Posts from — February 2010

More sad news last week at the passing of 448th veteran Leroy Engdahl on 8th Feb. He was 90 years old.

I interviewed Leroy on camera at a group reunion in Orlando, Florida in May 2007. He was frail but in good spirits and was able to regale us with his stories. At one point Leroy was visibly upset during the interview as he described seeing the Statue of Liberty on his return to the States by ship into New York harbour. I think this is one of the enduring images I took from those interviews and definitely something I want to put up on screen.

The amazing thing about Leroy’s story (apart from his military service) is his efforts post-war to help get the old airfield control tower at Seething up and running as a memorial and a museum. I suppose if it weren’t for him I might never have become interested in the subject or started this project because the museum was the starting point for me.

Read an obituary here (with a few typos unfortunately)

And a little more info on Leroy here from The Liberator Legend: the plane and the people By Turner Publishing, Philip A. St. John

This is one of my favourite photos of Leroy, talking to local children from Seething Primary School (I think), taken in 1984.

Courtesy of Patricia Everson.

I am stalked by the memory of a school teacher who declared that I had some wonderful ideas but rarely followed them through. So here are a few of them and in time you can be the judge.

• Create your own history page

I’ve had some interest from people willing to write a few lines, perhaps include a photo of a relative or friend that served in the AAF. This ‘page’ is submitted to me and included on a DVD release of the film. Thought it would be a good way for people to contribute to the DVD in some way.

• Interactive map

Create an interactive map detailing the significant places in England of the 448th BG. To include photos, icons, sound clips etc. Could be expanded to include all groups of the 2nd Air Division or 8th Air Force.

• Become an exhibitor

Make the film available as a free download and provide instructions and resources to enable audiences to put on their own screenings for veterans groups, schools etc