United States European Command

By Peter ParkOct 25, 2011

Ms. Theodora Gobrecht, granddaughter of WWII 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) pilot 1st Lieutenant Harry Gobrecht cuts the ribbon reopening the grounds of the bomb group memorial following its 5-month restoration. Ms. Gobrecht is assisted by Capt. Derek Gregory of the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron of the 501st Combat Support Wing which accomplished the refurbishment, as RAF Molesworth unit Commanders, Col. Michele M. Cook, USAF (AFRICOM J2-Molesworth), COL Matthew P. Glunz, USA (JIOCEUR Analytic Center), and COL Joseph F. Huibsch, USA (Intelligence Fusion Center in support of NATO) look on.

2 photos: Ms. Theodora Gobrecht, granddaughter of WWII 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) pilot 1st Lieutenant Harry Gobrecht cuts the ribbon reopening the grounds of the bomb group memorial.

Photo 1 of 2: Ms. Theodora Gobrecht, granddaughter of WWII 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) pilot 1st Lieutenant Harry Gobrecht cuts the ribbon reopening the grounds of the bomb group memorial following its 5-month restoration. Ms. Gobrecht is assisted by Capt. Derek Gregory of the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron of the 501st Combat Support Wing which accomplished the refurbishment, as RAF Molesworth unit Commanders, Col. Michele M. Cook, USAF (AFRICOM J2-Molesworth), COL Matthew P. Glunz, USA (JIOCEUR Analytic Center), and COL Joseph F. Huibsch, USA (Intelligence Fusion Center in support of NATO) look on. Download full-resolution version

British painter Ralph Thompson of the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron puts final touches on the intricate logos on the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) memorial recently restored at Royal Air Force Molesworth, home of the U.S. European Command's JIOCEUR Analytic Center, the U.S. Africa Command's J2-Molesworth, and the Intelligence Fusion Centre in support of NATO.

2 photos: British painter Ralph Thompson of the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron puts final touches on the intricate logos on the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) memorial.

Photo 2 of 2: British painter Ralph Thompson of the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron puts final touches on the intricate logos on the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) memorial recently restored at Royal Air Force Molesworth, home of the U.S. European Command's JIOCEUR Analytic Center, the U.S. Africa Command's J2-Molesworth, and the Intelligence Fusion Centre in support of NATO. Download full-resolution version

The Commanders of the U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, and NATO intelligence units at Royal Air Force Molesworth rededicated the recently restored memorial honoring the 8,960 men of the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) whose B-17 Flying Fortresses flew 364 missions from this base against Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.

The memorial was originally dedicated June 1, 2000 by more than fifty original members of the 303rd Bomb Group -- many who stood there that day have taken their own final flight.

By January this year, time and weather had taken its toll on the memorial. Mission partners in US Air Forces in Europe's 501st Combat Support Wing initiated a total refurbishment including the painstaking repainting of the intricate flag, logos, and gold lettering of the structure, and installation of a unique barbed wire replica fence symbolic of the 747 men of the 303rd who were shot down and suffered in German prison camps during the war.

Ms. Theodora Gobrecht, granddaughter of 303rd pilot 1st Lieutenant Harry Gobrecht cut the ribbon reopening the grounds of the memorial.

Army Colonel Matthew P. Glunz, Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe Analytic Center Commander, noted in his remarks, "the memorial especially honors the 841 young Americans who last trod the earth in this part of Cambridgeshire, England."

When the 423rd Engineer Squadron, which supports RAF Molesworth facilities, was getting estimates for a professional painter to do the painting of the memorial they got expensive quotes from local firms. Hearing of this, Ralph Thompson, a British Ministry of Defence employee who works for the 423rd Civil Engineers, offered to do the work saving thousands of dollars.

Thompson researched and compounded the special paints needed to paint on granite and did an amazing job in the renovation. Anytime there was a sunny day in the past five months, Thompson and his pickup were almost surely at the memorial. Glunz publically thanked Thompson during the rededication for his time and dedication to the project.