I volunteered to help get the museum going in the early 1980s. I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters with the USAF 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. I lived in the nearby village of Dennington. I learned of the fledging museum while taking a college course on the History of Aviation. I volunteered to reproduced a rather primitive (the original) mural that was painted on the end wall of a quansit hut back in the 40s. All I had to go on was a black & white photograph of the complete wall, and one original brick (my only color reference). The reproduction mural was placed on the second floor of the tower (only available space large enough at the time to reproduce it in a scaled down format). I spent many cold and foggy days by myself in the tower working on it in order to have it completed for the museum's grand opening reunion for the 390th Bomb Group. At the reunion several of the veterans remembered the original and commented on it. Made the effort worthwhile. I am sure it does not exist any more, then again the original didn't make it either. I have a photo of myself standing in front of it while wearing an original leather flight jacket and garrison cap. Side note: Have any of the museums' volunteers ever experienced strange noises, and/or maybe a fleeting shadow out of the corner of their eye when alone in the tower? Just a 71 year olds curiosity.... 😉 MSgt Retired USAF
I volunteered to help get the museum going in the early 1980s. I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters with the USAF 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. I lived in the nearby village of Dennington. I learned of the fledging museum while taking a college course on the History of Aviation. I volunteered to reproduced a rather primitive (the original) mural that was painted on the end wall of a quansit hut back in the 40s. All I had to go on was a black & white photograph of the complete wall, and one original brick (my only color reference). The reproduction mural was placed on the second floor of the tower (only available space large enough at the time to reproduce it in a scaled down format). I spent many cold and foggy days by myself in the tower working on it in order to have it completed for the museum's grand opening reunion for the 390th Bomb Group. At the reunion several of the veterans remembered the original and commented on it. Made the effort worthwhile. I am sure it does not exist any more, then again the original didn't make it either. I have a photo of myself standing in front of it while wearing an original leather flight jacket and garrison cap. Side note: Have any of the museums' volunteers ever experienced strange noises, and/or maybe a fleeting shadow out of the corner of their eye when alone in the tower? Just a 71 year olds curiosity.... 😉 MSgt Retired USAF
