Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - England / Normandy - Fall 2026

Experience the legacy of the WWII "Mighty Eighth" heroes on the Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour, titled "The Mighty Eighth." The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force offers this immersive travel experience.

Join us on our upcoming tour as we visit heavy bomber bases, fighter group airfields, and selected off-the-beaten-path sites. This tour provides a unique opportunity to explore the "Mighty Eighth's" legacy while experiencing the beauty of the country on your own.

Our journey will then take us to France, where we will explore museums, beaches, and historic sites in Normandy. The tour will include visits to all five D-Day landing beaches and other significant locations related to the invasion.

This tour package offers an unparalleled experience! If you have ever dreamed of seeing the historic sites of the Eighth Air Force, WWII Great Britain, and the Normandy Beaches, this is truly a trip of a lifetime!

Your Tour Leader and Tour Manager are both experienced experts in the history of the Eighth Air Force, Royal Air Force Bomber Command, and general World War II history.

The tour will be led by Mark S. Copeland, the Director of Educational Travel for the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Mark is a recognized authority on the Eighth Air Force during World War II and is among the most knowledgeable and respected historians in the field, fueled by a deep passion for WWII history.

For over four decades, Mark has traveled extensively throughout Europe and has specifically designed this tour to be the finest of its kind. You will visit unique sites that are not included in any other tour itinerary. Additionally, during the journey, you will have the opportunity to meet several local historians, museum docents, and volunteers who will enrich your experience.

Day 1 - Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - Arrival Day

Tour participants will arrive at Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London, where a representative from the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force will greet them. Guests will then be escorted to an exclusive private car with a dedicated driver, who will take them to the MacDonald Hotel in Windsor.

After check-in, you will have the opportunity to explore the village of Windsor before attending a cocktail reception and welcome dinner. This is a great chance to meet the other tour participants and ask any questions you may have about the itinerary.

Day 2 - Thursday, October 22, 2026 - Wycombe Abbey "Pinetree" / Battle of Britain Bunker - Uxbridge

Our morning will start with a visit to Wycombe Abbey, the wartime headquarters of the Eighth Air Force during World War II, known as "Pinetree." Our group will enjoy a private catered reception and a welcome lecture by our tour leader, Mark Copeland. We will also explore the actual wartime offices of General Ira Eaker and General James Doolittle.

After lunch at the Crown and Treaty Pub in Uxbridge, the day will continue with a private guided tour of the Battle of Britain Bunker at RAF Uxbridge.

The command bunker at RAF Uxbridge was the main center of communication for the Royal Air Force Fighter Command during the critical days of the Battle of Britain. Please note, there are 76 steps that lead down to the bunker, and there is no available elevator or lift. For those who prefer not to visit the bunker, an excellent video presentation will be available for viewing in the conference room.

The day will conclude with a return to the MacDonald Hotel in Windsor, where a casual dinner will be served.

Day 3 - Friday, October 23, 2026 - RAF Debden / Bury St. Edmunds

Participants will depart from Windsor and travel to the village of Rickling Green for a delicious lunch at the Cricketer's Arms pub.

After lunch, there will be a tour of RAF Debden, a key airbase during the Battle of Britain that was later handed over to the U.S. Eighth Air Force Fighter Command. Now an active British Army installation, the group will have the opportunity to tour this historic site, including a drive down the wartime runways where the Fourth Fighter Group’s Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Mustangs once operated.

The day will conclude with check-in at the Angel Hotel in Bury St. Edmunds, allowing a free evening for participants to explore the town on their own or with other participants.

Day 4 - Saturday, October 24, 2026 - St. Andrew's Church / Old Buckenham / Horham

The day will begin with a drive to Old Buckenham, the home of the 453rd Bomb Group. Flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, the 453rd Bomb Group served in the Eighth Air Force, Second Air Division. Eighth Air Force historian Mr. James Cleary will be our host as we tour the excellent Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum, followed by lunch at a local pub, The Gamekeeper.

After lunch, we will proceed to St. Andrew’s Church in the charming village of Quidenham, where we will be met by the local parish warden. This beautiful church dates back to the 15th century. We will view the "airman's window," which is duplicated in the Chapel of the Fallen Eagles at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

The 95th Bomb Group is notable for being the only group awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations in the Eighth Air Force. Additionally, the 95th Bomb Group led the first mission to strike Berlin, the capital of Germany. Our day will conclude with a special visit to Horham, the wartime home of the 95th Bomb Group, where we will visit the Red Feather Club. This restored NCO Club is now home to an incredible museum and dance hall. We will enjoy a delicious catered meal while listening to 1940s vintage "big band" music.

Day 5 - Sunday, October 25, 2026 - 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum / Framlingham Airfield Museum

On this day, we will begin our tour at Framlingham/Parham Airfield, where we will visit the restored Control Tower Memorial Museum that now houses a museum. This location is significant as it served as the wartime home of the 390th Bomb Group.

Afterward, we will depart for Thorpe Abbotts to visit the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. Here, we will have private access to explore this impressive tribute to the 100th Bomb Group, which is featured in the Apple TV nine-part mini-series, “Masters of the Air.”

We will conclude the day with a wonderful meal at the Scole Inn Hotel, a favorite pub of the 100th Bomb Group airmen during World War II. After returning to the hotel, you will enjoy a free evening to relax.

Day 6 - Monday, October 26, 2026 - Cambridge American Cemetery (Madingley) - Duxford Air Museum

Today, we will begin our day with a tour of the Cambridge American Cemetery located in Madingley. A special commemorative ceremony will be held at the cemetery exclusively for our group.

After the ceremony, we will visit the renowned Duxford Air Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of vintage aircraft. You will have lunch at your leisure, with a variety of dining options available at the museum.

Once we finish our visit to the museum, we will check into the MacDonald House in Windsor.

Day 7 - Tuesday, October 27, 2026 - Churchill War Rooms / St. Paul's Cathedral

The day will start with a private tour of the Churchill War Rooms, situated beneath the National Treasury Building. This exclusive experience allows participants to explore areas that are typically behind glass walls.

We will enjoy lunch at Café Rouge, and afterward, we will head to St. Paul's Cathedral. Our visit will include a tour of the American Chapel and the U.S. Roll of Honor.

In the evening, we will return to the MacDonald House for dinner.

Day 8 - Wednesday, October 28, 2026 - Free Day

Participants will have the entire day to explore the incredible city of London or take a tour of Windsor Castle at their leisure.

Dinner will be held at the MacDonald Hotel in Windsor.

Day 9 - Thursday, October 29, 2026 - Southwick House - Portsmouth - D-Day Story

Our D-Day journey begins at the remarkable D-Day Story in Portsmouth, which showcases the city's significant contributions to the success of the Allied invasion of Europe.

After our visit, we will enjoy a private lunch at the Golden Lion, followed by a tour of Southwick House, which served as General Dwight D. Eisenhower's headquarters during the Normandy Invasion.

In the evening, we will travel to the charming village of Eastwell, where we will spend the night at Eastwell Manor House. This location is less than 40 minutes from Dover, where we will cross into France the following morning.

Day 10 - Friday, October 30, 2026 - Travel to France

Our group will depart from Eastwell Manor and head to Dover, where we will take the Channel Tunnel to France.

After arriving, we will make our way to our base hotel, the Chateau Saint Gilles, located in Bayeux, France. A box lunch will be provided on the bus as we travel to mainland Europe.

After a long day of travel, we will enjoy a relaxing meal at the hotel.

Day 11 - Saturday, October 31, 2026 - D-Day Experience / Free Day in Bayeux

In the morning, we will take a tour of the "D-Day Experience" at Dead Man's Corner in Carentan. In the afternoon, guests will have the opportunity to explore the ancient city of Bayeux, France. Dinner will be on your own.

Day 12 - Sunday, November 1, 2026 - Airborne Museum St. Mere Eglise - Utah Beach - Brecourt Manor

Our D-Day experience begins at the outstanding Airborne Museum in St. Mere Eglise, where we will explore the history of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

After a delicious lunch at a nearby French bistro, we will visit the Utah Beach Museum, followed by a private tour of Brecourt Manor, where the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment—known as "Easy Company"—successfully destroyed the German 105 mm guns on the morning of June 6th, 1944.

Our evening meal will be at the Hotel de Le'Marine.

Day 13 - Monday, November 2, 2026 - Pointe du Hoc - Omaha Beach - American Cemetery - Colleville-sur-Mer

Our group will begin the day by touring Pointe du Hoc, where the 2nd Rangers scaled the cliffs on the morning of June 6, 1944, to destroy the German cannons embedded in concrete bunkers.

Next, we will visit the cemetery at La Cambe, where the graves of 21,222 German war dead are located.

A box lunch will be provided before we explore Omaha Beach and the Overlord Museum. We will conclude our afternoon at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of 9,387 American servicemen and women. A special ceremony will be held at the cemetery for our group.

Our evening meal will be at Château Saint Gilles.

Day 14 - Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - Mulberry Harbor / Allied Beaches / Pegasus Bridge

We will enjoy a leisurely drive along the French coastline to explore the remaining site of the Mulberry Harbor. Our journey will continue towards the city of Caen, where we will visit the German gun battery emplacements at Longues-sur-Mer and the renowned Pegasus Bridge Museum.

Dinner will be at the Hotel De Lion in Bayeux.

Day 15 - Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - Return to England / Museum of the Atlantic Wall

Today, we bid farewell to Normandy as we travel back to London via the Channel Tunnel. On our journey, we will make a stop at the Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique (Museum of the Atlantic Wall).

Our group will then head directly to the MacDonald House in Windsor, where we will enjoy our final farewell dinner.

The following morning, our guests will have an easy check-in process for their flights back to the United States.

Thursday, November 5, 2026  - Departure Day

Our guests will have a smooth check-in process for their flights back to the United States. Private car transfers will be arranged, taking approximately 20 minutes to Heathrow Airport. You will be dropped off at your respective terminal for Departures.