WWII Veteran and Resident Travels to England for Anniversary of Battle of Atlantic

North Reading resident and WWII Veteran Walter Fizmaurice, 89, will soon travel to England with college students to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic and Air War Over Europe.

The Battle of the Atlantic happened in the mid-1940's. Sixteen College of the Ozarks students and seven WWII Veterans, including Fizmaurice, that were part of the Battle of the Atlantic and the Air War will be in England from May 17-28 for the battle's 70th anniversary. 

Fizmaurice said that he is looking forward to going and was surprised when he found out about his all expenses paid trip. 

He was stationed at Shipdam in England during the war, which was attached to the 44th bomb group, he said. 

"We made quite a few important raids against the Germans," he said.

During the trip, the vets and students will visit the former Air Force base Parham Airfield and the Cambridge American Cemetery, where 3,812 American military are buried and 5,127 names of missing Americans from the Air War over Europe and the Battle of the Atlantic are listed.

Spending time in London and visiting the Churchill Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms are also on the itinerary. Toward the end of the trip, they will travel to Liverpool where the students and veterans will participate in the commemoration activities for the Battle of the Atlantic’s 70th anniversary. 

“For those of us who did not get to learn from our family members who served, the veterans who participate in the trips give us a second chance to express gratitude to real, American heroes,” Matthew Matney, College of the Ozarks junior and trip participant said in a recent release.

Fizmaurice lives in town with his wife of 63 years. They have eight children.