No. 1 BFTS Events

Fall/Winter 2018-2019

The 2018 Fly-In and Air Show

was cancelled due to the epic

rain storm.

Remembering RAF Cadets in Oklahoma

A few hardy souls made their way up a mountain in the Kiamichi Wilderness in southeastern

Oklahoma on Feb.10, 2019 to remember four Royal Air Force cadets who crashed during a

training flight in 1943.The young Brits were on a cross-country training flight from the No.1

British Flying Training School in Terrell TX when they ran into bad weather and three planes

crashed, resulting in four fatalities.

Elementary school students at a nearby Choctaw Nation school researched the history of the

crashes and raised funds for the memorial. Local residents maintain the site and organize the

annual ceremony.

Representatives from the RAF, the Antlers, OK VFW post and the No. 1 British Flying Training

School Museum laid wreaths and roses at the crash site. A reception at the VFW Hall followed

and included a flag presentation by the Choctaw Nation color guard.

Lest We ForgetRemembrance Day Memorial Service at Oakland Cemetery

November 11, 2018, 3:00 pm

This ceremony honors 20 British Cadets who died in plane crashes while

receiving their pilot training at the Terrell Municipal Airport during World

War II. They are buried in a designated area of the cemetery under the the

British Flag. The plots are lovingly maintained by Terrell residents under the

supervision of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The simple ceremony includes prayers, scripture readings, poems and brief

remarks. A wreath of poppies will be laid at the the foot of the central

monument by a current RAF office stationed in Greenville, TX and a

member of the museum’s board of directors. A fly-over by a World War II era

plane concludes the ceremony.

2018 Remembrance Day

After the ceremony, guests were invited to the Museum for tea. Representatives of

several British organizations - Daughters of the British Empire, Transatlantic Brides

and Parents Association and the English Speaking Union - attended the event along

with local officials, Museum members and guests

The BFTS Museum would like to thank the Braniff Foundation for

its annual donation in memory of Handing Luther Lawrence.

Lawrence was the Manager of the Link Training Department.

The Museum’s first entry in Terrell’s

Christmas Parade was loaned to us by

the Braniff Foundation and garnered a

Best of Theme Award !

Liz Oliphant and Peter Taylor represented the

Museum at the kickoff event for North Texas

Giving Day at Channel 8 in Dallas. Dozens of

nonprofit organizations who also participated in the

Giving Day event rallied during the Good Morning

Texas program to alert donors to the on line giving

event. BFTS Museum supporters donated $2,700

during the one-day event. Watch for our participation

again this fall.

2018 Hangar Dinner-Dance

Even with the severe weather forecast, we were overjoyed to have around 160 hardy

souls attend and enjoy the dinner catered by Hickory Roots of Terrell. The Heritage

Brass Band provided Forties Big Band music which was enjoyed by all and many

danced the night away…..some in vintage era apparrel….adding the perfect touch of

atmosphere. The “Andrew Sisters” trio also performed. Terry Barber, County

Commissioner Precinct 3, served as our Emcee, and we were honored to have Hal

Richards, Kaufman County Judge, as our Guest Speaker. Live and Silent Auctions were

held to raise funds to purchase a desperately needed new telephone system for the

Museum, and possibly for remodeling the STEM Room to handle the donated Gleim

Virtual Cockpit Home Simulator, which will allow the Museum to add STEM

curriculum to the agenda.

.

RAF Sqdr Leaders Steve Tavener

and Craig O’Donnell provided lively

banter to entertain the bar patrons

A new fund raising item enjoyed

by all was the Wine Pull.

We are blessed with visitors and tours that learn the history of

the BFTS Museum and enjoy all our memorabilia.

Students from Grapevine Faith Christian School visited the Museum where

they learned how an important piece of world history took place just a few

miles from their homes. It is always fun to share stories with students.

Many of our visitors

enjoy donning the

pieces of vintage

military apparel for

photos.

Feel free to bring

guests out to

enjoy all the fun.

Terrell High School students created their own version of the television series Night at the Museum

to tell the story of Terrell in the 1940s and the Royal Air Force cadets who trained at the No. 1

British Flying Training School. Using correspondence, interviews and historical documents, ten

students researched the RAF cadets who attended the school, their civilian instructors and local

citizens to create the costumed characters they will represent. Sheri Tuggle, head of Terrell High

School’s Theater Department was in charge of overseeing the presentations.

Small groups of visitors were escorted through the darkened museum, and as they moved through

the galleries, characters steped out of the shadows to tell about their lives and experiences, bringing

the stories of Terrell and the training school to life. We are so excited to have the student

involvement in recreating the school and Terrell’s history during World War II.”

Bill Huthmaker

conducted a

presentation at the

Cavanaugh Flight

Museum which

garnered more

attention from the

Dallas community.

Kaufman County Retired School Employees visited BFTS for their monthly meeting this week.

Rudy Bowling and Bill Huthmacher made brief presentations before they toured the exhibits.

Many recalled family connections to the school.

We were excited to have guests from the UK

when a team of RAF Officers and Ministry

of Defense Contractors visited the museum .

The group was in the US to observe and

monitor aircraft modifications at a facility in

the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Thanks to

Squadron Leader O’Donnell for arranging

the visit and special thanks to BFTS Board

Member Pavel Finnegan for conducting the

personalized, guided tour of the museum's

collection. It is always wonderful to welcome

friends from “across the pond”.

Peter Taylor, helped the

Frontiers of Flight Museum

in Dallas with its Career Day

activities. Peter guided

students in trying out flight

simulators. The BFTS

Museum is completing the

installation of a certified

flight simulator so our

visitors can enjoy similar

experience

In Remembrance

“Pecos Bill” owner and Vet killed in P-51 Crash.

Cowden Ward, Jr. crashed his P-51 in Fredericksburg, Texas on Saturday,

November 17th, 2018. He was a well-known Texas Pilot who gave

numerous rides to veterans, and was taking part in a reenactment flight

organized by the National Museum of the Pacific War when the accident

occurred.

The No. 1 BFTS Museum is adding to the tributes that are pouring in from the warbird community praising

Ward and his Freedom Flyers organization. He dedicated his time to the nation's World War II Veterans by

offering them free flights in Pecos Bill, his way of giving thanks to those who protected our freedoms so long

ago. Ward had recently begun offering flights to Korean and Vietnam War Veterans, as well as Veterans suffering

from PTSD after the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars, expanding his motivational reach to many people and making a

difference in close to 140 Veterans' lives

Jonathan Sandys, the great-grandson of Sir Winston

Churchill, died December 29th in a London hospital of

chronic lung disease

The No. 1 BFTS Museum is sad to report the untimely death

of our dear friend and ardent supporter who visited the

Museum on many occasions. May he rest in peace.

He was so animated and full of life. It is difficult for everyone

at the BFTS Museum to grasp the reality of his passing.

Jonathan was a true “Friend” of our museum. We are preparing a

special tribute to honor his memory

In Remembrance Dr. Peter Nicholas was born in Folkestone in 1924. As the Battle of Britain raged, he was evacuated

to his grandparents in Maesteg, South Wales. At the age of 18 he joined the RAF and since it was

dangerous to fly in the sky above Britain, he was sent the Terrell, Texas, USA to train. He qualified

as a pilot just as the war was ending. Dr. Nicholson entered medical school after demobilization and

following qualification worked in The Middlesex Hospital, London and Margate General Hospital.

He was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1977 serving as

chairman of the Yorkshire faculty and on its London central council.

Dr. Nicholas married Dr. Ann Bradford in 1953. They have three children, Ivor, Angela and Richard.

Angela and Richard followed their parents into the medical profession. He has nine grandchildren

and eight great grandchildren. He was a lifelong Christian and was churchwarden at St John’s

Church, Lepton. He traveled to South Africa in 1985 to practice at Jane Furse Mission Hospital.

Dr. Nicholas led a varied and interesting life. He was not born in Yorkshire but considered himself

to be of Yorkshire. He was made an honorary Texan in 1991. He loved gardening, snooker and

bridge. To summarize his life, “he always tried to do his best for others.”

Jackie Nicholas, Ivor Nicholas, Angie

Pearce and Richard Nicholas – visited

and shared memories.

While in Terrell, Course 23,

Peter carved the BFTS School

Crest which is displayed in

the Museum.

It is with a Heavy

Heart that we have to

announce that the

Allied Riders of Texas

lost one of our

GREATEST

supporters J.T. Stevens,

American Legion

Rider, a Veteran

Warrior and a Great

Friend! R.I.P. J.T., until

we ride again !

It has been a bad beginning

to 2019 as now we have to

report that we have lost

another Great Supporter of

the Allied Riders of Texas.

Tracy (A.K.A. Security)

Johnson , Security could

always be seen with his

smile, helping out the band

and folks who stayed at the

hotel after the Memorial

Ride in Terrell, he will sorely

be missed by all !

Saturday, May 25th – Mark Hardin Memorial Air Race & Education Event

Sunday, May 27th – Memorial Day

Saturday, September 21st – Flights of our Fathers Air Show and Fly-In

Saturday, September 28th – Texas Allied Riders in association with

the American Legion Riders, supported by the BFTS Museum in Terrell

Sunday, September 15th – Battle of Britain Day

Sunday, November 10th – Remembrance Day Celebration3:00 pm Memorial service at Oakland Cemetery, followed by tea at the Museum

2019 Calendar of Events

The Terrell Municipal Airport hosted the

Dallas and Tyler 99s as they updated the

Compass Rose Marker .

There will be a complete article in the

next newsletter.

Chairman’s Corner

As I write this, I am listening to Texas Spring Rain Storm which is very indicative of the

Winter and Spring we have endured. An example is the weather in the week before our

Spring Hangar Dinner and Dance. It was Lovely !! The day of the dance the bottom fell

out. Sunday morning dawned bright and clear. We did have a good turnout in spite of it

all. Many folks chose to dress in 1940’s fashion and there was lots of good dancing.

The Airshow Committee has been hard at work peparing for this years event and should

be one of the best ever….if we can just keep the rain clouds away.

Museum attendance is noticeably up as we get more exposure through Social Media,

with visitors leaving very complimentary comments.

Sponsors

PAVEL FINNEGAN

No. 1 BFTS Museum

Board Member

Terrell

Aviation

NANCY PIERCE BARBER

In Memory of Margaret Clayton

And her contribution to Terrell

No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum Inc.

119 Silent Wings Blvd., PO Box 219

Terrell, TX 75160

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