The Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - 80th Anniversary Commemoration of "Black Week" is a one-of-a-kind trip offering that has been crafted to offer a unique historical experience focusing on this critical time in WWII Eighth Air Force history.  

Between October 8th and October 14th, 1943, the United States Army Air Corps - Eighth Air Force lost 138 heavy bombers, 24 fighters, and over 1400 airmen to enemy action.  It will be forever known in the annals of Eighth Air Force history as "Black Week."

This special tour itinerary has been meticulously planned to take our guests on a historical journey like no other offering of its kind.  Join us as we honor and remember the courage and sacrifice of those brave Eighth Air Force airmen who fought and died during this critical period, some 80 years ago.  
 

Our guests will visit air bases that played a key role in this pivotal period in WWII Eighth Air Force history and museums and sites chronicling this historic period in October of 1943.   We will walk in the footsteps of our "Mighty Eighth" heroes as we journey and explore these amazing locations.

In addition to visiting six heavy bomber bases, our guests will also visit three key fighter group airfields along with selected sites that are "off the beaten path."   This tour has been planned to not only allow our guests a wonderful historical experience but also to appreciate the charm and beauty of England.  Our guests will enjoy plenty of free time to explore the countryside, villages and towns, and the bustle of London on their own.   

Our deluxe four and five-star hotel accommodations are all first-class properties giving you the finest in comfort and luxury. We have selected fabulous restaurants that will provide you with unique dining experiences that range from the charm of a simple English country pub to the opulence, grandeur, and character of the Royal Air Force Club in Central London.

Transportation will be aboard a safe, reliable, and luxurious 53-seat Mercedes motorcoach

with bathroom facilities and a dedicated driver throughout the journey.  

A knowledgeable Tour Leader and Tour Manager will accompany the journey and will be available 24/7 should you need assistance. Your Tour Leader and Tour Manager are both experienced authorities on the history of the Eighth Air Force and Royal Air Force Bomber Command during WWII. They will always be available to answer any questions you might have during the tour. Additional experts on the Eighth Air Force will be joining us as guest speakers along our journey.

Tour Inclusions:

Round trip private transfers to and from Heathrow Airport - London.

All hotel tariffs, gratuities and luggage accommodation.

First class transportation on a luxurious, air-conditioned, 53-seat Mercedes motor coach with a dedicated, experienced, safe and reliable driver.

All morning breakfasts (11 days), lunches and dinners (9 days) with the exception of two lunches and two dinners.

Beer, wine, and soft drinks with provided lunches and dinners.

Full-time Eighth Air Force authoritative guide, logistical Tour Leader and Tour Manager and expert WWII-focused local guides and guest speakers.

VIP access to WWII sites and cultural attractions.

Professional hotel concierge guides to assist you in London to help you see the sites of this spectacular city.

Gratuities for guides, drivers, porters and servers.

Personalized luggage tags and customized name badge.

Exclusive participation in special commemorative ceremonies and tributes at the appropriate sites.

Here are some guest reviews from previous tours:

"I knew this trip would be emotional, but I had no idea those emotions would come wave upon wave.  The experience of that trip will stay with me forever.  I highly recommend it and would go again in a heartbeat."  

C.C. Culpepper, son of a 100th Bomb Group veteran and current President of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation.

"After almost 20 years of Eighth Air Force history exploration, we had the experience of a lifetime during our recent tour.  The historical content, itinerary, pace and cost were superior to any other tour we've experienced. "

Albert Pela, son of a 100th Bomb Group veteran and POW.

"The Roger Freeman Tour sponsored by the Museum is like no other of it's kind.  They bent over backwards to make this a special experience for my family by taking us to my father's air base.  It was there that I walked in his footsteps and saw the place where he spent his youth during WWII.  It was something that I will never forget and I am so proud that my Dad served in the "Mighty Eighth."

John O'Neil III - son of a veteran of the Fourth Fighter Group and the 482nd Bomb Group.

Guests will arrive at Heathrow Airport – London where they will be met personally by the Tour Leader or the Tour Manager with a custom greeting sign displaying our specific guest’s surname.
 

Once our guests have collected their luggage and personal items, they will board our designated motor coach and be taken to the fabulous MacDonald Windsor Hotel in the village of Windsor.
 

When we reach the hotel, our guests will check in and have the chance to enjoy a free afternoon touring Windsor Castle (directly across the street from the hotel-not included in the tour package), do some local shopping on the Windsor High Street, enjoy a nice lunch at a local pub or simply relax and refresh in the privacy of their room.
 

Our evening will feature a cocktail reception & welcome dinner, we will review the tour program and answer any questions the group might have about the itinerary. 

After our morning breakfast our guests will have the morning to explore the charming village of Windsor and take in some of the local sights.  The traditional changing of the guard, one of the oldest military ceremonies in England, will commence at 11:00 am in front of our hotel!!  Our group will have a front row vantage point to witness this time honored military tradition. 

Our group will then board our motor coach and make a journey to Uxbridge.

Lunch will be provided at Daisy's in the Park at the Battle of Britain Bunker.  Following our light lunch we will tour the control bunker used during the Battle of Britain with a private Museum guide. It is an amazing experience that will take you back to 1940 when Britain stood alone and the pilots of RAF Fighter Command fought the German Luftwaffe in the skies over Southeast England. The command bunker at RAF Uxbridge was the main center of communication for the Royal Air Force during the crucial days of the Battle of Britain.  We will also pay a short visit to RAF Northholt Aerodrome, a principal airbase during the Battle of Britain, where we will see the beautiful Polish Air Force Memorial dedicated to memory of the Polish airmen served in the summer and fall of 1940.

We will then return to the MacDonald Windsor Hotel for the evening. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon exploring the town where you will find great shopping in the nearby High Street.

A casual dinner will be served that evening at the hotel.

October 8th, 2023, marks the 80th Anniversary of the beginning of “Black Week.” 

On this day, the United States Army Air Corps – Eighth Air Force was assigned the target of Bremen, Germany. Eighth Air Force bomber crews referred to Bremen as “flak city.” This was due to the heavy defense of over 300 German anti-aircraft flak guns that were located in and around the city as protection.
 

Their target that day was the Focke Wulf aircraft factory where German fighter aircraft were being produced and the Kriegsmarine U-Boat installations in the port of Bremen.

On the morning of October 8, 1943, 290 Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses took off from their respective bases in England and headed eastward towards Bremen. The Eighth Air Force bomber force was met with unrelenting and ruthless German fighter attacks and a deadly German anti-aircraft barrage.
 

1st Lt. John “Lucky” Luckadoo, Co-Pilot in the 100th Bomb Group flew the Bremen mission on October 8th, 1943, it was his 21st mission. Perhaps he described the mission best, “The Bremen mission was the worst mission that I flew. “I stared death in the face…..and somehow I survived.”
 

By the end of the battle, the Eighth Air Force had lost 30 heavy bombers and over 300 airmen. 

_____________

One of the bomb groups that suffered heavily that day was the 381st Bomb Group that was stationed at Ridgewell Airfield in the Essex countryside. The 381st Bomb Group lost seven aircraft that day and seventy of their airmen. The group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for their courage and fortitude in the actions on October 8th.

Our tour will depart the hotel and travel to the village of Great Yeldham where we will have traditional English Sunday roast dinner at the White Hart, a popular pub for the airmen of the 381st Bomb Group. We will then proceed to the 381st Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Ridgewell and take a private narrated tour of the airfield.

Our final destination will be the beautiful village of Bury St. Edmunds and the elegant boutique hotel, The Angel Hotel. That evening will be a free night to explore the ancient town and have dinner on your own at one of several nearby restaurants.

After breakfast, our group will depart the Angel Hotel for a journey to Halesworth Airfield which was the home of the famed 56th Fighter Group also known with “Zemke’s Wolfpack.” The 56th Fighter Group flew the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt throughout its tenure in England.

Under the command of Colonel Hubert Zemke the 56th Fighter Group achieved an unprecedented record as the highest scoring Eighth Air Force Fighter Group achieving over 1000 enemy aircraft destroyed (air/ground combined). In the summer of 1944, the 56th Fighter Group moved from Halesworth to Boxted Airfield in Suffolk. The new tenant to occupy Halesworth airfield was the newly formed 489th Bomb Group of the Second Air Division. Flying the B-24 Liberator, the 489th Bomb Group achieved a distinguished record during its tenure in England completing 106 missions. Lt. Colonel Leon Vance, a pilot in the 489th Bomb Group, was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions over Wimereux, France on June 5, 1944.

Our group will visit the Halesworth Airfield Memorial Museum which tells the story of these two famous Eighth Air Force Groups and have a guided tour of the airfield. Our lunch stop will be at the Triple Plea pub, a favorite place with the American airmen during WWII.

After lunch we will head to Framlingham/Parham Airfield which was the WWII home of the 390th Bomb Group. The 390th Group was part of the 13th Combat Bomb Wing and flew an astonishing 300 combat missions during WWII. We will visit the restored 390th Bomb Group Control Tower Museum at the airfield and have a special guided tour by one of the local farmers who grew up near the base during WWII. 

We then return to the Angel Hotel and enjoy an excellent meal in the “the Vault” in the lower portion of the hotel.  It is a meal that you won’t forget!!

Our guests will have the morning free to explore the ancient and charming city of Bury St. Edmunds. Just across the street from the Angel Hotel are the abbey ruins, the Cathedral of Bury St. Edmunds and the beautiful rose garden. The garden was constructed during WWII by John Appleby, who was an American airman stationed at nearby Rougham Airfield, home of the 94th Bomb Group.

In the late morning we will then depart for Thorpe Abbotts and the 100th Bomb Group  Memorial Museum where we will have private access to see this incredible tribute to the 100th Bomb Group. 

The “Bloody Hundredth” flew 306 missions from Thorpe Abbotts  during World War II with the loss of 177 B-17 Flying Fortresses during the conflict. The 100th Bomb Group is the featured unit in the upcoming Apple TV nine-part mini-series, “Masters of the Air.”
 

One of the famed missions of the 100th Bomb Group (BG) occurred on October 10, 1943 on a mission to Munster, Germany. On that day, the entire group of 12 aircraft was shot down during the mission with the exception of only one survivor. The 1st Lt. Robert Rosenthal Crew returned to England and landed at Framlingham airfield due to dense fog at Thorpe Abbotts. For the Rosenthal Crew, it was just their third mission. Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal went on to complete an astonishing 52 missions by war’s end.
 

On the 80th Anniversary of that fateful day, October 10th, our group will visit Thorpe Abbotts and the Memorial Museum and be a part of a special ceremony to commemorate and remember all who flew on that day when the Eighth Air Force lost another 30 heavy bombers and over 300 airmen to enemy action.
 

We will end our day at Dickleburgh and drive a short distance to the delightful county pub, the Half Moon Inn. The pub was a favorite with the 100th B.G. airmen during WWII. We will have a fabulous meal and a pint or two as we gather to commemorate this special anniversary. 

We will then drive back to the Angel Hotel for a free evening for our guests.

After breakfast our group will depart the Angel Hotel and head towards the home of one of the most decorated bomb groups in the Eighth Air Force, the 95th Bomb Group that was based at Horham. The 95th Bomb Group had a valiant and courageous history during World War II. It was the first Eighth Air Force group to bomb the German capital of Berlin. Completing 320 combat missions during its tenure, the 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations.  
 

We will visit the former NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) Club, the Red Feather Club. This fully restored complex has turned into a world class museum which houses an amazing collection of wartime artifacts, uniforms and memorabilia relating to the 95th B.G. The Red Feather Club also contains some of the most spectacular original wartime wall murals. Our group will be warmly welcomed by the loyal English volunteers where we will enjoy a lovely light lunch as we tour the Museum.

After lunch we will drive a short distance to St. Andrews Church in Quidenham where we will view the "airman's window," the original stained glass window that is duplicated in the Chapel of the Fallen Eagles at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

We will then make a short stop at Snetterton Heath, the base of the 96th Bomb Group. We will visit a small museum dedicated to the memory of the airmen of the "Snetterton Falcons."  

Our final stop for the day will be Old Buckenham, the home of the 453rd Bomb Group. Flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, the 453rd Bomb Group flew in the Eighth Air Force, Second Air Division. That was also the group in which Hollywood movie actors, James Stewart and Walter Matthau served. We will tour the excellent Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum with our knowledgeable host and respected Eighth Air Force historian, Mr. James Cleary. We will then enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner at the Old Buckenham Village Hall where we will hear an exclusive lecture by Dr. Graham Cross on Eighth Force Fighter Command.  

Our group will have a relaxing morning to enjoy a wonderful breakfast and time to do some morning sight-seeing or to do some local shopping. We will leave the Angel Hotel in the late morning and take a short drive to the Bottisham Airfield Museum, the home base of the 361st Fighter Group. We will be welcomed by the local volunteers who will lead our group through their fabulous museum. The volunteers will also offer tour participants a chance to ride in wartime Willys Jeeps and take a trip around the wartime airfield!!  We will then enjoy a lovely light lunch at the Museum's café.

We will then travel to the ancient city of Cambridge where we will check in to the amazing University Arms Hotel. Located on the north side of the famous Parker's Park, our guests will enjoy the hotel's lavish and stylish charm.
 

Our fabulous three course dinner will be served in the exclusive Trafalgar Room where we will enjoy an evening address by Mr. Anthony Rodgers, a well-known Cambridge tour guide who will speak on the history of Cambridge during WWII.

Our group will have an optional day to explore one of the most famous Eighth Air Force airbases and one of the world's greatest aviation museums. Or, to take a private walking tour of the city of Cambridge with noted guide, Mr. Anthony Rodgers or simply spend a free day exploring the city on your own.
 

One of the most recognizable and famous aircraft to ever fly in the Eighth Air Force was the legendary B-17F Flying Fortress, the "Memphis Belle." The famous Hollywood film Director William Wyler produced the timeless and epic film, the "Memphis Belle" - The Story of a B-17 Flying Fortress" which immortalized the famed bomber.  

The "Belle" served with the 91st Bomb Group at Bassingbourn.  The 91st Bomb Group, known as the "Wray’s Ragged Irregulars," flew 340 combat missions during the conflict and suffered the highest number of aircraft lost during WWII, an astonishing 197 heavy bombers.

Our group will visit the airbase where we will see the original wartime maintenance hangers and control tower.  We will then tour some of the deserted aircraft hardstands, including the very spot where the "Memphis Belle" was parked during her time with the 91st Bomb Group. Eventually the famous bomber was sent back to the United States with her crew for a successful war bond tour.
 

We will then proceed to the Imperial War Museum Duxford Airfield Museum where our guests will have the chance to explore the many hangers at the Museum, including the wonderful American Air Museum in Britain.  

Our evening dinner will be at a local Cambridge pub where we will enjoy a traditional English meal and hoist a pint to a great day!!

We will bid farewell to Cambridge and head to the excitement and spectacle of London.

Thursday, October 14, 1943 proved to be one of the darkest days for the United States Eighth Air Force during World War II. It would be the disastrous crescendo to what had already been a costly few days for the Eighth Air Force.  

With the heavy losses suffered over Bremen, Munster, Anklam, Marienburg, Danzig and Gdynia, the Eighth Air Force had now lost 78 heavy bombers in the matter of just three days. However, the target on October 14th would prove to be the most horrific and costly of "Black Week."  

Mission 115 would take the Eighth Air Force to Schweinfurt, Germany to strike the ball bearing factories inside the city. Allied planners knew that crippling the production of ball bearings would have a devastating effect on the German war machine. For the gallant airmen on that fateful mission, it would forever be known as "Black Thursday." It became one of the largest and fiercest air battles of the entire air war.  

With an attacking force of 229 American heavy bombers, the planned route would take the Eighth Air Force some 800 miles deep into Germany. As soon as the striking force crossed the Dutch coastline the battle ensued with the brunt of Luftwaffe (German Air Force) attacking the bomber formation with over 300 fighter aircraft.  
 

By the end of the day, an astonishing 60 aircraft were lost due to enemy action, with the rest of the force suffering critical battle damage.  
 

The mission to Schweinfurt inflicted heavy damage to German ball bearing production; however it came at a high price. The Eighth Air Force lost 642 airmen on that fateful day, which equated to an 18% loss ratio. The American daylight bombing campaign simply could not sustain such losses. Tactics and strategies had to change in order to continue the theory of daylight strategic bombardment.
 

You will have a remarkable experience in remembering that fateful day by visiting the Cambridge American Cemetery at Madingley on the 80th Anniversary of "Black Thursday." Hosted by two of the dedicated cemetery superintendents, we will tour these scared grounds which contain the graves of 3811 American war dead along with the vast, Wall of the Missing. We will have the opportunity to participate in a special memorial ceremony during our visit.

We will then enjoy lunch at the nearby The Three Horseshoes pub. Featuring a traditional English thatched roof, this pub dates back centuries and is well known for its charming hospitality and excellent country cuisine.  

After lunch, we will head southward towards London, but before entering the city we have one very special stop to make. Wycombe Abbey is now an exclusive private girls’ school located on the western outskirts of London.  During World War II, Wycombe Abbey served as the headquarters of the U.S. Eighth Air Force and Royal Air Force Bomber Command. Our group will tour the building where General Ira Eaker and General James Doolittle coordinated the Allied European bombing campaign with Royal Air Force Air Marshal Arthur Harris. A short presentation will tell the history of the building prior to our walking tour. Refreshments will be served to our guests during our exclusive visit.

Our group will then enter the capital of London where we will take residence at the five-star hotel, the Clermont - Charing Cross, located in the heart of the city. This opulent hotel offers our guests the finest in luxurious accommodations and fine dining. All the popular London sites of the city are just a few steps away from this incredible hotel.

London is at your feet as we let our guests explore the city and enjoy a dinner on their own.

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." - Winston Churchill.
 

The group will spend an exciting and memorable day exploring wartime London. Our first stop will be the famous Churchill War Rooms beneath the National Treasury Building. Tour guests will have an a unique experience, as you walk through this amazing part of World War II history. 

A branch of the Imperial War Museum, the Churchill War Rooms is like a journey back in time.  This secret wartime bunker was constructed just prior to the outbreak of WWII and is where Winston Churchill, then Britain's Prime Minister, directed the country's war efforts.  Our group will have an exclusive, private "behind the glass" tour that allows our guest to stand in the actual Cabinet Room, Communications Room and Churchill's Broadcast Room and private quarters.  

We will then enjoy a lovely lunch at the famed French bistro,' Café Rouge.

The tour will take a private tour of the world famous church, St. Paul's Cathedral, which includes the American Chapel and the U.S. Roll of Honor. An exact copy of the Roll of Honor is on display at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

We will then return to the hotel to relax before departing for the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly for a private dinner.

You will have the day on your own to explore the sites of this amazing city.  The Tour Leader and Manager will be available to assist you in arranging a variety of activities throughout the city.

In the evening, a special Farewell Dinner is planned at the Clermont Hotel - Charing Cross in a private dining room to close out the tour.

You will depart in style with their own private limousine and driver.  Guests will be delivered directly to their terminal for easy check-in on their return flight to the United States.