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Operation Bolero Page 3
Friday 29th June
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With much anticipation, the briefing at
around 9am on Friday morning, was well attended. The first day of the
tour was to be a shorter, less busy day as we all settled in to what
was probably going to be the largest MV convoy in the area for many
years.
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Nobody
knew exactly how well it was going to work, but we all had our
instructions and convoy numbers, and made our way to the vehicles to
assemble in two rows; Green Convoy and Red Convoy.
Two cones on the airfield perimeter track, marked the start point of
each convoy. Most people go into approximately the correct position,
though much moving was needed to squeeze in the late starters with
early numbers! |
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long before 10:00 hrs, the Green convoy set off, shortly followed by
Red. Several motorcycle outriders were riding ahead to block off road
junctions to allow the convoy through, though most of the route was
planned to avoid main roads.
A group of local school kids visiting the
Parham Museum waved us off. They would meet us again later at Debach.
The first picture shows the convoy assembling at Parham Airfield, and
below, waiting on a private road near the first airfield, for Red
section to meet with Green.
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The
first field on the tour was Leiston, an 8th Air Force Mustang base. Once
the rear of the convoy arrived and parked up, we were free to explore
several of the technical site buildings close by. Despite this and the
hoards of MV owners looking around, it was quite easy to let your mind
slip back in time and imagine the scene at the height of WW2.
In the furthest
building, which had poor natural lighting, there was a great deal of
interest caused by a stack of very old Army Air Force stencilled
packing crates!!! How long had they been standing there I wonder?
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assembled back at the vehicles and then drove further around the
airfield onto the main runway, heading back in the direction from
where we entered the field.
There was a brief stop for doughnuts and
wartime recollections by the tours special guests, before walking to
the memorial for the laying of a wreath.
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Upon
making our way back to the vehicles, there was a brief chance to chat
before the plug fell out of the Pacific Ocean and it descended on
Suffolk! ( Oh how thankful I was that my wooden doors were on the Jeep
)
Others were travelling open top, but I
imagine that rapidly changed! Before too long, the rain had eased and
we were back on the road again. We drove on down winding lanes, barely
wide enough for some vehicles, then turned off through a forest for
some 'ever so slightly' off roading!
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think some of the staff car drivers were slightly concerned, but the
track wasn't too bad. Part way through the forest, we all stopped and
it gave those of us who came prepared, time to have lunch! The grassy
track and woodland also made for some nice photo opportunities.
Several motorcycles were used to control
the convoy and other traffic, and without them, it would have been
very difficult to stay together as there were still normal car users
who insisted on pushing in to the convoy to save themselves time.
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then discovered we were plodding along at 10 to 15 mph on occasions,
and with one to two miles of green vehicles ahead of them, passing
wasn't going to be an easy or quick way ahead!! Once again while in
the wood, the sky opened up again dumping another ocean onto the
convoy. We continued our crawling twisting way along 'B' roads,
watched by people from the many villages we passed through. On hearing
the first dozen vehicles pass their door, they still had time to come
out and watch another mile of green traffic go by! |
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Getting
close to the 493rd BG Museum at Debach, the lead half of the convoy
put their collective feet down and left the rear half behind. I was at
the lead of the second section, with a huge yellow crane that pushed
its way in behind me, doing about 25mph.
I held back as I knew the way to Debach,
and I knew the Jimmy's etc had no chance of overtaking the crane. So I
plodded along in front and the rest followed!
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main part of the convoy turned in to the airfield a different way, but
I took the second section in through the normal Industrial Estate
entrance, with both sections arriving at the Control Tower from
different directions, with the mornings School kids waving us in.
Richard Taylor, the farmer who is
responsible for leading a group who restored the tower is also an MV
collector, and he would be joining us the following day with his GMC
Bolster Truck.
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| After
leaving Debach, the convoy returned back to Parham for a much needed
rest, some food, and I dare say, one or two had a drink or two! |
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