MBA Executive – United Kingdom Chairman/Liaison Norman Prowse

6 Kenwood Road, Edmonton, London N9 7Jd Telephone: 020 8803 2986 e-mail: kieranchole@btinternet.com

Secretary/Archivist Russell LeGross 15 Holland Park Drive, Hedworth Estate, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear NE32 4LL Telephone: 0191 4569840 E-mail: russ@legross.freeserve.co.uk

Treasurer Position Open Contact Peter Jenner in the interim

Registrar John D. McDonald 35 Mansted Gardens, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 4ED Telephone: 020 8590 2524 E-mail: john.mcdonald22@btopenworld.com

Newsletter Editor Peter Jenner 13 Squirrel Close, Sandhurst, Berks GU47 9Dl Telephone: 01252 877031 E-mail: peterjenner01@tiscali.co.uk

MBA Executive - Canada

Chairman/Newsletter Editor David Poissant 242 Harrowsmith Drive, Mississauga, ON L5R 1R2 Telephone: 905-568-0184 E-mail: david.poissant@sympatico.ca

Secretary/Treasurer Susan MacKenzie 406 Devine Street, Sarnia, ON N7T 1V5 Telephone: 519-332-2765 E-mail: mackensu@sympatico.ca

Western Representative Ken Wright 2714 Keighley Road, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5X8 Telephone: 250-756-3138 E-mail: kenwrightsr@shaw.ca

Eastern Representative Darrell Bing 75 Baroness Close, Hammond Plains, NS B4B 0B4 Telephone: 902-463-7419 E-mail: dbing@peakgroup.com

MBA Executive - Australia Secretary Tricia Williams

PO Box 16, Ormond, Victoria, Australia 3204 Telephone: 03 9578 5390 E-mail: elegant@dodo.com.au

DISPERSALS is published February ● May ● August ● November

On our cover: Fairchild PT26 Cornell owned by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

2nd TACTICAL AIR FORCE MEDIUM BOMBERS ASSOCIATION

Incorporating 88, 98, 107, 180, 226, 305, 320, & 342 Squadrons

137 & 139 wings, 2 Group RAF

1  

 

DISPERSALS ● CANADIAN CORNER May 2011

It’s been an amazing five days, as I write:

• Wills and Kate were married • Osama bin Laden was eliminated • Canada elected a Conservative majority government

...and conjecture continues unabated:

• Will the Crown skip a generation? Charles might have a view on that. • Conspiracy fans ‘know’ the bin Laden story is merely a Barack election ploy. • The Conservatives will soon reveal their hidden agenda.

It’s an entertaining and ever-changing world in which we live and enjoy the freedom to say what we want and elect governments in our own image. As we enjoy those freedoms we must be careful to remember those who fought so hard and so long to protect them; and that there are still millions of people who do not yet enjoy them.

Our Armed Forces are committed to protecting those oppressed by their own governments; and our own governments are committed to helping those oppressed peoples replace despots with democratically elected governments.

I’m proud of the contributions of our Armed Forces, our veterans and their absent comrades; and the contributions of our government to furthering freedom.

Join me in wearing red on Fridays in support of our Armed Forces, past and present.

2  

LAST POST

‘BERT’ CHESTER • PILOT • 180 SQUADRON

Howard Albert ‘Bert’ Chester died peacefully on 17 Dec 2010 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Comox, British Columbia at the age of 97.

Bert joined 180 Squadron in Foulsham, Norfolk with his crew comprising Bill Mennell (O), Jenkin Williams (WAG) and Eddie Evans (AG). They flew two Air Sea Rescue flights before their first operation, a 23 Aug 43 raid on the Marshalling Yards at St-Omer and flew ops together until the horrific 26 Nov 43 raid on the ‘Constructional Works’ (V-1 launch site) at Martinvast where Bill received a flak injury that eventually proved fatal. Bert did not

return to 180 Sqn Operations but spent January through March of 1944 as an instructor with 1482 Flight, providing advanced training for Mitchell crews.

In May of ’44 Bert was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit Boundary Bay, B.C. as a flight instructor; following the war he served as C.O. for the Air Cadets in Mission, B.C. He was a bookkeeper for the Dept of Highways for many years and greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing. Bert was predeceased by his wife Doris and their only child Kenneth. He is survived by his daughter-in-law Pat, 3 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

KEN HARRISON • WAG • 98 SQUADRON

Kenneth William Wallace Harrison died 07 Feb 2011 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Ken was a well-known and respected member of 2ndTAF MBA Canadian Wing and RCAF veteran Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WAG) with 98 Squadron.

He braved 50 Operations over the distinctly unfriendly European skies with crewmates Lloyd Pears (P), George Gould (O) and Pete Carriere (AG) after being ‘crewed up’ at Pennfield Ridge, NB. Ken and crew joined 98 Squadron at Dunsfold, Surrey and on 13 Apr 44 began operational life with an attack on

gun positions at St-Pierre-sur-Dives; operations continued until 14 Aug 44 when their tour was complete. Ken was posted to Winnipeg where he met and married Gwen in 1946, moved to Regina and accepted a clerical position with Canada Post; he was Supervisor of Wickets when he retired.

Ken was predeceased by his brother Clifford and is survived by his wife Gwen, sister Edith, son Allen, daughter Valerie (Barry) Mitschke & grand-daughters Marcia and Tara Mitschke.

3  

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN Training the men of ‘The Greatest Generation’

 Education Upgrade Class XXVII • Québec City, Québec • 1943 

Rear (l‐r): Kenneth Sullivan, Peter Ryan, Glenn Crewe, Steve Coffey, R.A. Salmkir, Jean‐P. Boucher.   Front: Derek Haley, J.F. McGarvey, Fred Wright, R.J. Clarke (instructor), A.G. (Bill) Sanagan, Art Chartier. 

 Course G8 No. 5 Initial Training School (Aircrew) • Belleville, Ontario • 1943 

Front row (l‐r): K. Tallmand, H. Henderson, Archie Green, R. Stillman. 2nd row: Fred Thayer, Fred Wright, Ingi Sveinbjornson, H.J. Reid, W. Suitman, A.G. (Bill) Sanagan, Peter Ryan. 

3rd row: Art Stanford, B.J.M. Steves, D.F.C. Ross, H. Timof, R.A. Salmkir, C.K. Tusen. 4th row: W.O. Russell, C.H. Smith, R.S. Scott, N.G. Whyte. 

5th row: Low Taylor, Rod Staples, Les Wallace, P. Sarcoski, Owen Wright, T.S. Watson. 6th row: G.S. Taylor, F.W. Town, J.H. Singer, F.W. Russell, H.J. Trask. 

7th row: W. Shosenberg, Jerry Sullivan, N.W. Smith, G. Slobodinuck, Murray Rhynas, G. Whatley. 

4  

 No. 11 Navigator ‘O’ Course • Mountainview, Ontario • 04 July 43 

Front (l‐r): Cecil Shantz, H. Sim, Burt Koopman, Tommy Crawford, Bod Sewell, Josh Versage, J.A. Smith. Back: Alex Kuft, Peter Ryan, Ken Porter, Peter Simms, Del Tripp, Percy Smith, Fred Sutton, Harry Laronde 

 

 No. 10 Air Observer School • Chatham, New Brunswick • Oct 43 

Front (l‐r): Charlie Sing, Burt Koopman, Bob Sewell, Peter Ryan, Fred Sutton, R. Bruegeman, E.C. Gaiser, H.A. Hee, Ronald Bennett, Ron Broadfoot, Andy Ouderson, R. Chatfield, Josh Versage, Jack Rathburn. 

Rear: Instructor, Bill French, Thomas Farenhurst, Chick Johnston, Andy Brown, Jack Barlow, Peter Simms, Hugh Clark, Ken Porter, Del Tripp, Percy Smith, Johnny Arnold, Earl Carney, Harry Laronde, Instructor. 

Names for the men in the previous four photographs are from their own handwritten signatures on the backs of respective photos (from Peter Ryan’s collection). I have transcribed as best I can; if any are in need of correction, I will appreciate a note or a call so I can correct my records.

Thank-you...David Poissant

5  

No. 2 Air Gunner Ground Training School • Trenton, Ontario • 12 Jun 42 

Rear (l‐r): Morey, Matthews, Redlin, Morpurgo, Finn, Fournie. Middle: Galarneau, Font, Compton, Wheeler, Davis, Fettisoff, Mulligan. 

Front: Williams, O’Neill, Mathie, Ellis, Turner. Photo: Ralph Morpurgo (AG • 320 Sqn) 

 

 No. 6 Bombing & Gunnery School • Mountainview, Ontario • 1943 

Back (l‐r): Van der Land, Manson, Erculisse, Murphy, Kloos, Voorby, Murphy, Donath, Hanze. Front: De Groot, Gans, McMillan, Kicq, Kesner, Verhulsel, Loyson, Boom, Hagemeijer. 

Photo: Jan Kloos (Nav/B • 320 Squadron)  

6  

 No. 8 Air Navigation School • Ancienne Lorette, Québec • 25 Oct 43 

(l‐r): Whitby (instructor), ?, Charles Power (Canadian Minister of National Defence for Air), ?,  Hamilton, Engel, De Gobert. 

Photo: Jan Kloos (Nav/B • 320 Squadron)  

 No. 23 (Pilots) Course, No. 34 Operational Training Unit • Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick • Oct 43 

Back (l‐r): Cyrille Poissant, Bill Lohr, Drever, Ernie McGowan, Pynn, Sutcliffe. Front: Thompson, Stanley Stephens, Rees, Denis Loveridge, Jack Ewart. Photo: Ernie McGowan (Pilot • 180 Squadron) via Lynda Lougheed 

 

Throughout this 70th Anniversary year we are featuring the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in each issue of Dispersals. Help extend our collection of class photos; send us copies of photos of you, your Dad, or Granddad, in training and we’ll get them in a future issue for us all to enjoy. We’ll also enjoy any accounts of training experiences; humorous, frightening or just memorable.

7  

Notes From Fred Guest • Pilot • 180 Squadron

Hi Dave:

An old ‘Brit’ I downhill ski with every winter morning (he was 10 and living in Portsmouth when I was in England) loaned me a book on the RAF covering WWI to the Jet Age [An Illustrated History of the RAF].

One section has some pictures of Mitchells. You may have seen them but they are new to me. One is of ‘P’ [FW199] and of particular interest to me, as it is the one I did my first operational trip in. The caption in the book says it was being repaired 14 Dec 44 at Melsbroek. On closer look it looks like they are pulling it apart to scrap it.

We arrived at Dunsfold late in the afternoon of 03 Aug 44, were briefed by G/C Dunlap (Canadian) CO of 139 Wing who said we would not be flying operationally for at least a week. We found an empty tent, rushed to the mess tent for dinner, returned to the tent and assembled our cots. As the G/C said we would not be flying for at least a week, we walked about a mile to a pub to celebrate our arrival on 180 Sqn. We arrived back at our tent after midnight and went to bed on camp cots for the first time. At 0400 I was awakened by a flashlight shining in my eyes. It was the Duty Officer who asked if I was Guest; I said “Yes” and he said “you are on an op.” I said “I can’t be as I just got here in the afternoon and the G/C said I wouldn’t be flying for at least a week.” He said “If you are Guest you are on” and vanished into the night. We made it back to the mess tent...to flights...to briefing...back to flights; and into ‘P’. By 0800 on 04 Aug 44 we were at 10,000 feet over the English Channel. Saw some fairly close flak (no damage) and were back on the ground before noon. It had been an exciting, interesting 16 hours.

8  

At Melsbroek I was impressed with the detail the Germans went to in camouflaging the hangar the Mitchell is in. The other side of the hangar is on the tram line to Brussels and looks like all the other buildings in the village. Shortly after we arrived at Melsbroek I had the opportunity to climb aboard some Dornier 217s that were around the hangar. I was impressed with the armour

plated seat the pilot had; it came more than half way around him...much better than our seats. There were also a couple of Fw 190s on the field that I had the opportunity to climb around; I’m glad we didn’t have them around as the Mitchell wouldn’t have much chance. Sometime after we started our tour I heard that a pair of 190s attacked a box of Mitchells and shot down two; the book confirms the story. [B-25s ‘N’ (F/S Williams, F/O Lennie, W/O Bowmaster, F/L Carter) and ‘Y’ (P/O Harrison, F/O Munton, F/S Nottle and F/S Taylor) of 98 Squadron were shot down 25 Sep 44...see February Dispersals.]

The picture of ‘A’ dropping its bombs is a good shot; it’s probably one of 98’s as their identifier started with ‘V’. It was also taken before D-Day...no invasion stripes.

The colour print of ‘C-Charlie’ is of the aircraft I normally flew and was painted for me by Robert Bailey who specialized in aircraft paintings. Colour is a little off but a good painting nevertheless. I don’t have the original as it was too big for the house and Robert wanted over $2,000 for it.

I am really enjoying copies of Dispersals...wish I had joined years ago.

Fred.

9  

NIGHT SOLO FLIGHT - CESSNA CRANE No. 10 Service Flight Training School (SFTS) • Dauphin, Manitoba • 17 Sep 43

Fred Guest • Pilot • 180 Squadron

I had received my night flying check on Cessna Cranes a few nights earlier and was assigned to A/C 8848 for solo night take offs and landings. The night was very dark; no moon or stars and the only light to be seen once you left the airfield were from straw fires in farmer’s fields.

Start up, taxi to the runway, run up and take off were all routine. Once I was airborne I raised the undercarriage, set up climbing power and established the standard climbing airspeed to climb to circuit height. I had passed through 700-800 feet and was getting ready to make a left turn to take me to the downwind leg of the circuit. Before I made the turn I noticed what I thought were lights of three aircraft above me and off to my right. The lights were not red and green marker lights but rather yellowish in colour. As I was looking at them and trying to figure out what and why they were there, I was alerted by something that there was a problem with my aircraft. I quickly checked the a/c instruments and to my horror, saw that the aircraft indicator on the artificial horizon was below the horizon line indicating that I was in a dive! The airspeed was much higher than I had set up for the climb, the altimeter was winding down and I had passed through 300 feet and was still descending. I quickly pulled back on the controls, re-established the climb and carried on with the circuit.

What had happened to me, through inexperience and inattention to instruments, was the a/c had gone very smoothly from climb to dive without my being aware of the change. What had alerted me was probably the change in the sound of the engines as the RPM increased with the airspeed (this a/c had a fixed pitch propeller). I probably had 15-20 seconds at the rate of descent I was in until I hit the ground. It was a close call.

The lights I saw through the top of the windshield (because I was in a dive) were from the straw fires in the farmers’ fields and it so happened that three of them were lined up giving me the illusion they were a/c above me in the circuit.

It was a very shaken young airman that carried on with take offs and landings that night with a lesson never to be forgotten. Flight instruments must be continuously monitored during night flights where no lights are visible after leaving the airfield or during flights in cloud.

Cessna Crane MkI • Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.  Photo David Poissant 

10  

A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER The world’s only airworthy original Fw 190

Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett, Washington has completed the restoration of a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 twenty-two years after its discovery in a remote forest in Russia.

On 19 Jul 43 Feldwebel Paul Rätz flew Fw 190A-5 W.Nr1227 ‘White A’ from his base at Siwerskaja on a mission against an armoured train and reportedly suffered flak damage. He survived the subsequent crash landing and is thought to have walked west toward the front line, only a dozen miles away. He was captured by Russian forces and interned, although Luftwaffe loss reports still class him as missing in action. Rätz’s son confirmed his father’s internment to researchers and that he was repatriated to Germany in 1949.

Paul Rätz’s aircraft sat undisturbed in the forest for 46 years. It was ‘rediscovered’ in 1989 and recovered in 1991 by a team headed by Doug and David Arnold; it was in rather remarkable condition thanks to the remote location...not a single souvenir hunter had visited. The Fw was removed with the help of a helicopter and relocated to England where the actual reason for the crash landing was found to be not flak damage, but catastrophic failure of the BMW801 engine. The engine had been fitted just days before the last operation and oil lines were found to be blocked; sabotage is suspected, as engine factories often used prisoner labour.

Restoration was begun in the UK in the early ‘90s before it was sold to Paul Allen and the FHC; he continued the work in the UK before transferring it to the US for final work and paint.

02 Dec 2010: the world’s only airworthy original Fw 190 took its first test flight at Casa Grande Airport in Arizona. It was then transferred via truck to FHC facilities in Everett on 21 April, reassembled and taxi tested on the 23rd. She’ll make her public debut flight June 18.

photos from Flying Heritage Collection

 

We’ve haGoeree-Oon an ant

PPS

The requWorld Wbelongs torganizat

Commonindicate from Tuc

Kees is crew andcan help,

Ke-ph

Or containside frothem on.

Kees was

The CanaThis is th

Its originfew yearshowed swith the

ad a request Overflakkee,ti-shipping o

/O Robert M/O Bruce Elgt Maurice A

uest comes War on Goeto the war ytion, see thei

nwealth Warthat Robert

cson, Arizon

searching fod informatio, please cont

Kees Stoutjes-mail: k.stiuthone: 0031 6

act me, Daviont cover), w

s directed to

UPadian Warplhe third versi

nal ID was Drs later Geostaff membeHot Gen no

for help in l, Holland 18operation. T

Melville Burllwell Hislop Albert Stratt

from Mr. Keree-Overflakyears 1940 -ir website w

r Graves Cot Burlinson na serving in

or relatives n on the op

tact:

sdijk tjesdijk@wo6 51471389

id Poissant with particul

us by Barry

PDATEDlane Heritageion of the Ho

D-Dog after orge Van Idrs photos of ose art featu

HELPlocating info8 Sep 41. T

The crew wer

linson (RCA(RAAF) 26

ton (RAFVR

Kees Stoutjekkee), “a h 1945 on G

www.wo2go.n

ommission rwas an Am

n the RCAF.

and photos eration. If

o2go.nl

(contact detlars and I w

y Collins, Ex

D NOSEe recently upot Gen moni

the aircraft erstine, a C

f his wartimeuring an unc

11 

P WANTormation on They were flre:

AF Pilot) 23 yyears of age

R Wop/AG)

esdijk of theheritage founoeree-Overfnl

records merican

of the anyone

tails on will pass

x-secretary 8

E ART Fpdated the noiker carried b

flown by 9CWH membee aircraft, onclad young

TED an 88 Squa

lying Blenhe

years of agee 30 years of a

e Dutch foundation for flakkee.” Fo

88 Sqn Assoc

FOR CWose art on thby this Mitc

98 Squadron er and veter

n which Normlady, typica

Crew of an 8their aircraftco‐operation

dron crew teim ‘RH-G’

age

undation ‘Wthe preserv

or more info

ciation.

WH B-25heir B-25 Michell.

pilot John Pran 98 Squaman Prowse al of much w

88 Squadron Blt at Attlebridgen exercise.  16 A

that perished serial no.V

WO2GO’ (Sevation of allormation on

5

itchell ‘Hot G

Pudney DFCadron air guwas a crewm

wartime nos

lenheim IV clime, Norfolk afterAugust 41.

d near V6380

econd l that their

Gen’.

C. A unner mate, se art

mb from r an Army 

12  

painted by young men far from home. The CWH ‘powers that be’ appreciated the nose art and their Mitchell became Hot Gen.

It spent some time under the name ‘Grumpy’ after a complaint was registered against the nakedness, but soon the Hot Gen art was back, sporting a bathing suit. It was very much like the original roughly done wartime art and was replaced this spring by this attractive version by aviation artist Lance Russworm.

Like it? T-shirts sporting the motif are now available...also very attractive...and family-rated!

Contact Chris Larsen 506-456-3494 (pennfieldparish@yahoo.com) for details/registration

or http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbpennfi/penn8b1PPMHS_MemorialService2011.htm

13  

 

DISPERSALS • UK • EUROPE • AUSTRALIA

Going from knowing to remembering is not easy; may you enjoy remembering

LAST POST

A thought for two Canadian members; spoken of more fully in Canadian Corner:

‘BERT’ CHESTER a pilot with 180 Squadron died on 17th Dec 2010. He joined the squadron at Foulsham, some of you from other Mitchell Squadrons may have met him much later when he was instructing advance training for Mitchell crews in 1482 Flight. Relating to the A.T.C. anniversary, post war he was C.O. of the Air Cadets in Mission, B.C.

KEN HARRISON died on 7th Feb 2011, joined 98 Squadron at Dunsfold in April 1944 as a Wop/AG.

REGISTRAR’S REPORT

New Member. A warm welcome to: Richard Morris • Grandson of Bill Morris (WOP/AG 88/342 Sqdns) 68 Limefield Road Smithills BOLTON Lancs Deaths:

H.A. "Bert" Chester-180 Sqn-on Dec 17, 2010 and K.W.W. Harrison-98 Sqn-on Feb 7, 2011

14  

REMEMBERED

12TH Aug 41 a Blenheim of 226 Squadron, crewed by F/Lt. Gwilym Lewis, P/O Neville Cardell and Sgt. John Woods crashed near Philippine in Holland, when returning from Cologne. The three are buried in North Flushing cemetery; Edmonde

de Decker, of Philippine, also died. Gwilym’s son, Peter informs us that a stone memorial to all four will be unveiled on 23rd July 2011 close to the crash site. Peter Lewis, Johan Cornelis who witnessed the crash and many others will be there.

If you are interested Peter’s contacts are: 17 Blackchurch Lane, London E1 1LQ

(peter@principledconsulting.biz) and 02072651005. He intends to write an account of the occasion and the story behind it for our August edition.

TREASURER

As a measure until the AGM and we have a new treasurer, the Editor is holding the Association’s money in a temporary account. Cheques for subs etc, should be mailed to Peter Jenner. At present we have £1037.

ARCHIVISTS REPORT 101

Since my last report I have been contacted regarding a number of issues and in no particular order I would first of all mention that to date I have only received one enquiry for a copy of the B25 Mitchell print hopefully a few more orders will be forthcoming from members and as I understand it the painting will soon be handed over to Reg Day for the Dunsfold Museum.

I received an email from someone called Jan Nieuwenhuis a few days before preparing my report from the Netherlands; the following is self explanatory: “On 1st February 2011 a new version of my "WW-II Allied Aircraft Crashes in The Netherlands" program was released. The purpose of this software is to help researchers worldwide to get detailed information about Allied Aircraft Crashes in The Netherlands in the Second World War. Though all crashes are not (yet) available in the database, it is gradually filled with more data... At present (3rd April 2011), detailed information on 725 aircraft and 4010 crew members is listed!

Please go to http://airwar.texlaweb.nl where you may download the latest version of the software... it's easy to use and free-of-charge! Any comments on the program or information for the database is highly appreciated.

Jan”

15  

As yet I have not looked at this site but it may prove to be useful in the future if anyone does access the site please make your comments known.

I have been in email contact with George Smith in Australia who was requesting some details from the 180 Sqdn. Records for 1944 and in response to his request I managed to email copies that were relevant his reply provided me with a lot of information about one of his aircrew, Tom Beardsworth, which George felt that should be recorded:

“Tom Beardsworth did 2 tours of Ops with 180; the first in 1943 at the same time as the inestimable Jenkin Williams and returned for his second in the latter half of 1944 into 1945. He joined our crew skippered by the late Ted Burn DFM with myself as W/Ag and Jim Freeman A/G. Tom was the 3rd Nav/B we had during our tour; we lost our original, Dave Kirk, when he was seriously wounded on our 4th trip; he was replaced by Canadian Harry Ward who was on his 3rd tour, from memory. In September '44 Harry was screened and sent home to Canada and Tom replaced him. Tom did about 20 Ops as part of our crew until that day in early December '44 when Ted Burn was accidentally shot in the head while sleeping in our billet in Zaventum, Brussels and the crew was broken up. I was screened and Tom went on to complete his 2nd tour with 180. I corresponded with Tom, a Lancastrian from near Burnley, for many years until his death in January 2009 aged 92 and continued contact with his family after his death. In one of her letters his daughter, Pam Stowell, mentioned a special medal which they had found among his memorabilia and this surprised me because Tom had never mentioned it to me. I got onto Google and found a reference to Thomas Beardsworth having been awarded the American DFC in July 1945!

Tom's grandson Martin Wells--email address:martin.richard.wells@gmail.com-- had started researching this matter and has provided the following information to me.

Air Ministry 3rd. July 1945:

The King has granted unrestricted permission for the wearing of the undermentioned decorations conferred upon the personnel indicated in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war; Conferred by the President of the United States of America the Distinguished Flying Cross--Flying Officer Thomas Beardsworth [176151], RAFVR [LG 29th. June 1945]. BEARDSWORTH, Thomas, F/O RAF--Distinguished Flying Cross [United States] awarded as per London Gazette dated 3 July 1945 and General Order No.80. United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe [found in Public Records Office Air 2/9090]; credited with 195 operational hours. Citation--"Flying Officer Beardsworth, now on his second tour of operational duty, has displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty. He has proved himself to be a reliable and skilful navigator/bomb aimer and has set a fine example to other members of his unit. He

16  

has at all times shown a cool and purposeful determination to reach his target and destroy it despite any obstacles."

Postwar Tom was a member of the Lancashire Constabulary, reaching the rank of Chief Inspector and I also found that he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1978.”

Many thanks to George for providing an insight into the career and life of his friend. I am sure we all can remember stories and tales of our comrades after they were de-mobbed.

Just as I was finishing off this report I received a letter from Brian Willshire who was an Observer flying with P.O. Marshall and he has supplied me with a copy of his Log book entry for 2nd May 1945. This was in response to the mention of the last of 226 Sqdn’s battle Order item in February’s issue of Dispersals in which was commented that “there must be very few flying ‘O’s about”. Many thanks for letting us know that you are one of those still flying.

Finally I will be sending out the reminder letters for our Annual Reunion which will as usual be held in Bedford over the weekend of the 23rd /25th September 2011 so please put this date in your diaries now.

Russ

LUCKY LADS

Sarah Morris rang to say that Members may buy ‘A Lucky Life’ for £2 less, i.e. £6.99. If you are that patient, the easiest way to get a copy will be at the re-union; Sarah and Richard are intending to come and will bring copies for sale. Sarah may be cross with me for saying this, but some of the money from sales has already gone to her charities -- before she has recouped her publishing expenses.

EDITOR’S NOTES Peter Jenner

This is newsletter # 101; a century of them have passed. To mark the occasion, here are the Editorial Comments from Number 3. I have not been lucky enough to find No. 1, but there is a folder (from which the extracts are scanned) with M.B.A. Letters 1986 - 1991; guess where -- in Reg Day’s Museum.

Thank you for the loan, Reg.

 

Over the Septemb

page is an iter 1986 item

tem concernm:--

ning two who

17 

o are illustraated within ##101. Heree is the

 

[Incident

DescribinTernausethe Bosto

After hiswill try toMitchells

tal note; Sa

ng the first en, nr Ghenton low level

fascinatingo find an excs moved out

arinah is exp

attack as 1t, Belgium, Tmasters:--

g and detailecuse to use it of the low

pected to fly

139 Wing, Trevor Mart

ed descriptioit - again - inlevel role is

18 

again in Ma

2nd TAF; frtin wrote wh

on of the fign a future edis no surprise

ay ……….

from Dunsfohat must hav

ght with FWition) and of

e.

.ed.]

old on an ove seemed lik

W190s on the f the losses s

oil installatioke a challen

way home sustained, tha

on at nge to

(I at

 

Those eamembers

Looking

As currenexpansioAmanda

Please vo

Our ChaWarplanesends “I w

arly newsletts only 40 yea

back to Ach

nt editorial nns. [ATC will be in A

olunteer.

airman and e Heritage Mwish all our

ter were ‘whars after they

hmer time ‘R

notes; this yebecame Ai

Aus by the tim

Founder LiMuseum and

members th

hat it said ony happened.

Red’ Hick (1

ear celebrateir Traffic Cme you read

iaison memd not only thhe best of eve

19 

n the tin’, let Twenty fiv

180 Sqn) tell

es the 70th anControl muc

this and we

mber, Normahat, on their erything.”

tters with neve years more

ls a sorry sto

nniversariesch later...Air

need a Trea

an, is now Mitchell. S

ews and reme ago now.

ory :--

of the BCAr Training

asurer.

celebrated See the Cana

miniscences

ATP and theCorps in 1

in the Canaadian Corner

from

ATC 941].

adian r. He

 

Althoughprior to 1

There hait was nodiscussio

Dr F.J. HNational Democracopy fromcountry. of interes

TH

h it began to1941.

ad been “Impo more thanon on Comm

HATCH’s diDefence D

acy, Canada m the Britis It is an eye st to you. I

In 193“Deepidea ofwhen nearly the poCanadestablian incupoliticthe waBritainspeaksas “A the greactual surpris

HE AERO

o operate wit

perial RFC” n a distant mmonwealth Tr

ssertation foDirectorate o

and the BCh Library; itopening rea

It will be ser

CONCE

39 the Highly concernedf Commonwpoliticians foundering

oliticking exian Prime Mishment of ursion upon al, home dear “was not n’s”. Howes publicly of co-operative

eatest air trawar effort

sing. So is

ODROM...Said Pr

B

th purpose 7

training in Cmemory in thraining.

or his doctorof History

CATP’ in 19t has no covad which is wrialised; this

EPTION;

h Commissd by the Bri

wealth traininare involveon a numbe

xcept to quMinister MBritish traiNational So

efence, votesCanada’s w

ever by 17th

f the still unde undertakinaining centre

in so manthe fact that

20 

ME OF esident Roo

BCATP

70 years ago

Canada durinhe late thirti

ate was on tasked him 83. My loc

vers and is inwhy I hope as edition’s

 

; OF MIC

ioners of Citish weakneng. Politics ed, the ideaer of occasiouote from thMcKenzie Kning schoolsovereignty as. Also, regawar in the sa

h Decemberder discussiong of great mes of the worny fields tht it was agre

DEMOosevelt

o the Trainin

ng WW1 buies when the

the BCATP; to expand

cal library (sn four bits. a summary witem covers

CE AND

Canada and ess in the airtook over ana ran into ons. I will lhe documen

King “strongs on Canadiaand dangeroarding costiname sense thr 1939 (Hison agreemenmagnitude torld.” Consihis is almoeed to train

CRACY

ng plan alrea

ut no Brits we RAF expa

the Canadiait into ‘Th

still extant) m Not a commwith extractsplanning: --

D MEN

Australia wr.” and airednd, as is the heavy weaargely pass nt which gly resistedan territory”

ous internallng King saidhat it was G birthday)

nt on the subo become ondering Cana

ost unbelievunder Cana

Y

ady had a hi

were involvedansion opene

an Departmee Aerodrommanaged to mon book ins will prove --

were d the way ther; over says

d the ” as ly re

d that Great

he bject, ne of ada’s vably adian

istory

d and ed up

ent of me of

get a n this to be

 

control alimited nthat they

Summer July 194thinly 3 arunning uwere to 120 newmanagedonly part

Snow bl1942; hhard on numbers frequent swimmin

This was1939 butRAF perUK Lordconsidereeffect is Britain”. shipping ceased dJapan anand-carry

Amazingoff and c

and the Cannumber of pi

would be C

1940 argue41 #s 1, 2,and 4 were ounder the ciorganise --

w/modified ad to completetly heated; an

lowing equiheavy rollersthe runway

and fire problem; so

ng pool on si

s largely cont 10,375 by Mrsonnel to hed Beaverbrooed that “the to add two Supplies alof Battles a

during the Bnd Germany y to Canada.

gly the multiame to work

 

nadian Senioilots for Gre

Canadians on

ed louder tha 6 and 4 Sopened in Thivilian Canadnot instruct

airfields were some in eignd -20C is n

pment did ns were used ys. Water s

fighting rome stations ite as a fire-f

ncerned withMarch 1940elp out. Sook, the highTraining Sc

sea voyagelso presenteand Ansons

Battle of Britdeclared wa

itude of hurdk.  

or Air Officeat Britain nnly.

an politicianSFTS’s werehe Fall. 13 dian Flying in, -- Servire required ght weeks. H

not uncommo

not appear bto pack the

supplies for reserves we

gained an infighting rese

h Canadian . January 1overeignty whly successfucheme (sendes to a maned problemsand enginestain/anticipaar on the US

dles was ov

21 

cer estimateot in excess

ns and in thee opened unlarge, quickClub Associce personneand, buildin

However theon during the

before snow large

ere a ndoor

erve.

personnel. 940 saw the

was still a coul Minister oding men to’s training p; the main for tiger M

ated invasionSA Harvards

ercome and

 

 

d that it wo of 50 per y

e period betnder the RCAly changed t

ciation. Comel were to dng on a baey were oftee Canadian w

The RCAFe ‘loan’ of 30oncern. In thof Productio

o Canada)…programmebeing that th

Moths from Gn time. Uns were cas

the Plan too

 

 

ould be “poyear”. The i

tween NoveAF. By stretto 26 smallemmercial avdo that -- Oasic plan, coen occupied wwinter.

F numbered 00 he

on, its in he

GB ntil sh-

ok

Pet(w

ossible to trimplication b

ember 1940 tching instru

er, E.F.T.S.s iation comp

Observer Schonstruction when muddy

4,171 in Au

er in Ottawa twwartime & 200

rain a being

and uctors were

panies hools. firms y and

ugust

wice 06) 

 

CALLGARY CorneCommHavincivilia

70 yepeopl

22 

ROUNDell N58799 mand, Calgng survived an boredom,

ears ago thle of Calgary

on

Thsurmaof

Thwhme

Thwit

D-DOWbegan its w

gary, Alberta surfeit of

, she is now

e yellow pey; this year

ne, probably

he RCAF burvived the raany parts of those buildi

his year will hite bulk wemories, whe

he sounds othin which to

WN working lifeta as part fledgling piflying in the

erils were aEuropean ealso for the

uildings in Cavages of mthe world. U

ing have had

see the hangwill not visether Air For

of yore willo echo the p

e at #4 Traof the BCAilots before e Netherland

a novelty toeyes too, wilfirst time.

Calgary havemany airmen

Until now d civilian live

gar no more,sibly bring rce or civilia

l have no past.

aining ATP. some

ds.

o the ll see

e also from some es.

, its back

an.

walls

 

To thosebarracks/comparat

Certainly

Thanks toCalgary T

Dal Hine

afternoon

Stop pres

“darfo

e who went /billets/tentstive four and

y “high end”

o ‘History BuffTraining Cent

es, a Canadia

n tea.” [May

ss...Havoc at“You will prdelayed. We

re proving mor completio

to Canada , the conditd a half.

”.

ff’ whose posttre.

PENNan who train

“After graStation PeTraining UNavigator, Ventura aiwould evenindividualstraining prthere was aand Dutch became ac

y not have be

t future Bostrobably not have recentl

more time coon of the proj

from non-petions were,

ting supplied

NFIELDed in Canad

duation fromennfield RidgUnit. The rol

Wireless Aiircraft for rntually expers participaterocess begana cultural mcrews. Nee

ccustomed teen exactly a

ton tea partybe surpris

ly viewed pronsuming thaject is now F

23 

ermanent Seif not five

the ghosting

’S VINTda, had a diff

m air gunnedge, New Brle of this uniir Gunner arelatively lowrience in En

ed in the seln in Octoberix as also onedless to sayto the Englias pictured]

y. Latest fromed to learnrogress on than originallyFebruary 20

ervice e star,

of

TAGE Tferent view o

ers’ course, runswick, thit was to formand Air Gunw level tactngland. As ection of ther, 1943. Apn the base wy, the enviroish accents

m the R.A.Fn that the Hhe aircraft ay anticipated12.”

TEA of Pennfield

I was transhe home of m crews of foner to train tical bombinthe traininge crew of thpart from th

were New Zeaonment was

and the su

F. Museum, HHavoc has oand the consd. As a resul

Ridge:

sferred to Rf 34 Operatfour (4), i.e. P

on twin-engng missions

g commencedheir choice. e flying traialand, Austrdelightful, a

uperb custo

Hendon:-- once again servation asplt the revised

RCAF tional Pilot, gined

they d, the This ining, ralian as we om of

been spects d date

 

A few daJessett; Sbirthplac

ceremonyhad beenWoodleyAfter wh

Group C

before po214.

He returnconducteand SOUInnswortSubsequeComman

STOR

ays after NumS/Ldr Peter Dce of the Ha

y and ‘do’ on happy to my ‘Bader’ Sqhich he: ----

Captain Bru

osting to M

ned to 3(Figed OperationUTHERN Wth to manageently, he wander. He att

RIES FR

mber 4 (HarDavis; F/Lt arrier, and, n

of disbandmmeet with him

uadron, ATC

uce Hedley M

arine Corps

ghter) Squadns DELIBER

WATCH ovee the career

as awarded aended the J

ROM THEX–H

rrier) SquadrDarren Kup

naturally, in

ment the prevm. Reg suC), the teena

MBE MA R

Group Cin 1985.GR3 on GermanyInstructo3(Fightedisplayeparticipa

Air Station

dron, GermaRATE FORGer Southern s of some 5

an MBE in 2Joint Service

24 

HE REGHARRIERS

ron was disbpz and F/Lt Jncluded a vi

mention of in the timeSo they anappeared to

Earlier in with 3 Squasked if theGroup CaptIt transpire

vious eveninurprised themage, Bruce H

RAF

Captain Bruc. He began IV (Army C

y. Followinor flying ther) Squadroed the Harrated in Open Yuma, US

any as a FligGE over Bo

Iraq then w500 fast-jet j2000 and waes Comman

G DAY S

anded four oJames McMsit to the MHarriers the

e when the nd Reg had o enjoy their

the centuryuadron, botey knew the tain Bruce Hed that heng of 4 Squm with the inHedley, had a

ce Hedley johis operatioCooperationng this tourhe Harrier on, RAF rier GR7 foeration WAA where he

ght Commanosnia, and BOwas posted junior office

as promoted nd and Staff

MUSEU

of their pilotMillan, visitedMuseum. There but it is thairfield wasmuch to tavisit.

y, 4 Squadroth operatingone time CO

Hedley, now had been

uadron and thnformation ta CO called

ined the RAnal career f

n) Squadron,r he qualifie

GR5 and Laarbruch,

or 2 years ARDEN ovee flew the A

nder and OLTON to RAF

er pilots. to Wing

f Course

UM

ts: W/Cdr Sd Dunsfold here is not mhe hub of ints RCAF & Ralk about as

on was wog Harriers. O of 4 Squa

w i/c RAF Van at the fohe visiting p

that Flt/Sgt (Flt. Lt. Reg

AF at 18 yearflying the Ha, RAF Gutered as a Wea

was posteGermany.

from 1993er Northern

AV8B with V

Simon Park, much terest RAF. they

rking Reg

adron, alley. ormal pilots (1116 Day.

rs old arrier rsloh, apons ed to

He and Iraq

VMA

 

and, follSquadronreconnais

And thatthe above

4 FTS [VIn the wo

Squadron[My bikecould dowas no rsharing a

So we thReluctanTwo of uBattle oWe did aand they related ucooling bthey curlwas ablesignallers

After macould not

[A somewhat

lowing a ton, RAF Cottssance missi

t is just for se ...ed.]

Valley] for faords of its m

n history as e was ‘really an Immelm

response froa school buil

hree set abountly they did us were prettf Britain ua swap with taught us a

unit that drillbuilt in; the tled; i.e. verye to help thes.

any months t go to Cade

vain attempt to ex

our as the Stesmore. Duion into Iraq

starters; for

fast jet pilotsmotto, the Sch

PER

Before breawriting myDefence Cthroughout

I was an ev[I am not written]. Th

y’ an SE 5A man]. We ap

m school; thding on a ha

ut creating anot say no;

ty hot at aircuntil the im

the local Hrmament anled to the Wtime given ty fast, so thoem with that

the home Sqet Camp and

xtend my R.A.F. pr

SO1 Harrieruring his Ha

q in support o

a fuller biog

s is a long whool has trul

R ARDU

akfast on Fey 6th Form nadet Corps the country.

vacuee in Wagoing to s

here were thor a Fokker

pproached anhe staff had alf day basis

a Detached Fbut we were

craft recognimpending inHome Guard,nd drill; we w

WW1 Army Dto make a reose guys wet. At 16 I w

quadron senhave our fir

rovenance ……..e

25 

r Operationarrier refreshof Operation

graphy, Goo

way descendey travelled f

UA AD VE

ebruary 5th 1notes with th

was to be .

ales; my schspecify as mhree of us inr triplane, nony adults wha hard enou

. There was

Flight to the e a very detaition havin

nvasion brou, we taught twere probabDrill Book -cognition of

ere good. Awas not a pr

nt us a box orst contact w

ed.]

s, was posther flying con TELIC.

ogle ‘Valley

ed from the from ‘The Sa

ENTURE

1941, 70 yeahe wireless expanded i

hool’s town my recollectn the 6th Forot ridden butho might heugh job gett

s no sign of i

home Squadached ‘D’ Flg lived undeught evacuathem recogn

bly the only - we made o

f our pictureAlso, as a Scroper Home

of uniform owith the RAF

ted to Comourse he con

y RAF’ [from

BCATP butand to the St

E

ars ago as I on and I he

into the Air

had had an Ation is not rm who weret flown; givelp form an Ating us throuinterest in th

dron. light. er the ation. nition RAF our own epis was depen

cout, I had t Guard but

oddments, w.

mmand 3(Fignducted a gr

m whence I

t the link is ttars’.

write this, Ieard that ther Training C

ADCC Squareflected in

e mad on airen a grass slATC unit. Tugh ‘Inter’ w

he town.

diascope windant on howaught Morsewas one of

without whic

ghter) round

lifted

there.

I was e Air Corps

adron n the rcraft lope I There while

ithout w fast e and

f their

ch we

 

It happenfew peop

Geoff SMicrolighconsequefor the CMuseumwere theraircraft. personnethey thorepeat the

WW

ned again onple saw it.

Shorter, ht Club visiently asked plub to fly in, he and Gere to greet t Pilots

el numbers uroughly enje exercise ag

3When did yo

Who had a sig

n Saturday

Secretary ited Reg’s Mpermission on; this was gerry Forristthem; no-o

and crew up to about joyed the mgain.

W

6 INTOou last see 36gh of relief t

12th. March

of the HMuseum recof Dunsfold given, Reg oter of Duns

one expectedmembers mfifty, who

museum and

WHERE F

26 

O DUNSF6 aircraft strthat it was st

h and very

Hampshire cently and

Park Ltd. opened the fold Park

d as many made the

said that d hope to

IS GRU

Follow-up

FOLDream into Dutill thirtysix r

UMPY?

Davein lasand Sessi2010 DooliDaytosent you JB-25WHEin yoprize

unsfold ? returned.?

e Poissant asst quarter’s

the first ion’s itinerar

was on Apittle Raideron, Ohio. these phot

John] of the s to honou

ERE IS GRur own arrow; or even an

sked the queCanadian C

date in ry for Grum

pril 16/18th ars Re-union

John Reyntographs [Tflyover salu

ur the occaRUMPY? [D

w, but there answer].

estion orner John

mpy’s at the n in nders

Thank ute of asion. Draw is no

 

Somewh

The othemake-ov

Back in Grumpy.while at D

Sid Lovick ‐ A

Chris (Sid) Gr

‘Smithy’ ‐ Ins

Vic Feast ‐ Fit

Jimmy Muir ‐

Frank Webb ‐

?? 

ere in the pr

er flying Gruer, emerging

July 1944 a Backing thDunsfold.

Airframes 

rearly ‐ FME 

struments 

tter II engines 

‐ FMA 

‐ Wireless 

re take off lin

umpy (at thg as ‘Hot Ge

and ‘toppinghose operatio

ne up there s

he Canadian en’, after Nor

g the ton’, onons was her

27 

should be on

Warplane Hrman Prows

n her way tground crew

ne in RAF co

[Sh

Heritage Mue’s mount [S

to the recordw. Then, sh

olours:

She’s the third o

useum, HamSee Canadian

d 125 raids, he was behin

one back, starb

milton) has hn Corner].

was the orind the paint b

??

F/S Wi

Les Fla

Bill Hil

board]

had a

iginal brush

 

ills 

attery ‐ Wireles

l ‐ Radar 

ss 

 

 

 

Two filmInc.] in cWar Mus

For the Mwith a ratAustraliaLACs areother disstories, th

Being haopen welpart of thkeep at hfamily. Tdanger thforgottenmaking?

The best

Journey

B

ms precisely rconjunction wseum Collec

Moment; onther sloppy s

an trainee pie flying a Ticrepancies ohe film does

alf a world awlcome givenheir war effohome. TheThe stresseshan the UT

n. Was mar All these as

parts for me

Together

BCATP R

relevant to twith the Nat

ction].

n the surfacestoryline. Itilot gets to Ciger betweenof Service p explore a nu

way from thn by the vast ort or a comme film explo of training

T pilots themrriage makinspects are th

e were the op

has the nam

RELEVA

he Training tional Film B

e appears to bt is set in theCanada in hn them when

procedure. Humber of the

hose the hermajority of

mercial oppoores the wayand having l

mselves. Fong the most here.

pening seque

mes of Rich

28 

        

ANT FIL

Plan in CanBoard of Ca

be a low bude arena of thehis dark RAn they land oHowever, une side effects

ro said he hf Canadian cortunity for y the exiles left those at or them the of what mig

ences of a T

hard Attenboprodto tsugthe Uni

LM REV

nada are ‘Foranada and ‘J

dget film stae Training PAF top and on a Manitobnderlining ths of the Plan

had “Left thecivilians, whwomen withsometimes home, in thfreedom an

ght well be

iger among t

orough and duced by Jothe writing gests a profauthenticity

it. In black

IEWS

r The MomJourney Tog

arring a younPlan, we do n

purple trouba farm; or

he veneer of n.

em all behinether it was h men abroabecame par

he case of thend feeding a very shor

the clouds.

Edward G. ohn of the B

of Terencefessional excy of the RAFk and white

ent’ [John Agether’ [Imp

ng Russell Cnot know howusers or howaccept any o

f the various

nd”; he founpersonal, a

ad and childrrt of a Canae Brits, in grshortages alrt time or w

Robinson bBoulting bro Rattigan wcellence alli

F Film Produe the promi

  

Aaron perial

Crowe w the

w two of the s love

nd the duty,

ren to adian reater lmost

widow

being others which ed to

uction ise is

 

almost fuaccepted

The storythrust is t

It is ‘Dedshown wovercomiconfidenthat the bflunk thasuccessfuNavigatosays it isovercameget out o

Was theconfidenholding ofinancial standard out? How

137 WinSearch f

Both film

   

RAF SquEmpire ACanadianBCATP u

ConscripHence a

fulfilled. It at the time b

y culminatestraining.

dicated to thwith fair accing the limce; of failingbest were toat and you ul pilots are or who ultims a propagane difficultiesf the ghastly

e parable a pce with the out and at th

debt and of life, cre

wever long t

ng membersfrom the her

ms are availa

uadron aircreAir Trainingn High Comunder Canad

ption in Ausnumber of

also gave tbut now sou

s in an opera

he few who tcuracy but s

mitations of g and movin

o be pilots wwent to Canthere in Can

mately, in filmnda film, bus and we woy situation of

parallel of defeeling that

he same timethe faciliti

eating the nethat should,

will apprecro’s spot-on

able on DVD

EATS

ews were litg Scheme --missioners fdian leadersh

tralia, as in EATS cand

that clarity unding unrea

ation with a

trained the msomehow thleaving sch

ng on to comwho were senada to becnada to meem plot style

ut it was madon, suggestinf the post wa

eterminationt the world e being bankies to createed to anticand did, take

ciate that thn fix was ma

D with a bit o

B

S [LEAV

ttered with R- EATS. Sufrom a smallhip with the

Canada, wadidates had

29 

of over-preal.

lot of genui

many.’ Muchis is a stranhool at fourme out well

ent, outside tcome a Navet and reduc, accurately de in 1946. ng that withar period?

n and lack oowed us fo

krupt both inte a decen

cipate a waye.

he successfuade by a Bos

of a search.   

BCATP+

VES AND

RAAF typesuggested in l beginning iAustralian p

as Home Desome Army

cise speech

ine RAF Fil

ch of what hnge film. Irteen with al at the end. the BCATP

vigator or Be the confidfixes the dit Was it to

h their sort o

f r n

nt y

ul ston.

 

D SHOOT

. They almoSeptember

it was develpart remainin

efence Onlyy time behin

as taught a

lm Unit foot

happened duIt is basicallambition and It also give, to learn to

Bomb Aimerdence of the tching pointshow the po

of determinat

TS]

ost entirely c1939 by th

loped until inng as EATS.

y; after that nd them. T

at drama sc

tage, but its

ring trainingly the patted a lack ofes the impreo fly in the Ur. Somehowdisappointe

t. Its provenopulace that tion we cou

came througe Australiann 1941 it be.

one volunteThis could p

chool;

main

g was rn of f self ession USA; w the d UT nance

they uld all

gh the n and came

eered. prove

 

useful; Nthat Kevidesert Brmonths f

Initial TrSuccess airborne

Pilots solWilliams

The spee

Sucking

Our elem

The elem

But not w

Our partn

But not bthe wing

Assuminflying Tihome cou

TAF Meship to ov

Nevin Filby’in Williams rown Jobs gfor a posting

raining Schoat the screeaircraft. Th

loed with vas and Dick L

eding air is cu

me upwards

ment is air.

ment is mine,

without its he

nership with

before doingtip of a Terr

ng success agers the nexuntry local le

edium Bombvercrowded

s understandused his VX

going aircrewto ITS.

ools put Erkening tests bhere was a va

arious excitemLevy. For mo

urving past m

s, ‘craft and I

, I’m in cont

elp to elevat

h air.

g a stint of gra-Tiger.

t the many xt move was eaves fell fa

BeubiSurlea

EdMe

bers to be wbucket] to S

ding of flak X card to gew; some AC

ks into the mbrought a pariable pilot/

ments. Newost, life was

my wings

I are one.

trol

te

ground dutie

Elementary to SFTS. B

airly frequent

ing in Ausiquitous, simrvival and a

ave.

itions 90 & ed and some

were to sail bSan Francisc

30 

patterns greet priority poCGs [Aircrew

morass of thposting to on/navigator ra

wsletters 88 & great:

es, often at

aspects of Being in the tly. 

s, the aircrmilar Harva successful

92 tell of the to the northby troopshipo.

ew from his osting to ITw Guards] h

heoretical anne of the E

atio at this po

& 92 carried

raft were Wvards. Thil Wings test

he journey th against thep [Usually a

AA trainingS along withhad been w

nd practical EFTSs and coint.

d the experien

Wirraways is was reat brought th

to Europe; se Japanese. a conversion

g. Tricia telh a couple oaiting up to

related subjcontact with

nces of Kevi

rather thanal Service he actual lea

some went tHowever th

n from passe

lls us of ex- nine

jects. h real

in

n the stuff. aving

to the he 2nd

enger

 

With any‘blues in waited-on

There waexploratowhere thspeakers.

Another

Trica sayKevin astrains thcome-dowgo to The

The pictu“This is Victorianthe vibra

 

y luck therethe night’ w

n comfort.

as a degree ory exciteme accent of t.

packed troop

ys that Engs foggy, rainhat took thewn after Pule Grand Hot

ure and thea truly rema

n building, iant Brighton

e was leave,wooooooooo

of ‘hearing ment. New the locals wa

pship was fo

gland was dny, dirty, muem to Brighllman cars. tel. 

e advertisingarkable hoteit stands cen seafront” a

Thex‘LamEnbrneneto

while the Uoooing train t

that lonesomYork coul

as almost un

ound to run t

described byurky and thehton were aBut they did

g descriptionel. An iconicntre stage onare 2011.

he Commoxperience hitLord Haw Hmusing propnglishman wroadcast a wew ones aretwork of ino prove that t

31 

US rail systto go across

me whistle’ld give ano

nintelligible t

the Atlantic

y e a d

n c n

nwealth hot and run raiHaw’. Thepaganda attewith an overwelcome to rriving, thustelligence wthey hadn’t.

tem found as the USA in

but more ofother leave,to the Strine

gauntlet of U

olding pointids and, oftee latter is aempt by the rdone aristocColonial Co

s suggestingwithin the UK

a n

f , e

U-Boats to th

t was usualen to receivean amusingGerman rad

cratic voice wousins as thg that the

K. The lead

he UK.

lly Brightone a welcome g memory odio. A traitowho could s

here were alGermans hup to D-Day

n; to from

of an orous safely lways had a y was

 

Some airthe shoot

Survivor

Left to r

And, takJohn Bou

Barrie Cmemorie

rcrew were pts section.

s of which tr

right they ar

ken at a R.Aurchier, Geo

ollins put ms, of which

put to mannin

raining inclu

re: Sel Owen

A.A.F. Europrge Smith &

Bme in touch wh I hope we w

ng rooftop A

ude:

n, (unknown)Taken at V

pe get togeth& Dick Levy

BOSTONwith an 88 Swill read a lo

32 

AA guns to w

), Kelvin Wiitry. Sent by

her in Melbou

  

N ACCESquadron piot in the futu

welcome the

illiams, Col y Tricia

urne 2011;

ENTS ilot called Aure, his ema

e hit-and-run

Mason and

George Vsent the pthree ‘An

 

 

Andy Cole. ail said, amo

ns, thus begin

John Bourch

V Smith, whphoto of thencient Airm

As a taste oong much m

nning

hier.

o e

men’

of his more:

33  

“Thank you for your letter of 3rd March, enclosing the copy of “Dispersals”. Until you contacted me I didn’t know that the 2nd TAF Medium Bomber Association existed, and I was delighted to read your reference to Hartford Bridge.

I actually did my first op from there, as a pilot, in Boston Mk IIIA No. 229, on 23rd September 1944. The reason I was so late coming into the war was that I had always stated my preference to fly flying boats and I went on the General Reconnaissance Course in Charlottetown Prince Edward Island in December 1943 and then to 31 Coastal Command OTU on Hudsons at Debert, Nova Scotia, only to get posted to the Boston conversion unit at Finmere, Bucks., on my arrival back in the UK in June 1944, and then on to 88 Sqdn in August of that year. As luck would have it, 88 Sqdn. on Bostons, was disbanded on 31st March 1945, only to be reformed on - you’ve guessed it - Sunderlands, in the Far East later that year (or maybe early in 1946).”

He will probably join us soon

 

SCOZ MISSED

Extracted from emails from Jim Howie [Aus 180 Sqn]. Thanks Jim.

Hi Peter,

Although I am an Australian now, I was born and raised in Rutherglen, Scotland. I should have been reserved until I had finished my degree in Maths and Physics, but got my old headmaster to write a recommendation for a commission on the form applying for reservation, which was the only one they would give me. It worked.

After the war, I joined Scottish Airways, which became the nucleus of BEA Scottish Division, and was happy there until a passing Australian enticed me to move to Australia and marry her.

I joined the RAF in October 1942, and eventually reached 180 Sqdn. in April 1945. My ops would have been a great big yawn for you lot.

At every stage of my aircrew training there was a bottle-neck. At grading school in Derby, one of our draft soloed. He made a huge mess of it, and was lucky to get away with his life. It frightened him so much that he admitted that he could only see with one eye. His landings had been perfect, he explained, because he noticed that at the point of flare, his instructor's head moved back slightly. No instructor, no idea when to flare. Our records were long in coming through to Heaton Park because there had been a fire in the office in Derby, and the records suffered badly. When they appeared, I found that I was credited with fifteen minutes solo. I decided not to argue with authority.

34  

On the transport t to South Africa, we ran short of victuals. Then the refrigeration system broke down. At Freetown supplies were short because a previous convoy had taken most of them, and the naval contingent in our convoy had beaten us to the remainder. So we called in to Capetown instead of carrying on to Durban. There was near rebellion, and we were disembarked to a holding camp. From there we went by train to Johannesburg, and another holding camp. We had some extra weeks at EFTS, and so it went on.

LOW CHURCH?? ---- MISSED!!!

If you flew southward, say 175 degrees, from Hartford Bridge you would miss the irritating balloons over Portsmouth to the west and however low you left the coast near Selsey Bill you must have also missed Chichester Cathedral -- it is still there.

Nowadays it is landed on by Peregrine Falcons but they too manage to miss it even when diving at 180 kph (~108 mph). To help maintain the Cathedral, the Friends have a sky diving team who have piggy-backed members of the Cathedral staff.

Any of those happenings would have scared Cromwell’s horses, at one time stabled in the now 900 year old cathedral.