Heimdall

Idesofmarch, if you are interested in WWII connections highly recommend you visit the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, a wartime airfield near Cambridge. If you are lucky you might see a Spitfire or a P-51 Mustang on a test flight. There are lots of aircraft, both civil and military on static display, workshops where volunteers are restoring old aircraft, and a recently built American museum with a huge display of wartime and Cold War aircraft, even a B-52, so you can imagine how large it is:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

Also there are many old wartime airfields in Norfolk and Suffolk where the runways are gone but the control tower has been turned into a small museum commemorating the American bomb groups that were stationed there during the war. They are staffed by volunteers, so aren’t opened every day. One that comes to mind is RAF Thorpe Abbotts, home of the 100th Bomb Group, on the Suffolk-Norfolk border.

https://www.100bgmus.org.uk/

I am a retired USAF officer who was stationed at two different USAF bases over the years, and back in the 1960s it was easy to notice, as you drove around the country roads, where these old bases were, and I took an interest in learning about their history. In the east of England at the height of WWII were over 100 air bases used by the RAF and USAAF.

idesofmarch

Heimdall, we visited Duxford a few years back and loved it. My husband was a Marine and really is interested in anything military. His eyesight kept him from flying and Duxford was a highlight of the trip. I will pass on the info about the wartime airfields. Thank you!

bilboburgler

He might like to look for Operation Quicksilver ;-) Patton's Ghost Army - D-Day Deception - America in WWII mag

Gardyloo

Some random thoughts...

If you're visiting Lavenham and the Suffolk wool towns, then try not to miss two marvelous nearby villages, Kersey and Long Melford. Heart-stopping beauty, almost a cliche.

Maybe some locals can say if the Henry Watson Pottery country store or factory shop is still open. We fell in love with their jars and storage vessels, the ones that are suitable for use "at home or on safari." I stopped there a few years ago when I was taking a nephew to the University of East Anglia for a year abroad, and nearly blew the family fortune (ha ha) on pots and such. The shop was near the (blink-and-you'll-miss-it) village of Wattisfield.

idesofmarch

Bilboburgler: Thank you so much for the article, we are going on vacation tomorrow so he will get a chance to read it. The subject is right up his alley.

Gardyloo: Thanks for those village names, I’ll look them up on the map. I like the look of those Harry Watson jars and will keep my eye out for them.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Now I need to get those air tickets and then I can firm up reservations for car and lodging.

Heimdall

A story that might make your Marine husband laugh: Years ago when my daughter was about 8 years old we took a trip to Cornwall and stopped at RAF St Mawgan to fill up on duty free gas. There was a US Marine detachment there at the time. Before we left the base we went to the little cafeteria where there were several Marines in uniform sitting there having lunch. My daughter, used to seeing USAF airmen with more lax grooming standards, took one look and asked “Daddy, why are all those men bald?” 😂

jeffreycwuk

There was a mention of interest in train system.

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - Anglia Plus
This rail rover could be quite useful and save some car journeys, especially when the destinations are close to train stations and/or bus routes.

uktravelover

There are other car rental consolidators (aggregators), equally good as Auto Europe. Try Holiday Autos, Carrentals, DiscoverCars.

Another region to throw into the pot that’s worth considering is Northumberland. Beautiful coastal area, castles, Hadrians Wall etc.

idesofmarch

Heimdall: I shared that story with my husband. Made both of us laugh. I can’t tell you how many times I have sat with him watching movies with servicemen in them, albeit actors, And he’s always complaining about the hair being too long. Not “high and tight enough for him.

idesofmarch

uktravelover: Thank you for those broker recommendations, I’ll check them out. We loved, loved Northumberland when we were there a few years ago. Based ourselves in Warkworth. So many of my travels are based on books I read as a young girl. The highlight of that trip for me was finding the bridge over a stream styled “Devil Water.”
I think near Corbridge. I read the book by Anya Seton that started in that area about the Earls of Derwentwater and their support for the Jacobite cause. Warkworth was the site of their declaration for James 111. Being there was thrilling for me. I’m sure we will return. As I get older, almost 70, the happy memories of my childhood reading become even more important.

idesofmarch

jeffreycwuk: Thank you for this information. I had not come across it in any of my research. Very helpful.