THORPE ABBOTTS, NORFOLK, England -- Volunteers at the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, Thorpe Abbotts, officially received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, Sept. 8, 2022.
The award, signed by the Queen, is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom, and was poignant and bittersweet since it was awarded the same day Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Only two volunteer groups in Norfolk received the award as part of the Platinum Jubilee and in recognition of extraordinary service to the community.
The award was presented by The Lady Dannatt MBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.
The 100th Air Refueling Wing’s heritage comes from the 100th Bomb Group and the museum is dedicated to Airmen of the Eighth Air Force during World War II. It is situated on the former airfield of RAF Thorpe Abbotts, where the original control tower was restored in 1977 by local man Mike Harvey – father of Debra Hubbard, 100th BG Museum chair – and other volunteers, who eventually restored the tower. Volunteers have since spent decades of hard work creating the museum that can be visited today, and RAF Mildenhall Airmen regularly spend time at Thorpe Abbotts learning of the legacy of those who came before them.