Pat's association with the 453rd Bombardment Group began in late 1943 when the first Americans arrived at Old Buckenham. Eleven-year-old Pat, as he was then, quickly took to the USAAF servicemen and was soon adopted by the Ground Crew of "Hattie Belle" and "Sleepy-Time-Gal". Joe Mellie and John Tangora, the Crew Chief and Assistant Crew Chief respectively of these aircraft.

Pat used to spend many hours at Old Buckenham during the War, usually hanging around Tangora's Shack from which many of his adventures began.

Pat's association with the 453rd was re-kindled when he became base contact for the Group in the late 1970's. He was able to reacquaint himself with many of the personnel that he knew during WWII.

With these friendships came artefacts, uniforms and a myriad of other items to add to those which had been generously given to Pat by his USAAF friends at the end of the War.  Thus began the seeds of the 453rd Bombardment Group Museum.