Nottingham City Transport Driver Graham Lawson will be playing host this week to James Wynne, an American aged 86 from Virginia, who was based in Nottingham during 1944 at Wollaton Park along with 2500 other paratroopers. He was with the 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne division, and jumped into Normandy, France on the evening of 5/6 June 1944, D.DAY.
Sadly, Jim was injured during D.DAY, but carried on and was involved in a deciding battle in the outcome of the war, on a hill called Hill 30 near the towns of Ste mere Eglise, Chef Du Pont and La Fiere. As a result of his injury, Jim missed the drop into Holland, (operation market garden) but was available for the battle of the bulge where he had his knuckles shot off.
Jim last travelled on a double decker bus in 1944 and is looking forward to reliving his memories on Thursday 31st May, by travelling around Nottingham on a new NCT double decker bus to see his favourite haunts, Beeston, the Trip to Jerusalem, and the dance halls of Nottingham (Palais De Dance).
Graham said “I am really looking forward to showing Jim the sights of Nottingham and taking him on one of our new state of the art double decker buses service 36 to Beeston, I am sure it will bring back fond memories.”
NCT driver Graham Lawson met Jim through his hobby as an amateur historian of World War 2. After the tour of Nottingham, Graham will be taking Jim to Normandy, where he will receive a medal from the Mayor of Amfreville to thank him and four other veterans, for the liberation of their village from the German occupying Forces.
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