Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - "The Liberator Boys"

Join us for this unique and exclusive tour that delves into the history of the Second Air Division of the "Mighty Eighth" Air Force during World War II.

Join us on our upcoming tour as we visit heavy bomber bases, fighter group airfields, and select off-the-beaten-path sites. Our tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the legacy of the Second Air Division, the Eighth Air Force, and wartime Britain while also allowing you to discover the beauty this country has to offer on your own.

This exclusive tour coincides with the arrival of the Consolidated B-24J Liberator, to be placed in our permanent collection of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

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

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 renowned authority on the Eighth Air Force during World War II and is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable Eighth Air Force historians in the world. He has 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. Throughout the journey, you will also have the opportunity to meet several local historians, museum docents, and volunteers who will enhance your experience with their insights.

Day 1 - Friday, April 9, 2027 - ARRIVAL DAY - Tour participants will arrive at Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London, where they will be greeted by a representative from the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Guests will be escorted to an exclusive private car with a dedicated driver for transportation to the MacDonald Hotel in Windsor.

After checking in, you will have the opportunity to explore the charming village of Windsor. In the evening, a cocktail reception and welcome dinner will be held, where you can meet the other tour participants and ask any questions you may have about the itinerary.

Day 2 - Saturday, April 10, 2027 - Wycombe Abbey "Pinetree" / Battle of Britain Bunker - Uxbridge.

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

After lunch at the Crown and Treaty Pub in Uxbridge, we will continue our day 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 be aware that accessing the bunker requires descent down 76 steps, as there is no elevator available. For those who choose not to enter the bunker, there will be an excellent video presentation shown in the conference room.

We will conclude the day with a casual dinner at the MacDonald Hotel in Windsor.

Day 3 - Sunday, April 11, 2027 - RAF Debden / Norwich

Participants will depart from Windsor and travel to the quaint 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, which was later turned over to the U.S. Eighth Air Force Fighter Command. Now an active British Army installation, the group will have access to the base for a tour of this historic Eighth Air Force landmark. The tour will include a drive down the wartime runways that once saw operations from the Fourth Fighter Group, featuring aircraft such as Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Mustangs.

The day will conclude with check-in at The Maid's Head Inn in the village of Norwich. Participants will have a group dinner in a private hotel dining room.

Day 4 - Monday, April 12, 2027 - Norwich City / Ketteringham Hall / American Museum - Our morning will begin with a tour of Norwich and the rich history of this ancient, picturesque city. Highlights include Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Castle, and the Norwich marketplace.

Lunch will be served at the Orangery at Ketteringham Hall, the former headquarters of the Second Air Division during WWII.

Our last stop will be at the American Museum (formally known as the Second Air Division Library), where our host, Ms. Orla Kennelly will present an excellent program about the history of the Second Air Division during World War II and the history of the library.

Day 5 - Tuesday, April 13, 2027 - We will begin our journey to the first of our 2nd Air Division airfield visits.

Our first stop will be at the Halesworth Airfield Museum, 489th BG (56th FG). Lunch will be served at the Triple Plea - Halesworth. We will then proceed to Bungay/Flixton, the former home of the 446th Bomb Group. Our final stop will be Hardwick, the former base of the 93rd BG.

Dinner will be at a local pub in Norwich.

Day 7 - Thursday, April 15, 2027 - Optional Day

Option 1 - Day trip to the seaside villages of Cromer and Sheringham, where you will be free to explore the quaint villages. The afternoon will be a nostalgic ride aboard the North Norfolk Railway vintage steam train.

Option 2 - We can make special arrangements for our tour participants who wish to visit a specific 2nd Air Division airbase that is not on our scheduled group itinerary.

Option 3 - Stay in Norwich for the day and explore this picturesque ancient city on your own.

Day 8 - Friday, April 16, 2027 - B-24 Bases - Our final day in East Anglia will start with a visit to Hethel and the fantastic 389th BG Memorial Museum, followed by a visit to Quidenham and St. Andrew's Church, home of the famous airmen's window. This stained glass window was erected in 1944 with donations from the airmen of the 96th Bomb Group. This iconic window is replicated in the Chapel of the Fallen Eagles at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

We will then proceed to visit the Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum at Old Buckenham, the former home of the 453rd Bomb Group.

Lunch will be at the Gamekeeper - Old Buckenham

Dinner will be at the Maid's Head Inn, Norwich.

Day 9 - Saturday, April 17, 2027 - Cambridge American Cemetery - Madingley / Duxford.

We bid farewell to this special journey by paying our respects to the 3811 American servicemen and women who forever rest at the Cambridge American Cemetery at Madingley. A special group memorial tribute ceremony will be held during our visit.

We will then travel to the nearby Duxford Air Museum, which houses one of the finest collections of vintage aircraft in the world.

We will then proceed back to Windsor and check into the MacDonald House, Windsor. A group dinner will be at the hotel.

Day 10 - Sunday, April 18, 2027 - Our group ventures to the center of the capital city for a special, exclusive, "behind the glass" tour of the Churchill War Rooms. Lunch will be at Amalfi, an Italian-inspired bistro. We will then walk to the entrance of St. Paul's Cathedral, where we will be met by a private tour guide, who will guide our group through the world-famous church.

Our farewell dinner will be at the MacDonald House.

Day 11 - Departure Day - You will be driven directly to Heathrow Airport for your departure in your own private car with a dedicated driver. The tour leader will coordinate your departure time accordingly to arrive three hours prior to departure.