Airmen of Lt. Louis McCarthy's crew in Liberator #42-50385, R4-H nicknamed Beast of Bourbon who died in a take-off crash near Cheddington, England on February 19, 1945.
S/Sgt. Carl E. Lindquist (gunner)
Pvt. Fred K. Becker (gunner)
Pvt. Howard F. Haley (gunner)

To start the ball rolling a FAAA Recce party carried out a visit to the crash site just outside the village of Ivinghoe and the Camp and airfield at Cheddington

Outside the Tea room and getting ready to walk the short distance outside the village to the crash site.

At the site, local historian Brian who was 12/13 at the time tells us his stories of the night the Aircraft came down. He remembers the kids running out to the site to see the wrecked plane and was met by one of the surviving crewman with a pistol in his hand saying get back this might go off! He had been sent out the next day to guard the wreckage of his own plane!

3 freezing female members of the group wondering why they are standing in a field!

Quite a bit of the old entrance to the station is still there, here we see the guard room to the left with other buildings in the distance with the parachute packing shed just out of shot.

The group muster at the memorial to the 8th USAAF

Pictures of Lt Norman Landberg's Liberator s/n 42-51219 R4*L in the field just outside the village of Ivinghoe the morning after the crash.

Airmen of Lt. Norman Landberg's crew who died in the take-off crash of Liberator #42-51219, R4-I near Cheddington, England on November 15, 1944.
2nd Lt. Walter S. Lamson (navigator)
Pfc. Leonard Smith (gunner)

Tom goes over the details of the crash at the crews grave site

In WWII the Village was the centre of a huge training area, a half mile outside the village the beacons and Chiltern Hills provided the British Army with firing ranges and training areas for tracked vehicles, only a few weeks ago 2 inch mortar fins were dug up around the known mortar range.

The Village hall, in a by gone age also used for a jail was just one of the many social venues men of the USAAF based at Cheddington used to meet local girls and enjoy their time off. This is where the Dance will take place on the Saturday evening.

The Village church with its WWI Memorial

With only a couple of weeks to go Joe and his team finished the wall. Now all that needed to be done
was to tidy up the surrounding area and to get the posts in.

Almost before we knew it the day came, both Norman and George with their family members were here in the village and the first phase of the event was under way.

Today was the first Time in 65 years that these two Airmen had met each other since they went their separate ways at the end of World War Two. How humbling it was to be able to share this with them.

At midday a veteran bus was to arrive to take the VIP's to the airfield, every one met up at the village hall, FAAA advance Party were there by 0900hrs and settled into the rooms allocated to the group to use as admin and headquarters.

First priority was to start getting the kit sorted for the Color Party and Honor Guard. Slings were polished and then polished again, after which some drill practice was undertaken, the newer guys to the guard being brought up to speed.

At 1200hrs members of the public and the veterans arrived at the Village hall to get the transport, it then started to rain and it came down. While it was sort of dry for most in the bus, for the FAAA It was a wet trip out to the Airfield.

We arrived a few short minutes before the main party who arrived dry, well at least for the moment!

Regardless of the terrible weather the next hour or so was spent touring the old airfield, much of which both Norman and George remembered after a while. They lived in huts away from the area we were in, however once they reached the fence line with the runway beyond, it came back to them. An emotional moment for them and for us looking on!

The following pictures tell the story:

On Returning from the Airfield it was up to the village hall to dry off and get a hot cup of tea before the Color Guard and other members of the group undertaking tasks on the memorial parade had to go back out into the wind and rain to rehearse up at the Memorial Site.

Amanda the groups XO would act as time keeper, an important task as all timings had to be on the ball to fit in with the planned Flypast.

After several run-throughs the detail was finalised and all it needed then was the addition of our 4 Honor Guard riflemen and the Active Duty USAAF Color Party. These we would fit in early the next day during a dress rehearsal.

We all hoped and prayed for a break in the weather.

Happy with what we had it was time to retire to our various billets to get ready for the evenings dance.

Saturday Night would see all that was involved during the day and local people meet up in the Village Hall for a social and Dance. It was thought at first when we did a recce earlier in the year that it would be too small for a proper dance, but we were all proved very wrong as it turned out to be one of the nicest feel good dances we had ever been to. A cracking night.

The Dance had been going an hour or so when Norman and George arrived, everyone in the Hall stood and clapped; that brought a lump to many a throat.

Re-enactors from both FAAA and Ranger Re-enactments mingled with independent AAF re-enactors and the locals. Some great music was played and even George, who all had noticed still had a thing for the girls, was up on the dance floor before the night was out.

All too quickly the evening came to an end, lots of Dancing, drinking and just standing around chatting, but both Norman and George were still there at the end of the evening, remarkable considering only 2 days before they had undertaken such long flights.

For many of us it was to be an early start the next day, there was still the finer details to do in preparation for the parade. As we left the hall we all hoped for at least a dry day, but not expecting it, all were prepared to carry on come what may.

Sunday would be a big day for both George and Norman and for Norman it was another step towards closure.

It would be the most important parade FAAA was to be involved in this year; we did not intend to let them down.

These two men were from the "Greatest Generation" we owed them so much, tomorrow would be their day.

On Sunday morning we all woke early expecting yet another crappy day weather wise, but no, while it was damp underfoot the sky was quite clear. Here at the CP a snap decision was made; the MP jeep was coming out and going to the event. Not far to go, only 4 miles so just top the tank up and fire her up. The engine roared into life and woke those that were left in the house up. I had a house full of FAAA troopers as did Tom who must have had half of the Ranger Re-enactment group staying too!

Within a short time the troops were on their way to the memorial site, the weather prevented us getting all the admin done on the Saturday, so two flag poles needed erecting, one to take "old glory" and the other the RAF Ensign. This was done is short order and the memorial site was soon squared away, the Sun came out and everyone's spirits soared. Finally the cover came off the memorial and was replaced by a large American 48 star flag. We were almost set to go, just time for a quick run through with the Color and Honor guard and then the last job to fit in the Active Duty USAAF Color Guard.

All went well and the guard took up their positions down at the Watermill, all we needed to do now was the wait for our honoured guests who were to arrive in a 1939 Chrysler saloon. In the meantime the rest of the group took up their positions for the various tasks they would undertake.

At this time both Norman and George were being interviewed by local and national papers and TV up at the Village Hall. Considering the long journey they had undertaken to get here to the UK and then going straight into this memorial weekend both could be forgiven for being a few minutes late for this their final mission.

A little late but with plenty of time to catch up and meet the flypast timings the two brothers in arms arrived at the memorial site and with their family members took their seats to view the unveiling. As the veterans approached, the public clapped, a moving experience for all.

Prior to the event Tom had briefed me that Norman was not one for pomp a ceremony and that as he had always blamed himself for what happened on that fateful day it may be best to keep the ceremony simple to limit the emotional stress on this proud but private man. It would be a hard task, the air was already full of emotion here at the memorial site. Before commencing I decided to approach both Norman and George and explain in an informal way exactly what was to take place and what would be asked of them during the parade. Both Airmen I am sure were happy at this stage with the arrangements and returned my salute.

My job was parade commander, a position I took seriously, my task and personal aim was to ensure what was to happen next would be undertaken in a dignified way. I had full faith in the two groups, FAAA and RR who were to take part in this ceremony and as I moved to my position I knew it would go as planned and all would be doing the very best they could to ensure it would be the fitting tribute we aimed for.

Before the parade started Chas the main event organiser and friend to the veterans took to the podium to welcome all to the memorial unveiling, it was a moving introduction and a hard job for Chas to do, it had taken many months of hard work on his part to get to where we all were today. Chas gave everyone an overview of what happened on the day the crash happened and this was followed by a very interesting presentation by Steven Hutton the author of "Squadron Of deception" the story of 36th Squadron.

Chas then gave the nod and the memorial service began.

The Parade started off with the Bugler taking up his position, on about facing he played "Fall In"

At the mill just out of site of the hundreds of public who had turned up to witness the unveiling, the Honor Guard fell in and dressed off. Colors were presented and M1 Rifle shouldered. I then took the long slow march up the slope towards the memorial and the waiting veterans, on having my salute returned I asked Lt Landberg and Staff Sergeant Eberwine permission to Post Colors.

The order to advance colors were given and both color guards and the honor guard rifle squad marched up the slope and on to the parade ground to take post each side of the memorial.

With the Guard in position the order was given for the "Ghost Crew" to take post. 9 Airmen representing a mission crew marched on and took up their position on the grassy bank to the rear of the memorial.

With all in position the local church leader and Capt David Zavalat, the station Chaplain at Molsworth, dedicated the memorial in a short but fitting religious service.

On the order, "FLAG ORDERLIES TAKE POST!" the two sentries inwards turned and grasped the colors covering the memorial. The flag was folded the traditional 13 times and presented to the Parade Commander, as a token of this countries appreciation. This was then presented to Lt Landberg and Staff Sergeant Eberwine. In their safe keeping the flag would be taken back to the United States.

After handing over the flag, the present arms were given and the bugler played taps.

On the command "ORDER ARMS!" Capt Amanda Ware and 2nd Lt "Carrots" Winchester Invited the two veterans to lay their wreaths

Followed by Chas and Mr Hutton

The civilian organisations and Royal British Legion lay their wreaths

The Military representatives were invited to lay their wreaths

Finally on behalf of the Living History Hobby

At 3 Minutes to 1200hrs in readiness for the fly past the parade prepares!, alas no confirmation of the war birds arrival is forthcoming (A waterlogged airstrip in Norfolk prevents take off)

Regardless the ceremony continues and the Parade commander asks permission of the veterans to retire the colors.

On the command left and right face the Guard inwards turn and the Ghost Crew are stood down and march off the memorial ground

In a final symbolic act, the WWII USAAF and Present USAAF come together to march off their memorial ground.

With the Colors retired, George was invited to meet the Honor Guard and Ghost crew.

Many months of work was coming to a successful conclusion. It had taken many people to achieve the aims of this project. FAAA and Ranger Re-enactments in their secondary USAAF Impression played a small but important part in the proceedings.

But without Chas Jellis's drive and determination supported by our own Tom Smart's enthusiastic eye for detail the event would never had taken place.

A cracking day that was blessed with fantastic weather, all that remained was for the traditional happy snaps and then to the Village hall for tea and cake

In the fine weather many hung around for a while to talk to Norman and George, before moving up to the Village hall for refreshments.

Up At the Village Hall a fantastic spread was put on by the WI. All were fed and watered in style, it was nice to see the serving military staying on and mingling with the Reenactors and public. A very nice way to finish the day

One last task however needed to be undertaken, we had a birthday girl celebrating her 21st Birthday and George was on hand to present her with a fantastic cake organised by her group the First Triple A

The pictures below pretty much tell the story and for Norman and George conclude their journey back to Cheddington where such an important part of their lives unfolded.

This was their last mission together, to see the old aircraft type they trained in and flew in combat and to finally pay their respects to their fallen crew members and buddies 2nd Lt Walter Lamson and PFC Leonard Smith.

Finally Norman and George part company, Norman would be returning home, George with his Daughter was going on to Normandy to pay his respects to 3 friends who lay at rest there. George would finish his own Mission visiting Paris over which they flew low as young reckless men.

The next few weeks for those of us involved in this project will feel a little empty without these great men around.