Ww2 airmen leave their mark on the ceiling of a british pub in cambridge

We have a pub in Benet Street, Cambridge, an old coaching inn, called THE EAGLE.
It was frequented by all the 8th Air Force Squadrons from in and around Cambridge during WW2. Bassingbourn/Alconbury/Mildenhall/Molesworth to name a few, all B17 bases.
The crews were allowed to sign their names on the ceiling with candle smoke which they did, and it survived.
Anytime the premises undergo modifications, the ceiling is covered and now I am so pleased to see there is a presrvation order on the ceiling. This is the same Cambridge pub that CRICK & WATSON devised DNA as we know it today. Albeit, many references state RAF, the majority of those who signed this ceiling were squadrons based on USAF bases like Bassingbourn Airfield near Royston 10 miles away. Steeped in history, Royston holds the only underground safe dug by the Knights Templars to store thier gold on return from the Holy Land too.

Hope this photo can do it justice RIP brave airmen:

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1...IMQoip6BAh2EAM

Good story! While my old eyes couldn't see the "mark on the ceiling", do ya think they'd drop-ship a pint?

Russ

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Originally Posted by RASelkirk

While my old eyes couldn't see the "mark on the ceiling",

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Hopefully you can see this.

In the early to mid 70's, small agricultural company called EVERS and WALL, based at Shefford Woodlands near Newbury were using old stores/living accmmodation and dining room facilities left from the USAF based at Ramsbury and Membury. In the old dining room and on the ceiling were many paintings and drawings of the men, squadron badges all over the old dining room. Some of the old USAF roads were used by a local car club for auto-tests and sprints. Who knows where these old murals are now? Wish I'd gone over during the week and asked to photograph them

Peter,
That is always the problem. I think I told you, I was at a village near RAF Brize Norton accepting a medal set from a well known WW2 PARA Officer on behalf of the museum at Duxford.
Whilst in the area I was asked if I would like lunch on the camp in the mess with 1 PCAU the Parachute Course Instructors.

As I walked up to the office I saw thousands of index cards being thrown into a skip. I asked what are they? The reply was , all the individual parachute jump records filled in by PJI's on every PARA soldier that ever jumped out of RAF aircraft right back to Ringway in 1942 finally being chucked away, we've got them on computer now was the reply.

Well as you can imagine, I forwent the lunch knowing how valuable each card was for us at the museum, and loaded over 200 cardboard boxes in my ML out of the skip. Must have looked odd, a chap in a suit in a skip.....but heyho!!
Those cards now sorted by our volunteers, give a history on EVERY soldier that did a jump course with comments etc.
So in short I know how valuable it is to "preserve" stuff like this and the ceilings and walls are part of all of that.
Every line was done by someone who gave his all for Democracy and should therefore in my book be preserved!!

Good job I didn't get stopped on the way home.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

Hopefully you can see this.

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Yessir Bean, clear as day! The others were "black on dark" which is really difficult for me.

Thanks,

Russ