Celebrating, sharing tales of aviation days gone by

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Eleanor Wadsworth, a former Air Transport Auxilliary 3rd officer and pilot, spoke at an event Oct. 13 at Building 809. Mrs. Wadsworth was joined at the event by fellow speakers Peter George, a former ATA first officer, and Richard Poad from Maidenhead Heritage Centre. During her days as a pilot, Mrs. Wadsworth was based at Ratcliffe, Leicestershire, and served in the ATA from June 1, 1943, to Sept. 30, 1945. She flew 22 different types of aircraft, including Spitfires and Hurricanes. Mr. George, also based at Ratcliffe, flew more than 70 different kinds of aircraft including Lancaster bombers, which he flew into RAF Mildenhall, and Spitfires. The audience at the "Women in Aviation" event, listening to Mrs. Wadsworth regale stories of her flying days, included female pilots currently serving in the 351st Air Refueling Squadron, two of whom are squadron commanders. "Flying a Spitfire was a privilege," said Mrs. Wadsworth. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)

Dorms receive quality of life upgrades

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- David Freestone, a local contractor, rewires an automatic fire alarm system during the remodeling at Building 210 here Oct. 12. The remodeling of the dorms is a quality of life upgrade to allow each resident their own bathroom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

SOCEUR commander meets with 352nd SOG

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The Commander of Special Operations Command Europe, Army Maj. Gen. Michael Repass, meets with crewmembers and maintainers of a 352nd Special Operations Group MC-130P Combat Shadow during a visit to RAF Mildenhall, Aug. 24 2010. General Repass recently assumed command of SOCEUR which exercise operational control of the 352nd SOG. The 352nd SOG is the only Air Force special operations unit in United States European Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marelise Wood)

Saving lives, one pint at a time

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Col. Chad Manske, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, donates blood while assisted by an Armed Services Blood Program medical lab technician at the blood drive here Sept. 30. Many people took time out of their busy schedules to donate blood and said they intend on doing so again when ASBP returns in the spring of 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

Saving lives, one pint at a time

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- An Armed Services Blood Program medical lab technician prepares a bag of donated blood for transport here Sept. 30. The blood is bagged, labeled and put on ice while it awaits transport to a proper holding facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

Saving lives, one pint at a time

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Airman 1st Class Donovan Ortiz, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, donates blood at the blood drive here Sept. 30. The blood drive was held as part of the Armed Services Blood Program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)