Nostalgia was in the air for a salute to a “friendly invasion” of airmen during the Second World War.

The Red Feather Club of the 95th Bomb Group Museum at Horham, near Eye, hosted the launch of a new archaeology, oral history and museum development scheme.

The reconstruction of a USAAF Officers’ Mess was put together by a group at volunteers at the museum – on one of 70 airfield sites built across the East after America entered the war.

Suffolk-based social enterprise, New Heritage Solutions CIC, has been awarded a grant of £575,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to lead a three year project to keep the story alive and record the impact the arrival of the USAAF 8th Air Force had on local lives and the landscape of the East of England.

Eighth In The East project leader, Nick Patrick said: “This grant will help to secure their legacy and help future generations engage with it.”

The event included a visit from serving American personnel based at RAF Mildenhall and 1940s swing dance displays.