Pinetree to Pine Trees
As has been showcased throughout the 125th academic year, Wycombe Abbey has a rich history. One of the most noteworthy points of the School’s past is the role it played during World War II.
When a strategically placed site was required for the Allied Forces in March 1942, the Air Ministry requisitioned Wycombe Abbey with only 16 days’ notice to vacate. The pupils were quickly relocated to some 40 different schools. The School served as the headquarters of the United States Eighth Army Air Force (originally VIII Bomber Command) after the entry of the US into World War II. General Ira Eaker took up permanent residence and, along with an initial staff of 20, worked out of the Headmistress’ former offices. An Officers’ Club was set up in the former Home Economics building, with various other buildings being used for public relations, engineering, telephone exchange and virtually all necessary functions. The Chapel was turned into a cinema and no time was wasted putting a baseball diamond on the grounds! Approximately 200 acres of the School grounds were covered with tents, mess halls, motor pools and guard huts, with upwards of 12,000 personnel eventually stationed there.
Distinguished visitors to the site over the years included Supreme Allied Commander (later US President) Dwight D Eisenhower, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. After the end of the war, most of the estate was returned to Wycombe Abbey on 9 May 1946, less an area of land that was to be used as strategic headquarters throughout the Cold War. This area, which was the home of the original Pinetree bunker, was eventually handed back to the School in 2012 and now houses the School’s Grounds and Maintenance Departments.
On 28 May 2022, the School was asked to attend a community event to mark 80 years since the USAAF took over a large part of High Wycombe, including Wycombe Abbey. This took place on the new Pine Trees housing estate, which derived its name from the Pinetree Headquarters built on the site of the former USAAF Base in Daws Hill. The event was attended by many former members of the base community and by our Bursar, Mr Mackenzie Crooks. A time capsule was buried and the main road (Kennedy Avenue) was rededicated by the daughter – the only surviving child – of the man the road was named after. Not President Kennedy, as many thought, but Royal Navy Captain E C Kennedy who was well known locally as a political agent and who was among the early deaths of the British military in World War II when his ship was sunk by German battleships.
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