In this new tour we look at the role of the Eighth US Army Air Force and RAF Bomber Command, which operated from their bases in England. We'll see memorials, original aircraft and bomber bases, and get insight into the terrible losses at the Cambridge American Cemetery. To fully understand events like the Dams Raid and the daylight bombing of Germany, it is important to link that story with the Allied airbases in Britain. It also gives us time to reflect on the cost of war as we walk amongst the American graves or see the names on the Bomber Command Memorial. Norman Sibbald, Battlefield Guide.
5 days from £539 pp
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your tour either online, or by telephone ( 01709 787 463 ), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can:
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to our hotel in Cambridge where we stay for one night.
Today we begin at the Cambridge American Cemetery where we look at the losses sustained by the Eighth US Army Air Force during their daytime bombing missions over occupied Europe. Many of them are commemorated here on the memorial to the missing.
We then visit the Imperial War Museum Duxford (entrance included), with time to explore the museum and the many aircraft here, including those under restoration in the old RAF Hangars. The American Air Museum here gives further insight into the Eighth Air Force, and the memorials to the various squadrons show just how costly some raids were.
We then stop at Kimbolton Airfield where American B17s flew from, including one Eighth Air Force group that flew the most USAAF missions from the UK during WW2, as well as Grafton Underwood Airfield also used by the 'Mighty Eighth'.
We continue to Lincolnshire for a three night stay.
Today we begin our look at RAF Bomber Command with a visit to the RAF Metheringham, an RAF Bomber Command station opened in 1943 and here we look at the story of one of Bomber Command's Victoria Cross Heroes.
Next we visit the International Bomber Command Centre (entrance included) overlooking Lincoln. This important site pays tribute to the men of Bomber Command. We get a guided tour of the memorial and have time to see the museum. We also have lunch here before travelling to Yorkshire Air Museum (entrance included) at Elvington near York, which tells the story of Fighter and Bomber Command, seeing an original Halifax Bomber.
Today we look at the iconic story of the Dambusters, exploring their connection to Woodhall Spa and seeing the 617 Squadron Memorial.
We then visit the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (entrance included), where an operation Lancaster is maintained. Here we have time to visit the museum and observe the restoration work on the Lancaster.
We then continue to the RAF Scampton to tour the outside of the base and get a sense of its important role in the story of the Dambusters before visiting Scampton War Cemetery which includes RAF Bomber Command graves and graves of Luftwaffe personnel. We end the day with a look at RAF North Witham used by both RAF and USAAF.
Key Visits
Return home.
Single Room Supplement from £119.00 (5 days).
Book online OR call our friendly travel advisers on:
01709 787 463
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay for one night at the three-star Ramada by Wyndham near Cambridge, then three nights at the three-star Stoke Rochford Hall Hotel in Grantham.
Front row seats can be reserved for £15pp (up to 6 days duration), £25pp (7 and 8 days duration), £30pp (9 to 11 days) or £35pp (12 days or more) on all European tours. This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on our Executive and Silver Service coaches and for one or two persons on our Luxuria coaches and is subject to availability. In addition to this, seats on the second row can be reserved for a supplement of £8pp (up to 6 days duration), £15pp (7 and 8 days duration), £18pp (9 to 11 days) or £22pp (12 days or more).
Guaranteed front or second row seats cannot be reserved on transfer journeys to/from the UK port. Occasionally, front and second row seats may be on a request only basis.
Please note: children under 15 years of age are not permitted to sit in the front seats of any coach.
On some coaches the legroom on front seats, central view seats and seats directly in front of the washroom may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled or merged for any reason and front or second row seats or central view seats or table seats are not available on your tour, you will be refunded any supplement paid. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
Central View Seats are available to pre-book free of charge.
Table Seats are available to pre-book free of charge on our Luxuria coaches.
Transfer coaches are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure. The route taken depends on where paassengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
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We have hundreds of coach joining points throughout England, Scotland and Wales. To find your nearest joining point, search using your postcode below.
*Please note joining points are subject to availability.
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk