Hi all

[Hurricane]

Please feel free to introduce yourself here. You are very welcome.

[adamgardiner]

Hi, my name is Adam Gardiner, served as a J/T Airframe Fitter at El Adem and Eastleigh in 1957/8 249 ASF. Best moment of my career was when the Sqn Notice board in the Italian Hangar at El Adem announced that 249 Sqn was posted to Eastleigh Nairobi with more or less immediate effect. Frankly none of us knew then that our badge was about to be swiped for the Canberra Squadron that soon to be formed and that we wouldn't get a mention in the official history on this web site! Never mind, we know the active part the Venom FB4s of 249 played in the Suez and Arabian Gulf and thingyula, forming the Venom wing along with 6 and 73 Sqns at Akrotiri in 1956. Let's not forget.

[adamgardiner]

Correction to my Intro 21 Mar 07 - yypo on penultimate line should read 'Arabian Gulf and Peninsula' Adam

[shandy59]

Hi all

My father served in the Squadron 1953/55 in Egypt and amman can anyone help me locate photographs from then

cheers

[terry]

Welcome Shandy. Very pleased to have you on the Forum.

We do have members who were on 249 Sqn in the 53 - 55 period and I will ask around.

It would help if you could give your Father's name and what he did on the Squadron (aircrew or groundcrew) and, if possible, his rank.

In=cidentally , there are some pictures of the squadron at that time in "249 at War" by Brian Cull

[Hurricane]

adamgardiner said:

Hi, my name is Adam Gardiner, served as a J/T Airframe Fitter at El Adem and Eastleigh in 1957/8 249 ASF. Best moment of my career was when the Sqn Notice board in the Italian Hangar at El Adem announced that 249 Sqn was posted to Eastleigh Nairobi with more or less immediate effect. Frankly none of us knew then that our badge was about to be swiped for the Canberra Squadron that soon to be formed and that we wouldn't get a mention in the official history on this web site! Never mind, we know the active part the Venom FB4s of 249 played in the Suez and Arabian Gulf and thingyula, forming the Venom wing along with 6 and 73 Sqns at Akrotiri in 1956. Let's not forget.

Sorry we're so late with this but Welcome Adam

[Hurricane]

shandy59 said:

Hi all

My father served in the Squadron 1953/55 in Egypt and amman can anyone help me locate photographs from then

cheers

Welcome to you too Shandy ;D

[chick56]

Hi to all,
I'm an amateur photographer and using model aircraft, various backgrounds and photo-shop, I'd like to create some imaginary pictures of 249 squadron in action during the defense of Malta.
I wanted to buy the book advertised on the home page but it appears to be discontinued.
If there's anyone out there that has some knowledge of the period, please let me know. I just want to ask some basic questions to get some historical accuracy in my pictures.
Sergio

[Hurricane]

chick56 said:

Hi to all,
I'm an amateur photographer and using model aircraft, various backgrounds and photo-shop, I'd like to create some imaginary pictures of 249 squadron in action during the defense of Malta.
I wanted to buy the book advertised on the home page but it appears to be discontinued.
If there's anyone out there that has some knowledge of the period, please let me know. I just want to ask some basic questions to get some historical accuracy in my pictures.
Sergio

Hi Sergio and welcome, sorry we're so late

Things around here are a little slow. I'm sure Terry will be able to point you in the right direction soon.

You could always try emailing him via the website

regards
ian

[gardenisle]

As this is the first time that I've visited the 249 Squadron site, I was very glad to see a familiar photograph on your home page - that of a Hawker Tempest over the pyramids in Egypt. My father, Fred S., who served with 249 in Iraq and The Canal Zone in the early 1950's, has a copy of this photograph. If any contributor has further information about this photo, I would be very pleased to learn it via the forum.

With thanks
DS

[Hurricane]

gardenisle said:

As this is the first time that I've visited the 249 Squadron site, I was very glad to see a familiar photograph on your home page - that of a Hawker Tempest over the pyramids in Egypt. My father, Fred S., who served with 249 in Iraq and The Canal Zone in the early 1950's, has a copy of this photograph. If any contributor has further information about this photo, I would be very pleased to learn it via the forum.

With thanks
DS

Welcome gardenisle

[geoffwatson]

Hello,
my name is Geoff Watson. I am 58 years old and I live in Alnwick, Northumberland. My brother, Ronald Watson, was a pilot in 249 Squadron and was killed in Egypt on the 10th February 1950 (aged 24) in what I believe was a flying accident during a ceremonial flypast. I am currently researching the family history and would like to contact anyone who knew him. I am particularly interested in his service history and any details of the accident in which he died. All I know at the moment is that he was a cadet in No 15 flight, C Squadron in 1944. Photographs of Ronald can be seen on the family website at www.watsontree.co.uk
Many thanks
Geoff

[maceoil]

Hi,

I've joined the forum as my late father flew with 249 for a short while in late 1949 out of Deversoir before being posted on to RAF Fayid. Basically, I'm interested in all things 249!

Cheers,
Paul.

[maceoil]

gardenisle said:

As this is the first time that I've visited the 249 Squadron site, I was very glad to see a familiar photograph on your home page - that of a Hawker Tempest over the pyramids in Egypt. My father, Fred S., who served with 249 in Iraq and The Canal Zone in the early 1950's, has a copy of this photograph. If any contributor has further information about this photo, I would be very pleased to learn it via the forum.

With thanks
DS

Hi gardenisle,
I recently provided this photo to the 249 website with the following story. I can't vouch for it's absolute accuracy so I'd be interested to hear from others who might be able to add any information.
Many years ago, I found this photograph in my Fathers album from his days flying the Temp VI in Egypt. He told me that against strict instructions NOT to fly over the Great Pyramids, the shot was taken so as to be placed on the 1949 station Christmas Menu (I presume Deversoir). Although he told me the story when I was a young boy (I'm now 44) I'm sure he told me that he was flying the aircraft that carried the photographer. There are a number of Harvard flights in his log book but no details suggesting a photo recce trip!

[Hurricane]

Welcome Geoff and Paul,

seems like 249 Sqn is our fathers generation!

regards
ian