Post by Hurricane on Sept 15, 2008 19:28:39 GMT 1
There were 79 attendees at North Weald for our annual visit there, including ten fine Cadets from No 249 (The Millennium) ATC Squadron who had travelled from Hailsham in East Sussex, under the command of Adult Flight Sergeant Tina Calvert.
It was still dry when we met up at the Airfield Memorial but started to rain heavily soon afterwards Fortunately, we were inside buildings by then as the outbursts of rain, with violent gusts, continued on and off for during much of the rest of our time at North Weald.
After the Hon Secretary said a few words about each of our members who had passed away during the year, Wg Cdr Tom Neil DFC and Bar, AFC, AE, RAF (Ret’d) laid our wreath and the Cadet Banner party dipped their Squadron Banner during the minute’s silence.
We then had a preview of the new Memorial Window at the front of the museum and another look inside the museum, courtesy of Stephen Wagstaffe, Chairman. It really is a fine window, commemorating 90 years of military flying at North Weald and has details of the 50 Squadrons which served there, plus pictures of representative aircraft flown from at North Weald - including the Bristol Bulldog, Spitfire, Hurricane, Meteor and Hunter. The window will be officially unveiled on 14 September by Lord Tebbitt, who flew Meteors with an auxiliary Squadron based at North Weald. The association will be represented at the formal unveiling by the Hon. Secretary.
It rained heavily as we left the museum and we hot-footed it to our cars and through a side entrance to the airfield to the large hangar used by 249 in 1940 and in which stood a gleaming replica Hurricane in 56 Sqn markings. Arthur Moreton, airfield historian, explained that 249 came from Boscombe Down to North Weald on 1 September, 1940, after the resident squadrons, including 56, had lost so many aircrew in August (56 lost ten pilots in one week) they had to be declared non-operational. 249 took over their aircraft and, as Tom Neil told us later, it was the first aircraft he flew at N Weald. He flew 50 operational sorties in that particular aircraft in September, 1940, and a total of 70 in the first six weeks before the aircraft was lost at the hands of another pilot. The replica has been built based on the template of a hurricane at the Duxford.
The ATC Cadets then gave us a Show Drill demonstration in the hangar under the command of Cadet Sergeant Kirk Collison, who is an Associate Member of the Association. The display was much appreciated by the 50 or so there - the remainder having decided to head direct for The Squadron in view of the inclement weather.
At The Squadron, it turned out that we were about six or seven short in the numbers who had said they would be attending. That made it a bit less crowded. The buffet lunch was particularly good this year and everyone seemed replete. The Raffle raised no less than £197, with the tickets being sold by the cadets. Tyler Cullen (4) drew the first ticket and was successful in drawing one for a toy truck with a trailer carrying a racing car. These seemed to occupy him for most of the afternoon. We are very grateful to all those who were able to bring items for raffle prizes.
After lunch and the raffle, Tom Neil gave a most interesting talk about those NW days 68 years ago. He said 249 initially used the 56 Sqn aircraft because there some incompatibility in the radios of 249 aircraft. He went on to talk about a number of pilots from his time, including John Beazley, now 90 and handicapped by his near total blindness. Secretary’s note: 249 at War records that, on 1 Sep 40, John Beazley had to bale out of his Hurricane at 18,000ft and spent 20 minutes or so dangling from his parachute before reaching the ground safely.
Jim Nicholson, nephew of the great VC holder, seemed to enjoy it all and had a long talk about his uncle with Tom (whom he hadn’t met before). He also got around the room and seemed to meet most of us. Harry Moon (now 90) was there with his son Michael. Harry joined 249 in June, 1941, flying to Malta off the deck of Ark Royal with about 60 hours on the Hurricane. His son told the Hon Secretary that Harry stayed in the RAF for 18 years, ending as an ATCO, and then had a second career as a civil ATCO at the USAF station at Woodbridge. Dixie Herron, on 249 from 1940 to 41 as an engineer, and now aged 90 was also there with his wife, Chris (89) and a very good turn-out of his relatives. He doesn’t seem to change and was very pleased when, at the end of the day, he was given a 249 cap. (The Secretary had taken 24 249 caps to sell but had no takers. Given the heavy rain throughout the afternoon, it is not surprising that sales of sun caps were nil!) Also there was Mac McCaig, originally from Fiji and who joined 249 in 1944 to fly Spitfires and then Mustangs in the Balkan campaign and who had the misfortune to have to bale out twice from Mustamgs when the coolant tanks had been damaged by ground fire. (Incidentally, 249 at War records that Mac, while in camp, would wear a large pith helmet, across the front of which was inscribed “First Fiji Contingent” ) Next year we mustl see if Mac will talk about his experiences on 249.
Soundings indicated support for another visit to Cyprus in September, 2009. This will be the 40th anniversary of the year in which the Squadron. was finally disbanded and we should mark the occasion well. Any views on just where we should stay should be sent to the Hon Secretary. The topic will be discussed again at the 249 Canberra reunion at Stratford-upon-Avon at the end of February, 2009.)
The rain ceased at about 4pm and the homeward trek began. As usual, The Squadron had done us proud and we are most grateful for their willing help to Alan Crouchman (General Manager), Lorraine Holding (our Chef) and her team of helpers, and the two delightful ladies who ran the bar so smoothly.
Our thanks also go to Arthur Moreton for making arrangements for us to see the gate guardian-to-be. It was a particular privilege to do so in the presence of Tom Neil.
Pictures to follow - soon!
It was still dry when we met up at the Airfield Memorial but started to rain heavily soon afterwards Fortunately, we were inside buildings by then as the outbursts of rain, with violent gusts, continued on and off for during much of the rest of our time at North Weald.
After the Hon Secretary said a few words about each of our members who had passed away during the year, Wg Cdr Tom Neil DFC and Bar, AFC, AE, RAF (Ret’d) laid our wreath and the Cadet Banner party dipped their Squadron Banner during the minute’s silence.
We then had a preview of the new Memorial Window at the front of the museum and another look inside the museum, courtesy of Stephen Wagstaffe, Chairman. It really is a fine window, commemorating 90 years of military flying at North Weald and has details of the 50 Squadrons which served there, plus pictures of representative aircraft flown from at North Weald - including the Bristol Bulldog, Spitfire, Hurricane, Meteor and Hunter. The window will be officially unveiled on 14 September by Lord Tebbitt, who flew Meteors with an auxiliary Squadron based at North Weald. The association will be represented at the formal unveiling by the Hon. Secretary.
It rained heavily as we left the museum and we hot-footed it to our cars and through a side entrance to the airfield to the large hangar used by 249 in 1940 and in which stood a gleaming replica Hurricane in 56 Sqn markings. Arthur Moreton, airfield historian, explained that 249 came from Boscombe Down to North Weald on 1 September, 1940, after the resident squadrons, including 56, had lost so many aircrew in August (56 lost ten pilots in one week) they had to be declared non-operational. 249 took over their aircraft and, as Tom Neil told us later, it was the first aircraft he flew at N Weald. He flew 50 operational sorties in that particular aircraft in September, 1940, and a total of 70 in the first six weeks before the aircraft was lost at the hands of another pilot. The replica has been built based on the template of a hurricane at the Duxford.
The ATC Cadets then gave us a Show Drill demonstration in the hangar under the command of Cadet Sergeant Kirk Collison, who is an Associate Member of the Association. The display was much appreciated by the 50 or so there - the remainder having decided to head direct for The Squadron in view of the inclement weather.
At The Squadron, it turned out that we were about six or seven short in the numbers who had said they would be attending. That made it a bit less crowded. The buffet lunch was particularly good this year and everyone seemed replete. The Raffle raised no less than £197, with the tickets being sold by the cadets. Tyler Cullen (4) drew the first ticket and was successful in drawing one for a toy truck with a trailer carrying a racing car. These seemed to occupy him for most of the afternoon. We are very grateful to all those who were able to bring items for raffle prizes.
After lunch and the raffle, Tom Neil gave a most interesting talk about those NW days 68 years ago. He said 249 initially used the 56 Sqn aircraft because there some incompatibility in the radios of 249 aircraft. He went on to talk about a number of pilots from his time, including John Beazley, now 90 and handicapped by his near total blindness. Secretary’s note: 249 at War records that, on 1 Sep 40, John Beazley had to bale out of his Hurricane at 18,000ft and spent 20 minutes or so dangling from his parachute before reaching the ground safely.
Jim Nicholson, nephew of the great VC holder, seemed to enjoy it all and had a long talk about his uncle with Tom (whom he hadn’t met before). He also got around the room and seemed to meet most of us. Harry Moon (now 90) was there with his son Michael. Harry joined 249 in June, 1941, flying to Malta off the deck of Ark Royal with about 60 hours on the Hurricane. His son told the Hon Secretary that Harry stayed in the RAF for 18 years, ending as an ATCO, and then had a second career as a civil ATCO at the USAF station at Woodbridge. Dixie Herron, on 249 from 1940 to 41 as an engineer, and now aged 90 was also there with his wife, Chris (89) and a very good turn-out of his relatives. He doesn’t seem to change and was very pleased when, at the end of the day, he was given a 249 cap. (The Secretary had taken 24 249 caps to sell but had no takers. Given the heavy rain throughout the afternoon, it is not surprising that sales of sun caps were nil!) Also there was Mac McCaig, originally from Fiji and who joined 249 in 1944 to fly Spitfires and then Mustangs in the Balkan campaign and who had the misfortune to have to bale out twice from Mustamgs when the coolant tanks had been damaged by ground fire. (Incidentally, 249 at War records that Mac, while in camp, would wear a large pith helmet, across the front of which was inscribed “First Fiji Contingent” ) Next year we mustl see if Mac will talk about his experiences on 249.
Soundings indicated support for another visit to Cyprus in September, 2009. This will be the 40th anniversary of the year in which the Squadron. was finally disbanded and we should mark the occasion well. Any views on just where we should stay should be sent to the Hon Secretary. The topic will be discussed again at the 249 Canberra reunion at Stratford-upon-Avon at the end of February, 2009.)
The rain ceased at about 4pm and the homeward trek began. As usual, The Squadron had done us proud and we are most grateful for their willing help to Alan Crouchman (General Manager), Lorraine Holding (our Chef) and her team of helpers, and the two delightful ladies who ran the bar so smoothly.
Our thanks also go to Arthur Moreton for making arrangements for us to see the gate guardian-to-be. It was a particular privilege to do so in the presence of Tom Neil.
Pictures to follow - soon!