CRHnews - Corporal Al Momme re-dedicates USAAF Memorial Boreham Airfield
The renovated Essex Anglo-American Goodwill Association's memorial, at the former wartime base, Boreham Airfield, Essex, England, was re-dedicated in June 2010.
Guest of honour was former B-26 armorer Corporal Albert E. Momme, of the United States Army Air Corps, 394th Bomb Group, 9th USAAF.
The EAAGA was formed to honour the sacrifice of 61 USAF men who gave their lives for freedom from Nazi tyranny.
The first of approximately 65 Martin B26 Marauders of the 394th Bombardment Group arrived at the newly built airfield (known as Station 161) on 24 February 1944.
The Group's first mission to bomb an airfield at Beaumont le Roger in France, took place on March 23 1944.
Between March 23 and July 23 1944, the Group flew a total of 96 bombing missions from Boreham airfield during which they dropped 4,547 tons of bombs against targets such as road, rail and river bridges, airfield gun positions, railway marshalling yards and construction sites and earned the nickname 'Bridge Busters'.
During this time, they took part in Operation Overlord (including the D-Day landings) however as the Allies advanced through Europe, the 394th Bomb Group was moved on 24 July 1944 to Station 455 at Holmesley South (near Christchurch, Hampshire) in order that they could give a closer and more flexible air support to the ground forces.
Cpl Momme, 87 years young, brought together villages near the Field that once was home for a brief months to the brave American air and ground crews.
The EAAGA was a short-lived organisation in the late 40s but still managed to erect three memorials before being wound up.
The renovation work was taken on by Boreham Parish Council for £1,650 + VAT, and Al Momme presented them with a cheque for $1,200 on behalf of the 394th Bomber Group Association .
The gateway where the memorial stands leads to the original base control tower where the Essex Police Air Support Unit and Essex Air Ambulance helicopters are now located.
After the war the Airfield was used for a while as a motor racing circuit and later a test track for the Ford Motor Company and Ford Motorsport.
The Airfield is sadly being gobbled up by gravel extraction, but on certain windswept evenings you can almost hear the sound of Marauder bombers returning safely home.
Bless em all.
CRHnews - USAAF war veteran Al Momme flies Yak
USAAF war veteran Albert 'Al' Momme, 88, took to the air at North Weald airfield in the summer of 2011 thanks to a generous gesture by a locally-based Yak pilot.
Al had been sightseeing as guest of his Essex buddy, Eric Probert, at The Squadron's Second World War Nissen Hut bar and canteen, when he was offered the flight, partly as a tribute to the sacrifice made by thousands of brave young Americans based in the county and because he cut a splendid dash in his smart USAAF uniform.
Corporal Momme, who served at Boreham airfield as an armourer with the 394th Bomb Group - nicknamed the Bridge Busters - was thrilled at going in the air again in Essex.
He was often flown in Marauders a thank you by the crews during test flights at the Essex base which served as a base of the 394th Bomb Group for just four months of the war.
The Group's first mission took place in March 1944 when it attacked an airfield in France, and they went on to complete 96 - dropping 4,547 tons of bombs against road, rail and river bridges, marshalling yards and gun positions.
The unit took part in Operation Overlord, including the D-Day landings, moving to a Hampshire base in July 1944.
Sixty one air crew died while stationed at Boreham.
Al has made yearly pilgrimages to Essex to meet up with local pals who have adopted him and earlier this year he was guest of honour at Chelmsford Museum where he officially opened an special exhibition featuring Boreham Airfield.
He said: It's good to be back, I have been over here so many times now I have lost count and I feel as if I am British.
I have again had a wonderful time in your lovely county and I hope I will be able to return again.
Kevin MacLeod has kindly allowed me to use his royalty free music - For The Fallen, We Got Trouble and TAPS. check this talented guy's library at:
# Tragically another pilot and passenger lost their lives when Helenka crashed and caught fire a few years after this video was made.
CRHnews - Essex Yeomanry Act of Remembrance Chelmsford Cathedral
Essex Yeomanry Act of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day 11.11.11 in St Peter's Chapel, Chelmsford Cathedral, also known as the military chapel, took place on November 11, 2016.
Check out the Chelmsford Remembrance Service and Parade on 13.11.2016: