Local Flier In England Visits Father's Old Home

THURSDAY, OCT. 26, 1944

Local Flier In England Visits Father’s Old Home

England is probably the best overseas post Lt. Richard Stribley could have, for the young Ann Arbor navigator is fortunate in having many relatives in that country who are glad to show him the picturesque sights south of London, where they live.

In a recent letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stribley, of 1711 Shadford Rd., Lt. Stribley told of the first 48-hour pass he had received and the way he spent this welcome vacation in London, Truro and St. Agnus.

London was the first stop he made, and here he met many old friends from the states and managed to do some sightseeing as well, taking in the Regent Palace Hotel, Picadilly Circus, Paddington Station, His Majesty’s Theater, and many other interesting spots on his route.

Then, taking a night train for Truro, he arrived in this quaint old town at 6:30 in the morning and, after scanning the street names and numbers in the dim light, he finally located the house of his Aunt Nell.

A sharp rap on the door and all the relatives were down stairs in a few minutes, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, dazed and unbelieving when they saw their young American relative standing before them. They later proudly introduced him to their friends as "the Yank.”

That morning, his cousin took him on a trip to St. Agnus, picturesque English village where his lather had been born. The twisting cobblestone streets and the buildings which were built right next to the road were novel sights, he reported in his letter home.

His cousin pointed out the famous St. Agnus beacon on a tall hill near the town. This had been used as a signal as long ago as the time the Spanish Armada sailed against England.

A walk along the scenic beach where his father had gone swimming in his boyhood and a visit with several of his father’s old friends completed the lieutenant’s experiences in St. Agnus, and he and the cousin returned to Truro for a dinner of fish and chips and saffron cake.

Before leaving Truro to report back to his base, Richard listened in amazement to his Aunt Nell’s explanation of the English ration system. In the letter which he wrote to his parents, he mentioned the great sacrifices the English are making in clothing as well as in food in order to win the war, asking his parents to send socks, dresses, towels, or other useful items for Christmas this year.

Richard's father, Henry Stribley, came over from England to the United States in 1913 and fought in the first World war. He received all his schooling in England.

Richard, one-time football, basketball and golf player of the Ann Arbor High school and student of the University College of Engineering, entered the AAF in January, 1944, was awarded his wings as a navigator at the University of Miami, in Florida, last April, and was sent overseas last summer as a second lieutenant and navigator of a B-24.

Recently his group of planes called a temporary halt to bombing the enemy and took food supplies to the people of France who greeted the fliers with the cry, "Vive L'Amerique," and gave them the victory sign.

To the surprise of our men, the Frenchmen would accept nothing as a gift, but insisted upon giving our men something in exchange for the American cigarets and food supplies.

Lt. Stribley's wife, the former Shirley Marshall, lives at 1428 Henry St.

Lt. Richard Stribley