On the north side of the road. The memorial is set in a grass niche at the side of the B1256 close to the gates of Easton Lodge, the wartime home of the Group. The niche is surrounded on three sides by a low wooden fence.

The memorial was erected by the Essex Anglo-American Goodwill Association (EAAGA). The memorial is constructed of brick with a stone angled cap and a stone plinth. A stone tablet with the EAAGA blue symbol on it followed by the commemoration message in English could be seen on the front side of the monument. Below it, another plaque was placed for the dedicators. Also, more plaques with the same inscriptions (except on the name lists) could be seen to the left and right sides of the monument. The plaques commemorate the 386^th Bomber Group then list the name of the Honor Roll from the 552^nd, 553^rd, 554^th, and 555^th bomb squadrons. Inscribed in relief, the plaques also bear the 9^th Air Force, 552^nd and 553^rd bomb squadron insignias (on the left side of the monument) while the 9^th Air Force, 554^th and 555^th bomb squadron insignias are on the right side. Then, at the foot of the plinth is an inscription of the EAAGA’s name.

The 386th Bombardment Group was stationed at USAAF Station AAF-164 at Easton Lodge, Great Dunmow on 24th September 1943, and was the first unit to use the airfield. The airfield was built by the 818th Engineer Batallion.

The Group was assigned to the VIII Air Support Command, 3rd Bombardment Wing then later to the Ninth Air Force Bombardment Wing. They flew B-26B/C Marauder aircraft. There were four squadrons, the 552nd, 553rd, 554th and 555th.

The 386th carried out tactical operations against V-weapon sites along the coast of France in the winter of 1943-1944 and bombed airfields in Holland and Belgium during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944. They supported the Normandy invasions by bombing gun positions, coastal batteries, bridges, and supply targets.

On 2 October 1944, the 386th Bomb Group moved to Beaumont-sur-Oise (A-60) Airfield, in Normandy, France, where there is a monument honoring their service there. They are also featured in several displays at the Utah Beach Museum. The 386^th BG is also honored by a memorial window at the church of Little Easton.

Source of information and images: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, www.waymarking.com

Front side:

WE SALUTE AND

COMMEMORATE

THE COURAGE

OF OUR

GALLANT ALLIES

OF THE

AMERICAN ARMY

AIR FORCE

WHO FLEW OUT

AGAINST THE ENEMY

FROM THIS

ESSEX AIRFIELD

1941-5

Plaque below:

"THE MEMORIAL PLAQUES ABOVE WERE PRIVATELY

DONATED IN MEMORY OF

WILLIAM H "BUCK" NEWSOME JR (DECEASED 1968)

ONE OF THE MANY DEDICATED CREWCHIEFS AND

OTHER CREW SUPPORT PERSONNEL

OF THE 386TH B.G. (M)"

NON-386TH SUPPORT PERSONNEL ALSO INCLUDED

70TH AIR SERVICE SQUADRON

1176TH M.P. COMPANY

2045TH FIRE FIGHTING PLATOON

1769TH ORDNANCE COMPANY

20TH STATION COMPLEMENT SQDN

At the foot o the plinth:

ESSEX ANGLO-AMERICAN

GOODWILL ASSOCIATION

Plaque on the left side of the monument:

THE CRUSADERS

386TH B.G.(M) 9TH AIR FORCE USAAF

BOXTED, EASTON LODGE, BEAUMONT-SUR-OISE FR, ST. TROND BEL.

IN MEMORY OF OUR GALLANT BROTHERS AND COMRADES

WHO NEVER RETURNED FROM THE AIR WAR OVER OCCUPIED EUROPE

"AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

HONOR ROLL

THE FOLLOWING AIRCREW MEMBERS WERE REPORTED KIA/MIA

FROM THE SQUADRONS BELOW

552ND BOMB SQUADRON

553RD BOMB SQUADRON

Plaque on the right side of the monument:

THE CRUSADERS

386TH B.G.(M) 9TH AIR FORCE USAAF

BOXTED, EASTON LODGE, BEAUMONT-SUR-OISE FR, ST. TROND BEL.

IN MEMORY OF OUR GALLANT BROTHERS AND COMRADES

WHO NEVER RETURNED FROM THE AIR WAR OVER OCCUPIED EUROPE

"AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

HONOR ROLL

THE FOLLOWING AIRCREW MEMBERS WERE REPORTED KIA/MIA

FROM THE SQUADRONS BELOW

554TH BOMB SQUADRON

555TH BOMB SQUADRON