GI44-45 AGM 28/29th November 2009

Gina_Costina Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:07 pm

On the 28th and 29th November 2009 GI44-45 held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Lincolnsfield children centre, Bushey Hertfordshire (England)

The Lincolnsfields Children’s Centre is based on the original WW2 site of Bushey Hall-Headquarters of the 8th U.S.A.A.F. Fighter Command [Codename AJAX], from 1942 to 1946, as a World War II non-flying facility in England. It was established at a private golf club and was used as a headquarters facility for the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force in the United Kingdom. It was situated close to its Royal Air Force counterpart at RAF Bentley Priory, near Stanmore. It was also known as USAAF station 341.
During the war the facility was also Headquarters United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF) during 1944 and 1945, a re-designation of the Eighth Air Force VIII Bomber Command. It is the direct predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force United States Air Forces in Europe. In the Fifties this site then became an important Cold War period Anti Aircraft establishment.

Our thanks go out to the Phil, Chris and all from the First Special Service Force living history group ( http://www.wwiireenacting.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31060 ) for enabling our AGM to take place at Bushey. We highly recommend Bushey as a site to use, with great hosts; it’s also conveniently located just off the M1 and M25 motorways.

The site was such that we had the use of wartime buildings and to hold our meeting and take advantage of all that the site offers.

Despite the rain, GI44-45 had the opportunity to take a few pictures inside the Gusville saloon “somewhere in Europe” and outside. In addition to discussing much in the AGM, we had the chance to socialise, watch some classic DVD’s, participate in a little knowledge check of WW2 (well done Murph!!), and travel into town where we received a warm welcome from the locals. We also had the chance to meet up with our newest member Private Dan O’Dwyer, and thank goodness (for me) as Dan is from down South of England, so I can actually understand what he says, unlike some of our other members, who tend to get a bit “mardy”.

Great to have you on board Dan, right kit, great attitude and we look forward to meeting up at our next event!

So with the AGM behind us, and our last event of 2009, I am looking forward to what we have planned for 2010! It looks to be a good one.

A sample of what the group got up to.....

The Gusville saloon “somewhere in Europe”

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“On patrol”

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Private O’Dwyer gives a lost GI directions to the front..

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samharris45 Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:47 pm

Cheers Paul some good pics!

Guest Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:32 pm

Nice pictures Paul.

Cheers,
Chris.

Guest Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:29 pm

Here are some pictures from my lens. A big thanks to Phil and all the gang at FSSF for allowing us use of their fantastic site for our AGM.

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