78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
Memorial Day, 2000 Ceremony - Cambridge American Cemetery
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The Cambridge American Cemetery - Cambridgeshire, U.K.( Picture Source - Madingley Memorial Cemetery archives )
On May 29, 2000, a special memorial service was held under the auspices of the United States Embassy, Third Air Force and the 48th Fighter Wing in cooperation with various 8th and 9th Air Force Memorial Associations, our British friends and the Cambridge American Cemetery Staff. A wreath was presented by Andrew Height on behalf of the " Duxford 78th Fighter Group Association " .
" Duxford 78th Fighter Group Association " presentation wreath, 5 / 29 / 00. Cambridge American Cemetery ( Picture Source - Andrew Height )
The banner reads :
78th Fighter Group; 82nd, 83rd, 84th Fighter Squadrons
Goxhill December 1942 - April 1943
Duxford April 1943 - October 1945
" For Those Who Did Not Return "
Cecil K. Whitehead served as a medical technician and ambulance driver with the 82nd Fighter Squadron. Cecil's son, Thomas, has kindly provided the following pictures taken by his father of the Cambridge American Cemetery as it was in 1945. Cecil K. Whitehead and Leroy F. Johnson apparently took some time to say goodbye to some friends who were buried in the cemetery before leaving for stateside:
Cambridge American Military Cemetery, 1945. Leroy F. Johnson is to the right of the marker. ( Picture Source: Thomas W. Whitehead collection )
Cambridge American Military Cemetery, 1945. ( Picture Source: Thomas W. Whitehead collection )
Cecil K. Whitehead by the marker of S/Sgt. William L. Dallas. Sgt. Dallas was also from Shannon, Mississippi and a friend of Cecil K.Whitehead. ( Picture Source: Thomas W. Whitehead collection )
Leroy F. Johnson by the marker of Wilbur K. Edwards. ( Picture Source: Thomas W. Whitehead collection )
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