Site #3
Combat Officers Mess
Ben Jones - Wendling Researcher
This site was a center for activity for everyone on Wendling. It housed several of the mess halls as well as recreational facilities. The base cinema was located here. This was built by the airmen from parts they could find. The row seating, for instance, was salvaged from a bombed out cinema in London. It is believed a fitness centre of sorts was also to be found here.
The Combat Officer's Mess was located just across the road from the main part of the site.
 The Combat Officers Mess as it was in 1944. The camouflage can be clearly seen covering the roof. The number of bikes show how this was a busy place! |
 The same view of the building as it is today. It is now occupied by "Jagspares", a used Jaguar car parts dealer. |
The layout of this site remains pretty much the same today as it was 50 years ago. The combat officers mess still stands and is now a used parts dealership for Jaguar cars. The building houses some of the best wall art of W.W.II.
The Combat Officer's Mess contains some of the best wall art to have survived from the war. It covers a whole interior wall and depicts a an eagle clutching a banner of the 392nd Bomb Group. The background is a cloudscape with B-24's flying towards you.
Higher headquarters, knowing full well the casualties facing the airmen as they entered combat and the need to pay attention to morale, sent an artist team to do the wall about as soon as they got to Wendling. The pencil lines of the artist can still be seen in the photographs as he tried to get the perspective right for the flying B-24 Liberators. The banner is about 10 ft in length so this gives you an idea as to the size of this wonderful piece of work.
On the main portion of the site, several industrial companies today occupy the remaining buildings keeping it a centre of activity up to the present day.
The base water supply was also stored at this site. The towers stood here up until the late 80's when they were removed.
Water towers stand prominently on site 3 in this shot looking in a NE direction.
) Wall Art |
) Mess Hall 1999 |
) Mess Hall 1984 |