Framlingham (Parham) - suffolk – uk station 153 - Usaaf 390^th bomber group

May 1943 – august 1945

And the story of an a-2 flight jacket

curtsey of Peter Norris The old Barn Church Farm Gt. Glemham Suffolk UK

Framlingham (also known as Parham) was built during 1942-43 as a standard heavy bomber airfield to Class A specifications. The three intersecting runways were of 2,030, 1,440 and 1,430 yards length. There was an encircling concrete perimeter track and fifty hard standings, plus the usual features of a USAAF bomber airfield of this period, i.e. two T2 hangars, technical sites and Nissen hut accommodation for some 3,000 persons, dispersed in the surrounding countryside. No part of the airfield fell within the boundary of Framlingham parish, the site being some three miles to the east between the villages of Great Glemham and Parham, with all the technical sites, administrative builds and living sites around Silverlace Green.

The station was occupied by men of the 95^th Bomb Group in May 1943, before all the facilities were completed and the air echelon of the group did not move in until the end of the month having commenced operations from Alconbury. After only a few operations from this airfield, the group moved to nearby Horham which was a fully completed station. Despite the lack of facilities , Framlingham was not long without occupants for in July, the 390^th Bomb Group arrived from the USA with its B-17s. This group became operational on August 12^th, 1943 and flew some three hundred operations during hostilities.

On Christmas Eve, 1944 a tragic accident occurred when, at 8.40am, a bomb laden Fortress crashed shortly after take-off from the E-W runway. The aircraft rose to fifty feet but it is believed that icing caused the Fortress to gradually loose height, following the fall of the countryside, before hitting a roadside bank and exploding in the village of Parham. Although the crew were killed and most houses in the vicinity damaged, no civilians were injured.

The 390^th Group left Framlingham in August 1945 to return to the USA.

Like most of the other Eighth airfields surplus to RAF requirements, the War Agricultural Committee soon made arrangements to let farmable areas for agricultural purposes. Mr. Percy Kindred of Crabbs Farm leased back his land, which forms the majority of the airfield, before this was finally sold back to him in 1963-63. Mr. Kindred has more than a passing interest in the airfield’s former use, being a ‘Friend of the Eighth’.

The Control Tower has been restored and is a museum to the memory of the men of the 390^th Bomb Group.

The site also houses the museum for the British Resistance Organisation.

The story of an A-2 flight jacket

There is a standard USAAF A-2 type jacket shown above in the museum. The upper text description on the showcase reads as follows:

“THE MAN WHO CAME FOR BREAKFAST” The story of an A-2 Flight Jacket.

By William (Ed) Charles, Navigator, 95^th Bomb Group.

Late one night in mid February 1944, after we had gone to bed and were halfway into a needed nights sleep, the door of or barracks suddenly opened. The C.Q. (Charge of Quarters) entered, the bright beam of his flashlight probing the darkness.

“Is there an empty bunk there? We have a new arrival and he needs a place to sleep.” I said the bunk next to mine was vacant. I offered to get up and help the new arrival unpack, but he said “no thanks, I’ll do it tomorrow, I feel very tired and I think I’ll hit the sack.” I didn’t even get a good look at his face as we shook hands. He took the bunk next to mine, saying he was a replacement Navigator and that his name was Spencer. We all went back to bed and were soon asleep.

About two o’clock the following morning we were again awakened by the C.Q. with his flashlight. He said “Lieutenant Spencer you are to come with me. We need a Navigator for today’s mission, and your on the list to fly.”. Lieutenant Spencer dressed and left for breakfast and the early morning briefing.

We eventually got up, and noticed his brand new leather A-2 Flying Jacket lying on his bunk with his initials and the last 4 figures of his serial number stamped on the inside.

Later that day we all went up to the3 flight line to watch our returning B-17s peel off and land. It was obvious that the 95^th had experienced a rough mission. About 5 of our ships were missing. Many others landed with either one or two propellers feathered. We later learned that Lieutenants Spencer’s B-17 was one of those that had been shot down. He had only spent one short night as a member of the 95^th Bomb Group at Horham. From that day forward he was known as “The man who came for breakfast.”

I subsequently took his A-2 Flying Jacket before they collected his possessions. It is now on display in the Memorial Air Museum at Framlingham, the 95^th Group’s first airfield in England.

Extracts from the book “B-17s over Berlin” by Ian Hawkins.

-O-

The lower text description with the photograph on the showcase reads as follows:

“Thankfully there was a happy ending to this story. Melvin Spencer’s aircraft had been shot down over Germany, but he along with seven other crew members bailed out safely to become prisoners of war. The aircraft B-17 44-37971 crashed at Rheine.

The photograph shows the first meeting between Ed Charles and Melvin Spencer for 58 years at the 95^th Bomb Group Association reunion, September 2002.”

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Below are other A-2 Flight Jackets donated by survivors of the 390^th Bomb Group on display.

Visit the Framlingham Museum here

Back to the 95 BG page

Back to the 390 BG page