AN AMERICAN family visited Earls Colne Airfield to rekindle memories of a pilot stationed there.

Lieutenant Colonel Earl Garvin of the United States Army Air Force was in the 323rd Bombardment Group during the Second World War.

He once flew B26 Marauder medium bombers from the airfield, and his son David, wife Sally and daughter Tess came over from Manhattan to see where he lived.

They were picked up by Ian Sparks, vice chairman of the parish council, who gave them a tour of the airfield.

He said: "I took them to Boxted Air Museum where there are the rear remains of the fuselage from an Earls Colne B26, apparently the only

piece in the UK.

"They were entertained to lunch at the Lion Pub in Earls Colne, a much visited venue by the American Servicemen in WW11, and then taken to Earls Colne Airfield.

"They received a kind donation by the Flying Club and were taken up in a plane to overlook the area their father would have flown over."

The family attended a memorial for all the airmen on Earls Colne Airfield, where David laid a wreath.

The visit finished at Earls Colne Heritage Museum where they were shown a slide show of Earls Colne including the airfield during the war.

Earl Garvin survived 26 bombing missions, which included a crash landing at Earls Colne, and was moved to Northern Ireland training pilots.

He continued in the Air Force and fought in the Korean War.

On retirement he became a Professor at Kansas State University where David also taught.

Mr Sparks said: "To say David was emotional at times, following in his father’s footsteps, is very true.

"The family were gifted an engraved momento from Earls Colne Parish Council to remember their visit."