“Tally Ho” - 609 Squadron

Number 63
March 2012
Avro Tutor
Drone
Hawker Hind
Hawker Hart
Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1
Hawker Hurricane Mk 1
Miles Magister
Airspeed Oxford
North American Harvard
Fairey Battles
“Tally Ho”
Newsletter of 609 (WR) Squadron Association
Hawker Typhoon Mk 1 PR-G
Supermarine Spitfire XV1
De Havilland Mosquito NF30
De Havilland Vampire FB MkV
Gloster Meteor F8
Dez Robinson presents the 609 (WR) Sqn Shield to his favourite local‟s landlord, Steve Marsden, outside
The Blue Bell, at Wath-upon-Dearne
………………………………………………………….
2011 AGM, Yorkshire Air Museum
June 2011
◄New Deputy Chairman, Flt/Lt Mike Foster sits
with Peter Wilson (r) at the AGM in the Chapel
Here‟s history! Last but one Chairman Maurice Voase
on the left, with outgoing Chairman Sq/Ldr Brian
Waite passing the Gavel of Responsibility to new
Chairman, OC 609 (WR) Sqn, Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe
▼
Phil Tuffnel is now famous!
He has met Mike Foster at
Fylindales.
▼
Editorial
I won‟t have space to record the AGM of 2011 in this issue, but you should know that we have a
new Chairman, and Deputy Chairman. Squadron Leader Jeff Metcalfe, OC 609 (WR) Squadron
stood unopposed for the position vacated by Sq/Ldr Brian Waite, and was elected, to much
applause. As Jeff may sometimes be troubled by his other „hat‟, Flt/Lt Mike Foster was asked if he
would act as Jeff‟s proxy, should that be needed, and he agreed. Again, more applause. Brian
Waite was proposed as a Vice President, and was duly elected as such. Hooray again! Thank you
very much, gentlemen, and thank you Brian for all your past works.
Sadly, I have to type many obituaries. Families are very good to me, in that they show no umbrage
when I pester them for details of the departed 609er. I apologise to them for my intervention at
what is an unpleasant time, and thanks them on behalf of the readers of the Newsletter.
On this theme, you will have noticed that I favour a long obituary for each departed colleague. I
do this because it may very well be the last time that anyone writes at length – or at all - about the
person concerned. If so, I wish to ensure that the last write up will be the best that I can manage.
Oh, and in mid February, I was told of Leeds Bradford Airport taking over the First Floor
Exhibition Gallery at Leeds Central Library. They were staging a month-long exhibition there in
March, as part of the Airport‟s 80th Anniversary Celebrations. I did send them all of our pre-war
Yeadon photographs, and 609 in entirety were invited to attend on VIP day, 14th March. The
Squadron couldn‟t attend, as all of Leeming was on a formal parade. Having received the
invitation as well, I thought that I‟d better send it around to those of you local enough to Leeds on
the day. The invitation gave no road name, and I have never been to Leeds proper, so I Google
Mapped the postcode, got a rather unlikely result, but printed 72 colour maps, photocopied 72
invitations, and Rosemary hand addressed and posted (all at our expense, of course) 72 incorrect
maps along with the invitations. Not only was I told that VIP day was fully booked within 2 days,
before the letter would have reached you all, but also that the location was wrong. A great way to
lose 6 hours and £30.The word that I used began with a b, and I repeated it, twice……
Tale Spin 1
Dez Robinson has recently improved his local pub no end. He told me how.
“There I was sat, looking at the wall in the Blue Bell with all its plaques of military units:Canadian
Air Force, Royal Air Force, and Marines, etc. “This is my local, I thought“. What it needs is a 609
Sqn plaque.” So I had a word with Steve the landlord, to see if he would put one up, if I presented
him with it. “Sure, pleased to.” I knew that he would, as they have done quite a bit for Help for
Heroes, and for other organisations, such as those with proud old men wearing their Para‟s berets;
all that kind of thing. So the next step was to buy one from Sqn Ldr Metcalfe. After that it was
back to the pub, camera in hand, and the resultant photo winging its way to you, if you pardon the
pun.
The Blue Bell is on the Dearne Valley parkway, at Wath-upon-Dearne, right next to the Radisson
Hotel. They serve nice food, but more important than that they have rotating guest ales. One of my
favourites is Hobgoblin from the Wychwood Brewery. So Mr (Steve) Marsden, donations are
welcome at the Goats Head, RAF Leeming, as this is the 609 Sqn watering hole. I am sure when
the lads get back off posting in Afghanistan, a refreshing pint would be welcome for said
publicity.”
(Well done Dez. Hobgoblin makes its way safely down here to Hampshire, and is a great pint. We
serve ours flat, of course, getting 5% more beer than you lot do up there, by your insistence on
having that aerating widget on the tap, which gives you an inch of foam instead of beer. Call
yourselves canny? Never! –Ed)
……………………….
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Flt/Lt Mike Foster left 609 nearly a couple of years ago, maybe longer, and is now based at RAF
Fylingdales as the Media and Communications Officer. He told us of a forthcoming visit by the
BBC TV‟s “The One Show” team to the base, where they were going to film. Phil Tufnell was
also going to be the interviewer; an ex-cricketer, and now an excellent part of the Radio 4 Test
Match Special team.
If you haven‟t watched The One Show, the hosts vary – this one was Chris Evans, whom I detest,
but, then, he does have 10 old Ferraris, and I don‟t. Having announced to his adoring fans that
Fylingdales was on some day in May – after 1 hour of Evans, it wasn‟t! But it was rescheduled for
3rd June. Here is the Beeb‟s notice:
“BBC The One Show, Friday 3 June, 1900 will include a 4:30 minute feature film showcasing the
work of RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire. It has long been associated with 3 secret “golf
balls” housing radars staring into space for early signs of ballistic missiles. But they‟ve been gone
for years, replaced by a single radar array doing essentially the same job.
One Show presenter Phil Tufnell gets a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility , and meets the
station commander, Wing Commander Martin „Sheepy‟ Johnson, who details the facility‟s history
and current purpose, explaining the powerful, sophisticated radar system which can track objects
up to 3,000 miles away. Said Wg Cdr Johnson:”Our mission is to provide an uninterrupted
ballistic missile warning and space surveillance service.”
The piece features fascinating archive pictures of the early days of the base when its radars were
shrouded in the distinctive “golf balls”. Phil interviews Leo Westhead who was a civilian
contractor with more than 40 years service at the base.”
The Mike Foster Fan Club sat through another One Show, and lo! – up came the item. We saw
Sheepy Johnson. We saw Leo Westhead. We saw many RAF personnel. We never saw Mike! But
he did get a friend to take a picture of himself with Phil Tufnell, so I have had to publish it as his
near moment of fame.
…………………………………………….
Leeming News
Whilst the story isn‟t yet complete, the future of the RAuxAF looks a bit better. As with the TA,
the SDR initially wanted a reduction in forces, but it seems that a change in heart has occurred.
Squadron Leader Jeff Metcalfe told us the following at the recently held Formal Dinner – not the
one that I print more from below.
“A great deal of uncertainty has been created due to the recommendations of the Future Reserves
2020 Report and the proposed creation of a new RAuxAF Sqn in the north-west. 609 recruits from
that area, we are currently the only Sqn in the north, and another unit will undoubtedly have an
effect on our recruiting activities. Furthermore, covering a large footprint and only being able to
offer TG8 Gunner positions has reduced our attractiveness to potential recruits, especially to
females. We receive many enquiries each week for trades that we don‟t offer. I‟ve no doubt that
the new Sqn will be formed, as it‟s on the cards. If based at Aintree Barracks outside Liverpool it
will be numbered 611 (West Lancashire) Sqn. But if RAF Woodvale is chosen for the location it
will become 613 (City of Manchester). Either way I see a natural boundary between us as being
the Pennines and 609 will continue to recruit from Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Co Durham,
Cleveland, North, West and South Yorkshire. Having a red-rose Sqn will undoubtedly ignite some
„Wars of the Roses‟ healthy competition!”
Maybe those other trades will return. Only time will tell. So here now is the report from the 2010
Formal Dinner.
609 (West Riding) Annual Dinner
This took place on 23rb February 2011, at the St. George‟s Hotel, Durham Tees Valley Airport.
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Rosemary and I were invited to attend the event, held in the old Officer‟s Mess at what was RAF
Middleton St George, when my Dad was OC No 4 FTS, back in 1954-56. This is so long ago, my
young readers, which it might explain why I dribble a bit, and forget who I am at times! Anyway,
it was a super smart do, and during the meal, the OC, Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe talked the guests
through 609‟s history.
“609ers past & present, Ladies & Gentlemen, it is with very great pleasure that I welcome you all
to the Sqn Dinner for 2011. May I introduce and especially welcome our guest for this evening:
Sir Joe Atkinson KCB DFC, who flew Spitfires and Typhoons with 609, and his daughter
Charlotte. Our Honorary Air Commodore, Air Commodore Simon Bostock, is unable to attend
due to other commitments and sends his regrets and best wishes to you all.
We are holding the dinner earlier in the year in order to tie in with our three themes for the
evening: the 75th Anniversary of the Formation of 609, the Battle of Britain and lastly the diningout of those Sqn members who have left 609 due to recent organizational changes. You all have a
special coin with your place setting commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain;
this is a souvenir of the dinner tonight.”
75th Anniversary of the Formation of 609 Sqn
Plt Off Rob Maude told us about the Formation of the Sqn, 75 years ago (but I don‟t have his
script!-Ed).
The Battle of Britain
Back to the OC:
“Last year saw the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and ceremonies were conducted across
the country to commemorate the greatest air battle ever fought by the RAF. Personnel from 609
took part in no less than four separate events: the Service and Parade at St Paul‟s Cathedral, the
Service of Remembrance at the Battle of Britain Memorial overlooking the Channel at Capel-leFerne, the parade at Elvington and lastly the Service and Parade at Westminster Abbey for which
609 provided 14 members of the Auxiliary Flight. But what was it all about?
Tonight I‟m very aware that you probably know a great deal about the Battle of Britain. However,
one key fact that we must all appreciate is that the British got their strategy right in 1940 and the
Germans, largely on account of their overwhelming self-confidence, did not. But this was no
foregone conclusion.
Earlier during the Battle of France, aircraft of Fighter Command were being bombed on the
ground and hopelessly outnumbered in the air. The destruction of RAF aircraft was taking place
at such a rate that ACM Dowding, C-in-C Fighter Command took the unusual step of asking to
appear before the PM and the War Cabinet. At this meeting he presented a graph on rising aircraft
losses and used this to warn the Government that a disaster was looming if aircraft continued to be
sent to France and wasted piecemeal. This brought home the necessity for retaining Fighter
Command for home defence. By the middle of May it was clear that events in France had taken a
turn for the worst and the PM, Winston Churchill, had to inform the War Cabinet that the French
Forces had collapsed. He had gone to France to offer everything he had to keep them in the fight.
He said “I asked to see the French President, but he, alas was seeing his mistress and she had
things to offer which I had not”! So the BEF retreated to Dunkirk and by some miracle 350,000
Allied soldiers were evacuated back across the Channel and thus saved from death or captivity.
Churchill acknowledged that the Battle of France was over, the Battle of Britain was about to
begin.
During the Dunkirk evacuation, 609 were based at Northolt, west of London and flew many times
over the French coast. Several pilots were lost and morale was not particularly good. As with
many other Fighter Command Sqns, our pilots were not combat experienced, whereas many
German pilots were, having fought in the Spanish Civil War and having destroyed the air forces of
Holland, Belgium and France in a matter of a few weeks.
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However on 28 Jun 40, into this melting pot of increasing casualties, poor morale, outdated tactics
and enemy superior numbers came a new Commanding Officer: Sqn Ldr H S “George” Darley,
whose son David is sat to my right. George Darley set about turning things around and very
shortly after arriving took the Sqn to its new home at Middle Wallop on 6 Jul 40. Middle Wallop
airfield was situated near Salisbury, so as to protect the ports and docks to the south, especially
Portsmouth and Southampton, the Supermarine works at Eastleigh and Woolston and the Isle of
Wight with its radar station at Ventnor. 609 spent its time divided between the main station at
Middle Wallop and the forward operating base at Warmwell, only a few miles inland from the
coast.
The German onslaught began in mid July with attacks on convoys in the Channel and raids against
ports, docks and radar stations, the intention being to draw up defending fighters and shoot them
down in large numbers. The enemy‟s attention was drawn to Fighter Command airfields in
August, the reasoning being that if all these were destroyed or unusable, the defenders would have
to be withdrawn to the North and this would give the Luftwaffe local air superiority, which they
needed in order to launch an invasion. In September they made a fatal mistake by switching the
bombing away from fighter aerodromes to London itself which gave the RAF the vital time
needed to recover its operational fighting capacity. To win, Fighter Command just had to keep
going which of course they did and the final cancellation of Operation Sea Lion meant that the
RAF had won a decisive and critically important victory.
That was the bigger picture; let us now look at just one day in this battle: 13 August 1940. If you
look at your booklets on the table you‟ll see a black & white photo of 609 pilots at Middle Wallop
on this very day. Kneeling in the centre is David Crook and behind him is Sqn Ldr George
Darley. On the extreme left standing, is Red Tobin the first American to make a kill and
mentioned on your souvenir coins.
This particular day had been chosen by the Luftwaffe as “Adler tag”, Eagle Day, and was intended
to be the knock-out punch for Fighter Command, with very heavy raids against many RAF
airfields. Hermann Goering had boasted to Hitler that the RAF would be destroyed and the way
open for invasion. However, as 609‟s Operational Record Book confirms, the German plans
didn‟t come to fruition. Having been frustrated with several calls to readiness in the morning with
no subsequent action, thirteen 609 Spitfires eventually scrambled from Warmwell in the late
afternoon to intercept 40 dive-bombers, the dreaded Ju 87 Stuka, escorted by at least as many
fighters heading northwards from the Channel. Sqn Ldr Darley positioned his aircraft to attack out
of the sun and swept in upon the hapless German dive-bombers. All our pilots fired their guns and
it was a record bag with 14 bombers and 5 fighters destroyed or damaged for no loss.
Congratulations were received from the Air Minister and Chief of the Air Staff.
Obviously this was just one engagement during one day, RAF pilots were regularly having several
scrambles each day over the course of weeks and months during the summer of 1940 and this type
of incident was being repeated all over the south of England and over the Channel, but,
unfortunately not always with the same results. For instance, 501 Sqn, flying Hurricanes, lost five
aircraft and five pilots in as many minutes without them firing a shot, having been bounced by the
Messerschmitt fighter escort as they struggled to gain altitude during an interception. Life and
death was as much down to a leader‟s tactics and methods as a pilot‟s individual skill, or lack of it.
During July and August, 609 had lost several of its Auxiliary pilots due to deaths, injury, illness
and postings. Only four of the original pre-war part-timers were left and the Sqn was becoming
somewhat cosmopolitan, with two Poles and three Americans on strength as well as some other
nationalities. Some might say this would be a disruptive effect, but the opposite was true. 609
had become a first-rate Sqn, renowned for its efficiency, fighting spirit and skill and went on to
become the first Spitfire Sqn to shoot down 100 enemy aircraft. „All this was in no small part due
to George Darley, who‟s quietly firm and competent leadership had transformed the Sqn and
instilled such confidence and they remained a veritable “Band of Brothers”.‟
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The last sentence was from the Sqn Operational Record Book, proving that Spielberg and Hanks
weren‟t the first ones to use the term!
George Darley‟s expertise was further reinforced, firstly by the fact that 609 had one of the best, if
not the best, kill to loss ratio and secondly by the fact that he was awarded the Distinguished
Service Order for leadership, the fifth awarded during the Battle of Britain.
We are all aware of the massive contribution that the RAF made in protecting our country in 1940;
it is right that we should remember them with pride and admiration. We can sum up their selfless
sacrifice in seven words: “For our tomorrow they gave their today”.
609 today and the Future
Two great things happened in 1936, one was the Formation of 609 on 10 Feb and the other was
the first flight of the Spitfire prototype on 5 March! Four years later these two elements
combined, man and machine. And this has always been the trend.
We‟ve already heard about the early days of the Squadron when you had to live in close proximity
to Leeds to be eligible to join, thus being a true West Yorkshire unit. We‟ve also heard about the
exploits of the Sqn during the Battle of Britain and how the Sqn “Yorkshireness” was being
diluted by the influx of foreigners and those not born in “God‟s Country”! Unfortunately it would
get worse as the war progressed, with very nearly every Allied nation being represented at some
stage, especially the Belgians who had a very strong contingent. No matter what the nationalities
involved, the teamwork and spirit continued. And so is the case today.
Since reformation in 1999, 609 have been in the wrong place. To be a “West Riding” Squadron
we should really be based at Church Fenton, home during our time in the jet age between 1947
and 1957. At Leeming, geographically speaking the Sqn should really be 608 (North Riding) Sqn.
Despite all this we are where we are and we are who we are and mighty proud we are of it. We
have members from around Yorkshire, we have members from Durham, from Northumberland,
from Tyne & Wear, even Cheshire, Lancashire and further afield. We are predominantly made up
of people from the North even though we have a few interlopers from other distant parts of Her
Majesty‟s kingdom!
In 2003, 609ers were mobilized for war in the Gulf, part of the largest reservist call-up since
World War II. Since Op TELIC 1, 609ers have deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan with 1 Sqn,
II Sqn, 3 Sqn, 15 Sqn, 34 Sqn, 51 Sqn and 63 Sqn together with 2 FP Wg, 4 FP Wg and 5 FP Wg.
In 2009, non-Regt 609ers carried out an important tasking at the Joint Service Signals Unit in
Cyprus, spending 6 months providing augmentation to the Defence Section.
Capability wise, the Sqn changed role during Sqn Ldr Brian Waite‟s tenure to become more Force
Protection specific with specialist NBC outputs including COLPRO, Warning & Reporting and
CNRS. Approx ⅓rd of the Sqn strength, those not traded as TG8 Regt, were re-mustered to TG8
FP. We recruited well and filled all our vacant posts on the FP Flt, but the FP trade was never
ratified despite numerous assurances. This situation was starkly clarified last September, when
instructions were received by me from No 2 Group to implement a reorganization of the Sqn,
which involved the re-mustering, transfer or discharge of all non-Regiment personnel on the Sqn.
With effect from 12 Jan 11, 609 Sqn has become, in all but name, an RAF Regt Sqn, with all
Auxiliary posts but four traded as TG 8. Some of the old FP Flt have decided to re-muster to
gunner but the majority have transferred or discharged.
Those transferred elsewhere are Rebekah Collict, Nicola O‟Donnell, Colin Moore and Andy
Gardner to 606 Sqn at RAF Benson, the Helicopter Support Unit. Chris Bracchi had also
decided to go to 606 before these changes came into force but his official transfer date has only
recently been implemented. Emma Proudley has joined No 3 Sqn Tactical Provost Wing at
Henlow to become an RAF Policewoman! Richard Dixon is in the process of going to the MSSG
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and Jo Spence is hopefully going to find new employment with 7630 Sqn at Waddington in the
Intelligence role.
Those on FP Flt who have decided to call it a day or who were made redundant under the new
organization are Holly Ferreira, Paul Waterhouse, John Crowl, Mick Beswick, Andy Charuk,
Pauline Buckley, Dave Rising, Janet Timmins and Richard Willis.
To you all thank you for the part you‟ve played in the Sqn‟s success over the past few years. Best
of luck with your new units and for the future. Unfortunately none of you are joining a Sqn with
609‟s history but you can‟t have everything! Remember, you‟ll always be 609 at heart! Please
keep in touch and if you‟re not a member of the Sqn Association, join, I have the application
forms!
So, 609 Sqn is reinvented once more. So what of the future? In these times of financial hardship
the MOD must make some hard choices and the RAF has taken and will have to take its share.
The future of RAF Leeming has not yet been decided, but optimistically speaking there would
appear to be more reasons to keep Leeming open than close it. The Chief of the Air Staff told me
personally last September that the specialist Sqns would be retained, that is the movers, medics
and intelligence Sqns. If the axe were to fall on the RAuxAF at all, it will be on the FP Sqns. So,
609‟s future is not assured yet but I‟m quietly confident that we‟ll survive.
Ladies & Gentlemen, as we know, those who serve with the RAF and RAuxAF today are the same
kind of brave and resourceful people as those who fought in the Battle of Britain. Indeed they are
but there are 3 differences: first, technology is now far more advanced and training even more
complex and stringent; second, there are far more women doing the same jobs as their male
colleagues and finally the Few are even fewer.
But the courage, dedication and professionalism are just the same.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as a final salute to all those who have served on 609 and especially those
who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, please join me in a toast……..
TALLY-HO!”
Absent Friends. Including Sqn Ldr Monty Smith, FS Billy Chapman, Cpl Eric Trainer and those
deployed at Camp Bastion: Sgt Jenny Jeffels and Cpl Mark Fennell.
Return Celebrations for Sgt Jenny Jeffels and Cpl Mark Fennell!
On 13th May 2011, nearly 3,000 well-wishers lined the streets of Bedale to welcome 609‟s Jenny
and Mark home from Afghanistan. Oh, and along with RAF Leeming‟s Number 2 Force
Protection Wing (2FP) and 34 Squadron RAF Regiment. Royal Auxiliary Air Force. They were
returning from a seven-month tour of duty during which they endured extreme weather and hostile
conditions. I looked in vain for either in the Yorkshire Post picture, but Mark was described by a
friend – ha! – as being “right at the back, and rather short!”
About 750 pupils from local schools, 350 servicemen from RAF Leeming and more than 1,500
other well-wishers lined the market place in Bedale for the homecoming parade. Squadron Leader
Morgan Williams, the officer commanding 34 Sqn, said: “If I count this as almost the final point
of the tour, the high point for me is this. All of my men are back safely and the job was achieved.”
The Band of the Royal Air Force College from RAF Cranwell led the parade, and, as if on cue, the
sun came out as the medal ceremony began. Senior Aircraftsman Jamie Whitaker, from Bedale,
said “Today has shown that there is a lot of support out there for us; we received so many parcels
from back home, even from people we don‟t know. It means a lot to us.”
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SAC John Carruthers receives two awards in 2011
Kandahar, Afghanistan December 2010
With the Alec Ingle Shield and Operational Service Medal (OSM)
Bedale turns out to Welcome Home RAF Leemings‟s No 2 FPW, 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and 609 (WR) Squadron,
13th May 2011
Families greet their retuning partners as they march through Bedale.
In November, the Sqn laid a wreath at Catterick‟s War Memorial
Operation OMEGA 2011
On the Yorkshire ranges
Britain is safe in their hands. SAC Carruthers and
L/Cpl Stephenson
Despite appearances, Cpls Wood, Balister and Ferguson were
all OMEGA Section Commanders. How did the good guys win?
Even at that distance they all missed Sgt Taff Fisher
L/C Stephenson and SAC‟s Thomson, Rescorle and Carruthers all
assisted on Op OMEGA
The succesful 609 gunners who achieved promotion to LAC
15 Gunners from 609, 2503 and 2623 with their trainers and assessors in front of the Gloster Javelin at RAF Leeming.
Two Awards in One week!
SAC John Carruthers, an Auxiliary Gunner serving on 609 Sqn has received two awards in one
week.
John received the Alec Ingle Trophy at the 609 Sqn Association dinner, held at the Yorkshire Air
Museum, Elvington, on Sat 25 June. The Trophy was created by Gp Capt Ingle, OC of 609 Sqn
in 1943, on the reformation of the Sqn in 1999 and is awarded each year to a member of the Sqn
deemed to have given an outstanding contribution of individual achievement.
The second of John‟s awards was the OSM Afghanistan, which was presented to him by Air
Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, at the Officers Mess, RAF Leeming, on Wed 29 June. This
recognised his operational tour in Kandahar during the latter part of 2010 and early 2011. John
stated, “It was both an honour and slightly nerve wracking to receive my OSM from the C in C, in
the unfamiliar surroundings of the Officers Mess”!
In civilian life John is an electrician who lives and works in Newcastle. He decided to join 609
Sqn in Nov 2007 as he needed a challenge in his life. John found that challenge when he was
mobilised for permanent service in Aug 2010, for deployment with 15 Sqn RAF Regiment.
After four months of pre-deployment training, John was deployed along with 15 Sqn to Kandahar,
and was quickly into the routine of patrolling the local area. Unfortunately he was injured two
months into his tour, and was flown back to the UK for rehabilitation. He will soon be back to full
fitness in readiness for demobilisation and return to his civilian job.
Exercise Omega 2011
Exercise OMEGA is the culmination of Phase 2 training for RAuxAF Gunners and each RAuxAF
Sqn within the Force Protection (FP) Force takes its turn in hosting this event. July 2011 was the
turn of 609 Sqn to host the two-week event.
Nineteen potential RAuxAF Gunners from 609 Sqn, 2503 Sqn at Waddington and 2623 Sqn at
Honington arrived at Leeming for the start of the Exercise. The first week of the Exercise was
spent on the ranges at Strensall, Catterick and Warcop, culminating in a live grenade range to
finish the week on a high.
The second week was the field phase with the trainees deploying to Catterick training area, and
after a two-hour night move by foot, they secured and occupied a platoon house in order to
conduct operations against the fictitious Stellaban forces!
Following a hard week fighting and out-witting the Stellaban, during which many different skills
were utilised, the home team eventually won, and it was back to RAF Leeming for tea, certificates
and presentations.
609 Sqn‟s Honorary Air Commodore, Air Cdre Simon Bostock, visited the troops in the field
and was delighted to see how enthusiastic and motivated they all were. Nineteen trainees started
the fortnight and seventeen completed it. Well done to all those successful gunners who are now
promoted to LAC and have earned the right to wear the coveted RAF Regiment “Mudguard”
Badge.
Per Ardua and Tally-Ho!
609 Squadron parade at The National Canadian Air Forces Memorial
On 8 July 2011, the National Canadian Air Forces Memorial was unveiled and dedicated during a
ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum, near Alrewas in Staffordshire. This new memorial
was the brainchild of Flight Lieutenant Alfie Hall, Adjutant of 609 (West Riding) Squadron
RAuxAF and was the end result of some 18 months work.
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This was a joint effort between the RAF Stations at Leeming and Linton-on-Ouse, both of which
had been wartime heavy bomber stations under command of No 6 Group Royal Canadian Air
Force, and Flt Lt Hall was the driving force behind the project group.
LaFarge Canada donated the three tonnes of granite which makes up the memorial, replicating the
appearance of a Canadian roundel with the maple leaf within the circular border, on which are
inscribed the names of the 13 Canadian Provinces. The central column of red and white stone has
bi-lingual inscribed sections and is surmounted by a maple leaf, so aligned that it will cast a
shadow on the 11th hour of the 11th month onto a special panel on the ground.
A great deal of interest was generated by this new memorial and the day was well attended by
many veterans. The Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer was HRH The Duke of Gloucester
KG GCVO with other guests including Group Captains Tony Innes and Terry Jones, Station
Commanders of RAF Leeming and Linton-on-Ouse respectively, Group Captain Gary Bunkell,
Inspector of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and Colonel Michael Beatty, the Vice LordLieutenant of Staffordshire. The senior Canadian representative was Commodore Kelly
Williams, Commander of the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in London.
Both RAF stations contributed personnel and support to this event, with 609 (West Riding)
Squadron providing the Colour Party for the Sovereign‟s Colour of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
The Parade Commander was a Canadian Air Force Officer, Major Jason Furlong, on exchange
in the UK with 56 Squadron at RAF Waddington. The weather had been appalling, but
miraculously a two-hour long dry period began just as the Parade formed, and broke just as the
event ended. This was a fantastic team effort, resulting in a fitting memorial to the thousands of
Canadian aircrew who paid the supreme sacrifice and one that will stand for many a year to come.
609 (WR) Sqn parade the Sovereign‟s Colour for The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust
The Battle of Britain Memorial is situated at Capel-le-Ferne, between Folkestone and Dover
overlooking the English Channel. Each year, on the Sunday nearest 10 July a Memorial Day is
held to commemorate the Battle of Britain which took place from 10 Jul to 31 Oct 1940.
This year, 609 (West Riding) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) were honoured to
provide the Colour Party to parade the Sovereign‟s Colour for the RAuxAF. This was particularly
relevant as in 1940 the then Auxiliary Air Force made up 14 Squadrons within the total of 62
Squadrons of Fighter Command. Also, 609 Squadron were the first Spitfire-equipped unit to shoot
down 100 enemy aircraft. The Reviewing Officer was the C-in-C, ACM Sir Simon Bryant.
The Colour party consisted of:
Colour Bearer
Colour WO
Colour Escort
Colour Escort
Colour Orderly
Flt Lt Alfie Hall
WO Kim Ash
Act. Sgt Martin Balister
Act. Sgt Keith Wood
SAC John Carruthers
All of whom are Full-time or Part-time reservists serving on 609 Sqn.
The background to all this was a visit made last year by Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe and Flt/Lt Alfie Hall
to the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Day, held at The National Memorial to
the Few, at Capel-le-Ferne. On a boiling hot day, the Duke of Kent, the CAS, C-in-C and HIG
watched The Queen‟s Colour Squadron march on the Sovereign‟s Colour for the RAF, but the
RAuxAF Colour wasn‟t there. Bar our two, the only other Auxiliaries in uniform were a WO and
three others from 504 Sqn. Once he‟d identified himself and Alfie as 609 to several Auxiliary
veterans, they were inundated! Jeff was hugely disappointed to only find a cadet party parading
their colours, so sought to return with 609 in 2011.
8
Unveiling at Alrewas of the Royal Canadian National Canadian Air Forces Memorial 8th July 2011
The Colour Party escort to the Sovereign‟s Colour
of the RAuxAF was provided by 609 (WR) Sqn. The
parade was jointly composed of personnel from
RAF Leeming and Linton-on-Ouse.
◄Guest of Honour and Review Officer HRH ►
the Duke of Gloucester
Colour Party for the Sovereign‟s Colour of the
Royal Auxiliary Air Force: Colour Bearer Flt/Lt
Alfie Hall, Colour W/O Kim Ash. Colour Escorts
Act.Sgts Martin Balister and Keith Wood
▼
609 (WR) Sqn parade the Sovereign‟s Colour for The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust
Peter Blayney, Rosemary Darley, Mervyn and Janet Flux, David Darley, 3 other gusts and Nicholas Crook. Sq/Ldr Metcalfe had fled by then into
the relative cool outside. The saluting/presentation dais and marquee was adjacent to the seated pilot on the Memorial.
Morning rehearsals: Keith Wood practices fainting. Chaotic mass of Legion, RAFA and cadets was worrying the 609 team.
The ATC Colour Party was the last on parade, prior to the march-on of the Sovereign‟s Colour of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Memorial Pilot
He turns and gives the command to march on the Sovereign‟s
Colour. All the Standard Bearers dip their Standards in
the Royal Salute.
The 609 Colour Party then marches on.
The Parade Commander acknowledges the permission received to
march on the Sovereign‟s Colour Party
The Colour Party marches past the Memorial and takes position in front of the presentation dais, prior to the arrival of the BBMF
The Colour Party salutes the C-in-C and the Presentation Dais.
In turn, the C-in-C salutes the Queens Colour
From the north came Spitfire MkLF1Xe (MK356), and Hurricane 11C (F363). After a brief salute they departed, to return later.
ACM Sir Michael Graydon, President of the BoB Memorial Trust, followed by ACM Sir Simon Bryant, C-in-C Air Command. Both were upstaged
when Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe introduced himself to fellow Auxiliary Flt/Lt William Walker AE of 616 Sqn in the veteran‟s enclosure
Things began to drag, as the inspection continued. The Colour Party endured the heat. I got bored, so photographed their boots
The Adj came a rather poor fourth, I‟m afraid. Great posture, though. W/O Ash was good, but could only muster third place
The two stars were close, but the steadily burning Woody came an honourable second to Martin Balister‟s brilliant boots
Inspection over, The Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph were given by Wing Commander Foster DFC, Chairman of the BoB Fighter
Association, and one of the Few. The Parade was called to Attention and the laying of wreaths commenced
The Few leave their seats for the Memorial.
AVM Peter Stockwell of the RNZAF
Followed by Legion, RAFA, ATC and civic representatives
The ADC for the General of the Cinque Ports lays a wreath on his behalf
Representatives of several Nations then laid their wreaths
Sq/Ldr Geoffrey Wellum DFC leads his be-medalled colleagues off
The BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane returned and gave an extended display
The Christopehr Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall has the names of all 2937 memebers of the Few, including 46 from 609. Missing are Flt/Lt
Persse-Joynt, KIA 31May 40, and F/O Drummond- Hay, KIA 9 July 40. The BoB officially started on 10 July 1940
Flt/Lt William Walkers poem is inscribed on the end wall, and he is seen reading it to the assembly after the Parade
Remembrance posies have been laid along the wall by relatives. The bench in these two photos is the 609 Memorial Bench. The three ladies are
Lady Joan Foxlee-Norris, whose late husband ACM Sir Christopher F-N was the instigator of the Wall and Memorial. She and the hatted lady,
Mrs Dee Dalton-Morgan are both patrons of the Hawker Hurricane Society, both husbands having flown them in the Battle.
On the right is Lady Odette Dowding, the widow of none other than Air Chief Marshal Lord “Stuffy” Dowding.
◄
The 609 (WR) Memorial
Bench
The Memorial to Sir
Keith Park
►
Rosemary and I plus two friends attended the day. A lovely summer day, the car parks filled up
quickly, forcing late comers on to the main road outside the Memorial. Inside, a row of tents for
food, drink and memorabilia were placed at a discreet distance from the parade area. A large
marquee and saluting dais stood adjacent to the west side of the central Memorial, where the lone
pilot sits cross-legged, gazing out across the Channel. On the northern side lies the new black
marble Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall, on which are inscribed all the names of those
who took part in the Battle of Britain. And to its right as we look at it, I was delighted to see a
small bust of Sir Keith Park on a stone base, commemorating his victory in the Battle. It is replica
of the main statue recently unveiled in London on 15th Sept 2010. Dowding may have set up the
opportunity: Park executed it.
609 were in mufti when we arrived, going through rehearsals with the Royal British Legion,
RAFA and ATC Standard bearers. Guests then enjoyed lunch in the furnace heat of the Marquee,
where we were joined by Peter Blayney and Nicholas Crook; like me, sons of famous 609 pilots.
Then came the Parade. Led by the Central Band of the RAF, there followed the Standards and at
the rear the Sovereign‟s Colour of the RAuxAF, escorted by 609 (WR) Squadron. I believe that
John Carruthers couldn‟t take part at the last minute. I heard that he was feeling pretty queasy, and
it wasn‟t wise to risk parading in that condition. As he‟d only received a medal from ACM Sir
Simon Bryant barely two weeks earlier, it would have been churlish to be sick over him!
Following the General Salute, taken by Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, C-in-C Air
Command, the BBMF came in from the north with Spitfire MkLF1Xe (MK356), and Hurricane
11C (F363) for a short air display.
After their departure ACM Sir Michael Graydon, President of the Battle of Britain Memorial
Trust, opened the proceedings. He drew our attention to Sir Keith Park‟s statue. He said that
Bentley Priory will be restored free of charge by its developers, and will then be handed over to
the Trust. The latter want to build a learning centre shaped like a Spitfire wing, near to the existing
buildings. He then introduced Sir Simon Bryant, C-in-C Air Command.
The ACM reminded us of how pressed were the RAF, with commitments in Libya, the Falklands
and Afghanistan, as well as maintaining UK air security. He praised the Service‟s record of
sacrifice, valour and achievements. He was delighted that the Trust is ensuring that the past will be
remembered. He concluded by saying “You continue to be an inspiration to us all; I salute you.”
Then followed a Commemoration Service, conducted by the Ven. (AVM) Ray Pentland,
Chaplain-in-|Chief of the RAF, assisted by the Rev. Sue White, Priest of St. Radigunds at Capelle-Ferne.
An interminable inspection of Legion, RAFA and Cadet Contingents fitted in somewhere: can‟t
remember when, but it took over 20 minutes. It was too long by some measure. During it, I
photographed the Colour Party‟s boots. I adjudicated that the Adjutant‟s were 4th; WO Ash‟s 3rd,
with Woody‟s boots just pipped by Martin Balister‟s pair of shiners.
Inspection over, the Parade came to Attention, and the 19 veterans of the Battle of Britain came
from their enclosure beside the dais to stand facing the seated pilot on the Memorial. Wreaths
were then laid by representatives of the Services, friends, and relatives. Notable was a wreath laid
by AVM Peter Stockwell of the RNZAF.
The Parade then marched off in reverse order to their arrival; thus 609‟s Sovereign‟s Colour Party
led the way. All joking about their boots aside, their immaculate appearance and precise marching,
plus the role that they were undertaking, made me feel very proud, and fairly emotional too. Why?
609‟s history began on 10th February 1936: the 10th July 2011 represented 75 years of unrivalled
service, and you are still going strong. I have known and been befriended by 609ers from the very
first airman, through the wars, into the jet age, and now in 609‟s new role. Even my Dad liked me
at times! That friendship is one hell of a privilege, I can tell you.
9
Good grief man, stop this gushing, and get on with it! Right, what next: ah, yes - we adjourned to
the Foxley-Norris Wall, where the poem that adorns its Western flank was read by its author, the
spry 90-year old Flt/Lt William Walker AE. Jeff Metcalfe had spotted William prior to the
wreath laying, and had introduced himself. Jeff told me that William had been a buddy of 609‟s
P/O M E Staples, later KIA with 604 Sqn on 9th Nov 1941. William and Mike were shot down
together on 7th Oct 1940, and ended up in hospital side by side. William now had his arm in a
sling, as he‟d broken it when knocked over by a car. He was in the wheel chair “as I‟ve slipped a
disc as well!”
Rather cleverly, each guest who had a relative named on that wall had a small container of flowers
by their place, and these we could lay beneath the name of our particular relative. Then the BBMF
returned, and did a protracted display, as a pair, then each on their own. I was able to photograph
not only a Spitfire, but a Hurricane as well, right over the White Cliffs of Dover. Any propensity
to become all girlie again was wiped out in an instant, as the camera started to jam repeatedly.
Repetitive vile swearing certainly overrides weaker emotions!
A sunset ceremony concluded the day‟s proceedings, and just before 609 set off, I managed to get
the old Box Brownie to take one last shot of the pale stripe left by the strap Keith Woods hat on
his otherwise sunburnt left side. He must have had an hour toasting that side: the right was the
usual pallid colour!
609 Sqn on the right track
My preferred caption as Editor would be “609 Sqn proves to be a right bunch of steamers”, but,
hey ho, that probably isn‟t very funny. I‟ll stick with Sir‟s version! The event that 609 Squadron‟s
recruiting team attended was the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Wartime Weekend on 15-16
October 2011. This was a 1940s themed event with many people dressed in period clothing,
several thousand visiting during the course of the two days.
Based at Goathland (the village of Aidensfield in TV‟s Heartbeat series) between Whitby and
Pickering, the team set up a dedicated recruiting stand and an adjacent display portraying the role
of the Squadron including several weapons and pieces of equipment.
Flt Lt Alfie Hall and FS Vic Rose, the Squadron‟s Recruiting Officer and Recruiting SNCO,
were assisted by several other 609ers, including Cpl Martin Balister, SACs Dave Nodding,
Mick Bourne, Gary Edgar and LAC Dave Bage. SAC Blake Carruthers (not a misprint for
SAC John Carruthers – Ed) from RAF Leeming‟s Photographic Section was also on hand to
capture the occasion. (For which I am truly grateful! - Ed)
In honour of 609 Squadron‟s 75th Anniversary year, one of the locomotives was temporarily
renamed “Battle of Britain Class - The West Riding Squadron”. The Squadron‟s presence
generated a great deal of interest and it is hoped that the enquiries received will be converted into
new recruits in due course!
Charity Efforts in 2011
The backbone of Vic Rose‟s charity stalwarts were eliminated by the SDR, having to leave the
Sqn. But the remainder carried on with sponsored walks and cycle rides, Bergen marches and the
usual mess activities. They were able to present the Dream Team Charity with a £600 cheque at
year-end. The Dream Team is a registered charity that exists to grant the dreams and wishes of
sick, disabled and terminally ill children in the UK. Jane House continues to make a substantial
donation to the Charity Team, in memory of her late father, Squadron Leader Commander Tommy
Evans, CO during 1954/5. In the last five years, the Team has raised over £33.000 for charity!
Here comes the bride
On Friday 16th September 2011, Miss Holly Ferreira married Cpl Gareth “Gaz” Owen, 609‟s
regular Squadron Armourer at St Nicholas Church, Guisborough, (near Middlesbrough for us
Southerner‟s).
10
Cpl Gaz Owen, 609 Armourer marries Holly Ferreira Friday 16 Sept 2011
As she normally looked 2: non-gunner ACT
at RAF Cottesmore 2007. L-r: Dawn Gillot,
Janet Timmins, Sarah Rothwell and Holly
▼
As she normally looked 1: 2009 JCCU
deployment, Cyprus, seated, 2nd from left
▼
Spot the scrubbed up 609ers!
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Wartime Weekend on 15-16 October 2011.
Left: LAC David Bage, Cpl Martin Balister F-Sgt Vic Rose and Flt.Lt. Alfie Hal. Right: with the driver of “609 West Riding Squadron”
Promotion of Pilot Officer Jeffers de Goat
Major Sol Snedeker, a USAF exchange officer serving at RAF Leeming, who made Jeffers an honorary officer in the United States Air Force
with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. She also made him a cake, with “1st Lt Jeffers” on it. Note the blue muzzle after sampling it!
The Unveiling & Dedication of the French Air Force Memorial, York Minster 20th October 2011
◄
100Sqn‟s Colour is
escorted by Act. Sgt‟s
Martin Balister and
Keith Wood of 609 Sqn
Gen Jean-Paul
Paloméros and ACM Sir
Stephen Dalton jointly
turn the Minster‟s
Remembrance Book to
a page showing two of
216 French airmen
killed while flying from
Elvington. ►
Lancaster and
Tucano flypasts,
after the Service.
YAM Museum
Director Ian Reed
holds the Memorial
for the Blessing
▼
Holly, who had to leave 609 when the SDR altered the status of the Auxiliaries, restricting them to
RAF Regiment, was seen for the first time by me, anyway, out of uniform/fatigues. Actually, not
quite true: at the 609 (WR) Formal Dinner in February, she appeared in an evening gown, and was
one of several leavers to receive a 609 Shield from OC Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe. I took an averagely
rotten photo of this, along with a few others. She is indeed one bonny lass!
Some other 609ers scrubbed up well for the wedding, and can be seen sticking up in their
uniforms amongst the other guests. I saw Mark Fennell and Shane Staniforth, though was unable
to recognise the others. Sorry, gents.
Jeff bumped into Gaz a little while after, and told me: “I saw Cpl Owen this morning and on
asking him how he found married life. He replied; “Oh, alright I suppose, but the food‟s definitely
better”! Swipe me, but romance isn‟t dead up there after all! I can remember a college friend
telling me that marriage was OK so long as the bride had broad enough shoulders to carry two
buckets of water on a yoke! Never experienced a water shortage since I met Rosemary,
anyway…….
The Unveiling & Dedication of the French Air Force Memorial
Royal Air Force personnel from two Yorkshire air bases played a central part in the unveiling of a
memorial to Second World War French airmen in York Minster on 20th October 2011, including a
flypast of 16 aircraft. Members of 609 (West Riding) Sqn RAuxAF were on parade in York as part
of RAF Leeming‟s contribution to the dedication of the new memorial in the Minster for the
French Air Force and Bomber Command.
The event, which formed a major part of the 'French in York' week in the city, commemorated the
wartime efforts of two Free French Air Force heavy bomber squadrons at nearby RAF Elvington,
(now home of the Yorkshire Air Museum and the 609 Squadron Room – Ed)
Personnel from RAF Linton-on-Ouse and RAF Leeming were on parade both inside and outside
the Minster during the commemorations. In the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief
Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and senior officers from the French Air Force, the Standard of RAF
Leeming-based 100 Squadron was escorted by 609 (WR) Squadron, as no 100 Sqn personnel were
available on the day. The Colour Party comprised WO Kim Ash as Standard Warrant Officer,
Act. Sgts Martin Balister and Keith Wood as Escorts, and SAC Gary Edgar as Standard
Orderly.
During the Minster service, personnel from RAF Linton-on-Ouse performed the unique Turning of
the Page ceremony where fallen air force servicemen who flew from Yorkshire air bases are
remembered. YAM Museum Director Ian Reed presented the Memorial to the Dean of York
Minster, the Rt. Rev. Keith Jones, for the Dedication and Blessing.
The event was attended by some 1600 military and civilian dignitaries, as well as French veterans
and their families. The day represented the 66th anniversary of the two squadrons beginning to
return to liberated France. The event was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, the
French Ambassador, The Rt. Hon Lord Mayor of York, the Sheriff of York, the High Sheriff of
North Yorkshire, the Chief of the French Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Head of the
French Strategic Air Force, plus defence attaches from several allied countries and 9 veterans with
a contingent of over 120 French families and friends and many hundreds of other guests and wellwishers. The ceremony was very poignant, with the two Chief of Air Forces turning the Page in
the Minster‟s Book of Remembrance to that of two of the 216 French airmen who were killed
whilst operating from Elvington. The two Chiefs also read passages from the Bible and a wartime
poem by Jules Roy (also based at Elvington) was read by Monsieur Paul Bogaert, President of
Les Amicale des Groupes Lourds (French Heavy Bomber Veterans Association). In a very moving
moment, Sandrine Bauchet of the Museum‟s French Desk said the Act of Remembrance both in
French and English before the Last Post was sounded from up high in the Minster Gallery.
11
While airmen from RAF Leeming marched past the Minster after the service, supported by the
Band of the RAF Regiment, colleagues from RAF Linton-on-Ouse performed a diamond nineship flypast in their Tucano aircraft, along with an RAF Typhoon, a French Rafale in Guyenne
markings, French Xingu small twin-engined training aircraft and the Battle of Britain Memorial
Flight Lancaster, now in the markings of „The Phantom of the Ruhr‟. The latter was flying beyond
its annual programme finale for this very special occasion. It then banked around the Minster and
gave everyone a surprise low pass at the end of the parade. It made this the most spectacular
flypast over York in many years.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, said: "I am pleased to be here in
York today, at one of England's finest cathedrals, to honour the French airmen of RAF Bomber
Command. I am delighted to welcome General Jean-Paul Palomeros, Chief of the French Air
Force, who has joined us today for the inauguration of this Memorial to commemorate and
celebrate the French airmen who flew in Royal Air Force Bomber Command and remember the
many who gave their lives fighting for freedom in the Second World War. Today we are joined by
many veterans and, on behalf of the people of this country; we thank them and honour them for
their contribution during those dark days.
The French airmen were based at Royal Air Force Elvington, now the home of the Yorkshire Air
Museum, and it is a fitting tribute that this is also home to an Allied Air Forces Memorial and an
outstanding museum that reminds us today how these young French men fought against tyranny.
We are extraordinarily grateful for their bravery."
Also speaking at the service, Reverend Group Captain Nick Berry said: “This Memorial is a
testimony to their iron resolve, to their bravery, to their love of their homeland and to their
willingness to take a stand against the darkness that threatened to engulf their home land. It is the
first French war memorial to be housed in an English cathedral.”
The Elvington-based 346 Guyenne and 347 Tunisie French Air Force squadrons of Royal Air
Force Bomber Command were the only French Air Force heavy bomber squadrons of the allied air
forces during the war. More than 2,000 French airmen were based at there during 1944 and 1945.
Amongst their first missions was the bombing of their own country in preparation for the
Normandy invasion. Half of all French aircrew perished during bombing operations, particularly
in the Ruhr and Berlin.
To mark the 66th anniversary of the French heavy bomber squadrons leaving Elvington to return
to liberated France, nine Elvington veterans, now in their eighties and nineties, and their families
have returned to York to represent their comrades. Pauline Bogaert, whose late husband Jean
served in Elvington, said about the service: “It was most touching. I can‟t find words to express
what I feel. The English and French were together as we were 66 years ago. Unfortunately my
husband is not here but we feel that he is still with us today.”
After the ceremony, which saw a crowd of hundreds gather in Minster Yard to watch and applaud
the servicemen and veterans, an informal lunch was held in the Assembly Rooms which allowed
the congregation, veterans and dignitaries to mingle and share memories.
Remembrance Sunday 2011
Wreaths were laid by the Squadron at both Catterick Village, at the memorial, and also at
Richmond by the OC. This coincided with a good training weekend.
At the conclusion, nine new recruits had completed their second week of pre-training prior to
going to RAF Halton for the Basic Recruitment Course.
Promotion of Pilot Officer Jeffers de Goat
609 (West Riding) Squadron‟s mascot in the Second World War was a British Toggenberg goat
named William, who progressed in rank throughout the period of hostilities ending the war as an
12
Air Commodore. His memory is perpetuated by a stuffed version, resplendent in a 609 Campaign
Honours coat, made by Margaret Earnshaw when we first got William Mk 2 in 2002.
The present day 609 Sqn deemed it necessary to have a live version as well as William. This one,
of the same breed, is named Jeffers, and he lives at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton
Park outside York. Jeffers has two uniforms, a set of blues and his CS95 combat kit, and his collar
and lead rope are in Sqn colours. He has attended several Sqn and Leeming events and despite
some misdemeanours, including fighting with the German goat at Murton Park, has still managed
to maintain a semblance of good behaviour. (I have fond memories of Jeffers first appearance at
the 2010 Summer Reunion, where “That-man-step-forward” David Bage was appointed Honorary
Goat Herdsman. The contest was pretty even, but David got the verdict on points! –Ed).
Jeffers, like his wartime predecessor, has so far been promoted from Officer Cadet to Pilot
Officer. However, on 18 Nov 11 the OC and Adjutant of 609, Sqn Ldr Metcalfe and Flt Lt Hall,
travelled to Murton Park to promote Jeffers to Flying Officer. Also in attendance was Major Sol
Snedeker, a USAF exchange officer serving at RAF Leeming, who made Jeffers an honorary
officer in the United States Air Force with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Shortly to leave the UK at
the end of her secondment to 90 Signals Unit, she‟d always wanted to meet Jeffers. To cement
their friendship, she chose the simple process of giving him FOOD. A magnificent iced and
inscribed cake was made by the Commissary (the head of the Food and Stores Dept) at RAF
Menwith Hill. Based near Harrogate, this RAF Station has a token RAF presence, but it is mainly
run by the USAF as a communications centre, for want of a better term. To commemorate the
occasion, Jeffers tucked into this special cake made in his honour and also nibbled on his favourite
sweets….Polo Mints! He also managed to behave himself, much to the relief of all concerned!
And now a Gong!
On 16th Feb 2012, Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe and Flt/Lt Alfie Hall visited the Yorkshire Museum of
Farming at Murton Park, near York, to invest the Sqn mascot, Fg Off Jeffers de Goat, with the
Queen‟s Diamond Jubilee Medal (QDJM). (Good Grief, you two are gluttons for punishment,
aren‟t you? Hope you were wearing best regulation Kevlar re-enforced underwear- Ed)
Jeffers‟ mood can never be predicted and it can change as quickly as the wind. Despite pulling off
his best coat and trampling on it prior to the ceremony, he behaved long enough to have the medal
pinned on and some photos taken. Cutting of his celebratory cake and serving some biscuits took
another 10 minutes or so, and since he was the centre of attention he loved it!
Obituaries
Tom Foster sadly died on 11th July 2010. He was the father of our Deputy Chairman Flt/Lt Mike
Foster. There must be many wonderful, gentle, friendly and charming people in the world, but one
doesn‟t come across them often enough. We did. Tom was the epitome of a „gentle man‟, who
could sit next to you, talking quietly, his soft smile conveying an air of peace, friendship and
contentment with his lot.
He had only been a member of the Association for some 3 years, though he had attended Summer
Reunion‟s before this. Caring for his poorly wife was a full time occupation for him, and these
very short breaks were an opportunity for a little respite. Never once did the pressure on him
show. Both remarkable, and splendid. Mike very kindly provided me with the following details.
“Dad was admitted to St.Michael's Hospice down at Hookstone on Wed 7 July 2010. We were all
with him right to the end, and, soothed by his medication, he underwent an extremely peaceful
death in the early hours of Sunday 11th July. There is now a feeling of great peace in the house at
4 Norfolk Road.”
Mike also gave me this super resumé of his Dad‟s life and times.
13
Tom Foster, 1924 – 2010.
“My dad Tom was born in Ludworth, a small pit village in East Durham in 1924. He went to
Wellfield Grammar School in Shotton Colliery, also in East Durham. He left school at the age of
16 years, and went to work as a Wages Clerk for the Nobel Division of ICI, situated at Tut Hill,
also in Eastern Durham. This was located in a quarry, as part of Nobel Divisions work was
concerned with the manufacture of explosives. In 1942, when he was 18 years of age, he decided
to voluntarily join the Royal Navy, rather than wait „to be called up‟ to serve in the Army. His
reasoning was that, out of the three Services, he was most likely to survive in The Royal Navy.
This reasoning turned out to be sound! He joined as a Signaller, or „Bunting Tosser‟, as this
Branch was colloquially known amongst his Ship Mates! He had to learn Semaphore, and how to
use an Aldis Lamp.
At one point, he had to go by train from Portsmouth to Inverness, a long slow journey in the Black
Out conditions of war time Britain. He was stationed there at Cameron Barracks, which was
Army, with a small Naval Contingent of 10. Their job was to ostentatiously build a shore
Signalling Station, on the north shore of the Moray Firth. This was an attempt to make the
Germans believe that the invasion of Europe was going to take place through Norway.
He served on HMS Swiftsure, and later on an HQ Ship called HMS Largs, or „Lucky Largs‟ as it
became known amongst the crew. On „D‟ Day itself, Largs set sail from Portsmouth. Dad was just
sitting down to his „breakfast‟ of 3 prunes, when the crew were called to „Action Stations‟ at
0345hrs local. His position was on the Wing Bridge, always a favourite target for enemy fighters.
When he was „Stood Down‟, he went below to finish his breakfast, only to find out that one of his
ship mates had already done that for him!
Largs was adjacent to another HQ ship, HMS Hilary, on board which, remarkably, was past 609
Chairman Brian Waite‟s Dad! Being on the Wing Bridge off Sword Beach, he was close enough
to hear Lord Lovat‟s Piper, as the troops waded through the surf, in the eventual direction of Caen.
On June 7th 1944, dad and HMS Largs set sail for the Pacific Theatre, and did not sight land for 7
months, until they anchored off Manus Island in the Pacific. This was an American Base, and the
crew were able to watch an „American Movie‟, which took place in the open air, which was quite
revolutionary at the time. On the 60th Anniversary of „D‟ Day, 6th June 2004, dad and I were
standing at the Memorial overlooking „Omaha Beach‟, when by chance we met an American Pilot
who was stationed on Manus Island when dad was there!
From there HMS Largs steamed across the Pacific towards Tokyo, and came under frequent attack
by Kamikaze Pilots, one just missing their ship as it dived vertically astern. There were 3
American Aircraft Carriers ablaze, as they had wooden decks. The British Carriers had steel decks
and were better able to survive such impacts.
By a strange irony, when dad was in Harrogate Hospital 2 weeks before he died, on July 11 th
2010, he was on his own in a 4 bed Ward. At 6am one morning, a man was brought in to the bed
opposite, who was in the last stages of cancer. They got talking, and discovered that he also was a
sailor in the Royal Navy, in the same convoy as dad in the Pacific - Tokyo bound. The man went
down to theatre at 8am, and died during his operation. In a further strange coincidence, he was
buried in a grave immediately behind dad‟s grave, in the next row at Stonefall Cemetery, in
Harrogate. (I believe that 609‟s late Chairman Jim Earnshaw is also there – Ed).
Dad witnessed the surrender between General McArthur, Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru
Shigemitsu, and General Yoshijiro Umezu on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This was after the
2nd A-Bomb had been dropped on Nagasaki, when the Japanese surrendered. Dad walked through
what was left of Nagasaki, 9 weeks after the bomb dropped. When the war finished, he returned to
work for ICI. In 1961, he gained a good promotion and the whole family moved to Harrogate
where ICI had an HQ. After 2 years he and the family were posted to Kilroot in Northern Ireland,
just outside Carrickfergus, mid way between Belfast and Larne.
14
Tom Foster
HMS „Lucky‟ Largs, which Tom served on off Omaha Beach
when it was an HQ ship on D-Day
Tom walked through Nagasaki 9 weeks after the H bomb
killed 39000 people
The flypast over the Missouri that followed the surrender
Largs went to the Far East, where Tom saw 3 American carriers
on fire after Kamikazi attacks
Tom witnessed Gen. MacArthur receiving the surrender of Foreign Minister
Shigemitsu and Gen Umezu on board USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay
Tom (and I) spent most of our working lives with ICI – Tom with Fibres
Mike Foster, Ursula Granahan, Tom and Phil Proudley at the 70th Anniversary Reunion at Middleton-St-George on 24 June 2006, and at
the 2007 Reunion on 30th June, with Graham Carroll.
Tom on 28th June 2008, at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, with 609‟s Hon. Air Commodore Simon Bostock
173415 Flight Lieutenant Jean Florent „Johnny‟ De Bruyn
609 at Merville in October 1944. Jean joined the Sqn here. No names on this photo, but I think he is on the wing extreme left
Jean had that pipe as a fixture by now –spring 45
Gilze-Rejin: Don Inches, Doc Bell, Louis Bastin and Peter Roper of
198 Sqn, Jean de Bruyn and recumbent Guy „Bubu‟Debeuger
Plantlunne: VE Day. OC Sq/Ldr Pinkie Stark seated centre, feet not quite on the ground! Already quite short, he seems to be on a cushion
to add gravitas. Jean is middle rank, 2nd from right, hat at a rakish angle. The Sqn disbanded at Lasham on 20th May 1945.
Dad was promoted to Works Cashier; he manually paid 2000 employees per week. When
computers came in, he taught himself, as of course there were no instructors, with it being a brand
new concept! He progressed to being a Systems Analyst – not bad for self-taught, eh?
In 1971, he and the family were posted back to Harrogate to ICI Fibres HQ. At the age of 55 he
took early retirement. Within a short period of time, he went to work as the Administration/IT
Manager at Kirby‟s Solicitors in Harrogate, where he thoroughly updated, and overhauled their
entire administration. He was there for some 20 years!
Dad converted to Catholicism in later life, and did a lot for the Catholic Church of St Roberts, in
Harrogate. He always organised „the old folks Christmas Party‟, for years, and saw no irony in the
fact that he was around 80 when he finally packed this in! He loved to walk „on the fells‟ all
around North Yorkshire, and was a member of the church Walking Club.
When our Squadron at Leeming „was called up‟ for active service in 2003 (Iraq Theatre), dad lead
Sqn members waiting to deploy, on „the Mosaic Trail‟ just outside Ripon. He supported the Sqn
whenever possible, and frequently accompanied me to Annual Reunions at Elvington, and the
Hotel St George at Durham and Tees Valley Airport.
He was a much loved man, a Family Man, and he touched people‟s lives for the better with all
with whom he came in to contact. He loved people – and they loved him. God Bless Dad.”
Mike Foster.
Flt Lt
RAF Fylingdales
(I started my working career with ICI, and was fiercely proud of working for Britain‟s biggest
company. It doesn‟t even exist now! Neither I nor Tom could believe it. The remnants were
bought by Azko-Nobel: ironically, Nobel was one of the founder companies brought together to
form Imperial Chemical Industries. What goes round, comes round –Ed).
173415 Flight Lieutenant Jean Florent „Johnny‟ De Bruyn
From the life of a gentle man, Tom Foster, we move to the life and times of that most laid back of
men, Jean De Bruyn. Jean died on 23rd February 2010, aged 88, with the funeral taking place in
Ottinges-Louvain-la-Neuve, in the Nivelles district of Belgium. He leaves a spouse (sic), Madame
Jacqueline de Fraipont.
Born on 15th June 1921 in St Josse-ten-Noode, Jean studied „Scientific Humanities‟, at school,
which I take to mean Biology and Chemistry, but that‟s purely a guess. “I dreamt of flying since I
was 15 years old. I joined the Belgian Air Force Training School on 1st June 1939. I graduated in
April 1940 but I didn't take part in the 18 days campaign due to my inexperience and the lack of
planes.” Gaining his pilots wings by 29th April 1940 with the 1st Regiment d‟Aeronautique, he was
unfortunately arrested by the Germans on 28th April! Released on 5th June 1940, his records show
an attachment to the Ministry of Finance Secours d‟Hiver ( Winter assistance? ) dept. in
Schaerbeek. He was involved with the Belgian Resistance until he left Belgium on 13th July 1941.
“On the Belgian surrender, I escaped with a few friends and after a few failed attempts, I managed
to cross the demarcation line between Belgium and France, but I was arrested by the Vichy
police.” He‟d reached Dijon in France on the 15th July, where he was promptly arrested and
imprisoned at the Chateaneuf PoW Camp at Macon. Escaping on 2nd October, he headed for the
Pyrenees, crossing with the help of a former smuggler, and reached Barcelona on 20 th October.
Then guess what? “I was then arrested in Reus, Spain, and sent to Miranda de Ebro Camp a month
later. Chained up, we stopped over in Saragossa where 17 of us were kept in a cell of 6m x 3m for
3 weeks without being allowed out. In August 1942, we arrived at the Miranda camp. In March
1943, I went on hunger strike for 8 days. We were then freed on 18th April because the Americans
had just landed in North Africa and the Spanish had changed their political objectives. Shortly
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after boarding a ship in Gibraltar, we were attacked by submarines. Despite the attack, we
managed to reach the coast of Britain safe and sound on 3rd May 1943”.
Attached to the Belgian Forces in Great Britain (FBGB) on the 11th June, he joined No. 1 RAF
depot as an LAC. Passing through the RAF Staff College at Cranwell, and subsequently No 17
SFTS, he was made Pilot Officer on 20 April 1944. He moved to 57 OTU on 16th May, then 84
Group Support Unit on 8th July, where he asked to be put on Operations. “Do you want to give
609 a try?” he was asked. OK! He finally reached 609 at Merville on 12th September 1944. Here
the Sports Officer asked “do you play hockey?” Yes. “And do you play squash?” Again, yes. Soon
afterwards, 609 were scheduled to fly a sortie over Amsterdam. “Certainly not!” said the Sports
Officer, “We‟ve got a hockey match due.” A photo taken at the time shows all 11 pilots including
the CO, playing hockey as planned!
Promotion to Flying Officer came on 22nd October. 609 moved to Airfield B67 at Ursel (revisited
by 609 in 2009 and 2011: wonderful place if you happen to be a mosquito – Ed). By then 609
were heavily involved with Cab Rank sorties, supporting the Canadians advance down the Scheldt
River to the strongly defended Walcheren redoubt at the entrance to the river. 609 received special
praise for their support for the invasion of Walcheren on 1st November, Jean flying 3 sorties that
day in very poor visibility.
On 26 November, 123 Wing, of which 609 was a part, moved to the luxury of Gilze-Rijen, rebuilt
by the Luftwaffe not long before. The Ardennes offensive started on 16th December, but by the
31st the lack of fuel and materials, the Germans were retreating. Weather was so poor that 609
only flew for 7 days in January.
Jean flew ground attack sorties in support of the Rhine crossing, and on 8th February 1945, Jean
and other 609 pilots joined 183 Squadron to attack the telephone exchange at Arnhem. Bad
weather forced a change of target, to a nearby power station at location E7576. A flak hit on
Jean‟s Typhoon PR-D caused the engine to lose power, but it picked up at tree-top height (after
damaging a wing tip on a tree), enabling him to climb to 5000 feet, where he baled out. He landed
in the Canadian Sector near Handel, and the 2nd Canadian Army returned him to 609. The
appendix in “Under the White Rose” referring to this crash shows Jean to be a Sgt, but that was
never a rank that he‟d held in the RAF.
Jean stayed with 609 up to disbandment at RAF Lasham on 20th May, 1945. He flew 59 „rocket‟
sorties out of his 66 operational sorties with 609. He moved to 350 Sq on 2nd June for 13 months,
and then asked to be posted to Little Rissington CFS in July. He was discharged from the RAF on
1st October 1946. Jean had served 27 months and 17 days in the FBGB.
Jean had become a Lieutenant in the Belgian Air Force Reserve in June 1946, flying Spitfires, but
was declared unfit for flying duties on 15th Feb 1947. He failed a Medical examination, due to a
heart problem. Taking a desk job in Personnel, he had to take 4 months convalescence leave from
September to February 1948, and received his invalidity pension in that month. Subsequently he
went on to win the precursor to the Belgian Open Tennis Championship! A later UK examination
concluded that his heart problem was an insignificant one that he had since birth. He qualified to
regain his UK pilot‟s licence as a result, though the BAF took longer to convince.
Jean then became an instructor for 34 years with Sabena, the
now-defunct national Belgian Air Line, no doubt meeting
fellow 609 pilot, and Senior Sabena Captain, Georges Jaspis,
on many occasions. It suddenly dawned on the Belgian
Authorities that he was thus employed, and they said “If you
are flying, you should hand back your invalidity pension!”
Jean‟s retort was “I should have been a Kolonel by now, but
for you, so give me my rank and back pay.” He never heard another word!
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Jean received the Croix de Guerre 1940 (Belg.) avec Palme in February 1947. The citation read
“An officer of exceptional courage, leaving Occupied Belgium and immediately taking the role of
a combat pilot. He made 67 low altitude rocket attacks against heavily defended targets.” Jean also
received the Belgian 1940-45 Medal with Two Bronze Sabres, and the Resistance Medal.
Jean last visited the UK for 609‟s 70th Anniversary Celebrations at Durham Tees Valley Airport,
in 2006, accompanying the then Chief of the Belgian Air Force, General Gerard van Caelenberge,
along with Georges Jaspis, Albert Laforce, and Wilfried van Linden. I saw him a couple of years
later, when he appeared to be a much wasted individual; obviously not at all well.
Wilfried van Linden, as at Georges Jaspis funeral, was in charge of the Military Representation at
Jean‟s funeral. His efforts were appreciated by everyone, apart from Jean de Bruyn‟s family.
Conrad Roumieux sent me these details after the event.
“What is there to say about Jean‟s funeral? Well, Wilfried took on traffic very early in the
morning, to get there well before the funeral and to see to it that the 609 Sqn flag was lying on
Jean‟s coffin. I picked up Albert Laforce at his home in Leuven and enjoyed the ride to Brussels
and back talking about the value‟s of life, kids, family, etc … A wonderful man, a gentlemen and
a true inspiration to all of us.
The funeral itself was organized in a small space within the crematorium. Wilfried spoke in the
name of 609 and honored Jean for who he was and what he did for our freedom today. The man
with the gentle smile, pipe and moustache, how he will be missed by all who knew him.
Thanks to General Van Caelenberge we got 2 military buglers who played the Last Post. A
moment that was so special, for it was our personnel farewell to Jean in the name of the Belgian
Air Component and 609 Sqn. We would like to thank the General a million times again for having
organized this in such a short notice. A fly by was not possible since the funeral took place in
Brussels and air traffic control would not have allowed it.
Many of the family members spoke in combination with a lot of tears that showed that Jean was
very much loved by his family and how he will be missed.
We told the family that Albert was going to be there as a fellow pilot in the days of 609 but that
was not really absorbed, as not even a chair for Albert was reserved. The man had to stand up all
through the service. Afterwards a small hand shake, and that was it! There we were … I gave the
buglers some money and thanked them for their performance, and Wilfried and I took Albert and
some of his fellow pilots to the crematorium restaurant. We saw the family sitting at a table
drinking coffee and eating sandwiches and that is it … We were asked to send pictures of Jean to
them but honestly … I am not even going to be bothered about it. We had a few beers and the
traditional cognac, and paid our bill before we took off for Leuven again.
The main thing is that we showed Jean our deepest respect by being there. He will be missed by
all and very much remembered as the man with his gentle smile and pipe, puffing away, with me
trying to smell the aroma of the tobacco …
Tally Ho Jean and may you fly in peace and forever up there with the many friends and pilots of
609 Sqn.”
Commander Conrad Roumieux
609 Belgian Committee
Interviewed by his son on his 79th birthday, let Jean have the final words.
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“I married the woman who had been my pen-friend since 1939 and we are still very happy
together. We have 4 children and several lovely grandchildren. Following the war, I managed to
fulfil my childhood dream and worked as a flying instructor for Sabena Airlines until 1981.
I did my job like thousands of others to win this wretched war and enable our wives, our children
and our grandchildren to live in a free country.”
Flight Officer Dr. Mary Kay Shaw
609 (WR) Squadron‟s 21st CO, the last before disbandment in 1957, was Squadron Leader “Big”
Dave Shaw, and he was survived by his 2nd wife Mary Shaw. I represented the Association at her
funeral, where I met her splendid family, and learnt an awful lot about a quite remarkable lady.
Mary Shaw (nee Sharp), Medical Officer of 3609 Sqn RAuxAF, survived the death of her husband
by nearly 9 years, but succumbed suddenly on Thursday 26th August 2010. Mary was the sister
of Dr Claud Sharp, Medical Officer of 609(WR) Sqn RAuxAF. Her funeral was on Thursday
16th September 2010, at All Saints Church, Moulton, near Spalding in Lincolnshire.
Mary‟s two sons, Martin and Richard, lead the mourners. Martin subsequently sent me the
following excellent appreciation of his mother.
“You will know of my Father, Sqn Ldr "Big" Dave Shaw, the last CO up to the "second
disbandment" - the MO at the time was Claud Sharp. His sister, Mary Sharp, later to become Mary
Shaw, was the MO of the companion fighter control squadron for 609, 3609 Sqn RAuxAF. She
met David Shaw through the close working attachment between the two squadrons, and of course,
her brother.
Born on July 28th 1926, Mary Sharp was the daughter of renowned Leeds eye surgeon Claudius
Galen Kay Sharp, who was himself the son of a Physician. Her brother Claud followed his father's
calling as an Ophthalmic surgeon, and it was therefore natural that Mary would enter the Medical
profession. She trained as a Medical Student at Leeds University from 1947 to 1951 when she was
granted MRCP and took up a full time General Physician position within the Yorkshire Health
Authority at Roundhay. She joined 3609 Sqn in 1954 (I believe) being promoted to the Sqn MO
and the rank of Flight Officer in 1955. She often quoted the initial posting when arriving at her
first unit, and finding that her accommodation had been booked in the Male corridor in the mess,
as the mess staff had not realised she was a female doctor. The hurried re-arrangement of
accommodation that ensued was worthy of a comedy. During this period of service, Mary met
David, and some time after disbandment, in 1961, they were married, with Sid "Darkie" Hansen
(the ex-Engineering Officer) being best man. Darkie, and his wife Marjorie, remained a firm
family friend until his death in the early nineties. My most vivid recollection of Darkie was being
hauled up on his knee and coming face to face with this huge moustache and a dark, swarthy face
behind it. He had the most infectious smile and bonhomie that thoroughly endeared him to me,
and the stories that he told....!
Mary became the County Medical Office for Yorkshire, and then branched out into the
specialisation of child assessment before moving to Bishop's Stortford when David, by now
Advertising Director for Granada TV, moved to London. Mary soon established herself as the
Country Medical Officer for Essex, based in Harlow in the late sixties, and then Lincolnshire in
the seventies. This time coincided with David being made redundant, after a management buyout
of Granada fell apart, and both Mary and David looked for their next stage in life. Eventually they
settled on a franchise, newly established, that set up and operated chip vending machines in Spain,
at the start of the British package holiday industry. Both Mary and David started intensive Spanish
language training, and my brother and I dreamed of the warm sun and sea that was promised. In
the event, our neighbour, who was a solicitor in London, had been making enquiries through his
contacts at the Wig and Pen Club in the Strand, and learned that the Special Branch were making
extensive enquiries into a potential scam involving the luring of British nationals to bogus
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franchises in Spain, and the payments for these franchises. Eventually, Mary and David managed
to extricate themselves days before payments were due and contracts signed, and on the day a
series of arrests were made both in Spain and the UK.
With no hopes of Spain becoming a new home, and at the age of 49, David, and Mary, 47, decided
to buy a small village Post Office and Stores in South Lincolnshire. The work was hard, starting at
5am with the delivery of the papers and the mail, and didn't finish until well past 7pm when the
daily accounts had been reconciled. Fridays were the worst when the weekly accounts to the Post
Office had to be written out in ledgers in longhand and sent to the Post Office every Saturday.
Fairly early on, Mary's mother, Nina, who was still living in Leeds, became ill and virtually bedridden. Mary, displaying the best instincts of caring which prompted her to become a doctor,
decided that she would have to move her mother to the Post Office so that she could be cared for
by Mary. At the time, she was a Postmistress, a County Medical Officer for Lincolnshire, had two
teenage boys to bring up and a sick mother needing many hours of personal care each day. It was a
tough time indeed for Mary, and it took its toll on her health, although she refused to give in or
make allowances for her increasingly debilitating arthritis. Eventually Nina passed away, leaving a
void in her life to which she responded by becoming closer to her brother than she had ever been
in her life.
In 1985 Mary and David retired and bought a four bedroom house in the same village, simply to
have the rooms available "if the kids visit". By this time I was married and living in North Wales,
and my brother Richard was living and working in London. In 1993 David was diagnosed with
early stage Alzheimer‟s and in the ensuing years Mary displayed the same resilience and care that
she had shown her mother, this time caring for David as his condition deteriorated. After seven
years, in 2001, David died and Mary, by now physically frail and with her mobility severely
restricted was forced to face life anew. Failing eyesight forced her to relinquish her independence
of having and running a car, and was now totally reliant of the immense support and care of
her part-time housekeeper Ann. Ann had started helping Mary out in 1998, and she acted as a
conduit to the real world on a daily basis for Mary. Now, Ann more than anything else, helped
Mary to return to the real world by taking her shopping, out for day trips, sharing and caring each
other's family events and news. Mary's interests of horse racing and stock market shares became
her consuming passions, to the extent that the bookies call centre staff all knew Mary, her habits,
lifestyle and family without ever having met her. She knew most of the call centre staff so well
without ever having met any of them that she would recount their stories to her friends and
neighbours.”
Martin Shaw.
I took some notes of the appreciation about Mary during the Service.
Granddaughter Emma Turner, assisted by her sister Rachel, described her Wedding Day. Mary
told her “Now you have a keeper” after the service. Mary had strong feelings that girls should
have a good education, but was never disappointed if some did better than others: it was the
opportunity that mattered. Grandma had a great liking for Yardley perfume, it seems.
Son Richard then took over. He said that his mother was not one to be made a fuss of, or to be the
centre of attention. All sons say that their mothers were exceptional, but, in Mary‟s case, it was
really true. People were so lucky to know her, and he never remembers any unkind word being
said about her. One friend described her as “fiercely intelligent, incredibly loyal, and everoptimistic.” Mum never talked about death – life was too important, and especially the lives of
others. She wasn‟t nosy, but just loved to see life through other people‟s eyes. The family were
surprised when she chose her funeral music, but she said that she was worried that she might be
forgotten. Never! But what sort of memorial would she have liked? Probably a bench seat named
after her at a race course! Though the family have yet to decide on a more permanent tribute, they
were going to remember with relish her magnificent eccentricities, sense of humour, generosity,
and keen interest in the well-being of others. Richard noted how she gave so generously of her
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time, keen to puncture pomposity, happy to offer good practical advice if asked, always honest –
especially if you interrupted her watching the Saturday 4.30pm horse race. Certainly, the book
makers and stock brokers were really going to miss her!
Some of her favourite things: France, red wine, the Daily Telegraph. Also chocolate biscuits,
fudge, smoked salmon and cigarettes. Often together in combination. “What would she be
thinking now? Probably, “Come on, hurry up, I want to get out and sit on the Church wall with a
cigarette!” Apparently, she was a devoted smoker from an early age, and noted for having a packet
of 20 du Maurier stuffed into her knickers when at school!
Gathering outside the Church, I managed a brief chat to Mary‟s brother Claud Sharp, one time
Medical Officer for 609 (WR) Squadron. “Young” Dave Shaw had noted with sadness Mary‟s
passing, but said that I was likely to bump into her brother. “He is a great character and is still
believed to be slaughtering deer up in the Cairngorms.” This I put to Claud. “Oh yes, I certainly
am!” A delightful man, and one whom I wished I‟d been able to talk to for longer. Our President
Sandy Hunter noted that “Wilma, my wife and devoted fan of Uncle C, has just been in the hands
of one Keith Godfrey, a fellow surgeon in Sunderland, who was pleased to hear of him!” I gather
that the Hunters keep in contact with Claud. I assume that they like venison!
Tale Spin 2
Al Hayman reminds me that the 609 Website www.609wrs.squadron.co.uk is now maintained
solely for the Association. The RAF has tightened up on the rules that govern individual RAF
Squadron sites, and I believe all info has to be published from the top downwards from now on.
Individual Squadrons submit their information for inclusion in the whole. Send him things!!
…………………………….
John Collins reports that his local J D Wetherspoon pub has removed its pictures of early
experiments in flight by Sir George Cayley, and wistful vignettes of the Bronte Sisters, in favour
of amongst other things, the American Pirate John Paul from the American Civil War. He sank
two of our ships and, after we sank his flagship of Flamborough Head, pinched one of ours and
escaped. The American tourists will love it, he reckons. Meanwhile, our new Wetherspoon‟s is
called The Tilly Shilling, after a feisty lady who worked at Farnborough during the war. She raced
motor bikes at Brooklands, achieving a 100 mph lap, and refused to marry her fiancée until he had
done the same! Her main claim to fame was designing a restrictor washer for the Merlin engine‟s
carburettors, which prevented fuel from rushing out of the float chambers too fast when the
aircraft was inverted. This enabled Merlin-engined aircraft to briefly adopt negative G without the
engine cutting out. Our pub has a 4 metre wide engineer‟s diagram of a Spitfire, complete with a
two bladed prop, on one wall. Part of a Spitfire fuselage hangs from the ceiling – the pub door
handles are the tops of control sticks complete with firing buttons! There is a sector clock, a
plotting table for SE England in a table top, and explanations of RAF Roundels over the years.
The beer is great, too!
………………………………………
I received a cutting that said “The RAF has been recognised as a „Top 100‟ employer for lesbian,
homosexual (I don‟t use the word gay – I know two ladies thus called, who apologise about their
names) and bisexual people in the UK. The campaigning charity Stonewall ranked them 97th, and
the RAF, Navy and Army provided personnel to take part in the Pride Parade in London last year.”
Oh, good.
…………………………………………
Dez Robinson wrote to the OC at Leeming, following the article concerning Ampleforth College,
and its memorial to Battle of Britain veterans that attended the school. Dez had been given a tour
around by a Father Edgar, and described it as a fabulous place, especially the Library. Dez took a
break from work, and wandering around found many books and papers being sorted, but
temporarily left in the passage ways. He found a lot of copy pictures of Spitfires, with no ID
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marks on them, so whipped a pencil from behind his ear, and added PR-F to one of them. “I bet
that got them puzzled!” he noted.
One of his other customers was Dorothy Thwaites, aged 88, who was at RAF Danby radar station,
and is the last WAAF left to have done so. Her husband Harry was also in the RAF. She was due
to be on TV shortly after. Wonder if she was the same lady who spoke to us at The Brooklands
Museum two years ago? She was a plotter, too. About the same age, and very spry!
…………………………………….
Just heard that Nicki O‟Donnell, who left the Sqn last spring under the SDR disaster, was 5th
Official at Twickenham for the Ladies Rugby Match between England and Scotland at
Twickenham last month. She played rugby for the RAF. I believe that she is now with 606 Sqn at
RAF Benson. You can see her all dressed up at the back of this newsletter, getting her 609 Shield
from the OC.
………………………………………..
Another nice little letter from Kathleen Gurney. As she and Keith are now rather frail, she has
ceased being a member of the Association, but I still send them the newsletter. When I do it….
As one eye was u/s she apologised for the poor writing, as she was squinting a bit. I‟d mentioned
in a card that we‟d been wine tasting in the Mosel last June, and I found the high residual sugar
(sweet!) style of Riesling grapes pretty hard to take. Kathleen still loves them.
She noted an episode of Foyle‟s War, which I hadn‟t watched. F/O Foyle appeared to “possess” an
aircraft bearing the red and white square of Poland, and also clearly
marked Poland. I think that‟s RF-D, painted to resemble a 303
Polish Squadron Mk II. Apart from him being in the wrong aircraft,
she noted that he performed a Victory Roll, which Kathleen said
would have brought a frown from my father. More than that
Kathleen – having once warned John Dundas not to do this, he
publicly tore him off a strip when he repeated the manoeuvre.
“How do you know that your controls haven‟t been partly severed
by a stray bullet? I can‟t lose pilots through them showing off.”
…………………………………………
Charles “Pud” Crowther had a successful replacement hip
operation in 2010 aged 97. He has helped to identify an old
colleague from a 1987 609 Reunion photo, taken at a Harrogate
hotel. This was Johnny Payne, who was a pre-war Armourer, and
still with 609 when Pud was posted overseas in late 1940. Johnny
was an excellent scrum half and a regular in the Squadron Rugby
Team.
Here is Johnny with „his‟ Spitfire at Middle Wallop in 1940.
………………………………….
Phil Roe wrote after my obituary to Bill Block, saying how sad he was that
Bill had died. “I learned a tremendous amount about the Meteor F8 from
Bill. He was a first class Airframe Mechanic, and knew the „8‟ intimately.
What Bill didn‟t know about this aircraft would have occupied the head of
a very small pin!” I had managed to transpose the captions on this photo of
the two of them: Phil is actually on the right.
ACT in Germany, 17 Sept – 1st Oct 2011
A late entry here from the Squadron! This report from Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe. A page of photos is
nearby.
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“The long-awaited Annual Continuation Training (ACT) took place over this two-week period.
The first week‟s location was JHQ Rheindahlen in Germany, using ranges and facilities at Javelin
Barracks (previously RAF Bruggen) and in the local area. Travel there and back was via the Hull
to Europoort ferry, very popular with the lads for good food and drink and the obvious socialising
opportunities with other travellers!
The first week revolved around 9mm Pistol training and shooting, navigation training, a
Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) shoot and mines/IED training and awareness. A fullday‟s navigation exercise was conducted in the local area totalling approx 15 km, with several
military skills stands and tasks to complete on the way round. A full-day “cultural experience”
was conducted along the Mosel Valley, with a walk in glorious weather amongst fantastic scenery.
The last day was situated in Arnhem, where the OC gave a tour of the battle sites, including
Oosterbeek and the Airborne Museum before returning to the ferry for the trip home.
The second week of ACT had three strands to it. Some gunners travelled to RAF Honington to
undertake the Bowman User Course, whilst the remainder stayed at RAF Leeming in order to
complete the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) and Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) cadre training.”
Wing Commander Nevil “Teeny” Overton
I hadn‟t noticed Teeny‟s passing several years ago, but contact from his son made me look up the
obituary in The Daily Telegraph. I reproduce it here.
Wing Commander (Flying Officer during the Battle) Nevil „Teeny‟ Overton, who has died
aged 79, was a fighter pilot during the Fall of France and the Battle of Britain in 1940; he later
served as a squadron and wing commander in the Western Desert.
In 1938 as the pace of rearmament accelerated, Overton – known as „Teeny‟ because of his
fondness for Ovaltine (advertised with the ditty "We are the Ovalteenies") – had been granted a
short service commission. Consequently, by the time war broke out in 1939, he was already a
trained fighter pilot in No 17, a Hurricane squadron at Debden, Essex. In November 1939 Overton
was posted to No 609 (West Riding) squadron flying defensive patrols from Drem in Scotland. On
May 18 1940, after the German invasion of the Low Countries and France, 609 was ordered south
to Northolt.
Barely 20, Overton was the youngest pilot in the squadron. He later reflected:
........I don't think that I had a clue what was happening. From being a small, semi-isolated unit we
suddenly found ourselves part of a big and often baffling circus. Abruptly we were really in the
war.
On May 30 Overton and fellow pilots refuelled at Biggin Hill and at lunchtime flew 609's first
patrol of the war to cover the Dunkirk evacuation. In the evening, loss and damage having
depleted the squadron, Overton and eight others returned to Dunkirk.
On 609's approach run, Overton encountered 15 He111 bombers and 20 Me109 fighters. There
followed a superb display of air fighting; Overton and Flying Officer Hank Russell, an American
volunteer, making simultaneous beam attacks, destroying a Heinkel. Overton then noticed that he
had a Me109 on his tail. After a six minute dogfight he was in a stall turn when he got the 109 in
his sights and opened fire at 70 yards. The 109 plunged into the sea.
Shortly afterwards Overton piloted one of nine Spitfires which escorted Winston Churchill to see
the French Prime Minister, Paul Reynaud. Having got lost on the way home Overton refuelled in
Jersey and loaded his aircraft up with brandy. In mid-summer 1940, 609 operated from Middle
22
Wallop and Warmwell in the south west. On August 12, led by Squadron Leader George Darley,
609 intercepted 80 Me110 twin-engine fighters circling east of the Isle of Wight. Darley led
Overton and his fellow pilots straight through the circle of enemy aircraft, taking beam shots and
breaking away downwards. Overton accounted for two of six 110‟s shot down. The next day, 609
intercepted 40 Ju87 Stuka dive-bombers over Lyme Bay; of 10 destroyed, Overton was credited
with two.
In April 1941, Overton, now a flight commander, had survived long enough to become the doyen
of the squadron. He was posted as an instructor to No 59 Operational Training Unit at Crosby-inEden for a "rest".
Charles Nevil Overton was born on September 25 1919, the youngest of six children at Navenby,
Lincolnshire where his father farmed the Blankney Estate. Nevil was one of the first entries of
boys to attend St Hugh‟s School, Woodhall Spa, from where he went on to Denstone College,
Staffordshire. Before joining the RAF he trained briefly in land agency with Woodruffe Walters.
In December 1941, keen to return to operations, Overton was posted as a flight commander to No
145, a Spitfire squadron at Catterick. In New Year 1942, 145 was the first Spitfire squadron to be
sent to the Middle East where in April Overton received command, at Helwan in Egypt.
The next month, operating from Western Desert landing grounds, Overton began to lead the
squadron in sustained fighter and bomber support operations. On June 10 1942 Overton damaged
a 109, following it up with a kill. After a spell with No 239 Wing's four squadrons of Kittyhawk‟s,
Overton was appointed Wing Commander Operations at Desert Air Force Headquarters.
Concluding his war in Malta as fighter training officer Overton returned to Lincolnshire to farm at
Heath Farm, Wellingore, where in 1957, as the enterprise developed, he bought a wartime RAF
airfield. Over the years he turned from farming Lincoln Red cattle and Suffolk sheep to arable.
Overton was a traditionalist who saw no need to work on Sundays and he made his men aware of
this. Sunday for him was church followed by a ride round the farm with his children. He revered
nature and only shot game when walking his land with a relative or friend. In later years, he
enjoyed the sight of pheasants pottering outside his office in the evenings. He remained a loyal
and generous supporter of 609 Squadron Association and extended warm hospitality to members
who visited him at Heath Farm.
He was awarded the DFC in 1942 and was twice mentioned in despatches.
Teeny Overton married in 1942, Sybil Dunlop (nee Russell), an ATS widow; she died in 1979. He
leaves three sons, two daughters and a stepdaughter.
173807 Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward “Bob” Windle AFC
Considering that Bob died over two years ago, I feel pretty bad about my failure to keep up to date
with my newsletters. I apologise to his family, but will now get on with paying him the respect
that he deserves.
Bob passed away, aged 87, on 23rd September 2009 at Lister House, Ripon. This was a Royal
British Legion Home where he had been since July 2008. The funeral took place at East
Yorkshire Crematorium, Octon, on Wednesday 30th September. The procession was led by a
standard bearer carrying a flag of the RAF, and there was a flag laid over the coffin. 3 of the
bearers were his step great-grandchildren, Ian Dowsland, Neil Dowsland and Simon Braban, and
the service was taken by Canon Bob Rogers.
Brian Waite and Hugh Mulligan visited Bob in Lister House, (British Legion), Ripon. shortly
before he died. “Hugh and I spent a wonderful two hours with Bob Windle this afternoon.
Although wheel chair bound, he is in good form and spent most of the time relating his flying life
23
to us. His detail memory was excellent for a man of 87. He really appreciated our visiting him and
Hugh presented him with a 609 tie. A true gentleman and extremely well looked after by the BL
people.” He was full of stories and memories, and Brian managed to record a lot of them. There is
a book called “Hurricanes over the Arakan” by Norman Franks (ISBN 1-85260-262-7) that
features Bob and his quotes, and these Brian reproduces below in his appreciation.
Born in Hull, in 1922, Bob was 17 when the war started. He trained as a pilot in the USA,
graduating as a Sgt Pilot. “I was a bit of a maverick but had good flying aptitude.” He returned to
England and after OTU was posted in Jan 43 to 135 Squadron on Hurricanes. First base was
Calcutta, but he quickly moved to Chittagong on the Arakan Peninsula. Bob took part in Air
Operations supporting the 14th Army, who were attempting to defeat the Japanese in Burma.
There is a good account of Air Ops over the Arakan against the Japanese in the book. Mention is
made of Christian Ortmans, ex-609 who was flying Hurricanes with 615 Sqn in the same theatre,
March 1943. Sadly as a result of mistaken identity and responding to being fired at, Ortmans shot
down a Hurricane of 135 Sqn, killing the pilot, Fg Off Ray Prince. It transpired that intelligence
had warned that the Japanese were using captured Hurricanes on recce missions.
His first base (a satellite of Chittagong)
“It did not take long to realise that if the Burma front was at the end of the line for supplies then
we were right at the end of that line. But right from the start, the morale was magnificent and it
stayed that way the whole of the time we were at “Hove.” During my time with the RAF I served
on all five continents and saw some wonderful sights, but little “Hove” on the Burmese coast,
although I was only there 3 months, left me with more excited, tranquil and moving memories
than any other place.
The set up was simple. The beach was straight for about seven miles with just two streams
coming out of the jungle and we could actually splash through those as long as we had not our
aircraft flaps lowered so we virtually had seven miles of runway.”
Bob also recalled that there were a number of elephant herds in the surrounding jungle. The local
village chief asked the squadron for help as the elephants were eating the banana crop. Several
“brave” pilots, Bob included, went forward found tracks and warm droppings and a huge bull
elephant! They ran in all directions. Later they did shoot a couple of elephants, only to learn that
they were the property of the East India Tea Company and on their vacation!!
His first kill:
“We had just started to gain altitude when we spotted six Japanese 01 fighters a few thousand feet
below. We immediately attacked but they had spotted us and the one I had selected, using his
greater manoeuvrability, pulled his aircraft round and up and turned it into a head on attack, both
firing. This was my first aerial combat and he was soon on my tail, so I did as I had been briefed
and hit the deck and took evasive action. Up to this date, all Japanese fighters had been fitted with
an Aldis Sight method of aiming their guns, which required the pilot to get his eye close to the
telescope type sight in order to aim his guns.
Once at ground level and for the following few minutes, I kept imagining the Jap on my tail trying
to get his eye into his sight. I had always liked flying really low but this time it was for keeps! I
could not have flown lower or turned more steeply, below the treetops and nipping between the
hills. The Hawker Hurricane had a rear vision mirror and I kept subconsciously seeing him for a
few fleeting seconds. After the hairiest few minutes of my life I stopped seeing him. I shall never
know if he got a bead on me but I took a gamble and pulled up a few feet to see if he was still
around. I had made the right decision at the right time. Whether he was getting short of fuel or I
had shaken him off I don‟t know, but there he was, at 100ft, heading for home, flying straight and
level. He was not low enough and he should not have been flying straight and level. I could not
believe my luck and I rapidly got directly behind and beneath him. This was a bit dicey due to our
24
nearness to the ground. I slowly overhauled him but wanted to get as close as possible to make
sure of a kill before opening fire. I got to about 100 yards and opened fire, but owing to our
harmonisation of sight and guns, my bullets were going beneath him. Then I remembered my
OTU training. When close in, aim at the top of the rudder. I eased my sight up a bit. I had not
stopped firing and must have fired an 8 second burst. All of a sudden everything happened at once.
Pieces of his aircraft came flying back at me and I pulled up to avoid them. As I dipped my wing
to see what was happening to him, I saw him hit the ground and explode.
As one can imagine, having shot down my first enemy aircraft, I was full of high spirits and on my
return to “Hove”; I flew over our beach and then pulled and executed a victory roll. My Flight
Commander did not approve and grounded me for three days.”
Footnote: the Japs were in fact flying with the same type of weapon sight as the Hurricane!
In early March Bob was forced to land on an emergency sand strip, and wasn‟t sure whether he
was behind enemy lines. He took evasive action in the jungle, but fortunately he was picked up by
an army jeep of a force that operated close to the front on recce duties.
(I taught with a Major Denis Holmes in 1970, who ran a clandestine group during the Arakan
campaign. They operated close to and behind enemy lines, on recce duties. In the book “Raiders
of the Arakan” it mentions rescuing Allied airmen. I wonder!! - Brian)
He continued to fly Hurricanes with 135 Sqn as Burma was retaken from the Japanese. He spent
time in Ceylon, before converting to the P47 Thunderbolt with 135. One felt he did not feel as
attached to the P47 as he did to the Hurricane. He also mentioned the attack role they had to
perform, using napalm. Seeing some of the results he felt it was not his preferred weapon.
He left the RAF for a couple of years before returning in 1948 (?) to fly Meteor 1V‟s with 245
Sqn. When I phoned Bob for a chat, he said that he was “with the Squadron in 1947”. By this I
take took him to mean 245/266 (Northern Rhodesia) Squadron. He went on to explain that he
shared a room in the Mess with a US Airman called Al, who was good at aerobatics. Bob took him
up in an Oxford, (his words!) and even in something as staid as that impressed said American
enough to make him approach Squadron Leader Wootton, CO of 245/266, to recommend that Bob
would make a good aerobatic team leader. The CO retorted that if anyone was to lead, then it
would be him, and not Bob! However, in Flight magazine, dated 16th June 1949, there is a photo
of four Meteor F4‟s of 245/266 Sqn in formation “led by Flt/Lt Bob Windle, and including CO
Sq/Ldr E W Wootton.” 245 had the first Meteor Aerobatic Team, flying from 1948 to 1949. This
is part of Flight‟s report on that Belgian Air Show.
“Next came the turn of the Dutch pilots, under Major Flinterman, to show their proficiency on
their newly acquired Gloster Meteors, four of which took the stage - rather circumspectly we
thought - but in tidy formation. A roll in line abreast looked promising, but finished somewhat
untidily. Three Dutch Harvards later had better success with this manoeuvre. As the Meteor pilots
got into their stride, however, it was evident that they aspire to laurels for Meteor flying, securely
held for the present by the RAF. The succeeding Harvard flight rang the changes between various
very tight formations, in full view of all.
The RAF now took over. Some performers had been favoured with intermittent patches of blue
sky, but the Meteor formation from No. 245/266 (Northern Rhodesia) Squadron had to contend
with cloud. Through this the "quads" from Norfolk (S/L. Wootten, F/L. Stephen and Pit. II
Bradley, led by F/L. Windle) gouged great tracks on their loops; nor did they allow it to bar their
upward rolls. Less handicapped was the individualist - F/L. Scannell - who, having coaxed every
last knot out of his Meteor on the steepest jet dives and lowest pull-outs of the day, ambled past,
flaps down, just on the stall. Flaps raised and Derwents again wide open, Scannell built up some
600 m.p.h. for a final vapour-shrouded sequence of vertical rolls. He may be said to have shaken
our Belgian friends to their very solid foundations.”
25
Bob said that formation manoeuvres would be practised together – if all agreed that the move was
on, then the team would adopt it. The London Gazette of 2nd Jan 1950 lists the award of the Air
Force Cross to Bob, for his achievement in founding and developing that first Meteor Aerobatic
Team. After this, Bob formed the Royal Air Force (Stradishall) Aerobatic team in 1951, again
with Meteor 1V‟s. Even though Bob was Chief Ground Instructor of 266 Operational Conversion
Unit, training future Meteor pilots, he still managed to remain as Team Leader! “There‟s no
business like show business!” he told me, describing the opposed crossing passes made at
carefully fixed heights, put on for a visiting ATC Group. The Aerobatic Team were also tasked by
the Ministry and Gloster to sell the aircraft to the Egyptians.
Bob then moved from the Regular RAF to the Auxiliaries. The London Gazette of 25 October
1949 records that 57663 Flt/Lt R E Windle resigned his commission in the RAF on 18 th August
1949, and was appointed as 173807 Flt/Lt R E Windle RAuxAF on the same day.
Bob arrived at 609 after Arthur Hudson had become CO in 1948, and had read the riot act to the
Squadron. 609 was at rock bottom when Hudson took over, and he gave them 3 months to
improve, or be dismissed. I‟m not sure when Bob reached 609, but am pretty certain it was 1951.
There are no photos of him in pilots groups until 1952, but 609 had left Yeadon for Church Fenton
in 1950, in order to convert to Meteors, that need the latter‟s longer runway. Chris Goss‟s revised
“Under the White Rose” notes that Bob was Regular RAF with 609. Perhaps he rejoined?
Arthur Hudson collected Bob from the railway station. Bob was appointed to be Adjutant, but that
meant lots of paper, which Bob hated. In the car, he asked Hudson if he could swap with newly
appointed Barney Barnes, who was coming as Training Officer. To convince Hudson, he asked to
be allowed to take a Meteor up as soon as he arrived. Borrowing Hudson‟s parachute, he went up
and did a show for the other pilots. It proved at once to his audience that what he said he could do,
he did. Once he and Barney had swapped roles, “As a result, I toured Europe with the Sqn, and
had a fine time.” Bob subsequently formed 609‟s first aerobatic team, with him leading, Arthur
Hudson at 2, Jimmy Heath at 3, and future team leader Frank Reacroft at 4.
The Yorkshire Post reported a farewell party in December 1953 at 609. CO Arthur Hudson was
standing down in favour of Tommy Evans, and Bob Windle was leaving the regular RAF to run a
hotel in Bridlington. I believe that he actually joined the RAF Reserves at this time, though Bob
told Hugh and Brian that he had asked to be posted in 1956, not 53, so as to be near his mother‟s
home, as she had had a stroke. The London Gazette of 19th March 1956 notes: “ROYAL AIR
FORCE RESERVE OF OFFICERS, GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH. Commission relinquished:
Flight Lieutenant R. E. WINDLE, A.F.C. (173807) (on appointment to a permanent direct
commission (scheme A) in the R.A.F.). This ties in with him telling Hugh and Brian that he went
on a weapons course, and was retained as an Instructor. I‟m afraid I don‟t know where, with
whom, or for how long. Not sure what happened to the hotel, either!
He retired from the Air Force after spending some time in ATC (ground tour) at Little Rissington
and Chivenor (where he managed to get some Hawker Hunter time in). On leaving the Air Force
in 1965 he lived in Devon, marrying Rosie, a widow, who had six children, moving to his beloved
Yorkshire in 1965 (he was born in Hull).
One of those children I believe was Val Braban, who sent me this resume of the funeral
appreciations. “Alec Jeffrey spoke and said about how Bob loved his flying and all the wartime
stories. He told everyone about it. As we have only known him since he married mother (nanna to
us), (Rosie as above, I believe –Ed) that‟s when he became one of our family. He used to come
and help us when we were renovating an old farmhouse, and we used the old bricks. We were
watching Bob thinking what is he doing? We had to have a laugh at him and a second look, and
yes, he was WASHING every brick. He loved his sport especially by supporting Hull City. While
in the home he even got Sky TV installed so he didn‟t miss a match. Bob loved to get together for
26
Jean de Bruyn (cont‟d)
Waremme, Belgium, 2003. The unveiling of a memorial to 609 (WR) Sqn in the town square. On the left: Jean with fellow Belgian Typhoon
Jan Mathys and Albert Laforce.On the right: Alan Enser, Georges Jaspis DFC, Jean, Albert and Jan.
Durham Tees Valley Airport, 70th Anniversary Reunion, 24June 2006. Gen. Van Caelenberge, then C-in-c Belgian Air Force, brought Jean,
Georges and Albert, with Lt.Col.Wilfried van Linden, to the event by a BAF Falcon 20. Fl/Lt Alfie Hall shares a bench with Jean.
I don‟t think that he tapped out his pipe against the RCAF Memorial! Here again with Albert Laforce, and looking happy as usual
The 70th Anniversary Reunion 2006. Taken
outside St Georges Hotel, which was the
Officers Mess when it was RAF Middleton St
George. This is the right half of the group.
Georges Jaspis DFC is under the saluting
pilot. Moving right, it is Albert Laforce, Jean
de Bruyn, Gen. (now Lt. Gen) Gerard Van
Caelenberge, Louise and Sq/Ldr Brian Waite
(Assoc Chairman), with Dave Lacy beside him.
This was the last time that any Belgian
veterans came to the UK. Jan Mathys died in
2005. George Watelet and Cheval Lallemand
were too unwell to come, and Paul Libbrecht
had died two weeks earlier. We will remember
them.
Mary Kay Shaw
Son Martin and his
wife Carole watch
as Mary‟s
wickerwork coffin
arrives at All Saint‟s
Church, Moulton►
◄3609 in late 50‟s
- Wheatfield‟s,
Mary (r) with
colleagues Avril,
and KingsleyLawrence (MO)
All Saints Church, Moulton.
Mary‟s brother Claud Sharp, 609 Sqn MO 56-7 (see Paddy White obit photos).
Inside the Church
Wing Commander Nevil “Teeny” Overton
Frank Howell being
attacked by Teeny, Johnny
Curchin and Skeets ▼
All Middle Wallop 1940. Alfred „Skeets‟ Ogilvie and Charles „Teeny‟ Overton. Main, back: Red Tobin, Osti-Ostaszewski-Otoja, Mac
Goodwin, Paul Edge, Michael Appelby, Frank Howell, George Darley, Mac McArthur, Alan Feary, Novo Nowierski, Teeny
Overton. Front: Mike Staples, David Crook, Mick Miller
◄ Heath Farm,
Wellingore:
returned to the
Overton family
in 1957
The peri track
and old bunker
as seen
today►
parties and games of cards; wanting to be involved in everything we were doing. He will be sadly
missed.”
Vice President Dave Shaw reflects on Bob‟s time with the Squadron.
“My very first flight with 609 in 1953 was a dual check with Bob in a Meteor 7 no. WA672. (We
were taught in training to enter exact aircraft numbers in our log books but that soon went.) The
squadron had not yet moved to its new offices near the control tower at Church Fenton, and we
were in wooden huts on the far side of the airfield. Our Meteors were in bunkers near to these huts
as was an Oxford and a Harvard which we 'owned'. I don‟t know what I was checked out for
because I was then checked out on the Oxford by F/O Phipps (later AVM) and sent off in it to
Tangmere to deliver Jack Wroe (then a cadet officer) and a P/O O'Hare . Followed by a trip to
Hooton Park with three airmen. I was finishing the last months of my National Service and was
available all week, living in the mess, and for a few months got to know Bob quite well.
I remember Bob as a very gentle person. Gentle and sensitive when flying and on the ground. An
exceptional pilot. And with a lovely quiet sense of humour and very popular with everyone in the
squadron. He would never have achieved high rank because he was just not interested. He loved
flying and squadron life and happily paddled along doing what he loved. And he had a very rare
quality and in that was 'he was comfortable within himself''. Few people are so lucky.
He, together with our CO Arthur Hudson and 'Barney' Barnes, were responsible for pulling 609
back as a force to be reckoned with.I have never known if the story was right, but was once told
that Bob had been posted to us as adjutant and Barney as training officer. And that they had
secretly swapped. (Correct! –Ed). Bob would not have made a very tough adjutant. He also put
the 609 aerobatic team together in the early fifties, leading the team with Arthur Hudson as no 2.
Jimmy Heath in the box and Frank Reacroft as no 3.
We were so lucky with our regular people who all seemed to love our auxiliary way of running a
front line squadron. Regular officers and ground crew only spent about two years on each posting
and never really got to know many people. So we were refreshing as many 609 people had been
with us for five or ten years and we were like a big family, doing a good job, and having fun doing
it. Bob was a very good Auxiliary.”
Tale Spin 3
Last summer I found myself following a yellow Mini Cooper, with the registration “JOY 609”.
You don‟t believe me? Go on to the London Congestion Charge website, and try and buy a ticket.
When you type the reg. number in, there is the car. Shame you can‟t find the owner.
………………………………………………….
This has nothing to do with 609, but I like the attitude displayed, especially as I have a B.Sc.
(Hons) degree in Botany. On Sir Kenneth Clark‟s “Civilisation” programme, he said that the
great Botanist and Fellow of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks, who had accompanied Captain
Cook on his first voyage of discovery, had refused to go on the second. The reason was that Cook
proposed to have only one French Horn player aboard for after-dinner entertainment, instead of
two that Banks considered to be essential. Good. We Botanists have our standards to maintain.
…………………………………………………..
BBC 4 last March: I was watching a programme on wheat growing in the early post-war years.
Farmer Andrew Tetlow featured a lot, with his combine. As he lived near Haverhill in Suffolk, I
assumed that it was Edward Tetlow‟s son. Edward, who farms near Debden Airfield a few miles
away, was with 2502 Sqn. He and his wife Gillian have been long time friends of Charles (ex-609)
and Rhoeta Brazier. Charles became an agricultural engineer, working on Edward‟s combine at
times, and the Order of Service at his funeral depicted a combine on the front, and Bee Beamont‟s
Typhoon on the back! Edward has been a long time member of the Association.
……………………………………………
27
In July 2010, Jeff Metcalfe and Alfie Hall called into the Museum at Hawkinge, where they met
Joe Roddis who was in his early 90‟s. Joe was at Middle Wallop when 609 were there, and was in
their hangar when it was hit by the bomb that killed the three airmen. (See Gordon Lean‟s
photographs in this issue). Joe ended up as a crew chief on Vulcan‟s, retiring from the RAF in
1965. Joe was interviewed for a programme called “Battle of Britain - The Lost Evidence”, shown
on Channel 5 in early July 2010. It‟ll be on again!
……………………………………..
The Sqn received a collection of photos from RAF Leuchars in September 2011. They‟d been
handed in up there by an unknown person. The Leuchars recipient saw the PR codes on the
Spitfires, and traced 609 at Leeming. Turns out they are from Gordon L Lean, a Fitter II E who
joined „A‟ flight in 1936. One of his photos was of bombs dropping on Middle Wallop, apparently
viewed from a hangar roof. See the story above! He subsequently went overseas and serviced
Sunderland‟s in Africa. Fascinating to get things like this turning up even now. I have put 2½
pages of them into this issue.
Dave Shaw remembers Gordon as being a keen founder member of the Association, though he
subsequently left when women were admitted to 609 Association functions. It was inevitable:
someone had to drive the old boys back from beery reunions!
…………………………………………………..
Victor Titherington 7th April 1920 to the 4th April 2011
Not long after his long time pals, Desmond Park and Harry Myers, passed away, Victor has set off
after them. It should be a good party up there! Victor gave me his obituary about five years ago,
and I have a stack more material to add. I‟ve just looked at the pile of information. Ah…. A very
great amount of typing.
Kath Thomas was a fellow pupil at Nelson Secondary School, and interviewed Victor in around
2007, I believe. Thanks to her diligence, these are his own words – with some more that he told
me.
“I was born on the 7th April 1920, an only child, in Giles Street, Nelson to William Victor and
Gertrude Titherington (nee Vysick). My mother's unusual name was Cornish and her family came
from Cornwall to Burnley in the 1850's. There had been a strike of Lancashire miners and at the
same time, the miners of Cornwall were out of work, so the owners of the Lancashire mines sent a
message to Cornwall saying "Come north to Lancashire, and we will pay for your fare and find you
a house to live in. My parents were then cotton weavers, but father was an ambitious man, wanting a
better future.
I went to Bradley Elementary School. There were six boys and six girls who won scholarships to
Nelson Secondary School in 1930. I was one of the six. It was quite a daunting experience to enter
the School doors; separate for boys on the left of the building. The size of the building in
comparison to the one I had just left, the number of classrooms, the presence of staff, some wearing
black gowns, and the crowd of students; all so different. I began in Form 2A and I remember most
of my teachers. Miss Francisco Caroline Cliff of course, a formidable icon, who would station
herself at the top of the stairs, wearing her black gown, to watch for any unruly behaviour between
class changes, such as slouching, chewing, talking, or breaking into a run.
I guess I was a bit ill-disciplined in some of the classes. I knew I was never going to be an artist, so
I didn't see any reason why I should be spending time learning the subject, and didn't pay much
attention. I couldn't resist any opportunity to make people laugh; my fellow students, that is, and I
would frequently make the odd wise-crack, often ill timed, and not appreciated by staff members. It
was the same in French. I could never envisage going to France or meeting any French people, so I
saw no need for the language. Why should I want to leave England? That sentiment resulted in Mr.
28
Byrom turning me out of many French lessons, and making me stand outside the door in the
corridor for the whole of the period.
The teacher who influenced me most was Alice Nutter. She taught English and was very particular
about handwriting. I came from Bradley School where printed writing was accepted. We never
used "joined-up" writing and I had no idea how to begin. Alice Nutter noticed this and told me to
be outside her staff room at break time, which I did. So began a few months where, of her own
volition and nearly every break time, she guided me through the basics and the practice of "joinedup" writing until I became quite proficient with a good hand, which has stood me in good stead
throughout my career.
I was in Clayton house and played in house football matches. I was never in the school team which
I found odd as I was quite a good player, but then someone explained the reason by saying "Well,
you told them you didn't want to be in"! I still don't remember saying that. Another sport in which
I was competent was swimming, and I swam for Clayton house and for Nelson Swimming Club
who were in the Lancashire League. I cannot recall any inter-school swimming galas, but there
were many opportunities to win medals in the Lancashire League competitions. A boy from
Haslingden called Tuohay and I collected most of these medals between us. I didn't play cricket at
any level for the simple reason that the capital expenditure for the gear for my parents was too
high. I never stayed for school dinners. That would have been an unnecessary outlay for my
parents, so three of us used to play football at lunchtime, often all the way down to Bradley Hall
Road and back. I can still see the cobbles on the surface of Bradley Hall Road.
I left Nelson Secondary School in 1935, moving to Nuneaton with my parents. In the period up to
1935, my parents each ran four looms at Walter Pollard's mill on Glenfield Road in Nelson. The
Nelson weavers employed an insurance man and when this position became vacant; my father
applied for the post, and got it. It meant a rise in the weekly wage as he would be earning fifty
shillings a week, whereas a weaver only received thirty-five shillings a week. This led him on to
study the complicated system of elections, which followed with his appointment as an agent for
the Labour Party, and the move to Nuneaton. I transferred to Atherstone Grammar School where I
was able to take the Northern Universities Joint Matriculation Certificate, which I passed.
(Nuneaton Grammar School was associated with Cambridge University, and so not appropriate for
me.)
I made many long-term friends whilst I was in school, and the curriculum and the sport prepared
me well for being an adult. I loved the swimming, going down to Nelson Baths, and the crosscountry running. I remember well, starting from the school gates and running up to Turn Hill over
to Coldweather and back. Incidentally, I wore clogs for that exercise!
In 1936, I joined the L.M.S. Railway Company at Stockingford near Nuneaton, as a junior clerk,
and as a junior I was moved around to several different stations. Abbey Street, Arley and
Fillangley and Nuneaton. The principal work I did was booking passenger travel tickets and
invoicing the colliery for the amount of coal shifted. I worked well and diligently and was
expected to move up the ladder by taking the railway examinations. This would give me an
increase in wage, but also the obligation to pass a shorthand examination, which didn't appeal to
me at all, so I resigned!
We moved to Bradford in 1937, and I took up cycling, joining the Clarion Cycling Club, and
covered many miles over Yorkshire. In 1938, I applied to join the R.A.F. and was accepted. I
enlisted and signed on as a regular for six years on January 19th 1939, but because of the war, I
actually served in excess of seven years. After reception at West Drayton, I went to Cardington for
three months square-bashing. I would have finally passed out as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.
However during the training that followed, I found that I could not learn Morse Code. I tried and I
failed, but as war was declared in September of that year, I came to realise that the position of airgunner was a lethal one and maybe that saved my life. So I worked in the cookhouse on general
duties. Food was rationed by this time, and one of my little jobs was putting out butter pats on the
29
tables. I developed a particular skill of making the pats a little slimmer so that every so often I
would have accrued an extra pound to share with friends!
After a short time, I realised that in order to raise my level of pay, I needed to have a trade. I found
a seven week Equipment Officer course at RAF Cranwell, so I applied and was accepted. I took
the exam and felt quite confident that I'd been successful, so much so that I went home for the
weekend, but I was caught coming back! I was put on orders for being AWOL and sent to the
O.C., Wing Commander McCleary. I was asked how I thought I'd performed in the exam and I
replied: "I think very well sir; I expect to be in the top six!" Unfortunately the C.O. thought that I
was taking the micky and gave me 7 days confined to barracks. The results came out on the seventh
day of my confinement and I rushed over to check them. Sure enough, there I was, 85%, and third
out of a total of 150 who sat the exam. I was able to contact the O.C. who was very generous and
gave me a leave pass immediately and also organised transport to the station. So I was promoted
L.A.C., my pay was doubled and I had a trade as a storekeeper.
I joined „B‟ Flight of 17 Squadron at Martlesham Heath. It moved to Croydon during the Battle of
Britain, then to Castletown in North Scotland, Sumbrugh in the Shetlands, the Orkneys and finally
Elgin in the Grampians. By 1941, the Russians had come into the War. Britain and the USSR
signed a Mutual Aid Treaty on 12th July 1941. On 28th July 1941 the Squadron was sent to
Leconfield to join 134 Squadron (in 151 Wing) and instructed to embark on a boat for Russia, "The
Llanstephan Castle".
Forty eight Hurricane aircraft were being despatched to Murmansk, twenty four would be flying
there from an aircraft carrier, and we took twenty four on the boat, in pieces, to be assemble on
arrival in Murmansk. The idea was that 134 Squadron would demonstrate to the Russians how to
assemble subsequent shipments of Hurricanes and how to fly them. I believe ours was the first of
the Russian convoys to sail from England in August 1941, and the Squadron handed over the
Hurricanes to the Russian Navy on October 19th 1941.
The weather in Murmansk was not so different from that in Scotland, during the first couple of
months, but in November and before returning to England in December, the temperature dropped
and snow fell. The Russians coped with snow on the runways not by using snowploughs to remove
it as we tend to do, quite the reverse, they impacted it and hammered it down. The Russian people
made us very welcome. But there was virtually no fraternising. We were all kept very busy with
our respective jobs and as a storekeeper, I was fully occupied supplying parts to the fitters until all
forty eight planes were completed and flying.
It was in Murmansk that I committed another misdemeanour. I had discovered in the stores several
unlabelled and (until then) unopened boxes which we found to be towels. No-one seemed to be the
least bit interested in them, and so, being a conscientious store-keeper, I took them under my wing.
As a result, I was accused of misappropriating RAF property and put into a Russian gaol for 28
days. I was threatened that if I did not plead guilty, I would remain in there when the Squadron
returned to the U.K. I came out, without stripes. Others fared better: the O.C.'s of 134 Squadron and
81 Squadron were awarded the Order of Lenin, as was a sergeant who shot down three Luftwaffe
planes in one afternoon.
We returned to RAF Finningley in England in December 1941, but soon the Squadron was split up
and I found myself once more on the move, this time to West Kirby, Liverpool, to board a
troopship. This was a feature of the R.A.F. that instructions were never questioned and no
explanations given. We followed them until we arrived at the destination, wherever that might be.
After about ten days at sea, we arrived at Freetown, on the coast of West Africa. Then we spent
another ten days whilst waiting for the convoy to be assembled, then on to Durban and a transit
camp containing about 5,000 men. Under the guidance of officers, and to make sure we were
exercised, we were taken on trips to different areas. We packed trailers with rations and other
requirements and set off pulling the trailers, manually!
30
ACT Germany, September 2011
John Foster briefs Al Hayman , x ,Gary „ Asbo‟ Edgar, x , x , x ,
John Carruthers
Crash and Keith Wood with two friends
Gallagher/Edgar, Cross/Liam Shields/Mick Bourne, Tommo/
Rob Connor
Crash Stephenson, John Cross, Tommo Thomson, x , Martin Balister,
Knighty, S/Dr Jeff Metcalfe, John Carruthers, Sgt Geordie Young.
Asbo with Tommo
OC seems to be giving beer packs to Al Hayman, Mark Fennell
and Gally
Vertiginous vinyards of the Mosel Valley. The Reisling grapes are planted on 60°slopes in places. Every south facing slope is covered.
The Germans get Poles to harvest the grapes! It cost us a bomb to tour here in June: 609 got it for free!
80th Anniversary Celebrations at Leeds Bradford International Airport – or RAF Yeadon when 609 was born
609 veterans were invited to LBIA to enjoy a celebration flypast at the airfield on 23 Oct 2011
John Matley, Abigail Houlden of LBIA and Phil Proudley with the
609 Memorial
Peter Blayney, Abi, John, Ted Crossley, Phil, two more LBIA ladies
and John Redhead from the Telegraph and Argus
The BBMF Lancaster “Phantom of the Ruhr”
The Lancaster rounds the Control Tower
Thunder and speed: the BAE Typhoon beats up LBIA
Some great camera work from Peter Blayney . John Matley also sent me some but in difficult to reproduce format. Thanks anyway!
From Durban we sailed to Bombay, arriving in February 1942, and continued by train to Calcutta.
It was during the Bengal famine and it was sad to see so many children, with adults as well,
begging for food and waiting for left over‟s from our meals. We were intended to form 3PRU,
which became 681 Sqn, firstly at Asansol, then Dum Dum, where the soft nose bullet of that name
had been invented in the 19thCentury. It had been produced at the Dum Dum Arsenal for the
British Army. Here I was to meet old pals from 17 Sqn, who operated from the main road (the Red
Road) across the Maidan, a vast open field in the centre of Calcutta. (Flt. Lt Bob Windle [see
obituary above] was also at Dum Dum, but in September 1942 with 135 Sqn. 17 Squadron was
still at Maidan, so 135 had to use Dum Dum. It is possible that Victor and Bob served together,
unknowingly, at Dum Dum for a month or two. Small world – Ed)
A contemporary account of the time:
„Bounding one side of that great open space, the Maidan of Calcutta, runs a red-coloured road,
fifty yards wide as measured between the balustrades enclosing it. At the far end, a white marble
building, erected to commemorate an Empress already half forgotten, gleams and winks in the
sultry sunshine, and about half-way along it calm-faced Lord Lansdowne and inscrutable Lord
Roberts, graven in stone, look down benignly from their pedestals. In the summer, autumn and
winter of 1942, the statues of the pro-consul and his military colleague were the mute witnesses of
a new and striking use for this impressive highway. It had become the main landing ground for the
Hurricanes defending Calcutta.
The summer rains came and went; autumn passed, and with it the worst of the steamy heat, and in
Calcutta British fighter pilots were still awaiting an air onslaught which they had been told for
months was imminent. The macadamized surface of the Red Road, from which they took off and
on which they landed, was sharply cambered and was, moreover, less broad than appeared at first
sight because of the grass verges on each side. Nevertheless, a pilot of ordinary skill could make
use of this improvised runway without undue difficulty, and many did so. It was indeed very
necessary that they should, not only because it ran parallel to Calcutta's main street, the
Chowringhee, on one side of the Maidan, and was therefore in full view of her swarming,
apprehensive citizens; but also because it placed the defence in a central position where it could
repel attacks for which there would be little warning. The pilots waited at readiness in the shoddy
splendour of the Grand Hotel a few yards from their aircraft, and this station headquarters, if such
it can be called, was shared with a strange host of European refugees; 'sailors without ships,
aircrews without aircraft, soldiers without an army'.
Though our aircraft were frequently sent into the air, combats were few at first. The Japanese took
time to prepare their attack against the teeming capital of Bengal and did not launch it until the
month of December 1942. By then all but four of the Hurricane squadrons had been already
withdrawn for the purpose of supporting a limited offensive against the Island of Akyab, off the
Arakan coast, which was the only move Wavell at that stage felt able to make.‟
I was then posted on to 870 AMES in Silchar, Assam. (AMES, or Air Ministry Experimental
Station, covered all the 8 types of ground radar stations within the SEAC Command. This one was
870 Jalinga (Silchar) GCI – Ground Controlled Interception. It came under 181 Signals Wing,
based at Imphal. “The Forgotten Air Force” by the late Air Commodore Henry Probert, gives a
detailed account of the RAF in the war against Japan, and the vital part played by the all-too-few
AMES – Ed)
Another move, this time west to Bombay. I then decided to volunteer as aircrew, and on 28th
August 1943 was transferred to a draft going to South Africa again. When we arrived at Durban,
we moved up to 48 Air School at Bulawayo, and also at East London, to begin training for aircrew
in order that I might qualify as navigator. At the end of training, on 6th April 1944, we were offered
one week's leave at the Victoria Falls Hotel, just outside Bulawayo. It would only cost £5.
However, in my mind, that amount of money in 1943-44 would go a long way to providing furniture
when I was demobbed, so I turned down the offer, and preferred to spend time at the swimming
club in Bulawayo. I entered the Matabeleland Championships, in which I won the breast stroke,
and received a medal.
31
I left 48 AS, went to Capetown, and caught a ship back to the UK. Again in Nelson on October
14th 1944, I married Phyllis Mary Ellis, an ex student of Nelson Secondary School and a member
of the Swimming Club, and the following year David, our son, was born.
From 20th Feb 1945 I went to 10 (O) AFU (Advanced Flying Unit) at Dumfries, to continue my
training as a Sergeant Navigator. I moved to 75 OTU at Husband‟s Bosworth on 10th May. On 7th
July I moved to 101 Sqn at Ludford Magna, joining a crew, and continued training. Come VJ Day
on 15th August 1945, I was too late to become operational. So we were instructed to load up the
planes with bombs and drop them out over the Irish Sea, which we did. Another instruction was to
go with empty aircraft to bring back soldiers from various war zones. We had to report to the
Medical Officer to be inoculated. As I wasn't very keen to go on these trips, I needed to find an
excuse so I reported to the Medical Officer that I had never been inoculated. The fact that I hadn't
had any inoculations previously was surprising, but I put it down to the fact that everything was
done at the double, and so there had been no time. I told the Medical Officer that my family did
not believe in them! "Inoculation refused" was stamped in my Pay Book. I spent the time in the
Map store!
I was given a Class A Release on 26th February 1946. We lived at 55, Rhoda Street, and after I
had contacted the Station Master at Nelson to tell him my plans, he agreed to employ me for six
months on a temporary basis. After that, I was hoping to be working in the Civil Service. They
had presented an opportunity for all ex-regulars of the forces to take their examination and if a
good mark was achieved, you could choose your career direction. I took the exam, passed well,
and chose the Inland Revenue.
I began my Civil Service career with the Inland Revenue at Nelson Tax Office, and then at their
behest, I was moved to Colne. I found the work comparatively easy and was ambitious to move up
the ladder, as it were. I hoped that my next move would be to Bradford, where my parents were
now living, but evidently there were staff in the Colne office that had other ideas and perhaps felt
that they were above me on the entitlement to promotion list. Not all the staff in the office were
pulling their weight and I thought that perhaps a discreet word in the right direction might give me
an advantage. Eventually, there was information arriving that quoted a vacancy in the Bradford
office, so I applied immediately, was accepted, and moved on. Once there, and working, I was
promoted to the Tax Officer Higher Grade.
Then came news of a new Tax Office opening in Bootle, near Liverpool, so I moved there and
found that I was able to speed up delivery processes of stationery and books from several days
down to one day, which was beneficial to staff and results. My final move was to Rownbury
House, Manchester, the Inland Revenue Training Centre, and it was here that I was promoted to
Tax Inspector and remained there until I retired.
I joined 609 (WR) RAuxAF Sqn at Yeadon, as a storekeeper (Equipment Assistant) on 14th
February 1949. Whilst I was working for the Inland Revenue, I would take some days of my
official leave to attend some of their functions. I represented the Squadron at the Great Yorkshire
Show, Harrogate, as a Recruiting Officer for 3 years, and was able to explain to pre-national
service youngsters that if they wanted a good career with a smart uniform and a guarantee of a
good life, they should consider the R.A.F. I‟d cycle to Yeadon until Darkie Hanson (Eng. Officer)
and Dougie Andrews (Adjutant) persuaded me to buy a car. I got a 1939 Riley 9, later changing it
for an AC Drop head Coupe. I re-mustered to General Duties, and was promoted to Sergeant.
When the Squadron moved to RAF Church Fenton in 1950, I attended every weekend. I joined the
Selby Swimming Club, representing them whilst in uniform at inter-league events at Leeds District
fixtures. I participated in freestyle swimming and water polo. This brought 609 to the attention of
local residents. I was chosen to represent Fighter Command at the RAF Swimming Championships,
and had a trial for the RAF Team. I can remember swimming at Cranwell, Halton and especially
Cosford, where I met a PTI who had enlisted with me on 19th January 1939!
When the new 609 Town Headquarters, Wheatfield‟s, opened in Headingly, Leeds, in June 1955, I
was the Sergeant‟s Mess Treasurer and Caterer. For the Saturday night Social‟s, my Mum would
32
173807 Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward “Bob” Windle AFC
135 Sqn airmen service a Hurricane at Dum Dum in Nov 1943. Bob in his Hurricane – he didn‟t like the P-47 Thunderbolt that he flew next
The first RAF jet aerobatic team of 245/266 (Northern Rhodesia)
Sqn, formed and led by Bob, who received the AFC for this
Bob now leads 609‟s Meteor F8 aerobatic team. Bob (l) briefs
Jimmy Heath, Frank Reacroft and Ernie Lumb in 1953
1953: Ernie Lumb, Big Dave Shaw, Don “Bushy” Dransfield, Frank CO Arthur Hudson receives Hunting Horns Trophy and documents
Reacroft, Barney Barnes, Steve Lerche, Bob Windle
from Mrs Friend and Mrs Andrew. Back: Darkie Hanson, Frank,
Bob , Barney, Jimmy Heath and Big Dave Shaw
◄Bob arriving in Malta for the 1953 Summer
Camp.
Down time was spent at St. Pauls Bay: Bob is
standing .
▼
Bob in 2010 at the RBL Ripon Home►
Victor Titherington
Vic‟s first job was with LMS Railways, whose crest adorns
Leeds Station today
The Llanestephan Castle, that took Vic, 24 crated Hurricanes and
134 Sqn to Murmansk, arriving on 19th Oct 1941
134 Sqn airmen with reassembled „Russian‟ Hurricane at
Vic was sent to Calcutta, India in February 42, where his old pals in
Murmansk-Vaenga Airfield in 1942
17 Sqn flew from the Red Road beside the side of the Maidan. Hazards
included wandering buffalos and locals: this lot are carrying a piano.
On to Dum Dum in 1943.
Vic then went to 870 AMES at Silchar, Assam. In August 43, to 48 Air School, Bulawayo, Rhodesia
Vic won a medal for the breast stroke at
With 101 Sqn at RAF Ludford Magna on VJ day. Joining 609 in Feb 1949, Vic bought an AC
Bulawayo Swimming Club‟s Champioships
Drophead Coupe – this is Lord March‟s!
Malta Summer Camp 1953. By the time the airmen arrived, Vic had bought crates of Coke to sell at a profit, and looks pretty happy!
Victor Titherington (cont‟d)
Sqn HQ: Wheatfield‟s, scene of Vic‟s Mum‟s 1 m² pasties,
which Marcia Gadd carried on her lap in that AC above!
The Stoop, Oct 2000: Colin Scull, Ted Crossley, Vic, Alf Jennings,
Peter and Paul Gladstone
Ken Hobbs with Vic at the70th Anniversary Reunion at
St Georges Hotel, Middleton–St–George, June 2008.
The Stoop Oct 2008: Colin, Christine Titherington, Desmond Park
Brian Waite and Vic.
John Matley and Vic at the 609 Room Rededication
Radcliffe Crematorium gardens 12th April 2011
Victor arrives at the Crematorium under the 609(West Riding) Squadron Flag
Farwell to a great stalwart, supporter and key member of 609 during the jet age. It was a privilege to have been your friend .
609 Weather Vanes
This is theoretically Bee Beamont‟s Typhoon PR-B above the 609 Squadron Room at the Yorkshire Air Museum. Rhoeta Brazier has pointed out
that Bee actually used PR-G as his usual aircraft. Anyway, not to be outdone, I commissioned a version of my Dad George Darley‟s Spitfire PR-A
this summer. It is fixed to the garage wall underneath our bedroom at home. Trouble is, it is partly sheltered from the wind, so Dad spins
aimlessly in circles much of the time. I have to use the battered and bent cockerel vane on our neighbour‟s nearby
shed to work out which way my old chap should be pointing!
Flt/Lt Gordon Lean‟s lost photo album
1938 Summer Camp. Gordon is 2nd from right by the Avro Tutor
Bob Smith, killed at Middle Wallop when it was bombed
Two unhappy Spitfires at Drem in 1939/1940
A cold Spitfire, also at Drem
A warmer Drem – ? , ? , Trigger Hainsworth and Gordon Lean
Gordon Leans photo album (cont‟d)
Gordon took this remarkable picture of Middle Wallop being bombed by a lone Ju88 on 14th August 1940. He was on a hangar roof, but
obviously not 609‟s No 5. The doors that came off in the blast killed the three airmen trying to close them: Bob Smith, Ken Wilson and Harry
Thorley. Sgt Alan Feary was 30 seconds behind the Ju88 , and shot it down, killing all the crew when it came down 5 miles away.
Hangar 5 after the bombing. A Spitfire and Blenheim within
were destroyed. Joe Roddis was in here, and survived
The Ju88 after Alan Feary‟s attention
I reckon that this is the „A‟ Flight Airmen. Back: Tony Diminuantes, Tony Jones, Johnny Bushby, Ben Bean, Howson,? , Foulds, Cpl Brown,? ,?,
Gordon L Lean, Sgt Alan Rabbidge, ?. Front: Trigger Hainsworth, Scrimshaw, ? and maybe Hockton. Tony Jones is still out there, along
with Ernie Barker – any ideas, gents.?
Gordon Leans photo album (cont‟d)
Outside the Darley Bungalow with bits from the 100th kill. From left: maybe Scrimshaw, ?, Ernie Barker in doorway, ? , ? , Trigger Hainsworth
and ?. The words read “Don‟t panic – we make our score 103. More to follow” On the right it says “OK boys! Now for a Party”
Airmen celebrating the 100th Kill. Gordon Lean 2nd from left back row, Diminuantes and Hainsworth 8th and 9th, Ernie Taylor 11th. Jim
Earnshaw 4th from left, front. I think that this is a mixture of the three Flights. Tony and Ernie: help please!
◄ Gordon outside his home in 1940. He was posted to Africa to
service Sunderland‟s, as was Bill Block. He was promoted to
Flight Engineer, though not as yet in the group shot below. He is
correctly attired on the right.
make Cornish Pasties 3 feet (a metre, youngsters) square, accompanied by mushy peas, as free
issue to all of our „customers‟.
In March 1957, all the Auxiliary Squadrons were disbanded. 3609 Fighter Control Unit took most
of the 609 airmen, but the CO Sq/Ldr Thompson declined to accept me. At the time I was a bit
upset, but he actually did me a favour. (Marcia Gadd told me that Victor‟s father was the Labour
Agent for Bradford, and that Sq/Ldr Thomson was the Conservative Agent for Leeds. Ouch! – Ed).
Sq/Ldr Arthur Hudson (609 CO 1950-53) and Col. Bryce (Sec. of Aux. and Territorial Forces for
Yorkshire) persuaded Col. Taylor of 466 Sgt. Royal Artillery, to take me on strength as a Sgt. I rose
to become a Company Sgt. Major. Later I transferred to the Leeds Rifles T.A. as a
sergeant/storekeeper. When they wanted a Treasurer for their Association, I volunteered. “Young”
Dave Shaw and Desmond Park came with me. Ten of the happiest years of my service
I have always been a keen cyclist and have been a member of the Bradford C.C. and the
Wolverhampton C.C. from the 1930's, and I had a Baines cycle in the 1940's, which I believe is
still going strong. When I finally retired from the Inland Revenue in April 1980, I was presented
with a new cycle. As a boy at Nelson Secondary School, I never expected that I would travel
abroad, but in fact, I have been to many countries in the world during my career, and for a boy
who scorned languages and art, who couldn't see any reason to leave England, I've been out of
the country almost as much as I've been in it! My family have encouraged the travel too, as I have
visited my son and his wife, my grandson and two great grandsons in New Zealand more than
once.
My first wife died in April 1955, and I married Christine Rate in November 2000. She takes good
care of me, and takes an active part in 609 Squadron Association Affairs. She takes me to reunions
and meetings, especially since arthritis got to me in 2004. (Christine has been invaluable in
keeping the October meeting at the Yeadon Stoops from petering out. Started out by Marcia Gadd
and Victor, it remains our nice informal gathering at the end of the year. Thank you!! – Ed)
…………………………….
My own particular memories of Victor are of receiving 2nd hand envelopes, all carefully readdressed and sealed, for almost all of his letters to me. He wasn‟t even proper Yorkshire!
There was a strong belief within 609 that Victor had a brother, Arthur Titherington. Imprisoned by
the Japanese for 3½ years, he‟d spent much of his life pursuing various Japanese Governments for
both an apology for their harsh treatment and financial compensation for all POW‟s of the Japs. In
this, he was eventually successful. As potent a force as our Victor, and a Lancastrian, there is no
family connection whatsoever. As Victor said, he was an only child.
I found these two items when Google-ing today. Sounds like our Victor!
Understanding Air Rage – Daily Telegraph Travel, 12 Jan 2002
“As an 81-year-old pensioner, I used to be surprised when I read about "air rage", but on a recent
trip to Majorca I began to understand what may trigger it off.
First, there's the long check-in time - three hours before take-off for a two-hour flight. Then there
are the exorbitant costs of coffee, tea and snacks in the departure lounge (where the customers are
captive). Finally, the costs incurred on the flight itself - I brought a 20p bottle of drinking water
with me, but was stopped from drinking it by the cabin crew and then charged £1.50 for a bottle
from their trolley. I was not best pleased.”
Victor Titherington, Nelson, Lancs
Burnley Express 31 October 2003, on house price statistics
“On Friday, October 24th, you had a letter on the subject of House price collapse from a man who
is a fool, a knave or a jester. The evidence of the fall of terraced house prices, (which he
questions), is in your own paper under the estate agents adverts.
33
In February, 1994, I paid £25,000 for this house. When I die, I am advised by my executors that I
will have difficulty getting £18,000 for it. If the letter writer will put his money where his mouth is
and buy it from me now at a 38%, (his figure) increase on £25,000, I shall be pleased to sell it to
him now.”
Victor Titherington, Nelson, Lancs
Aye, that‟s our Victor, right enough! I have other stories, from the numerous letters that he sent
me, but I‟ll keep those for the next issue. I have devoted a great deal of space to his memory, but
felt obliged to do so, for the reason given in my Editorial.
Now let Marcia Gadd have the final words – and photos, on an adjacent page.
“I was very sorry to hear of the death of Vic Titherington. I first met him in 1951 when 1 joined
3609 Fighter Control Unit - 60 years ago! There was quite a bit of socialising between the three
West Riding units, 3609 F.C.U., 2609 R.A.F. Regiment and 609 Squadron, especially after the
opening of Town HQ at Wheatfield‟s in Headingly. From 1953 I also worked with Vic in Inland
Revenue in Bradford. He helped me apply for a job there after I'd lost my previous job at the
department store, Brown Muff's. (Roger Pettie and F/O Cliff Wood (both 3609) also worked in
the Tax Office).
Vic always worked quietly and doggedly organising things and making things happen. There are
several things I remember about his organisational skills! He once invited me to a guest night in the
Sergeant‟s Mess at Church Fenton. I was a bit surprised to find he'd also invited a bevy of bus
conductresses from the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., to make up the numbers; or so he said.
His parents had a cafe in Bradford - now an Italian restaurant, I think. Sometimes they provided food
for functions at Wheatfield‟s. I remember once I went with Vic to collect supper from the café'. I
had a rather hair-raising experience riding in the passenger seat of his open-topped AC sports car,
frantically trying to hold on to a huge tray of meat and potato pie while we raced from Bradford to
Headingly.
Some years later I left both 3609 and the tax office to start a family and last contact with all but 2 or
3 of my old R.A.F. pals. Until one day in 1996, almost 40 years later, I happened to be in the
NAAFI at Elvington with a couple of friends, when who should I see walking towards me but
Vic! As he passed, I said "Hello Vic". He looked down and exclaimed "Marcia Clark!" which is
how he remembered me. It happened to be the day of the 609 reunion. That day I also met
again several of the chaps I'd known 40 years previously: Darkie Hanson, Don Dransfield, Pete
Brown, Bill Block et al. Vic also played the unlikely role of 'cupid' between Pete Brown and me!
In those days members of 3609 weren't eligible to join the Association, although I did attend a
couple of reunions as a guest of Pete Brown. However Vic suggested I organise a reunion for
members of 3609 at Yeadon Stoops. I really didn't know where to start in looking for old
comrades. But with encouragement, lots of help and advice from Vic - writing to local
newspapers across the north of England, searching telephone directories and even having a piece
broadcast on Radio Leeds, I found quite a few old friends. And in May 2000 we had a very
successful get together of about 20 3609ers (plus Vic) at the Stoops. Now, of course we have
combined Reunions and we can also be members of the Association.
And this year Vic won't be with us at the Stoops. I know he will be sorely missed, not least by me.”
Marcia Gadd
……………………………………………..
34
Paddy White
First boat trip was in this, the Ballykelly
Flying training in Boeing Stearmans and AT-6 Texan‟s at Falcon Field, Arizona in 1945
Flying a Spitfire XV1 of 61 OTU at RAF Keevil in 1947
Sgt pilots with Meteor F4 of CFS Little Rissington in 1951. Paddy 2nd right
◄ With 609 from 1954, Paddy “shows his age” says
original caption from Celle Summer Camp, 1955.
►▼ Looking a bit younger in 1954, at Church Fenton
◄▼Duty done for his great buddy, the beer filled remain s of
Peter Hodgson lie on the bed behind Paddy‟s head. Fellow
TO Mike Smart and moustached Darkie „Dad‟ Hanson are
back left; back right is Malcolm Slingsby. The rest from l-r
are Pete Bailey, Archie Graham, Claud „Doc‟ Sharp and
an unknown reg RAF pilot. Church Fenton October 1956.
“Just follow the oil slick home.” Blackburn Beverley
Paddy is seated, 2 nd left, in front of the Twin Pioneer at Kuala Lumpur,
on secondment to the Malaysian Air Force as an instructor in 1956
Paddy in France in 1969
►
Paddy and Patti White‟s
home for 20 years: the
Marihona, a 35 ft long
traditional wooden
Norwegian gaff cutter, with
an 8' bowsprit. Not much for
sailing across the Atlantic
three times.
▼
▲Belgians flown over in BAF Dakota for disbandment party. In
door, l-r: Commandent P Cooreman, Lt/Col Willie van Lierde,
Darkie Hanson (E) and Dave Guild (adj). Seated is “Windmill
Charlie” Charles de Moulin. Front: „Young‟ Dave Shaw, Captain
Georges Jaspis DFC, Paddy White, OC „Big‟ Dave Shaw, Steve
Lerche (ATC), Belgian Dakota pilot.
Party time!
1796153 Flight Lieutenant Maurice “Paddy” White
Paddy White was the last Training Officer of 609, before it‟s disbandment in March 1957. He was
Regular RAF, and succeeded Bob Windle, whose obituary you will have read above. In keeping
with many others who had been through 609 (WR) Squadron, he brought a high level of
competence and humour, plus some eccentricity to his role. Researching his life has been great
fun, and the man never led a quiet life.
I spoke to Patti, his widow, and got a lot of information to begin with. I visited their son Mike
(who has stories of himself worthy of telling in another issue!) who added lots as well. He and his
wife Rena proved to be amiable hosts once I reached their Dorset home in my Land Rover
Defender. They like the marque well, owning a trusty Discovery.
Paddy [„Pop‟ or „Daddy‟ never suited him] was born in August 1924 on Island Magee, or
Islandmagee, a serene spot on the Antrim Coast just north of Belfast. Locals refer to it as “the
island” but it is actually a peninsula about 8 miles (12 km) long and between two and three miles
wide. It is connected by a narrow passage to the mainland just off Whitehead and then continues
parallel to the coast all the way to Larne, forming Larne Lough. The peninsula has a long tradition
of sea faring, having produced more famous mariners than any similarly sized piece of real estate
in Ireland. This is where he picked up his life-long love of sailing, and sailing boats.
Between the ages of 11 and 18, Paddy attended The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, locally
referred to as Inst, a Grammar School in an 18-acre site in the centre of the city on which its first
buildings were erected in 1809. With three uncles all in the Merchant Navy, it was inevitable that
he became very interested in ships. His first big ship experience was with his Uncle John, in a tall,
thin-funnelled coal boat called the Ballykelly. Kelly Lines imported coal into N.Ireland.
Patti said that Paddy had been desperate to become a flier from a young age, and “Kept
volunteering until the RAF gave in, in August 1942.” His initial grading and training was at
Redhill Aerodrome, then, as now, an all grass airfield in mid Surrey. But his training was then put
on hold. Not as many pilots were being killed as had been expected, so to mark time he was sent
to London to repair the roofs of bombed houses for 18 months. He was blown off one when its
tarpaulin covering ballooned up in a gale. (Mike said this happened post-war, but I defer to Patti
on this one – Ed.). He eventually got into a Tiger Moth at nearby Fair Oaks airfield in March
1944.
Boarding the Queen Mary, Paddy sailed for Monkton in Baltimore, transferring to Falcon Field,
near Mesa in Arizona, in April 1945. Falcon Field got its start prior to World War II, when
Hollywood producer Leland Hayward and pilot John H. "Jack" Connelly founded Southwest
Airways with funding from friends like Henry Fonda, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, James
Stewart, Hoagy Carmichael and others. Southwest Airways operated two other airfields in Arizona
-- Thunderbird Field No. 1 (now the site of Thunderbird School of Global Management) and
Thunderbird Field No. 2 (now the site of Scottsdale Airport) -- to train pilots from China, Russia
and 24 other Allied nations. Falcon was to be Thunderbird Field III and would train British pilots.
But the British said they'd like the field to be named after one of their birds, and thus Falcon Field
was opened as the No. 4 British Flying Training School (BFTS). There were six BFTS airfields in
the U.S.; in Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, California and Arizona.
In September 1941, the first cadets of the British Royal Air Force arrived. They trained in
Stearman PT-17 biplanes and North American Aviation AT-6 Harvard monoplane trainers. The
good weather, wide-open desert terrain, and lack of enemy airpower provided significantly safer
and more efficient training than was possible in England. Even so, twenty-three British cadets, one
American cadet and four instructors were killed in training and are now buried in the Mesa City
Cemetery, along with several of their colleagues who have since died of natural causes. Several
thousand pilots were trained there until the RAF installation was closed at the end of World War
35
II. And Paddy was still there when the war ended, having been trained by Yankee ex-crop dusters.
“Come on, let‟s go, get your jump suit on” was the familiar cry of one his favourite instructor‟s on
the Stearman. Paddy loved his time there, keeping up contacts until sheer old age caused the
„Friends of Falcon Field‟ to disband. He left all his log books, bar that of 609, with the Arizona
Air Force Museum. (Mike kindly copied this for me – Ed.). Patti told me that she had informed
„The Friends” of Paddy‟s hospitalisation with leukaemia, shortly before he died. They promptly
organised a big collection from all nationalities, including a 95-year old Scot, and sent it over to
the Hospital.
After being shipped back home in 1945 to RAF Ternhill in Shropshire, he was posted as a
Sergeant Pilot to the RAF Central Flying School at Little Rissington in Gloucestershire, to
complete his interrupted training. It was around this time, whilst doing aerobatics over the nearby
Gloucester Aircraft‟s factory during its lunch break that he impressed a young WAAF called Patti,
whom he subsequently met at a Tea Dance in Cheltenham, something neither of them had been to
before. Patti had been on the doorstep of her local WAAF Recruiting Office on the morning of her
18th birthday in August 1941. She said that Paddy had done the same thing on his 18 th birthday, a
year later! They were married during Paddy‟s demob leave in 1946. Daughter Felicity was born in
1948, Mike following in 1949.
In June 1947, he went as a Sergeant Pilot to No 61 Operational Training Unit at RAF Keevil in
Wiltshire, where, after one flight in a Harvard, he learnt to fly the Spitfire XV1. Paddy moved to
RAF Bentwaters Operational Conversion Unit in December 1947, learning to fly the Meteor F3. A
move to 66 Squadron at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire followed in May 1948, flying Meteor
F4‟s. Posting to 63 Sqn at Duxford and Waterbeach from 21 March to 6th Nov 1951 resulted in his
Commission in 1951 as a Master Pilot. (This was effectively a “Senior NCO Pilot”, but the rank
had I thought gone at the end of 1950. Pilots were reclassified as Flying or Pilot Officers – Ed).
Paddy‟s record of Service at the back of his log book records a spell from 6 Nov 1951 to 3rd Jan
1952 at “136 F.I.C”, and subsequently with the same unit at Little Rissington until 26 Feb 1952.
What is F.I.C? Flying Instructors Course, maybe? There was a Flying Training School at both
venues then, but I can‟t find any explanation for F.I.C. Anyway, that apart, he moved to 203
Advanced Flying School at Driffield on 3rd March 1952, for 2 years, until 24 Feb 1954. His log
book says 1952, but if you take that as correct, he spent two years out of the RAF! Which he
didn‟t. „Flying Officer M White‟ received his Flying Instructor‟s Category 1 Certificate on 14 th
March, 1952, confirming him as able to instruct on Harvard‟s, Percival Prentice‟s and Meteor‟s.
From 24th Feb to 5th March 1954, he attended the Central Gunnery School at RAF Leconfield.
which, among other functions, trained air gunners in Lincoln bombers. This School was later
transformed into the Fighter Weapons School. The aircraft then flown were mainly single-seat
Venoms and Meteors, plus twin-seat Vampire T11, Meteor trainers and Hawker Hunters for trials
with Aden cannons in 1957. The first page of Paddy‟s log book that I have is from there, where
Captain J Clifton USAF and OC „B‟ Flt (really!), signed it at the completion of Paddy‟s stay, he
having flown all but the Hunters. On the 26th March 1954 came his CGS Certificate for the
Vampire and Venom – not the Meteor, it seems.
On May 29th 1954, he joined 609 at Church Fenton. Early log book entries show flights in a T7
with Jimmy Heath, Mike Butcher, Sq/Ldr Tommy Evans, Johnny Viles, „Dad‟ (Engineering
Officer Darkie Hanson) and intriguingly, a Mr Tordoff, the purpose being “photo”. There was an
E Tordoff, presumably an AC2 in C Flight, who was photographed with AC2 J Moorhouse, at
Church Fenton‟s Summer Camp in 1939. (The very successful Bradford born Jack Tordoff, born
in 1935, and who has a 64 strong car showroom business, has confirmed no family connection).
Was it was a relative who worked as photographer for the Yorkshire Post or Evening Post? I see
no other reason for a civilian to get a ride in a military jet. Invariably Darkie Hanson hitched a ride
with Paddy en route to 609‟s Summer Camps. One entry on 17th March 1956 reads “Meteor T7
„W‟ with Flt/Lt Lerche to West Malling – Esher Trophy!” This will be the Trophy Escort Flight to
the next winners, 600 Sqn.
36
Paddy‟s family lived in the nearest house to the Church Fenton Officers Mess. They helped the
Sqn staff to build some of the concrete garages for the Married Quarters. Paddy rates his time with
609 as the most satisfying time of his life. Son Mike recollects being left outside the Mess, in the
Station‟s Humber Staff car, wearing his pyjamas. CO „Big‟ Dave Shaw spotted Mike out there,
and came over to ask if he could help. “I want my Dad!” was roughly the reply, so Dave Shaw
went in, found Paddy, and said “White, a young airman wants you, outside.”
Paddy became an inseparable buddy of Peter “The Ox” Hodgson and Darkie Hanson. The postwar Squadron had several Regular RAF Training Officers – Flt/Lt “Spike” Moran, Flt/Lt‟s R Fox,
A Godfrey and D Thomas. More latterly Flt/Lt‟s Mike Smart, Barney Barnes, Bob Windle, but
Paddy was the last one left at disbandment in 1957.
After leaving 609, in April 1957 Paddy became a Flight Commander of the RAF Jurby Officer
Cadet Training Schools. This ghastly windswept airfield at the top of the Isle of Man housed 3
schools, each with four Flight Commanders. They used the Anson T19 trainer. For some years
now, Paddy and Patti had owned a yacht, and he sailed this over to the IoM for weekend use.
After Jurby came a posting in the winter of 1959 to 209 Sqn RAF Seletar, Singapore, for Army
Co-operation work. 209 flew Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer‟s, but Paddy had to fly his all the
way from the UK to Seletar. He, his Navigator and Flight Engineer were given a bag of gold as
their only currency, and told to avoid Egypt. They had to land anywhere and everywhere to refuel,
and it took them 4 weeks! Once there, their job was resupply troops in Malaya and Borneo, often
dropping off and collecting members of the SAS. To disguise their intent, these would travel in
pin stripe suits and bowler hats, but carrying bergens. They‟d adopt combat dress once in theatre,
but would be back in civvies when returning to HQ. To be with him, Patti hitched a lift with
Transport Command, via Aden, Gan, Kuala Lumpar and finally Singapore. The crew offered to
take her on to Hong Kong if she‟s wanted to. She and Paddy both loved Singapore – plenty of
sailing, no doubt. (I was in Singapore, at RAF Changi, from Nov 55 to Dec 58, leaving aged 13. I
loved it, too, but my Mum found the 95% humidity very trying – she couldn‟t dress in a pretty
frock without it soon clinging to her. Only fans back then, no air con. – Ed)
Paddy evacuated a group of Dyak‟s from a flooded area, who awarded him honorary membership
of their head hunter clan. Paddy called his first boat „Dyak‟ in recognition of this achievement!
Paddy did get his hands on a Blackburn Beverley whilst out there. It was large four engined, fixed
undercarriage transport aircraft. The in-service joke was that the pilot would fly it out, but the copilot could fly it back by merely following the oil slick!
At the end of his tour in July 1962, Paddy flew home, but the Yom Kippur war started in mid-air
when they were approaching Israel and Syria. Diverted to Ankara in Turkey, they were miles out
of their way, and desperately short of fuel. With no money to pay for it, the Turks held them until
cash could be found.
Next came a posting that Paddy absolutely hated. It was to South Cerney‟s Officer Cadet Training
School, and it proved to be his last proper RAF appointment. After this, Paddy was seconded to
the Malaysian Air Force in 1965 as an instructor, once again flying Twin Pioneers, but this time
out of Kuala Lumpur.
Offered the chance to start up a DH Caribou Squadron out there, Paddy decided that enough was
enough. He and Patti wanted to go long distance sailing, so, after 25 years of RAF Service, he
resigned his Commission in 1967. On the return journey in the Troop Ship Nevassa, it was buzzed
by MiG‟s near Egypt.
The White‟s effectively took to the seas for the next 20 years. They owned several boats, and
made three transatlantic crossings. Paddy and Patti would return to the UK for a month each year,
renting a cottage, before setting off again. On their first crossing, Mike, who was with the RAF in
37
Belize, flew to join them at Gibraltar. His parent‟s boat was moored in the Destroyer Pens. Air
Commodore Charles Fountain, Director of Recruiting from Sep 1977 to March 1979, spotted the
RAF roundels on their boat, stopped his car, and asked after them. On hearing their intentions, he
invited the Whites to a party. “But we haven‟t got any decent clothes!” “Don‟t worry; just turn up
at 6pm.” Which they duly did. Upon arrival the WAAF Steward was told “Don‟t let Paddy‟s glass
drop below half full!” He was so rowdy upon return to the harbour that Patti and Mike had to
prostrate him in the bottom of the dinghy, and sit on him to keep him quiet as they rowed back to
their yacht. They sailed for Cadiz, passing some Russian ELINT trawlers which Mike
photographed for future use! Reaching Gran Canaria, Mike had run out of leave, so left them to
sail on to the Caribbean. On the second crossing, the White‟s crewman lost the plot in midAtlantic in a gale and turned back, so the Whites had to grab him, turn the boat west again, and sit
on him in turns until reaching the Caribbean! This boat was 48' overall, not much for an ocean
sailing yacht.
Their last boat was the Marihona, a 34' 7″ traditional wooden Norwegian gaff cutter, with an 8'
bowsprit. It had been shipped to Hamilton in the US, fitted out in Bermuda, and sold to a group of
doctors for a year, after which the White‟s bought it. When visiting the UK, Mike, who was
working with the Marine Craft Unit at Plymouth, would have to escort his father through the
works carefully, in case he made off with something for his prized boat!
Paddy and Patti sailed the world for 20 years, but Paddy became susceptible to cold near the end,
which made him ill. The Marihona was also in need of refitting, so, regretfully, they sold her in
1984. Two weeks later, Patti found him at the harbour, looking wistfully at the boats. “Right – this
won‟t do!” They bought a camper van, put their belongings in bin bags, drove like mad to
Portugal, and then set about discovering how everything worked! This resulted in the next 10
years being spent in this van, touring Europe and elsewhere. It became progressively more
battered; the front bumper fell of just within reach of Mike‟s house on one of his parent‟s visits.
Mike had to source a new bonnet and bumper, and fit them, before it was safe to drive away.
When the camper van finally died in 2001, Paddy and Patti bought two caravans – one for the UK,
one in the Algarve.
Paddy had a stroke in 2006, and that was the end of his driving, so the caravans had to go. Three
years later, he was diagnosed with leukaemia, and spent the final month of his life at St Lukes‟
Hospice, overlooking RAF Mount Batten, a one-time seaplane station in Plymouth Sound.
At Paddy‟s cremation at Plymouth Crematorium, an old sailing buddy, Brian, gave the eulogy, and
niece Fleur read “High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee.
When I spoke to Patti in the spring of 2010 she was living briefly near Salcombe. She‟d been on a
Mediterranean cruise the previous November, and had just returned from 5 weeks in Portugal.
“I‟ve got no wish to sit around!” She had kept in touch with Anna Hargreaves and Margaret Ellis.
The Hargreaves were also great sailors – Malcolm built his own boat. Peter Ellis worked in ATC
at Church Fenton, and he and Margaret were great sailors. Peter was a Master Mariner, sailed
around Britain, and their catamaran took them from the Baltic to the Med.
Vice President Dave Shaw had received the following Christmas card from Patti in December
2009
“Very sorry to tell you that your old colleague Paddy White took off on his last flight on Maundy
Thursday this last Easter after a long and distressing illness, strokes and leukaemia.
We had a great life together for sixty two and a half years. Happy, exciting and never a dull
moment, so I have lots of memories. He always loved 609 and I've been wading through hundreds
of photos, logs etc. Which son Mike is now custodian of.”
Dave went on to tell me:
38
“We needed both regular and auxiliary adjutants. If we had been called up our auxiliaries would
have taken over but there was much work in a squadron that could not be coped with by us. Much
adjutant work needed communication with the regular RAF who was off at weekends. The same
with engineering supplies, ammunition etc. Not easy to be a Regular Officer in an Auxiliary Sqn
without very good Auxiliary NCO‟s to maintain discipline. Which we had.
Our regular adjutants were Barney up to 1954/5 and then Mike Smart. I seem to remember that
Mike got to Wing Commander after leaving us and then had a serious accident or illness. They
were all very good. Training officers were Bob Windle and then Paddy White, and very good they
were too. Also a regular Engineering Officer - Ralph Mills in my day - Darkie was the auxiliary.
David Guild was our auxiliary adj. Dougie Andrews was also classed as an adjutant but never
quite certain what he did. Air Traffic Control was George Monks and Dinger Bell. Later (1956?)
Steve Lerche was transferred from pilot to ATC due to age. Lofty Dixon was ATC when I joined
but not for long.
We were very, very lucky with our regular officers. Tommy Evans, Paddy, Mike Smart, Bob
Windle, Barney (Barnes) and others where more 'auxiliary' than we were. When I tried to land
without wheels Paddy scrawled 'over confident' in my log book. I was lucky to get away with just
that.
The reason that our regulars loved being with an auxiliary squadron was that we were a family,
with some of us serving with the squadron for twenty years and many for five or more. Unlike
regular units, where most personnel moved on after two years. They could never develop the
same feeling of comradeship and pride in what they were doing, as could we in 609. And having
fun too.”
Lest we Forget:
Peter Baines
Spike Moran
Paul Hudson
Peter Price
Billy Trotter
Colin Scull
Alan Enser
George Watelet
Allen Billam
Their obituaries will follow in the next newsletter.
Margaret Ellis wrote me a letter some time ago, linking her late husband Peter and herself to
Paddy and Patti White, whose story is above.
“Peter wasn‟t a real 609er, as he‟d been in Anson‟s and Wellington‟s (planes, not boots!) during
the war. When demobbed he went weekend flying at Doncaster Airport. Not with the VR, the
other one. When that folded he joined forces with 3 others from Doncaster: George Monks, Stuart
and I think Malcolm (Slingsby? – Ed). On weekends, as well as Mondays and Thursdays, they
shared cars, and travelled to Church Fenton. Peter lost his rank, so re-mustered as Air Traffic
Control.
When all that finished we bought a National Twelve sailing dinghy, and proudly called it “Tally
Ho!” We spent 20 years racing it, until we re-met Paddy and Patti, authentically 609ers, and began
serious sailing. We met up 2 or 3 times a year, and now as widows just natter on the phone.
We were also members of the RAFSA, which was an honour, and proudly flew the pennant and
ensign (which I tucked into Peter‟s coffin to make him feel at home!). So, although not a proper
609ers, Peter much enjoyed his time with all of them in the Squadron.”
That concludes this issue. I’ll try for another one shortly – I need to, there are lots
to report! DD, March 2011
39
609 (WEST RIDING) SQUADRON ASSOCIATION 2012
PRESIDENT Air Vice-Marshal A F C “Sandy” Hunter, CBE AFC MA LLB DL
VICE PRESIDENTS
Sir J A "Joe" Atkinson KCB DFC
Brigade General Albert Laforce C de G avec Palme
Dave R Shaw
(email: shaw@telefonica.net)
Maurice Voase
(01757 704393)
Commander Conrad Roumieux
(Email: conrad@atako-tech-chemicals.com)
Sq. Ldr. Brian Waite (email: brianwaite@rocketmail.com)
TREASURER
Mrs Rosemary Darley
1-B Birchett Road
Cove
Farnborough
GU14 8RE
 01252 545221
(Fax 01252 523002)
E-mail: rosemary.darley@virginmedia.com
CHAIRMAN
Sq. Ldr. Jeff Metcalfe
609 (West Riding) Squadron
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Air Force Leeming
Northallerton
DL7 9NJ
 01677 457764
Email 609Aux-OC@mod.uk
SECRETARY
Mr Hugh Mulligan
44 Carisbrooke Crescent
Etherley Dene
Bishop Auckland
DL14 0RW
 01388 607007
E-mail: mullihm@hotmail.com
[Source of books, ties, badges etc]
NEWSLETTER David Darley [as for Treasurer, plus mobile 07802 761397] email: david.dd.darley@virginmedia.com
CHIEF BELGIAN CONTACT
COMMITTEE
Commander Conrad Roumieux, Vogelstraat 37, 2580 Putte, Belgium
 Office: 0032 15 75 69 27
 Mobile 0032 475 475031
Email: conrad@atako-tech-chemicals.com
Sq Ldr J Metcalfe
(Chairman + OC 609 Sqn)
Mrs Rosemary A Darley (Treasurer)
Mr Al Parkes
(Committee Member)
Mr Hugh Mulligan
Flt/Lt Mike Foster
Mr David Darley
(Secretary)
(Deputy Chairman
(Newsletter)
Official 609 Squadron website: www.609wrsquadron.co.uk Webmaster is Alan Hayman
609 WW2 Archivist
Mark Crame: snapper35@hotmail.com
609 Squadron Association details
 The Association has a combined membership of some 110 people.
 The Squadron‟s Room is situated within the campus of the Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM), at Elvington, near
York, and contains:
 The Squadron Roll of Honour boards, with a list of Commanding Officers.
 The Royal Air Force and the Belgian Air Force flags.
 A photographic history of 609, from its foundation in 1936, to the present time.
 The Orde collection of wartime pilots portraits
 Replica sets of medals from past CO‟s
 Books and articles about the Squadron
 The Agazariain Sword
 The original side panel from Hawker Typhoon PR-G.
 Numerous other items of memorabilia, including the crossed Hunting Horns Trophy.
 A Visitors Book, containing unsolicited praise, thanks and deep appreciation for the debt owed to 609 (WR)
Squadron, and all other Allied aircrew who fought in WW2, from people across the globe.
 Outside is Spitfire replica PR-A, representing one flown by S/Ldr George Darley and other 609 pilots in 1939-42
609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Officer Commanding
609 (West Riding) Squadron
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Air Force Leeming
Northallerton
DL7 9NJ
 01677 457764 (direct line)
Fax 01677 457444
[Front cover: most of the aircraft types flown by 609 (West Riding) Squadron]
40
Joanne and Andy Lynch
Alan and Jackie Hayman
The mob gathers in the Mynarski Bar before Dinner
Ben and Sue Milligan with Terri Daly
Taff and Wendy Fisher. Farewell presentations followed Dinner: Janet Timmins and Legs Willis
Woody glares as Jo Spence takes a liberty.
Nicki O‟Donnell
Rebekah Collict
Colin Moore
Emma Proudley
Holly Ferreira
Dez and Alison Robinson with a
bottle each: good planning!
Linda and Al Parkes
The State of the Squadron address
Checking for wear under the kilt
Done it! Now to relax – Jo and
Sq/Ldr Jeff Metcalfe
Leeming 2011: Gunners Training Course
Standing, Left to right: Paul Gallagher, Noel ? , Rob Connor, O/Cadet Barrelle, Nev Horsfield, Crash Stephenson, John Carruthers, Andy Marsh,
Noel O‟Riordan, Tinker, Mark Fennell, Steve Dowell, John Knight, Ala Hayman, Sid Wright and Alastair „Tommo‟ Thomson.
Kneeling: Martin Balister, Dave Ferguson, John Foster, Taff Fisher, W/O Stu Handy (TO), Steve Young, Gaz Owen, Keith Wood.
Seated: ? Cross and Gary ‟Asbo‟ Edgar.