More memories of US servicemen in Hunstanton
In his weekly Turnstone column, Hunstanton writer John Maiden recalls the days when US servicemen lived in town…
Further to last week's Turnstone it took a little while, but in the end EE sent around a fantastic engineer called Tony and now I have gone digital.
According to a programme on the radio to mark Ash Wednesday, the 40 days of Lent does not include Sundays. This explains why Father Heptonstall, the Roman Catholic Priest, continued to reward children attending Miss Bray's Sunday School classes with sweets, even though most of us had given them up for Lent. Of course, this was back in the 1940s when sweets were either rationed or just in short supply.
Another memory of the war years was running alongside a lorry which appeared to be loaded with American servicemen. They could have been soldiers or airmen, because the USAAF did not become the USAF, with its distinctive blue uniform until 1948. They threw us packs of chewing gum, even before we had time to shout: “Got any gum chum?"
I am reminded of these memories whenever I call at The Bell in Norwich, which has a display of WWII photographs showing the USAAF on and off duty in various locations across Norfolk. These pictures are situated next to the gents, but it is left to a plaque on the outside wall next to the main entrance to record the fact that the US Women’s Army Air Corps had its HQ at The Bell from 1943 to 1945.
When it comes to memories of Hunstanton's connections with the USAF during what must now be described as the 'first' Cold War with Russia, the Hunstanton Society is harvesting memories from local people who had close encounters with single members of the USAF or entire American families who chose to live in or around Hunstanton between 1952 and 1962.
In my capacity as a member of the Society's History Group, I have been asked to confirm the facts which are apparent to anyone entering the town from either end of the A149, or walking along Reis Leming Way and Freeman A Kilpatrick Way in the esplanade gardens.
The welcome to Hunstanton signs make it clear that my hometown is uniquely twinned with the USAF 67th Special Operations Squadron, which spearheaded the response to the 1953 floods when it was known as the 67th Air Rescue Squadron. Airman (not corporal) Reis Leming was a member of the 67th when he rescued 27 victims from the 1953 floods after the squadron had been activated at RAF Sculthorpe on November 14, 1952. This explains the first date on the sign for Reis Leming Way.
The second date of November 14, 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the squadron, when RAF Flt Sgt Mark Service, official historian of the 67th, asked Hunstanton if the town would like to mark the occasion and strengthen its close connections with the Night Owls. The fact that the 67th and members of the Leming family were granted the Freedom of Hunstanton in 2014 and Twinning with the Night Owls was celebrated in 2016, should be reassuring for anyone fearing for the future of our very special relationship with the USA in general and the 67th SOS in particular.
For the benefit of anyone who does not know the reason behind Freeman A Kilpatrick Way, Freeman was a USAF Staff Sgt in a communications squadron at RAF Sculthorpe, living with his wife and young family in South Beach Road. He managed to save 18 lives from the floods by his courage and quick thinking. Along with Reis he was awarded the George Medal for their bravery.
