US crews host community day at old base in Sculthorpe

Published: 11:30, 05 May 2019

The close links between the United States Air Force and the town of Hunstanton have been celebrated during a briefing day at a former RAF base.

Several residents from the resort attended the event at the old RAF Sculthorpe base, which was hosted by senior personnel of the USAF 352nd Special Operations Wing, based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

The wing includes the 67th Special Operations Squadron which, when known as the 67th Air Rescue Squadron, played a key role in the rescue operation that followed the 1953 flood disaster.

Members from the U.S. Air Force’s 352nd Special Operations Wing, stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England, conduct a live demonstration with the MC-130J during an event at RAF Sculthorpe, April 4, 2019. The purpose of the event was to interact with county commissioners and mayors and discuss mission importance of military training in the Sculthorpe area. The MC-130J Commando II is the newest special operations cargo variant. It flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multi-ship, low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, and infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces (SOF) by airdrop or air land intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Cooper) (9494159)

Thirty-one people, including 16 Americans, died in the tragedy, though many more would have perished without the help of American personnel.

The squadron was awarded the freedom of Hunstanton in October 2014 in recognition of the links forged between the town and the unit in the years that followed.

The same honour was bestowed on the family of the late Reis Leming, who saved 27 people on the night and was awarded the George Medal for bravery.

Pictured above at the event are, from left, SM Sgt Steve Pressler, Neil Quincey, David Jones, Andrew Murray, John Maiden and Lt Col Martin Weeks. Picture: SUBMITTED

Armed Forces Allister Webb