Molesworth Celebrates "Hell's Angels Day" - 68 Years After the 25th Mission

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, Jr,, Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Royal Air Force Molesworth & Cambridge American Cemetery, England --  "JAC - The Legacy continues" is the new motto of the U.S. European Command JIOCEUR Analytic Center (JAC) at today's Royal Air Force Molesworth, England. The theme created by JAC Commander, Army Colonel Matthew P. "Matt" Glunz directly celebrates the legacy of the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) and is an inspiration to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians engaged in today's intelligence production mission in support of warfighters and the U. S. European Command.

On May 13th 2011 - exactly sixty-eight years to the day after THE B-17F "HELL'S ANGELS" from the 303rd - not the more storied "MEMPHIS BELLE" from the 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) at Bassingbourn - became the first B-17 to complete 25 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. COL Glunz led the day long RAF Molesworth and RAF Alconbury-wide celebration of "HELL'S ANGELS DAY." It is important to note that MEMPHIS BELLE did not complete 25 missions until several days after HELL'S ANGELS. But since the Army Air Corps Public Affairs had focused on the 91st BG plane's progress toward the 25 mission mark, the BELLE got the return to the U.S., the war bond tour, and the movie. And as Deerfield himself wryly noted, from a public relations perspective, "... a plane named after a beautiful girl was far more appealing to the wartime American public starved for good news at that point in the war than a plane called 'HELL'S ANGELS.' "

Joining the JAC in commemorating the day was the U.S. Africa Command's J2-Molesworth under the leadership of Air Force Colonel Michele M. Cook, and the U.S. Air Force 501st Combat Support Wing, at RAF Alconbury which provides base support commanded by Air Force Colonel Brian T. Kelly.

The day began with a presentation by honored guest, former 360th Bomb Squadron radioman on IZA VAILABLE, and later 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) President Eddie Deerfield. "The Way it Was in WWII" was the theme of Deerfield's memorable talk and audiovisual presentation to a RAF Molesworth and RAF Alconbury audience gathered in the still used main "J-type" hangar where B-17s were repaired during the war.

Deerfield later remarked, "I was taken by the intense looks on the faces of the audience in the hangar, hearing clearly audible gasps and sighs as I told the story of the way it was for the 303rd airmen who lived and many who died while based at Molesworth. And it was gratifying to be honored by the many who stood in line after the presentation to approach me individually to ask a question, pose for a photo, get an autograph, or just shake my hand ... one young airman with tears in her eyes."

After a lunch with select junior military members, Deerfield joined COL Glunz, and his U.S. Africa Command and 501st Combat Support Wing counterparts in a moving military wreath laying ceremony at the Cambridge American Cemetery.

After the official ceremony, Deerfield laid flowers at the grave of his crewman, Cpl Alvin Etheredge, who was removed from the Capt Cogswell crew in August 1943 and joined the M/Sgt Robert B. Heiliger ground crew. Etheredge later died of a tumor at the 303rd Station Hospital in May 1945. Such was the rank structure during the war that even though he had completed 13 combat missions as a Staff Sergeant, Etheredge was reduced to Corporal when he came off flight status and his tombstone lists the lower rank.

HELL'S ANGELS DAY concluded with a "Combat Dining In" - a modern day service 'tradition' of an informal military gathering tinged with frivolity and no small amount of water pistols where rank was no bar to getting a good soaking.

While many sons and daughters - and more recently grandchildren - of 303rd veterans have visited in recent years, visits by original 303rd members are rare. Before former TSgt Radioman (Later U.S. Army LTC) Deerfield's visit on May 13th, the last visitor was 359th Bomb Squadron Navigator Lt James J. Crooke, Jr. who returned to the base on September 10th 2007.. Lt Jim Crooke's recently published a new book "Berlin to the Gulf of Mexico: POW 5518 Remembers."

"JAC - The Legacy continues" will continue as the theme for JAC events throughout the year further strengthening the bond between the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) and today's military and civilians at RAF Molesworth supporting a very different, but no less important, fight.