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NEWS
for November 2001
Lincolnshire
Visit; St Crux; Engagement
announcement
Student
Pilots Visit; Commanding Officer 415 Squadron
RCAF; Remembrance Sunday;
Ceremony
to honour the fallen of 415 and 432 Squadrons RCAF
(Click
on the article you wish to review or simply scroll down the page)
(For
previous months click on Archives)
(These
pages contain lots of pictures so will be slow to download)
CLUB
VISIT TO FAIRFAX HOUSE
On
evening of Thursday 29th November members of the club visited Fairfax House, the
historic 18th century Georgian home of the Fairfax family. The guide for the
evening was the curator of the museum Barry Waldapfel. Barry turned out to be
ex-RAF. He conducted a thoroughly interesting and didactic visit, providing and
excellent gluhwein and mince pies to conclude.
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Above
- The dining room |
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Below - Wherever you looked there
was plenty to see |
Barry Waldapfel explaining what went on
in Lady Fairfax's bedroom (above) & in the drawing room (below)! |
For
details on Fairfax House click here
LINCOLNSHIRE
HISTORICAL AIRFIELDS VISIT
| The final club outing of the year was on
November 21st. A trip to take in some of Lincolnshire's aviation heritage.
Fourteen members sallied forth at 0730, arriving at East Kirby in good time to
watch their Lancaster start up its engines for the first of the day's taxi runs
- it is actually possible to join the crew aboard this aircraft, should you
happen to have the odd one hundred and eighty-five pounds to spare.
Below -
The East Kirby Lanc with the RAFA York Crew - L-R: John &
Marianne Sutherland, Jack Kilvington, Dave Wilson, Harold Grace, Fred
Ullathorne, John Sloan, Irving Machell, Ron Beck, Ray Snowball, and Dave
Taylor. |
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Above -
It may look like sunset, but it was actually 10:30 am. A magnificent
sight and sound
Below - Engine
start up |
| Next, it was off to Woodhall Spa, for
lunch at the Petwood House Hotel, one-time Officers' Mess for 617 Sqn. Well
worth a visit, the Petwood, for their bar also doubles as a display area for
much 617 memorabilia.
Right - Outside
the famed Petwood House Hotel, Woodhall Spa. As above, with the addition of
Maisie Heydenrych and daughter Geraldine. |
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| The last call that day was to the Battle
of Britain Flight Visitor Centre at near-by RAF Coningsby. All the aircraft were
at home receiving their winter servicing, apart from the one Spitfire that was
away having a major rebuild, and the Dakota which was being taken care of by Air
Atlantique, at Coventry. The only glitch of the day was trying to get back to
our homes in York at 1730. The roads were almost gridlocked.
Hurricane
getting a major service
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Today's
lesson is from the book of accounts. Jack Kilvington, our treasurer, collects
the loot |
Next Years Tours
Awayday tours in the pipeline for next year: we are hoping to run trips to
the former Station X at Bletchley Park - home of Colossus and the code-breakers
(22nd May); a combined Bentley Priory - RAF Uxbridge tour (July 18th); Newark
Air Museum and RAF Cranwell, again a combined tour (April 17th); and the Midland
Air Museum at Coventry - with optional vintage aircraft flight (June 12th). All
dates are provisional, but it is hoped that full details will appear in the next
edition of the Aldwark Chronicle, and on the club notice board. You can also
phone either 01904 612542, or 01904 639543 for information or to reserve a
place. We do need some idea of numbers likely to be interested ASAP. Some venues
will need to know before they can confirm dates, and a decision has to be made
re-transportation requirements.
(All the above trips carry an open invitation to members of the ACA, YAM,
Bomber Barons, and anyone else who may help us fill a coach.) Also in the
advanced planning stages are continental tours to Fortress Europe & Dunkirk,
and Luxemburg. Fortress Europe - which, apart from defences around Calais, also
takes in V2 sites, and the V3 "London Cannon" complex - runs from
September 9th to 13th, at a cost of £199 - with a £10 per person discount for
bookings made before February 8th. Actual Luxemburg dates (October) and prices
are yet to be announced.
"St
Crux" - A report
& photos by Dave Taylor
22nd November was our annual St Crux scam/fayre/collection/bun-fight/fund-raising
event (cross out whichever doesn't apply, and if you are left with nothing, well
tough). The weather was really kind; chilly, but gloriously sunny, and people
came in their droves. At one time they were pouring in so fast I was keeping an
eye open for the guy with the two loaves and five fishes, or whatever. All I saw
was Norman Spence, returning from yet another quick re-supply sortie up town.
Hard work, but a really satisfying day with over £500 raised!
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Ray Kidd, Fred Ullathorne,
and Norman Spence at the servery. Whatever it is they're selling, I don't
want any! |
Don't just stand there with
your hands in your pockets, lad, sell something - Ken King and punters? |
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The RAFA York Marquee inside
the city walls for the first time, and if I'm wrong, certainly its
inaugural appearance at St Crux |
"Go on, Mel, try it
on." He did, but I missed it! Rena Whitfield, Mel Smith, and John
Sutherland at the rear. |
ENGAGED
To
loud applause Mel Smith and Jean Hearn
announced
their engagement in 23rd November
STUDENTS
ESCAPE TO RAFA YORK
On
Saturday 10th November, the Eve of Remembrance Day, several young RAF Officers,
trainee pilots at RAF Linton On Ouse, visited us at our HQ in York. They
had just completed a weeks survival exercise in the "hostile"
territory of the Otterburn army ranges in the Northern Pennines.
Here they had been simulating a crash in enemy territory and had been deprived
of food and sleep for the week. When they were promised food &
"drink" at RAFA York, they soon made "civvies" from their uniforms, forged
passes and tunneled out of Linton in true "Great Escape" style.
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An
"Escapee" getting his "Red Cross Food Parcel"
from the girls of RAFA York.
Left
to right - Rena Whitfield, Marrianne Sutherland, Flg.Off Chris Maggs &
Nel White |
Some of the escapees tasting the "fruits" of freedom!
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Jill Quigley shows her best side, (but
not to the camera) - much to the amusement of Dave Taylor, John Sloan
& F/O Paul Brank |
F/O Sam Stafford amuses Winnie Kilvington
& Ann Sloan |
Back
to top
The CO of 415 Squadron RCAF
visits the club
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On 10th November,
the same night as the visit of the "Escapees", the club was
honoured by a visit by Lieutenant-Colonel J.T. (Jack) Backstrom, the
Commanding Officer of No. 415 Squadron RCAF. Jack had taken the trouble to
come alone from Canada to honour a commitment to commemorate 415 Squadron
members who had fallen whilst serving as part of No 6 (RCAF) Group during
World War II. (more of this later in this months news)
For details
of 415 Squadron & their history click here.
Right
to left - Lt.Col Jack Backstrom, Branch Chairman John Sloan,
& Branch President, Air Commodore Bill Gambold
(Lurking
in the rear is Dave Taylor Club PRO) |
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Above
- Jack enjoys a pint in conversation with Les Quigley & John Sloan
Left
- A RAFA York Plaque and a No 6 (RCAF) Group Mug donated to 415 Sqn |
Back to top The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th
month
On 11th November 2001, 83 years
after the end of the first world war and just 2 months after the start of the
current one, serving servicemen, cadets and veterans assembled in York for the
annual commemoration to our war dead. The Royal Air Forces Association
York Branch was well represented with many members joining the veterans of the
other services for march to the cenotaph. In true tradition the
veterans marched smartly and proudly despite many being of ageing years.
They were loudly applauded by thousands of
on lookers.
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Above - The veterans assemble in Stone Gate
Right
- The RAFA York Standard in the
safe
hands of Fred Ullathorne and his escort |
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Detachments
from HMS York, The Gurkhas, & RAF Leeming
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Above
- Around the Cenotaph - With
the RAF in the centre, the military await the hour...
Right
- With RAFA in the centre,
the
veterans await the hour... |
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Above
- the CO's of the cadet units salute the cenotaph
Right
- John Sloan lays the wreath on behalf of RAFA York |
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At
exactly 11.00 hours the sound of a detonation ripped through York making
serviceman, veterans and civilians visibly jump!
This
was immediately followed by the playing of the Last Post by a lone bugler.
After 2 minutes silence the bugler sounded reveille.
Wreaths
in honour of those who died in war were then laid, firstly by the Lord
Mayor of York, by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and then by
Military Officers and finally by members of the various veteran
associations.
The
"troops" were then inspected before the parade marched off.
Right
- The Lord Lieutenant chats to the members of RAFA York |
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The
RAF march off followed (right) by the veterans and the Standards of The
Royal Air Forces Association York
& The Aircrew Association |
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IN HONOUR OF
THE FALLEN OF 415 and 432 SQUADRONS RCAF
On the afternoon
of the 11th November a much smaller band of Air Force Officers, Air Training
Corps Cadets, RAFA York members and Veterans of 415 Squadron RCAF
assembled in the picturesque village of Sutton-on-the-Forest in North
Yorkshire. This was to honour the dead of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Squadrons who served in North Yorkshire in the 1939-45 conflict, and in
particular those of 415 and 432 Squadrons who served at "East
Moor". 415 Squadron lost 151 aircrew whilst 432 Squadron lost
252 aircrew.
These crews are honoured by name in the book of remembrance in York
Minster. (Got
to "Turning of the Pages" in April 2001 for details)
. They have also been honoured by the
villagers who have erected a memorial in the centre of Sutton-on-the-Forest. It was
here that the party assembled to pay tribute to the crews.
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The troops are briefed |
Lt.Col Jack Backstrom RCAF, Air Cmdr Bill Gambol &
Sgt Andre Ravary RCAF
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The
party gather for the dedication
Above
- Lt.Col Backstrom, Sgt Ravary, John Harpin (former Flight Engineer with
415 Sqn), with the Standard bearers
Right
- Lt.Col Backstrom, Sgt Ravary & the memorial |
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Lt.Col
Jack Backstrom the Commanding Officer of No 415 Maritime Patrol Squadron
had made a special journey from Canada to honour former members of his
squadron. The original plan was to have 2 complete crews present, however,
the pressures of the current strife had meant that the crews and their
aircraft had been tasked for other duties. One aircraft was,
however, passing through Lossiemouth on its way to patrol duties in the
Mediterrean Area so Sgt Andre Ravary .... drove all the way down from
Scotland to represent the NCO aircrew.
Left
- ATC Cadets from York & Easingwold Squadrons form the guard of honour
as the Standards are dipped during 2 minutes silence.
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Left
- After the ceremony those present were invited back to Stillington Mill,
the home of, where they provided a buffet of the best home made English
fare.
Below
- It is often forgotten that every event needs an organiser. In this case
it was RAFA York's Club Secretary John Sutherland ably assisted by his
wife Marianne. To them, our hosts and supporters the Association is
deeply thankful. |
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