Posted:
By: Kimberlee Conard
On: 08/14/2003
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My grandfather, Morris E. Moe, was a copilot in the 401st and was stationed at Deenethorpe. Unfortunately, he died before I was born and I was never able to share in his experiences from the war. The worst card life has dealt me is not getting to know this man. Three extremely generous men changed that for me.
I recently returned from studying abroad in Cambridge, England, and while I was there I was able to get in contact with Graham Bratley, Ray Corby, and Paul Knight, members of the 401st Historical Society in Deenethorpe. The kindness these three men showed me cannot even be put into words. They picked me up from the Peterborough train station and drove me to what remains of the airfield. I was able to walk in the same place and even see the same treelines that my grandpa saw over 60 years ago. The experience was phenomenal. Graham, Ray, and Paul brought to life what the brave men of the 401st endured out in Deenethorpe, giving me vivid accounts of exactly what occured there. They went out of their way to make sure I saw every bit that remains, which was truly a moving experience. (sure wish I wore tennis shoes, though!)
By far, the most incredible part of my journey was having my picture taken at the end of the runway that my grandpa used to take off from. How could he have ever known that his granddaughter would be standing at the end of the very same runway he took off from looking back at him? I felt like I saw him that day. It is eerie, yet utterly beautiful to think about.
To the extremely giving and caring men who are keeping the spirit of the 401st alive in Deenethorpe... thank you, thank you, thank you. The effects of your generosity have spread to my mother, grandmother, and another member of my grandpa's flight crew, as well as the rest of my family. It has changed lives.
To the younger members of the 401st and their kids who, like me, never took the time to really learn what happened in my grandfather's war experiences... take the time and learn the stories your grandparents have to share. If you are ever in Europe, please go and visit Deenethorpe. I am sure the Historical Society will take as good of care of you as they did me. It is an experience you will never forget. I strongly encourage the grandchildren of the bravest generation our country has ever known to find your way to Deenethorpe. It will change you from the inside out.
To the men of the 401st... you don't get to hear it often enough anymore. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for fighting a war that made my freedoms possible. Thank you for your bravery, and thank you for your selflessness. You will never be forgotten by at least one girl.
I have plenty of pictures of what remains of the airfield. Feel free to email me if you would like me to post them on the web.
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