A SPECIAL service was held to commemorate the role of a US air bombardment group near Matching Green in Harlow.

The Nissen Huts on Anchor Lane were once hospital beds for the US airmen.

The Lord-Lieutenant Jennifer Tolhurtst attended the ceremony along with Lt Colonel Dan Besson of the US Air Force.

Andrew Barnard, chair of the commemorations committee of St Mary’s Church, told the BBC: “It was just a rural, agricultural village – very typical for this part of East Anglia – and for a period of three years it was transformed.”

A total of 197 pilots and crew members lost their lives during the time the bomb group was based at Matching Green.

The VE Day commemoration took place in the former base hospital, which has been restored for the event.

People were able to have tours of parts of the airfield that are not usually open. There was also memorabilia and wartime vehicles on display.

“At one stage it had up to 2,000 men living there, at times in very adverse conditions, constructing the site and living in tents in freezing conditions, but the pressure was on to finish the project in advance of D-Day,” Mr Barnard said.

Despite the war, some happy memories have been passed down the generations from families living in the village at the time.

“The most overriding memory that most people tell me is the incredible generosity shown to the children,” Mr Barnard said.

Chocolate and sweets were often given out by the US airmen, which was a particularly popular move as they were rationed at the time.

“The activity on the airfield used to attract all the young boys, and they used to hide in ditches and watch the aircraft land,” Mr Barnard added.

“We think it is really important to remember the sacrifices that were made to allow us to live in a free and democratic society today.”