You can only find and read so many research documents before you need to direct your efforts towards something else to keep your interest alive. Anniversary “Return to England." The timing couldn’t have been better for cousin Jim and me as we needed some other direction in our research, and this was it. We had the chance to walk in the footsteps of our uncle, to see what he had seen, to stand on the main runway where hundreds of B24’s left for target Germany, and to have a cold one at the “Ploughshare” where the airman calmed their nerves. There was no question; we had to go.

June 6, 1992, we departed via British Airways from BWI Airport in Baltimore, landed in England at Heathrow, and boarded a bus to Kings Lynn to our base of operations, the Duke’s Head Hotel.

The next day we hit the road for a slow tour of the Wendling Base. As Jim and I walked around the WWII living quarters (huts), many thoughts were rolling around inside our heads. We looked at each building and tried to imagine what it would have been like 50 years before, and if Uncle Jim had lived in a particular hut. Not much was left anymore, most of the buildings that were in good shape were used by the local farmers for storing tractors and farming equipment.

Dennis Duffield, 392nd Contact

579th Squadron huts

Later, we were standing on the main runway, our imaginations running wild with the sights of B-24 Liberators taking off, hundreds of them in the sky overhead. It was 12:00 High (the movie), and we were in it. We took a photograph to capture the moment for all eternity, and it was the end of a perfect day.

Standing on the main runway

The next morning we met with local villagers from Wendling at the Obelisk, where we all joined together in a memorial ceremony honoring our 392nd fallen men. It was a moving ceremony, and as I listened, my thoughts floated home to our grandmother. Many people took part in the ceremony, but the most moving part was when Col. Gilbert gave his tribute to the airmen. After the ceremony we stayed and talked with some of our new found friends. It was there that Jim and I met one of the most notable WWII English authors Ian Hawkins. This meeting, especially for me, was an interesting one as Ian was to become instrumental in helping me with information for my upcoming trips to the Black Forest crash sites.

Ian Hawkins, English author

Col. Gilbert, at memorial

Later that evening at dinner, we began what was to become a long term relationship with Ben Jones, a local man in his 20’s who grew up around the airfields at Wendling and who, in his spare time, dug up 392nd aircraft. Mervin and Barbara Jones, Ben’s mother and father, are well know to all 392nd veterans for their help and assistance to returning airman that come back and visit the WWII air base. I invited Ben to the states to attend an air show with our group, and we became the best of friends and have developed a great crash site research team.

Ben Jones, English researcher

American Cemetery at Madingley

Time sure flew by fast at Wendling, but there was still more to come on this, our first trip out of the U.S. A. On our way to London, we stopped to visit The American Cemetery at Madingley near Cambridge, where so many of our 392nd men remain. A memorial service was held in their honor.

After we left the cemetery, we were treated to a luncheon in a private room at the famous Duxford Airfield. There were aircraft everywhere at Duxford, and we understood that they all flew. It is one of the finest aviation museums in the world, unfortunately we had only a few hours to spend. Also this was the first time I ever sat in the cockpit of a fully restored flying B-17, the “Mary Alice." Getting ready to leave Duxford, we were treated to the landing of one of only three P38’s left flying in the world. It came in over the field in a high speed pass and did a slow roll right in front of Roger Freeman, Jim Morris and I. Roger excitedly said in his British accent, “ Wasn’t that wonderful!” We both agreed!!

Keith Hill, English aviation artist

Jim ready for takeoff

Off to London, and, among other things, Jim and I visited St. Paul's Cathedral and the American Chapel to see “The Book,” Britain’s Homage with the names of 28,000 American war dead, and the name of S/Sgt. Everette N. Morris, U.S.A.A.F. One page is turned every day for eternity. This visit was a part of the trip we will not soon forget.

Jim inspects the Roll of Honor

Uncle Jim's name on Roll of Honor

After preparing to head back to the United States, we thought these final parting words, “We’ll meet again; don’t know where; don’t know when.”