Group History

Proceeding east through Glasgow to Edinburgh on the London and North Eastern railway the men enjoyed their trip through Scotland, even though it was rainy and misty. They were surprised to see how neatly kept the country was, a thing which soon impressed them in England also. The thing, which impressed them most, was the cordiality of the people. All through Scotland, people leaned out their windows or stopped in the streets to wave at us as we passed. While it was not doubted that the English were gratified by our arrival, they were more reserved in the matter of waving.

From Edinburgh the trains proceeded south, frequently skirting the North Sea. The men invariably noted bow green and neat the countryside was and how quaint the old houses were. Even in the cities none of the junkyards and dumps were seen which could be seen ham American railroads. The K rations were supplemented by gifts of coffee, meat pies, and sandwiches at New Castle-on Tyne and a smaller town.

THE NEW BASE

After a journey of about eighteen hours the Group arrived at Sudbury in Suffolk. This is a town of 7,000 population located about 50 miles north east of London. Loaded in trucks, they were hauled two miles out to an airbase, which is located in the hamlet of Great Waldingfield. The base was built by the British and turned over to the Army Air Forces as part of the lend lease arrangement. Built on the dispersal plan, in approved British fashion, the living quarters are-in a number of "sites" with fields, hedges, gardens, and dwelling houses in between. A main highway, lined with houses, runs between the flying field and technical site and the living and administrative sites. On one edge of the Base is a handsome fifteenth century church (Church of England).

After they had got settled and looked about them the personnel of the Group generally admired the countryside in East Anglia. It is green, neatly kept, and picturesque with its winding lanes and hedges and quaint houses, many of which are very old. The section abounds in thatched roofed cottages. Almost every house has a flower garden, a fact that was widely noted and commented on. Taking bicycle trips after working hours became one of the commonest forms of recreation.

Most of the buildings, both for living and working, are Nissen huts, which the men had read about but had not seen. Theses were generally regarded as adequate, except in the matter of heat. Having spent the winter in the dry sunshine of Arizona, they were not prepared for the cold, wet climate of England. During the first two or three weeks, it rained a great deal - not heavily but frequently and usually only a drizzle. Although flowers were blooming, every one felt the necessity of heat. This was provided by tiny coke-burning stoves of a variety of designs, some of which defied all efforts to keep a fire ·in them. It was utterly impossible to keep a fire in any of them overnight.

The inconvenience caused by the heating arrangements were nothing compared with that caused by the plumbing. Each living site has latrines and "ablutions." The latter is an unheated room with concrete floors and troughs. Over the troughs are water taps from which to fill small metal washtubs. In order to take a bath it is necessary to walk as much as a mile to the showers located in the mess site. These are also in unheated rooms and are almost impossible to regulate, the water being either cold or very hot. The installations, which caused amazement, amusement, and disgust, were the latrines in the headquarters and technical sites. Formally known as bucket latrines and popularly as "honey buckets," it is possible that they cause more dissatisfaction with England than any other one thing except the weather.

Because of the dispersal arrangement of the air base and the considerable distance between living site, mess site, and work, bicycles are a prominent feature of life at the station. Many of those who could not persuade S-4 to issue them one, bought them at inflated prices. Others borrowed freely, often with out permission of the owner. There were numerous complaints of theft, unauthorized use, and unsound title. Another result of this method of transportation was the large number of injuries from accidents, some of which required hospitalization.

STATION LIFE

In the first week after the Group's arrival at Sudbury one of the busiest officers was Chaplain Costner because both Easter and the Jewish holidays occurred then. He arranged for a priest to officiate at services for the Catholics as well as conducting Protestant services himself. People of their faith in the town invited the Jewish men to a celebration of their holiday. Both Protestant and Catholic services on the base were held in the gymnasium.

The American Red Cross, which had provided numerous comforts during the trip, continued to be of assistance. Mr. Sifford who had been assigned to the Group in Tucson was given an assignment in London. Later Mr. Brubaker was sent to the Group as field representative. A building was provided for an Aero Club, Red Cross Club for enlisted men, part of which was used in April, although the club was not officially open that month. Miss Jean St. Clair was appointed director of the club. A Red Cross service much appreciated by the men was the arrival once a week of a "clubmobile" which served doughnuts and coffee.

An Officers' club was organized in the same building with the Officers' mess. Lt. Col. Da Coursey, of the Sub Depot, Major Brooke, and Captain Tarr were elected officers. Progress in fitting up the club was slow during April. Steps were taken to organize a club for the first three grades of enlisted men. Officers elected, all from the 486th Group, were Sergeants, A.K. Alien, George Walker, G. Nathan, and Edger Poe. A beer parlor for enlisted men was opened in the site occupied by the Aero Club.

Shortly after the Group arrived at Sudbury, the Special service office began to show free movies in the gymnasium. This was done several evenings a week, with two performances an evening. These were usually pictures that many of the men had seen in the United States, and there was a good deal of trouble with the operation at first, but it was a welcome and popular diversion.

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