lovely get-together and barbecue at the Museum, with staff, members and friends of the Museum gathering to watch as the exhibit donated by Nancy and Bill Neave was presented by Peter Kindred to Barry Walton, the Museum Curator. Everyone had a very enjoyable afternoon and the exhibit is now sitting proudly in the upstairs room of the old Control Tower. Click on the image for a larger view Click on the image for a larger view February 2011. 11th February 2011 Bill and Nancy Naeve visited the Museum. The picture shows Bill and Nancy looking up the record of Bill's father's last mission, which they were delighted to find amongst Dick Drain's research. Bill is the son of Daniel Alonzo Naeve who was in the 569th Group. He arrived in Framlingham in November 1943. He flew 3 missions as the navigator on the Gung Ho with a crew lead by Captain Robert Patterson. There was something wrong with the Gung Ho aircraft so the crew boarded the Coy Decoy for a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany. Unfortunately a short way into their mission an engine failed . They managed to complete the bombing run but fell out of formation on the return journey after flack had taken out a second engine. They abandoned the aircraft over Holland and unfortunately Dan was captured and ended up in Stalag Luft 1 and remained there until he was liberated in 1945. Click on the image for a larger view November 2010. Framlingham College Cadets laid a wreath on Remembrance Day. Click on the image for a larger view Mrs Edileen Ireland shows her late husband's jacket to her Pastor and his wife, Patrick and Stephanie Moore, from Independence, Missouri. Ed Ireland, who donated the jacket to the museum, died last year. Click on the image for a larger view Also in November...... On November 19th 2010, Susan Rock and her husband visited. Susan is the daughter of Alfred F Cramer, 569th Squadron, stationed here from Aug 1st 1944 to Feb 19th 1945, during which time he completed 35 bombing missions. October 2010. Mr Jim Culp visited in October 2010. Jim is the son of Herbert J Culp, 568th Squadron. He flew as Waist Gunner/Tail Gunner and completed 30 missions on seventeen different aircraft. His pilot on Crew 06 was Jonathan D Briggs. Click on the image for a larger view Group visits to the museum. Visits to the museum can be arranged for groups or school groups, please telephone the museum on 01728 621373 or E-mail parhamairfield@yahoo.co.uk At Parham Airfield Museum we are very happy to welcome larger groups of visitors to the museum. We were pleased to welcome a group from Horham Baptist Church. There were about 50 adults and 25 children in the group, Simon Ladd was kind enough to E-mail us a photo of the visit as well as some very kind comments. "We really enjoyed our visit. The museum is fascinating and the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you again" Simon Ladd, Horham Baptist Church. Click on the image for a larger view