During the Second World War, 12,000 members of the 82nd US Airborne Division were billieted Leicestershire. Many lived in a tented village in Evington, Leicester prior to D-Day.
A fifteen-strong group of former members of the Division visited Evington as part of a tour commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day and continued onto Quorn where some of them were also based.
The visitors were all in their 80s but still managed to make a long journey to see their bases.
A local man, Deryk Wills, who is 81, is an honorary member of the regiment and he helped organise the tour.
They paid a visit to St. Denys Church, Evington, and saw the American Flag that they left as a gift 65 years ago. It still hangs in the church, togther with a White Ensign which was on a British landing craft during the invasion.
In 1944 they also donated money so that the church could have an extention built.
Howard Comstock, 84, from St Louis, said: "I was with the 504th, staying in Shady Lane and it was rough.
"But there were girls hanging around everywhere and we drank the pubs dry.
"Things have changed a lot, but it's great to be back and see everything."
I met a local man who was a crew member in the very last raid on Germany in the war. He flew Halfax bombers from Pilkington in Yorkshire.
No comments:
Post a Comment