On the south side, 110 meters from the Shaef Gate.

A green, circular plaque, on top of a pentagonal plinth that is set on a patio laid out with slabs, bricks, and tiles making a 5-sided star pattern. The plaque is inscribed with the dedication message and a quotation from Victor Hugo, in English in incised lettering. The quotation from Hugo is very well-chosen. He was exiled from France for 15 years and returned the day after the fall of Napoleon III's empire. When he arrived at Paris Gare du Nord, he made a brief speech to the crowd gathered to give him a hero's welcome, from which the quotation comes.

A group of temporary buildings in the northeast of Bushy Park became the official headquarters of the US Eighth Air Force (8AF) in August 1942 – under the codename 'Widewing' (also known as AAF-586).

In practice, the location name caused some confusion among servicemen and servicewomen, not least because 8AF's fighter aircraft were controlled by VIII Fighter Command HQ some 25 miles north at the differently spelled Bushey Hall, near Watford, Hertfordshire.

In turn, VIII Bomber Command HQ (in effect the operational control center for 8AF) at High Wycombe (codename 'Pinetree') was similarly remote from Bushy Park.

In 1942/43, Brig General Ira Eaker, VIII BC's first commander, spent planning time at both High Wycombe and 'Widewing', meeting his commander, Lt General Carl Spaatz, at the latter.

Eaker's residence, a house allocated by the British called Castle Combe, was close to both Bushy Park and Allied supremo General Eisenhower's residence.

Eaker's receptions, dinners, and card parties at Castle Combe featured a punch bowl and nine cups which have since become heraldic symbols for the Eighth Air Force.

In January 1944, 'Widewing' at Bushy Park was elevated to become HQ of the newly formed USSTAF (US Strategic Air Forces in Europe) under Spaatz. At the same time, High Wycombe (codenamed 'Pinetree') became HQ Eighth Air Force under Lt General James Doolittle.

General Eisenhower and his SHAEF staff (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) moved to Bushy Park on March 2nd, 1944, before relocating closer to Portsmouth just before D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Another memorial that could be seen near this memorial is at the site of Eisenhower's office marked in brick with a flagpole.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org, www.londonremembers.com, www.americanairmuseum.com

Source of images: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, www.londonremembers.com

THIS TABLET

MARKS THE SITE OF THE

EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS

OF THE

UNITED STATES

ARMY AIR FORCE

JULY 1942 - DECEMBER 1944

AND IS DEDICATED BY THE

ROYAL AIR FORCE

TO THEIR COMRADES-IN-ARMS

IT IS THROUGH FRATERNITY

THAT LIBERTY IS SAVED

                                                 VICTOR HUGO