Edited by Bob Books from the 2nd ADA Journals
IT BEGINS WITH THE MEMORIAL TRUST - 1945
The idea for the creation of a Memorial for the over 6,400 members of the 2nd Air Division killed in action was conceived by three senior officers of the Division, Col. Fred Bryan (Hdq. 2AD), Lt. Col. Ion Walker (467th BG), and B/Gen. Milt Arnold. The concept was heartily endorsed by the Commanding General, Maj/Gen. William E. Kepner.An appeal for funds to all personnel just after V.E. Day raised the amazing sum of 20,916 pounds within three weeks. In June 1945.
The Memorial Trust of 2nd Air Division USAAF was created under British law to be supervised for all time by the British Charity Commission. The Board of Governors is comprised of 13 members, two of whom, according to the 1945 Declaration of Trust, are to be appointees of the American Ambassador. In addition, since 1972, a representative of the 2nd Air Division Association has been on the Board.
The funds were handed over to the Trust with the assurance that the Charity Commission would ensure that, as long as there was income, materials would be purchased for the Memorial.
This Memorial was to be in the form of an entrance hall to the new Norwich Library, and the establishment of an American Room therein. In addition, a book of names of the deceased. An implied, though not stated purpose, was to create, in addition to the physical and spiritual Memorial, something of use to the city of Norwich, which would perpetuate the advancement of Anglo-American relations so well established there by the Second Air Division.
THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE - ROLL OF HONOUR - 1958
Then, early in the 1950s, our late Commanding General, Lt Gen. William E. Kepner, requested from the Air Force Headquarters that a list be compiled of all 2nd Air Division personnel who had been killed in action or killed in the line of combat-related duty.
The Air Force complied, and the original ROH was presented to the Lord Mayor by US Ambassador Whitney on Thursday, April 10, 1958, at 3 pm. It was then deposited in the regalia room of the City Hall, where it will remain until it finds its permanent home in the new library.
DEDICATION PROGRAM - April 10, 1958
The Lord Mayor of Norwich (Councillor T. C. Eaton, T.D.) was accompanied by the Ambassador for the United States of America and preceded by Major H. L. Bailey, Chaplain to the United States Air Force at Sculthorpe, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Memorial Trust of the 2nd Air Division. United States Army Air Force (T. D. Copeman, Esq.), and the Town Clerk of Norwich (Bernard D. Storey, Esq.. C.B.E.) carrying the Rock Crystal Mace. and followed by the Sheriff of Norwich (Alderman A. E. Nicholls) and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Norwich (Alderman E. J. S. Hinde, J.P.) will leave the Parlour for the Council Chamber. The procession will be headed by the Lord Mayor's Officer carrying the St. George Mace. A Guard of Honour provided by the United States Air Force, Sculthorpe, will be at the entrance to the Council Chamber.
The Roll of Honour of members of the 2nd Air Division of the United States Army Air Force, who lost their lives in World War II, will be carried into the Council Chamber and placed on the table in front of the dais by two officers of the United States Air Force.
Major H. L. Bailey, Chaplain to the United States Air Force at Sculthorpe, will descend from the dais and, taking up a position immediately below the Lord Mayor, offer a Dedicatory Prayer.
The United States Air Force officers will then place the Roll of Honour before the Ambassador, who will present it to the Lord Mayor for keeping in the custody of the City.
The Lord Mayor will, on behalf of the citizens of Norwich, accept the Roll of Honour.
The Ambassador will present to the Lord Mayor a volume of the Encyclopaedia Americana as a token of the full Encyclopaedia, which in the first draft of books to be made to the City by the Memorial Trust of the Air Division of the United States Army Air Force.
The platform party, headed by the two United States Air Force officers carrying the Roll of Honour and escorted by the Guard of Honour, will proceed to the Regalia Room, where the Roll of Honour will be deposited.
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DELAYS IN MEMORIAL CONSTRUCTION
In 1953, it was reported that, due to building restrictions in England, there was no immediate likelihood that the new library could be built, and the local governors of the fund were sorely perplexed as to the proper fulfillment of their trust. Alternatives have been considered, but it would be far better if the original intention of the officers and men serving in 1945 could now be carried out.
For almost 10 years, the construction of a memorial was delayed and put on hold several times, with the groundbreaking now scheduled in late 1960. The Norwich Eastern Daily Press reports, "The many delays which have prevented the completion of the USAAF, 2nd Air Division's war memorial in Norwich, which is to be incorporated in the proposed central library, seem likely to be ended at last. The City Libraries Committee heard yesterday that if all goes well, the building should go to tender this coming summer. If that proves possible, a completion date two years from then would be feasible."
NEW LIBRARY DEDICATED IN JANUARY 1963
The new Central Library building was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the principal dignitary, on Saturday, 19 January 1963.
DEDICATION OF THE LIBRARY MEMORIAL ROOM AND BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE - JUNE 1963
Finally, the dedication of the new library with a principal address by the American Ambassador to the Court of St. James came on Thursday, June 13, 1963
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On that date of June l3th the American Book of Remembrance, containing the names of the 6032 who were killed on active service from East Anglia airfields, was carried from the City Hall with an armed escort to Saint Peter Mancroft Church.
Procession to the American Room at the library through an aisle of Air Force men at attention was as follows:
The choir, in their crimson cassocks and white surplices, led the procession down the nave, followed by British and American chaplains, and then the Bishop of Norwich. Next came the four mace bearers and the sword-bearer of Norwich Corporation, preceding the Lord Mayor, in his black and gold robe. He walked side by side with the American Minister.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk followed ln uniform, and with him were high British and American officers of both air forces in blue and gold. But the former commander of the 2nd Air Division in Norfolk, General Kepner, who is an honorary freeman of Norwich, was in civilian clothes, walking like a plain burgess of the city alongside his brother freeman, Alderman Jex.
Deep memories. The robed Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor brought up the rear of the civic procession, and then came the color party - four steel-helmeted sergeants, with the Stars and Stripes and the bright blue flag of the U.S.A.F.
Behind the colors came the Book of Remembrance, carried on a cushion by Lt. Col. Charles C. Hurt, and escorted by Chief Warrant Officer L. Lovelace, bearer and escort being, both of them being brothers of men who were killed in action with the 2nd Air Division in 1944.
Song: Star-Spangled Banner.
Song: I Mighty Fortress.
Lesson: Ecclesiasticus 44:1-15 read by Fredrick VanPelt
Prayer: The Lord's prayer.
Dedication: The Books of Remembrance by the Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Launcelot Fleming.
The following message from President Kennedy was read by the Minister of the U.S. Embassy, the Hon. Gen. Lewis Jones.
"I would like to join in paying tribute to the 6032 members of the Second Air Division who sacrificed their lives in the defense of free men everywhere. These men and their companions in arms in the R.A.F. and the U. S. Army Air Corps were given the hard task of risking the present for the sake of the future. They net the test. May their sacrifice continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two nations, allies past and present, against tyranny. May it also inspire us to pursue with energy and patience the opportunities for securing peace with justice preserved for us by those whose memorial we dedicate today."
Songs: The Battle Hymn of the Republic and God Save the Queen
TAPS
The dismissal blessing.
After the Book of Remembrance dedication, the volume was solemnly presented to the Memorial Room, carried by two brothers of our fallen comrades in a dignified procession from St Peter Mancroft Church across to the Memorial Room. Inside the Memorial Room, the Hon. Jones, Minister of the U.S. Embassy, declared the room open at the request of Mr. Tom Copeman, the chairman of the American Memorial Trust. Another of the Founder trustees, Brig. Gen Milt Arnold (Ret) asked the Bishop of Norwich to dedicate the Room, "on behalf of the officers and men of the 2nd Air Division who gave their lives during WW2 and in lasting memory of the friendship and kindness shown by the people of Norfolk County."
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By 1987, with the help of the Group Vice Presidents and other interested individuals, the identification and verification with the Department of Defense of 362 names of our lost comrades raised the total to 6,394. Since 1988, more names have been accumulated. Then on June 17, 1993, a list of 280 verified names of 2nd Air Division personnel killed in action or combat raised the total to 6,674
THE LIBRARY MEMORIAL ROOM AND ROLL OF HONOUR DESTROYED BY FIRE - 1994
On August 1, 1994, the library's Memorial Room and Roll of Honour were destroyed by fire. Not only the original beautifully inscribed Roll of Honour, but also the photocopy placed nearby in the room for ready reference. Fortunately, there was one other copy from 1973 held by one of our veterans, and over the years, corrections that came in were penciled in. Since the original Roll of Honour was produced in a calligraphic script, close to 700 additional names have been verified and added in five separate installments at the end of the book. In 1995, a new Roll of Honour was in progress with a total of 6,658 names headed up by Jordan Uttal.
EXPANDING THE CRITERIA FOR THE ROLL OF HONOUR - 1999
In late 1999, a 2nd Air Division committee was formed to study the criteria for names being placed on the Roll of Honour. In the past, only a few other than combat airmen were put on the Roll. It was the opinion of many that anyone in the theater of war who was killed in the line of duty should have his name on the Roll. The Executive Committee then voted that this would be the case from now on.
Beginning in the year 2000, the group Vice Presidents were responsible for the investigation of the circumstances of the death of those whose names are to be added to the Roll of Honour. Most of the groups were active and involved, but not all.
NEW MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND ROLL OF HONOUR - 2001
The new Memorial Library opened on November 7, 2001, with the "Roll of Honour" proudly carried in formal procession to the bishop of Norwich for consecration before being placed in the library.
ADDENDUM TO THE ROLL OF HONOUR - 2003
On December 15, 2003, the final corrected list of 170 names for an additional addendum to the Roll of Honour was confirmed. There were deletions, additions, and changes in spelling, middle initials, rank, and service numbers, bringing the total number to 6,828 in the current Roll of Honour.
MEMORIAL LIBRARY CHANGES NAME - 2021
In February 2020, the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library closed for a long-planned refurbishment. Work was halted in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The library reopened on 21 April 2021 as the newly renamed American Library.
The Library comprises an exhibition on the 2nd Air Division and over 4,000 books, including non-fiction on all aspects of American life, history, and culture, as well as the best in classic and contemporary fiction. The Library runs varied events and education programs. The book stock and programming reflect the amazing diversity of American life. There are also 30,000 original photographs, letters, memoirs, and other documents available online in the archive; most are available online.
ROLL OF HONOUR REDEDICATION WITH THE ADDITIONAL 170 MEN ADDENDUM. - SEPTEMBER 28, 2021
The Rt. Rev Graham Usher (Bishop of Norwich) was present to bless the Roll of Honour. Joining the Bishop in addressing the small crowd gathered were Group Captain Richard Middleton, RAF ret'd, who serves as Chairman of the Memorial Trust of the 2nd Air Division USAAF, and Ceri Sumner, who is the Norfolk County Council Director of Community, Information, and Learning.
Also present were Cllr Dr. Kevin Maguire, the Lord Mayor of Norwich, Caroline Jarrold, the Sheriff of Norwich, Group Captain Stewart Blackburn MBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, and Cllr Karen Vincent, Vice-Chairman of Norfolk County Council. Representing the Memorial Trust were Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk Thomas Courtauld, Matthew Martin, Jonathan Powell, Anthony Harmer, and Andrew Hawker. Representing Norfolk Library and Information Service was Head of Service Jill Terrell. Also in attendance were Trust Librarian Orla Kennelly, library staff members Jane Appleton and Dr. Linda Sheppard, and UEA American Library Scholar Suzanne Solomon.
THE MEMORIAL TO HONOR ALL THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE 2ND AIR DIVISION
Are there still omissions, spelling, rank, and serial number errors with this current Norwich American Library Roll of Honour? Yes, there are, but like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia, which represents all MIAs, the Roll of Honour in the Norwich American Library represents and honors all those who served in the 2nd Air Division who didn't come home to their families.
THE POSTED UPDATED ROLL OF GROUP HONOR LISTINGS
The listings on the updated Roll of Honor contain an additional 736 names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice with the 2nd Air Division that are not currently on the Norwich American Library Roll of Honour. I have also added the recorded date of death and the bomb or fighter group they were with.
I have exhausted all of my resources to make this updated Roll of Honor as complete as I possibly could. As is all the Roll of Honors of WWII and records of WWII that I have gleaned and harvested names from, none have been perfect.
The listing of names presented here most likely has some errors and omissions. Hopefully, in the future, other researchers will find these errors and omissions and record them for their proper remembrance.
This Roll of Honor includes any death in the line of duty, combat-related or not, while serving in a Second Division bomb or fighter group of the 8thAAF during WWII.
The date of death with Superscript 1 is recorded as non-combat accidental deaths during their time of service... That would include training and transporting to and from England.
The date of death with Superscript 2 was volunteer American fighter pilots who flew with the Royal Air Force before America entered the war in December 1941. After December 1941, the remaining RAF pilots transferred to the 4th Fighter Group.