top of page
100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum
Museum Gallery
 The fog in this photo is not untypical of what we see at Thorpe Abbotts in February! East Anglian weather can be very unforgiving and it made the job of the USAAF that much more difficult 80 years ago. |  Then (1978) and Now. The B&W photo shows the control tower under complete renovation during the late 1970’s when the museum was being founded. We have since welcomed many thousands of visitors to the home of the ‘Bloody Hundredth’. |  Then and Now - 350th Squadron Orderly Room, Site 4. Both photos taken in the winter but almost 80 years apart. The quiet Norfolk countryside belies the drama which took place here during the war. Illustrious CO’s including ‘Buck’ Cleven and ‘Rosie’ Rosenthal spent time in this building. Key squadron personnel who worked here included Captain Bob Tienken, Squadron Adjutant who served under a number of squadron CO’s and had the utmost respect for the aforementioned officers. |
|---|---|---|
 Thorpe Abbotts - Ron Batley shown painting the Sad Sack Shack at the museum in 1983. Ron is one of the best known and founding members of the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum having been involved with the project for nearly 48 years. He is still at the forefront of everything we do as a Trustee and Curator. |  Under cold Norfolk skies, volunteers continue winter maintenance. Looking South toward the line of the main runway, the weather here is harsh at this time of year but time is short as we reopen early March. Repointing the walls is essential to keep out the elements. |  Harry Crosby at Thorpe Abbotts in April 1997 on a visit to the museum with his family. Harry was one of the best known and distinguished veterans of the 100th. He became Group Navigator with the 100th Bomb Group and was part of the original cadre of airmen at the airfield. Promoted to the rank of Major, he served right through to the end of the conflict. He is shown on the roof of the Tower and outside the Sad Sack Shack with volunteers Richard Gibson and Mike Nice both of whom are still at the |
 Thorpe Abbotts - 1983 and Now. The museum takes shape with the construction of the Sad Sack Shack near the Engine Shed and Control Tower. It houses displays dedicated to the Ground Crew and to the Base hospital as well as a base diorama. |  Essential maintenance at Thorpe Abbotts continues with volunteers seen here on Christmas Eve working on the Control Tower. It’s a family affair now with founding member of the museum Ron Batley shown working with his son, new volunteer Rob Batley. Mooks and our chairman Reg Wilson are also featured. |  A few more photos from Thorpe Abbotts yesterday. The driveway up to the Control Tower, the Sad Shack Sack and a view across to Grove Wood in an area of 351st Bomb Squadron Hardstands where once B17’s of the Bloody Hundredth stood. |
 Thorpe Abbotts - the museum was delighted to host Col Jonathan Uhler, other personnel and family members last week. Col Uhler has been over from the US on a tour of duty and took the time to visit the wartime home of the Bloody Hundredth in the company of museum staff. Ron Batley presented Col Uhler with a piece of the runway as a momento following a tour of the airfield site. |  Then and Now - Take a closer look at the colour photo and the soil marks. This is Thorpe Abbotts at the western end of the airfield. Most of the main runway and perimeter tracks are long gone, but, together with the soil marks, enough remains to echo what once was. 351st Squadron hardstands 1 to 5 are shown in the wartime photo with hardstand 5 still remaining today. A public road now bisects the line of the main runway running North to South in the colour photo. |  Thorpe Abbotts - work continues on our B17 Engine rebuild project. Brian is shown working on the Wright Cyclone engine in the museum Engine Shed. Visitors will be able to see this stunning exhibit this coming season. |
 Then and Now - Thorpe Abbotts, wartime shot of the Control Tower and associated buildings and the same view now. |  Then and Now - Thorpe Abbotts. Major Gale ‘Buck’ Cleven outside the 350th Bomb Squadron Orderly Room in April 1945 with some of his squadron personnel. |  1978 and Now photos of the Pyrotechnic Store (now used to store Museum guidebooks etc) and visitor centre. The men in the older photo are; Michael Harvey (left) whose foresight and determination were behind the renovation and also Ron Batley and Richard Gibson, both of whom still volunteer at the museum today. |
bottom of page