Captain Eric Hervey had seen at first hand the sacrifices made by our American cousins and at the end of the war was determined to ensure that their names would always be remembered.

In addition to the memorial he commissioned the Golden Cockrell press to produce a Royal Blue leather bound and Gold embossed Book of remembrance. Contained within it he carefully hand wrote the names, personal details and circumstances on separate pages surrounding the death of each of the individual airmen who gave their lives whilst serving at Martlesham Heath with the 356th Fighter Group.

In addition to the book he wrote to each of the bereaved next of kin to offer his condolences and to offer some of the personal memories he had of each and every one. He enclosed a photograph of the memorial and an open invitation that should they ever decide to visit the place their father, Son, Brother, Husband or Uncle served he would offer them accommodation and his hospitality. This invitation was often taken up over the following years.

During 1946 Captain Hervey, and his wife, met with Major General Idwal H. Edwards for afternoon tea in Claridges, London. It was here that the Herveys presented the book on behalf of a grateful community and nation to the General as the representative of the American people.

On arrival in the United States it was delivered to the Albert F. Simpson United States Air Force Historical Research Centre at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It was copied to microfiche and filed as GP-356-SU, and there it remained in a secure archive for the next forty four years.

In May 1982 the prominent local resident Mr. Paul Firman MBE, having read Gordon Kinseys book “Martlesham Heath”, decided that this Book of remembrance should be returned to it’s spiritual home. For the remainder of that year he made many contacts and even spoke to Mrs Hervey herself. Eventually his persistency paid off and in August 1983 he received a microfiche copy which was copied into book form.

After Sixteen long months of work he was finally able to attend the Remembrance service with a copy of the book but this was not the end of the story!

On the 16th June 1990 Mr, Firman gave a presentation on the story of his quest to a group of visiting 356th Fighter Squadron veterans for the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society. By a dramatic twist of fate one of their number, Mr, Alex Kovacs, became so enthused by the story he decided to revitalise the search. On his return to the United States he drove four hundred miles from his home to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and convinced them that the book should be returned.

They agreed and at 12:10pm on the 27th of October 1990 the book of remembrance was presented to Mr. Firman by the Chairman of the MHAS.

In an appropriate ceremony held after the Annual Remembrance service on the Barrack Square on the 8th November 1992, the book was dedicated in St. Michael and All Angels Church by the Rev. Brian Lillistone.

Today the book is available for all to see encased in a glass cabinet, at the rear of the chapel illuminated by the coloured light of the stained glass Memorial window. It has become a poignant reminder of the great loses sustained at Martlesham Heath over Sixty years before and it is highly commended to all residents and visitors alike.