457th BG 2023 England and Normandy Tour
Tour Dates: August 16 to 24, 2023 (8 nights)
Itinerary
Day 1
Wednesday, 16 August 2023
Arrival into London Heathrow airport. You will be met and transferred to your central London hotel. Orientation guided city tour of London West End: Trafalgar Square; Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace. Dinner at own cost. Overnight London
Day 2
Thursday, 17 August 2023
Breakfast. Full day guided tour of the city of London including WWII sites and places of interest. St Pauls Cathedral and the American Memorial Chapel. The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the Thames. Lunch. Visit the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. Welcome dinner and overnight London
Day 3
Friday, 18 August 2023
Breakfast. Depart London for East Anglia the main centre of operation for USAAF from 1942 to 1944. This afternoon we will visit USAAF places of interest. Dinner and overnight Peterborough
Day 4
Saturday, 19 August 2023
Breakfast. Full day visiting the 457th BG sites and memorials when we will be joined by local people. Glatton airfield (Station 130) with its impressive mural and collection of photos. The Water Tower and Memorial. Bomb store area. Lunch in local pub. Conington All Saints church for service and historical tour. Stone Airman. Dinner and overnight Peterborough
Day 5
Sunday, 20 August 2023
Breakfast. Visit Madingley American Cemetery with wreath laying ceremony. Visit Duxford IWM and the USAAF Museum. Guided walking tour of Cambridge and its colleges. Final East Anglia dinner and overnight Cambridge
Day 6
Monday, 21 August 2023
Breakfast. Transfer to London Heathrow airport for return flight to USA.
Normandy Extension
Day 6
Monday, 21 August 2023
Breakfast. Depart Cambridge, for our drive to the English south coast. Pub frequented by General Eisenhower. Meet our Battlefield tour guide and sail with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth. Dinner on board. Arrive Normandy and transfer to our Bayeux hotel.
Day 7
Tuesday, 22 August 2023
Breakfast. Tour of the US Airborne sector including Ste Mere Eglise, La Fière river crossing and Brécourt Manor (A Band of Brothers). Visit the Airborne Museum. UTAH Beach and German gun batteries along the Cherbourg Peninsular. Dinner in local restaurant and overnight Bayeux
Day 8
Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Breakfast. Tour of Pointe du Hoc where the US Rangers scaled the cliffs, ‘bloody’ OMAHA Beach, and American Normandy Cemetery. Pegasus Bridge. Afternoon ferry from Normandy to Portsmouth. Dinner on board. Arrive London Heathrow late at night for overnight.
Day 9
Thursday, 24 August 2023
Breakfast. Transfer to London Heathrow Airport terminal
Photo credits:
Slideshow: ‘Y’ A/C42107026 ‘Hamtramack Mama’ © Zemper Collection; Formation; 'F' A/C4232101 'El Lobo II', 'O' A/C4231568, 'P' A/C4297087 'Tujunga!', 'W' A/C4297591 © Zemper Collection; 750th Squadron B-17s on the line - 'F' A/C4238073 'Luck of Judith Ann', 'N' A/C4297468 "Tujunga III' © Zemper Collection
Photo below itinerary: Crew of 'Z' A/C4297060 'Calamity Jane II' for an early mission © Zemper Collection
Photo to the right of the tour: B-17 taxiing; 'Z' A/C4297060 'Calamity Jane II' © Zemper Collection
Included in the tour
- 5 Nights Bed and Breakfast in 4 star hotels
- 4 dinners and 2 lunches
- Airport transfers and motor coach
- City guide in London and Cambridge
- Entrance fees to Churchill Museum, St Paul's Cathedral, Duxford IWM
- Included in Normandy Extension: 3 nights bed and breakfast in 4 star hotels, 3 dinners, Battlefield tour guide in Normandy, Ferry to Normandy, Entrance fee to Airborne Museum, Motor coach and airport transfer
