Post by Hurricane on Feb 4, 2010 14:09:59 GMT 1
There were 75 attendees at North Weald for our annual visit there, including six smart 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. The cadets had a difficult journey with M25 hold-ups and arrived just in time for the laying of our wreath at the Airfield Memorial.
Stephen Wagstaffe, Chairman of the North Weald Aviation Museum welcomed us at the Airfield Memorial and your Hon. Secretary then reminded everyone that it was not only 40 years since the Squadron was disbanded in Cyprus, but was also 90 years since it was first disbanded. Further, it would be 69 years tomorrow (16th) that James Nicholsons VC action took place. Air Marshal Sir John Sutton KCB, our President, then laid our wreath and the Cadet Banner party dipped their Squadron Banner during the minutes silence.
Before then, we had another viewing of the Memorial Window at the front of the museum and another look inside the museum at the fine collection of exhibits, including the pictures now displayed on the first floor and, of course, at the huge amount of 249 memorabilia on display.
This year we entered the airfield through the main gate and passed the new Gate Guardian.
At The Squadron, once the melee for the free drink had subsided, the Cadets gave us a drill display on the taxiway of the procedure for unfurling and furling of the banner, with Cadet Flight Sergeant Sam Brimson as banner bearer. They even timed their display so that it coincided with the formation take-off of a pair of Jet Provosts
This year, the weather was perfect sunny but not too hot - and we were able to take advantage of the garden seating at The Squadron.
The finger buffet lunch, with gateau, apple crumble, and cheese to follow, was particularly good this year and everyone seemed replete. The Raffle raised £204, with the tickets being sold by the cadets. Tyler Cullen (5) drew the first ticket and the winner was Eileen Neil. Tylers reward was a friction-drive tractor with a trailer and I think Eileen gained some Malt Whisky. We had some very good raffle prizes and are most grateful to all those who donated them.
After lunch and the raffle, Tom Neil who looked extraordinarily well - gave an enthralling talk about his experience of flying the aircraft whose replica is now the airfield gate guardian. He flew 61 sorties in 42 days in the real aircraft before going on leave for four days. (He failed to mention that, in those 7 weeks, he was credited with seven kills and a probable, and was awarded a DFC - all before he was 21. And he was awarded a bar to his DFC the following month.) On return from his brief leave, he found his aircraft had been shot down by no less than Adolph Galland. Tom also told the story of John Beazley being badly wounded in his foot while flying with him as a pair pursuing an enemy bomber at low level. He added that Johns foot injury has recently resurfaced, some 69 years later. John is 91 and is now nearly blind, very deaf and not very well, while his dear wife, Mary, isnt too well either.
Eddie Kelly then recounted some of his memories of being on 249 with the Canberra B6 in Cyprus, including mention of the initial slightly cool reception they received when Dougie Barfoot, the incoming CO with an element from 139 Squadron, told the remaining 249 aircrew that they were now going to learn how to navigate and bomb (this to a Squadron that had just won the Akrotiri proficiency navigation and bombing competition and so had been selected to be the first of the four squadrons at Akrotiri to be upgraded from the B2 to the B6). Eddie went on about how well the Squadron had performed as a Target Marker Squadron (and how couldnt they with a young Mike Knight as a cheery Flight Commander) and ended with some amusing tales of being measured for his Sword for a Royal Visit and on his encounters with the great and the good while on Squadron detachments. Your Hon Sec then added his experience of flying with Eddie; of his navigation using the little map on the back of the Benson and Hedges cigarette tin; and about being alarmed to see smoke trickling forward from the back of the B6 when Eddie decided to light up on the climb out of El Adem.
Later, Tom presented each member of the ATC Banner Party with a 249 keyring and a RAFA Hawk pin badge as a memento for their efforts.
We then held an auction of memorabilia donated by some of the WW2 249 members and by Lady Sutton. Here your Hon. Secretary perhaps found a second calling as an auctioneer with a willing audience as bids rapidly raised a total of £105 total for one of Mac McCaigs books; some memories, with photographs, of 249 COs in Malta in 42/43 by Hap Kennedy in Ontario; Mac McCaigs montage about the James Nicholsons VC action and 249s battle Honours; and for a lovely 249 tablecloth and six napkins, made in Cyprus in 1966, decorated with Cypriot lace and originally purchased by our Presidents Mother when she visited the Squadron to see its Standard being awarded.
Jim Nicholson, nephew of the great VC holder, was present with Doreen, his wife, and has promised us a talk on his uncle next year. We were delighted to see Harry Moon (now 91) looking pretty well and with his son Michael. Dixie Herron, an engineer on 249 at North Weald, and now aged 89 was there and with his usual very good turn-out of relatives. Unfortunately, Chris, his wife, suffered a fractured hip three weeks ago and is now recovering from a hip replacement operation. Brian Cull (author of 249 at War and much else), together with his wife Val, came to enjoy the day. New this year was Curly Hirst, sporting a dashing 249 bow tie, and his wife Margaret. Curly said he had met people he hadnt seen for over 50 years and that they had had a wonderful day. Doug Lee (Flying Wing Adjutant at Akrotiri in 1960) also dropped in and looked hardly a day older and he has retained his hair!
The homeward trek began soon after 4pm and, as usual, The Squadron had done us proud. We are most grateful for their willing help to Alan Crouchman (General Manager), Lorraine Holding (our Chef) and her team of helpers, and Kathie, the delightful lady who ran the bar so smoothly.
Many took the opportunity for a closer look at the Gate Guardian and plinths when as we left at the end of the day and when the Saturday Market crowds had gone.
Lastly, please pencil in Saturday, 4 September, 2010, as the probable date for our next North Weald reunion just 70 years and three days after 249 arrived at North Weald. Lets have a record turn-out for what will be an historic get-together.
Stephen Wagstaffe, Chairman of the North Weald Aviation Museum welcomed us at the Airfield Memorial and your Hon. Secretary then reminded everyone that it was not only 40 years since the Squadron was disbanded in Cyprus, but was also 90 years since it was first disbanded. Further, it would be 69 years tomorrow (16th) that James Nicholsons VC action took place. Air Marshal Sir John Sutton KCB, our President, then laid our wreath and the Cadet Banner party dipped their Squadron Banner during the minutes silence.
Before then, we had another viewing of the Memorial Window at the front of the museum and another look inside the museum at the fine collection of exhibits, including the pictures now displayed on the first floor and, of course, at the huge amount of 249 memorabilia on display.
This year we entered the airfield through the main gate and passed the new Gate Guardian.
At The Squadron, once the melee for the free drink had subsided, the Cadets gave us a drill display on the taxiway of the procedure for unfurling and furling of the banner, with Cadet Flight Sergeant Sam Brimson as banner bearer. They even timed their display so that it coincided with the formation take-off of a pair of Jet Provosts
This year, the weather was perfect sunny but not too hot - and we were able to take advantage of the garden seating at The Squadron.
The finger buffet lunch, with gateau, apple crumble, and cheese to follow, was particularly good this year and everyone seemed replete. The Raffle raised £204, with the tickets being sold by the cadets. Tyler Cullen (5) drew the first ticket and the winner was Eileen Neil. Tylers reward was a friction-drive tractor with a trailer and I think Eileen gained some Malt Whisky. We had some very good raffle prizes and are most grateful to all those who donated them.
After lunch and the raffle, Tom Neil who looked extraordinarily well - gave an enthralling talk about his experience of flying the aircraft whose replica is now the airfield gate guardian. He flew 61 sorties in 42 days in the real aircraft before going on leave for four days. (He failed to mention that, in those 7 weeks, he was credited with seven kills and a probable, and was awarded a DFC - all before he was 21. And he was awarded a bar to his DFC the following month.) On return from his brief leave, he found his aircraft had been shot down by no less than Adolph Galland. Tom also told the story of John Beazley being badly wounded in his foot while flying with him as a pair pursuing an enemy bomber at low level. He added that Johns foot injury has recently resurfaced, some 69 years later. John is 91 and is now nearly blind, very deaf and not very well, while his dear wife, Mary, isnt too well either.
Eddie Kelly then recounted some of his memories of being on 249 with the Canberra B6 in Cyprus, including mention of the initial slightly cool reception they received when Dougie Barfoot, the incoming CO with an element from 139 Squadron, told the remaining 249 aircrew that they were now going to learn how to navigate and bomb (this to a Squadron that had just won the Akrotiri proficiency navigation and bombing competition and so had been selected to be the first of the four squadrons at Akrotiri to be upgraded from the B2 to the B6). Eddie went on about how well the Squadron had performed as a Target Marker Squadron (and how couldnt they with a young Mike Knight as a cheery Flight Commander) and ended with some amusing tales of being measured for his Sword for a Royal Visit and on his encounters with the great and the good while on Squadron detachments. Your Hon Sec then added his experience of flying with Eddie; of his navigation using the little map on the back of the Benson and Hedges cigarette tin; and about being alarmed to see smoke trickling forward from the back of the B6 when Eddie decided to light up on the climb out of El Adem.
Later, Tom presented each member of the ATC Banner Party with a 249 keyring and a RAFA Hawk pin badge as a memento for their efforts.
We then held an auction of memorabilia donated by some of the WW2 249 members and by Lady Sutton. Here your Hon. Secretary perhaps found a second calling as an auctioneer with a willing audience as bids rapidly raised a total of £105 total for one of Mac McCaigs books; some memories, with photographs, of 249 COs in Malta in 42/43 by Hap Kennedy in Ontario; Mac McCaigs montage about the James Nicholsons VC action and 249s battle Honours; and for a lovely 249 tablecloth and six napkins, made in Cyprus in 1966, decorated with Cypriot lace and originally purchased by our Presidents Mother when she visited the Squadron to see its Standard being awarded.
Jim Nicholson, nephew of the great VC holder, was present with Doreen, his wife, and has promised us a talk on his uncle next year. We were delighted to see Harry Moon (now 91) looking pretty well and with his son Michael. Dixie Herron, an engineer on 249 at North Weald, and now aged 89 was there and with his usual very good turn-out of relatives. Unfortunately, Chris, his wife, suffered a fractured hip three weeks ago and is now recovering from a hip replacement operation. Brian Cull (author of 249 at War and much else), together with his wife Val, came to enjoy the day. New this year was Curly Hirst, sporting a dashing 249 bow tie, and his wife Margaret. Curly said he had met people he hadnt seen for over 50 years and that they had had a wonderful day. Doug Lee (Flying Wing Adjutant at Akrotiri in 1960) also dropped in and looked hardly a day older and he has retained his hair!
The homeward trek began soon after 4pm and, as usual, The Squadron had done us proud. We are most grateful for their willing help to Alan Crouchman (General Manager), Lorraine Holding (our Chef) and her team of helpers, and Kathie, the delightful lady who ran the bar so smoothly.
Many took the opportunity for a closer look at the Gate Guardian and plinths when as we left at the end of the day and when the Saturday Market crowds had gone.
Lastly, please pencil in Saturday, 4 September, 2010, as the probable date for our next North Weald reunion just 70 years and three days after 249 arrived at North Weald. Lets have a record turn-out for what will be an historic get-together.