D1 and the 'Memphis Belle' B17

[bn1966]

Down to ELC (Eastman) tomorrow for my D1 fitting, it's taken 18 months to get to this point I have a vintage Bakelite dice zipper pull ready to put on it when it arrives.

Went up to Cambridge today for work on the turbo on my SAAB Classic, the nice people at the SAAB specialists dropped the wife, the dog & myself off in a little village (Bassingbourn) for a pub lunch whilst they worked their auto magic.

Walked into the recommended pub musing on tomorrow's D1 venture to be confronted with picture after picture of Bomber Crew, even the ceiling had a Bomber flying over. The pub was called the 'Belle' and it turns out that the 'Memphis Belle' crew & many others drank in the pub during their time over here during WW2

Following lunch, we set off for a walk and ended up at a dead end down a country lane. We couldn't go any further because of fences & barbed wire. Looking over the fence I saw what was the remnant of an airfield, as used in the 1940's by the Mighty 8th. Apparently the control tower is still there & houses a museum to those days. Planning a trip back to visit it.

 

[Foster]

Please take pictures when you visit there again! Sounds like a worthwhile adventure you had today.

 

[Stand By]

I'll second that to photos of the pub if you have them - a great find ! And photos of the D-1 please when you get it - with the furry dice zip puller ! ;-)
And what took 18 months to get this far ? Saving the money, you mean? The Saab repair got in the way, I recall you saying a while ago ... I can empathize with something like a necessity snaffling he savings ear-marked for "better" things ...! All good things come to those who wait, so they say ...!

 

[Stand By]

Just googled the place - looks like a great place to sup hearty .... and they have a page on the Memphis Belle of course.
http://www.thebellefreehouse.co.uk

 

[archbury918]

The second I saw the place name Bassingbourne, I got a thrill. I knew the connection immediately. What a magical afternoon.
Looking forward to the pix as well!

 

[bn1966]

Wife has agreed to an over night stay in Bassingbourn. Just need to find a hotel or something & make contact with English Heritage to open up the Control Tower museum for us. Tried on the D1 today at ELC & it was perfect, will post pictures avec fluffy dice got carried away & ended up with a USAF kit bag too. Spending tonite in a motel on Dartmoor & have visited a nearby inn for steak and ale.