The Book Launch

Saturday afternoon was a very special time for the daughters of Phil Tripe.

We were picked up around 1:30 at the Hotel Mardaga and taken to the big new community hall. We met the mayor of Opglabbeek. I remembered him from 2010 and he remembered me. There were all the members of the society getting everything ready in the big hall.

 This is in front of the community hall.

At 2 we went to the exhibit and officially opened the gate. Back to the hall where people were coming. I estimated about 150. The was music from the 40s playing and a slide show of old photos of the Y-32 Ophoven airfield.

William, Me, Louise and Karel getting ready to open the gate.

The ceremony had a local councillor who was in charge of cultural affairs bring greetings including a small really nice piece in English welcoming Louise and me. Karel spoke about the history of the "why" of the book. William spoke about society and these memories are so important. And then William's father and I went up on the stage to receive the first two books.

We also received book stands which have replica of the steel "planks" which were used to build the airfields as the allies moved the war towards Germany.

This was the start of the afternoon.

Louise, Karel, William and I spent the rest of the afternoon signing books. They did print run of 450 and 170 or so were sold by the end of Saturday. The exhibit was being held again on Sunday so I imagine more were sold.

We met Frans again, the man who found pieces of Dad's plane. He presented us with 2 RAF brass uniform buttons he found.

We met Jean-Pierre Wuyts who lives very close to the crash site behind the Mardaga who brought us some more bits and pieces of Dad's plane which he has found over the years.

And everyone was so friendly and thanked us. We never expected such a warm afternoon.

This is part of the "Hell on Wheels" re-enactment group who were at the ceremony and parked their Jeeps outside! You can read more about the US 2nd Armored Division at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armored_Division_%28United_States%29

                                               

Two of Karel's models - a Spitfire and a Thunderbolt hanging in the lobby of the exhibit.

Karel and Weese looking at the aerial photo of the Y-32 Ophoven airfield in the lobby.

  

And here is our official, intrepid photographer.