Twin Bases - RAF Bentwaters, RAF Woodbridge


Contributed by Rick Billings


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Rick Billings

The 1960s

Thanksgiving day 1967 at Sgt Stevensons home.

Thanksgiving day 1967 at Sgt Stevensons home.
He and his wife invited Ed Fellows [on left] and myself for Thanksgiving dinner...ummm good.

 

L-ro-R MacLeod, Steve Nagy, Joe Caiola, Ray Mason. Taken at Felixstowe, probably 1968

L-ro-R MacLeod, Steve Nagy, Joe Caiola, Ray Mason. Taken at Felixstowe, probably 1968

 

Ray Mason is on the left; Steve Nagy on the right.
Ray Mason is on the left; Steve Nagy on the right.

 

The Rectory, Dallinghoo
A brick house in Dallinghoo; I HIGHLY recommend this b&b...
nice rooms and great folks, Mr & Mrs Quinlan. Its called The Rectory.
(Stop Press: It closed as a B&B in September 2009).

 

A b&b in Hacheston
A b&b in Hacheston - higher priced than the rectory, very old house, interesting people.

 

Fish and chips store in the junction at Melton
Fish and chips store in the junction at Melton, it looks EXACTLY like it did in the 60's; he owns the buildings on both sides of the fish and chip shop too, I think. F&C were OK.

My grandson opening the front of the clock I shipped back from England in 69   My grandson riding one of our donkeys.

My gorgeous wife with two of my favorite people - Mr/Mrs Schofield in Woodbridge.
My grandson opening the front of the clock I shipped back from England in 69; we had a hard time figuring out why it stopped so often. Next, me letting my grandson ride one of our donkeys. Last, my gorgeous wife with two of my favorite people - Mr/Mrs Schofield in Woodbridge.

 

first car I bought, a 59 VW beetle, later sold to Gene Raper
Me with the first car I bought, a 59 VW beetle, later sold to Gene Raper who was in the same squadron, but different shop.

 

Woodbridge in the 1960s

New Street, Woodbridge
New Street

The Cross, Woodbridge
The Cross

Thoroughfare, Woodbridge.
Thoroughfare

Nothing much has changed.

 

Carl Nice and Valerie Layne, in front of the Beaumont Baptist Church in Woodbridge
Carl Nice and Valerie Layne, in front of the Beaumont Baptist Church in Woodbridge; Valerie was the girls Sunday school teacher, from Blackpool area I think, her husband was stationed at B/W. Carl was one of about six from B/W that attended Church there. A more recent picture of Carl is below.
Recent picture of Carl Nice.

 

Joe Larosa and myself on the base of a statue in London, 1969.
Joe Larosa and myself on the base of a statue in London, taken in 1969.

 

Carl Nice with two girls.
Carl Nice with two girls.

 

Carol Schofield; Valerie ???; Ann Burgon; and Carl Nice, outside Beaumont Baptist Church in the late 60s
Three lovely Woodbridge young ladies that attended Beaumont Baptist Church in the late 60s along with a BW yank; left to right; Carol Schofield; Valerie ???; Ann Burgon; and Carl Nice.

 

Rick Billings sitting in part of Framlingham Castle, many years ago (1968ish)
Me sitting in part of Framlingham Castle, many years ago (1968ish)

 

1969 Holiday season - New Year? Ed Karpinski, Steve Nagy, Barbara and Joe Caiola, seated: Ray Mason, Carol Schofield, Carl Nice, Joe Larosa, Rick Billings, Elly Larosa, un-named girl on the right was with Steve.
Does anyone remember this party? It was during the 1969 Holiday season. I think it was New Year's eve, in the home of Joe and Barbara Caiola; a 8ft wide by (a) 32 ft trailer.  Not sure how so many got in... especially the party crashers. standing from the left; Ed Karpinski [Pittsburg, pa]; Steve Nagy [Newark, nj]; Barbara an Joe Caiola [ny, ny]; seated from the left; Ray Mason [Michigan]; Carol Schofield; Carl Nice [Las Vegas, Nevada]; Joe Larosa; Rick Billings; Elly Larosa; the girl standing on the right was with Steve, don't remember here name.

 


 

Collecting and sharing contributions about the Twin Bases of RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, England since 1995. Copyright © 1995-2009 Linn Barringer, All Rights Reserved.