Association Newsletters: Summary Listing
An archive comprising the complete set of the 550 Squadron and North Killingholme Association Newsletters is available as listed below.
It is not possible to provide a direct link to all of the newsletters at this time. However summary details from the newsletters has been posted up, and in some cases the details of key articles have been summarised. Where possible direct links to copies of the articles will be provided, and other links from individual items are also included were appropriate.
Newsletters
The newsletters are presented most recent first to allow for quicker update on the latest Association activities.
Issue 89 (October 2024)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 89 | October | 2024 | Reunion 2024 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2024 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme in November.
The latest information about Remembrance Weekend appears below. There are reports on the Annual Reunion in North Killingholme in July this year plus information about next year's Association Reunion weekend. At this year's reunion we welcomed visitors from Ireland and Australia. Tim and Heather Vance and John Arnold made the long trek from Australia; see a report on the visit from John later in this newsletter. There is a summary about the ceremonies that took place in Europe during 2024. |
- | - | The surprising connection between a 550 Squadron crew man and Churchill's famous "V-Victory" sign was uncovered during research on the loss of a 550 crew.
A surprising snippet of information about W5005/N-Nan, an aircraft that had a life before it arrived at 550 Squadron, is included below. |
- | - | On 21st September Jack Harris celebrated his 104th birthday. As well as completing a 37 op tour with 550 Squadron Jack was deeply involved in the formation of the 550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association. Happy birthday Jack! | - | - | David (Dave) Robinson supported Kath Robinson in her role on the Association Committee, and it is with sadness that Dave's passing is recorded in a note from Kath. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme - Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November 2024 | As in previous years our programme includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at The Ashbourne Hotel on the Saturday evening followed usually by the opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and St Denys' Church will be followed this year by lunch at the Ashbourne Hotel.
Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel. We advise booking early as availability may be limited. You should book directly with the hotel. Alternatively you may wish to check one of the online booking sites for competitive rates. |
- | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | - | Please book rooms directly with the hotel and settle your food and accommodation bill on departure. To book meals and for any queries regarding the meals or timetable please contact Honor Redshaw. If you are intending to stay at the Ashbourne do please also let Honor know. Details as follows:
Email: honorredshaw@hotmail.co.uk |
- | - | Saturday Evening 9th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45pm in the Fork and Spoon. If you would like to join the group please let Honor know by Friday 1st November. As menu pre-selection is required you will be contacted nearer the time with the latest menu. Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. | - | - | Sunday 10th November | Our provisional timetable is shown below and includes a two minute silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone.
Timetable of Events: - 09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall by appointment. Contact Mike Leeman on Tel: [...] Email: mike.leeman@btinternet.com - 10.45 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. - 10.52 - Service starts. - 11.00 - Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. - 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. - 11.20 - Church Service starts. - 12.00 - Service ends. - 12.30 - Lunch in the Ashbourne Hotel. |
- | - | Sunday Lunch | Lunch this year has been arranged to take place in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. A Sunday Lunch menu is available (of mainly roasts): either main course (£15.00) or starter and main course (£20.00). Desserts are available from the main menu on the day. Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. Pre-selection may be required. Please let Honor know by Friday 1st November if you will be dining.
Please check the 550 Association website for updates closer to the date, or if you do not have access to the internet contact Honor Redshaw using the information given above. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2024 - NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Once again it was great to be able to meet up at the reunion in North Killingholme in July.
Present this year were visitors from Ireland and Australia. Flags and bunting adorned the village, and the Memorial Stone and surrounding area was also suitably flagged. Unfortunately there was to be no flypast of the BBMF Lancaster. The Lancaster had been grounded for a period during the early summer, but in any case it was such a wet day that the chances of a flypast would have been remote. |
- | - | - | Friday dinner was a chance for friends to chat and catch up.
Saturday evening dinner was well attended and a warm welcome was offered to all our visitors. Grace was said by George Turner and George formally welcomed Association members and at the conclusion of dinner proposed the toasts. |
- | - | - | Thank you to everyone who played a part in making it all happen. To the members of the committee who, among the many tasks necessary, prepared the Memorial Stone area for pubic assembly, made the arrangements for our use of the Church, the Village Hall and the museum. To the Revd. Trevor Riess for leading our services of Remembrance. To the people of North Killingholme for warmly welcoming the visitors. Thanks to all the Association members and others who attended from all over the UK, Australia and Ireland, helping to make it a memorable weekend. | - | - | - | Photographs and documents relating to the reunion are available online at (see right): |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2024.php |
MEMORIAL BENCH | FOLLOW UP | As reported in the last newsletter the descendants of Edgar Pickles, and those of some of the Australians who served with 550 Squadron, got together and funded a memorial bench to be placed in the centre of North Killingholme. This was unveiled over the 2024 Reunion weekend.
John Arnold, the Secretary of the Australian branch of the 550 Squadron Association, was one of three Australians who attended the recent reunion. The following is an edited version of his diary for the two days he spent in Lincolnshire. |
- | - | Saturday 13 July 2024 | Having stayed the previous night with Gary Brooks and his wife Donna in Grimsby, Gary and I headed out to North Killingholme, arriving just before 12.30 as the Museum was about to close. A few hellos and then Gary and I went with Mike Leeman to his house to move the Australian memorial bench to a spot on the village green. Easy to do as we had two furniture removal rollers. Placed it on the right spot, some photos, and then I checked in to the Ashbourne. Unpacked, said hello to a few more and then had a sandwich lunch. At 1.20 I went to the adjoining village green for the blessing of the memorial bench. The Vicar and a small crowd of about 25 there. I spoke for a few minutes, giving the background to the idea of the bench and thanking those, especially Gary, who had been involved in having it made and installed. The Vicar then blessed the bench via reading a short verse and then did the same for the nearby refurbished Sam Lipfriend bench. | - | - | - | Led by the Immingham Air Cadets Band, we then marched to the 550 memorial plinth on the former road down to the airfield. The Vicar spoke, wreaths were laid and photos taken. I laid one jointly with Tim Vance from Western Australia in memory of all the Australians who had served with 550. Fortunately the rain held off. Then back to the village for the service in St Denys' Church. This was followed by afternoon tea in the local hall (where the Museum is) and a chat to a few people.
After some free time, I got dressed for the evening's dinner and when down to the hotel lounge. Pint with Gary and others and purchased a bottle of wine for the table. We were soon called to the dining room. Had Tim and Heather Vance, Gary, George and Ruth Turner, and Liz and Paul Broddley as dining companions. Liz is the Chair of the local parish council. At the end George Turner thanked all the organisers and all the visitors, especially the Australians. who had made the effort to attend. George also made mention of the memorial bench and how the locals were both appreciative and aware of its significance. |
- | - | Sunday 14 July 2024 | Down for breakfast at 8.45. Joined by Val and Don Kentish, 550 reunion regulars. Had a good chat with them as I ate my scrambled eggs on toast with a small piece of salmon. At 10.00 I went to the car park to meet up with George Turner for a tour of the airfield. Only 2 others turned up: a recent local who had been in the RAF and his friend, who had an old American Jeep, left hand drive and all. The four of us went off in the jeep. Fun but cold as very open. The windscreen wipers were operated by hand, one for the left, one for the right.
We drove around the airfield starting near "B" hanger. The shorter runway is now mostly closed up with a new poultry farm been built on and around it. Other new buildings as well. We then went to the other side of the "main" road leading to East Halton, which separated the airfield itself and the many support buildings (messes, offices and accommodation) in the land behind St Denys' Church and going towards East Halton. We walked around an area where there were a few airfield shelters still standing. Photos taken and then back to the Ashbourne. |
- | - | - | Gary and Donna Brooks had kindly agreed to take me to the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln. See: (link right). Around 1.00 we headed for Lincoln, about an hour away. They dropped me off at the IBCC about 2.15. I was able to leave my luggage at the reception and the staff there kindly booked a taxi to take me to the station at 4.30. So I had about 2 hours to look around. Started with a guided tour of the outside area: just myself and the guide. At the heart of the International Bomber Command Centre are the Memorial Spire and the Walls of Names. The dominant high metal spire (see photo) is the same height as the full wing span of the Lancaster: 102 feet.
There is a tree for every squadron that was based in Lincolnshire laid out geographically for each airbase. |
https://internationalbcc.co.uk/ |
- | - | Then, having paid my £10, I went into exhibition. Two floors of interactive displays based around Bomber Command but the also the wider war, placing Bomber Command in context. Had a huge map of Europe with changing flashing lights indicating every bomb raid done by Bomber Command planes. Took only ten minutes to run through the whole war. Again, very impressive. Highly recommend the Centre to anyone interested in Bomber Command. | - | - | - | Further photos from the bench unveiling and the visit to the IBCC are available online at: (see link right)
Many thanks to John Arnold for contributing this item for the newsletter. Thanks also to John and to Tim Vance for the photographs. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2024.php. |
CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2024 | Belgium | Despite earlier hopes and advance information, as initially reported in the newsletters last year, none of the planned ceremonies took place. | - | - | The Netherlands, Commemoration for the crew of 550 Squadron Lancaster LM134 | On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June 2024, two commemorations were held in Rhenen, The Netherlands, to remember the F/O D F Neilson crew of 550 Squadron Lancaster LM134. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FODFNeilson/index.php |
- | - | It has been 80 years since these eight brave men (LM134) died on operations to Sterkrade, and they are commemorated at the Rhenen Memorial.
Families of two of the crew were able to attend: the relatives of Harold Beverley Brett from Canada and the Jago family from England, relatives of Arthur Paget. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Sterkrade&aircraft=LM134 |
- | - | Many thanks to Gerard van de Vlient for providing the information and photographs for this item in the newsletter. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rhenen-memorial.php |
WHO KNEW? | Where did Churchill's V-sign come from and what is the connection to 550 Squadron? | In following up on some research about a lost 550 Squadron crew Graham Platt turned up something rather interesting.
First some information about a crewman and a lost crew from Graham: "I was doing a bit of research about Sgt Evans and came across your page on the P/O J S Percival crew. I may be able to answer the query about Sgt Evans you have on there. I got the information first-hand from him at the IBCC spire opening event. Sgt Evans was the original MUG on the P/O S W Nielson crew through OTU/HCU and posted on to 550 Sqdn, but between arrival and their first op Evans was admitted to SSQ [Station Sick Quarters] with appendicitis. I'm not sure whether the op to remove it was done in SSQ or in a local hospital, but due to slow healing of it, he missed flying ops with his [Neilson] crew. On 2nd and 7th March his place was taken by Sgt Delaveleye, who was lost with, the P/O Neilson crew, when the aircraft was shot down. I met Sgt Evans, his wife and sister-in-law at the Spire event as I was photographing names on the metal walls. Sgt Evans was looking for Delaveleye's name, so I located it and took him across there. I asked whether it was a friend, he ran his finger across the name and said "That should have been me ..." then told me the events related above." Thereafter the survivor Sgt Evans flew a number of ops with the P/O Percival crew. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POJSPercival/index.php |
- | - | Then the follow-up information about the Delaveleye/Churchill connection.
"Sgt Charles De Laveleye had a very interesting father. Charles was the son of Victor De Laveleye (see link right). Victor was an Olympian (tennis for Belgium in the 1920 and 1924 summer Olympiads), then in 1926 became a councillor in an area of Brussels (Saint Gilles) and eventually a national politician, rising to chair the Liberal party and become Minister of Justice before WW2. He fled to England via France in 1940 and took charge of BBC Radio Belgique, broadcasting to the occupied low countries. During one of his broadcasts in early 1941, he asked all Belgians to chalk a V (for Victoire/Vrijheit) on walls and to greet each other with a V hand sign as a symbol of resilience and resistance - this also spread across occupied Europe and some 7 months later was adopted by Churchill. There is a park in Brussels named in his honour. After liberation, Victor served as Minister for Public Education from September 1944 to February 1945 despite already being seriously ill. He passed away in December 1945 at only 51 years old. So, rather sadly, Victor did not survive his son by many months." |
https://gw.geneanet.org/adelaveleye?lang=fr&pz=antoine&nz=de+laveleye&p=victor&n=de+laveleye |
- | - | The IWM web-page (link given right) is very informative.
So we can safely disregard the evolution of the V-Victory sign as portrayed in the film "Darkest Hour" starring Gary Oldman! |
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/where-does-v-for-victory-come-from |
- | - | See the very useful Bomber County Aviation Resource available here: (see link right).
Many thanks to Graham Platt (Joint Chairman, Bomber County Aviation Resource) for this interesting snippet of information. |
http://www.bcar.org.uk/index |
AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE | Lancaster W5005: a life before arriving at 550 Squadron | Many will already know that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster PA474 "City of Lincoln" sported the nose-art and call-sign of 550 Lancaster EE139/BQ-B in the years 2007-2012. Unusually the call-signs of both 100 Squadron (HW-R) and 550 Squadron (BQ-B) were displayed on PA474 when it donned the livery of "The Phantom of the Ruhr".
But did you know that another 550 Squadron Lancaster is currently "flying" as PA474, albeit from a life before 550 Squadron? The BBMF Lancaster currently displays the nose-art and call-sign of RAAF 460 Squadron Lancaster W5005 AR-L. Before W5005 was assigned to 550 Squadron it was operational with RAAF 460 Squadron, as shown in the Movement Card below. During that time with 460 Squadron it was given very distinctive nose-art by Flying Officer Thomas Victor Watts RAAF. You can find more information at: (link right). |
https://www.memorialflightclub.com/blog/daughter-wartime-460-squadron-artist-vic-watts-visits-bbmf-australia |
- | - | W5005 was later re-assigned to 550 Squadron, as shown in the movement card. W5005 / N-Nan was, as far as we are aware, the only 550 Squadron aircraft adapted to have an under gun-turret, thus requiring it to fly with an 8-man crew. The record (see: W5005 ops list, right) shows at least 5 operations [Ed. erratum, the confirmed number, following a review of the ORB, is 24!] with a mid-under gunner flying. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?aircraft=W5005 |
- | - | The anecdotal evidence is that it was not a particularly popular aircraft with crews, the under-turret making it a more difficult aircraft to crew and handle that the standard configuration. Thus it seems not many tears were shed when it met its ignominious end after it was ditched in the Humber returning from an operation on the 26th August 1944 to Kiel (see: link right) with the F/Sgt Hopman crew on board. Happily there were no casualties. The crew walked away; well swam away probably! |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Kiel&aircraft=W5005 |
- | - | After this dunking in the Humber W5005 was, as recorded in the Movement Card, assigned as Cat. E1 (written off but suitable for component recovery) and Stuck off Charge on 27th August 1944. |
/images/W5005_MovementCard.jpg |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK HARRIS | - | At 104 years young Jack Harris is still going strong. W/Cmdr J Harris DFC OBE celebrated his 104th birthday on 21st September 2024 with family, friends, a cake and, one suspects, a bottle of bubbly or two!
Happy Birthday Jack. Further photos are available online at: (see link right): |
/images/JackHarris104thBirthday/index.php |
DAVID ROBINSON | - | The Association was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of David (Dave) Robinson shortly after the July reunion in North Killingholme. Kath Robinson, a member of 550 Association committee has written a short item about Dave. | - | - | - | "May I first say a huge thank you to all 550 Committee members for their support at this very sad time. Dave was only diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the beginning of June and sadly passed away in St Andrews Hospice in Grimsby on the 24th July. On the day of the reunion Peter and Sally came to see him and Honor and Keith too. On the Sunday Don and Val came before they set off back home. Thank you all.
Dave was a very independent man and sometimes quite stubborn but at the age of 20 a motor cycle accident damaged the nerves on his left arm but after a while carried on with his apprenticeship as an agricultural engineer then turned to HGV lorries. He worked for Conoco now Phillips 66 in the garage repairing tankers and then spent the last few years driving them and delivering petrol, aviation fuel and gas all over the country.?? After his retirement he took on making model trucks and? I supported him at all local Toy and Train Fairs where he became well known in the model making world.? He was my rock too in what I achieved as a 550 Squadron Committee member, member of the Parish Council and my own interest in Local History especially RNAS Killingholme WW1. He helped me set up various displays in the village hall which were always well attended. His other love was his music. The Shadows were his favourite group and we attended many concerts together. One of their tracks "Wonderful Land" was played at his funeral on the 6th August. Dave will be sadly missed by all who knew him myself, family and friends and neighbours and all our 550 Squadron friends." |
- | ASSOCIATION WEEKEND | JULY 2025 | The date for the 2025 Association Weekend is now confirmed as Friday 11th - Saturday 12th July 2025. More details will be released nearer the time. In the meantime rest assured that the steps required to request a flypast by the BBMF Lancaster are already underway!
When further information about the plans for the weekend become available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site. In the meantime pencil the dates in your diary! |
- | OTHER NEWS | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions are due on 1st July and the majority of members return their Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. All the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter.
All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker. |
- | "Five Fifty" - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association still has a number of copies of the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", available. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £10 (plus P+P) and can be shipped within the UK or overseas. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
P/O John "Jock" Elliot - Wireless Operator 6/44 - 10/44 550 Squadron David Robinson - Member of 550 Squadron and North Killingholme Association |
- |
Issue 88 (June 2024)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 88 | June | 2024 | Reunion 2024 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | June 2024 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with final preparations for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July and includes the booking forms and menus for those planning to attend.
The 2024 reunion is planned to take place Friday 12th - Saturday 13th July 2024. Any alterations or other updates will of course be notified on the Association web-site. Other items in this month's rather busy newsletter include: |
- | - | Commemorations for 550 crews were scheduled to be held in May in Belgium. On the 22nd May the regular annual remembrance ceremony was to take place in Rebecq, Belgium. This was cancelled at short notice due to the passing of Wilfred Burie (see later in this newsletter). On 26th May there was a commemorative event in Voortkapel/Westerlo for the crew of DV309/BQ-S. As ever the Association is greatly appreciative of the efforts made by local people in Belgium in remembering, in a very active and demonstrative manner, the Bomber Command air-crews lost over their communities in times of war.
Following on from the above there is a brief update on the DV309 planned excavations in Westerlo. |
- | - | The Association was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Wilfred Burie of Rebecq, Belgium in April. Wilfred was a wonderful supporter of the Association in particular because of his efforts to remember the 550 crew lost over Rebecq, and indeed all six of the 550 Squadron losses over Belgium. | - | - | It is not often that information and photos of the ground-staff at the airfield become available. However this month there we have both as LACW Evelyn Marlow's story is told. | - | - | A new bench in memory of RAAF aircrew is planned for North Killingholme. John Arnold tells us more. | - | - | To close there is an item of thanks from Paul Freemont who was running the RAFA London Landmarks half marathon on the 7th April 2024 in memory of this father a 550 Squadron flight engineer. | - | ANNUAL REUNION - NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Annual Reunion Date - Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July 2024 | The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum, and includes the unveiling of a new memorial bench to the RAAF airmen who flew with 550 Squadron.
There will be a short Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone. The Service continues at St. Denys' Church and is followed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. We extend a warm welcome to Revd. Trevor Riess who will be conducting our Services and thank him for his support. The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening and on Sunday there is the option of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car. Should there be any changes to the plans the web-site will of course be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. |
- | Booking | Please complete and return your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than
Friday 21st June to:
Liz Broddley, [...] Email: lbroddley@gmail.com Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website: The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the various groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2024/Reunion2024-BookingForm.pdf |
Friday 12th July | A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00 pm. There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £22.00 or three courses at £26 per person. Please indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form. | - | Saturday 13th July | A submission was made to the BBMF for a flypast of the Lancaster. Unfortunately we learned in late April that our request for a flypast could not be accommodated in the BBMF schedule. A little disappointing but it cannot be helped; this means the Saturday afternoon schedule is a little more flexible than is sometimes the case.
Approximate Timetable of Events: - 9.30 a.m. - 550 Squadron Museum open. - 11.30 a.m. - Museum closes. - Lunch Break - 1.30 p.m. - Unveiling of the new RAAF Bench in North Killingholme. - 1.40 p.m. - Gather outside the Village Hall. Proceed behind the Immingham ATC band to the Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. - 1.50 p.m. - Act of Remembrance and the laying of wreaths and poppy crosses. - 2.00 p.m. - Service ends. Photo opportunity. - 2.05 p.m. - Walk back to the village behind the Immingham ATC band. - 2.35 p.m. - Service of Thanksgiving in St. Denys' Church begins. - 3.35 p.m. - Service ends. - 3.45 p.m. - Tea in Village Hall. 550 Squadron Museum open. - 4.45 p.m. - People disperse except for those staying Saturday night. - 7.30 p.m. - Formal Dinner at Ashbourne Hotel. Pay on departure if non-resident. |
- | - | - | This schedule is correct at the date of publication of this newsletter but will be updated should there be any alterations.
Copies of the schedule will be posted locally and will be available at the Ashbourne Hotel. |
- | - | - | Members are requested to walk to the Memorial Stone behind the band rather than travel by car. However if it is essential to use a car, then please do not park on Lancaster Approach close to the Memorial Stone (parking further down the road is usually available). | - | - | - | Should people attending the Saturday events require a bite at lunch time then light lunches are available at the Ashbourne Hotel and the Yarborough Arms at Ulceby station (note that booking is essential for The Yarborough Arms (tel. no. 01469 588383) as the dining area is not too big and it does get busy especially at weekends). There is a Jet garage at the traffic-light-controlled crossroads on the A160 going towards South Killingholme and the refinery. There is a shop on the forecourt that has an extensive range of snacks and drinks that may be an alternative to the Ashbourne and the Yarborough Arms. | - | - | Saturday 13th July - Reunion Dinner | Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30 pm and is a three course meal at £32.00 per head. Menu options are given in the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate on the form if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel please pay at the end of the meal. | - | - | Sunday 14th July - Airfield Tour | There is the possibility of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car should there be sufficient interest. Please complete the relevant section of the Booking Form. | - | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay and remember to quote "550" with the receptionist when booking to receive the discounted rate.
Alternatively you may wish to check one of the online booking sites for competitive rates. The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | Other Accommodation | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website: |
http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com |
- | - | There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website: |
http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
- | Travel Arrangements | By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the new roundabout. Take the second exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. The 550 Squadron Museum is in the Village Hall on the left, just before St. Denys' Church. Immediately opposite the church is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left.
Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park. There are now parking restrictions on Lancaster Approach with double yellow lines on both sides of the road. It is a busy access point for heavy goods vehicles entering the industrial estate and only park to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2024 | Belgium | A ceremony was scheduled to be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 to remember the six 550 Squadron crews who crashed in Belgium:
- Berinzenne (Milburn crew) - Jalhay (Jefferies crew) - Sint-Niklass (Dukelow crew) - Westerlo (Hinde crew) - Lichtervelde (McCrea crew) - Rebecq (Purney crew). This event was cancelled at short notice following the death of Wilfred Burie (see later in this newsletter). |
- | - | - | A ceremony was scheduled be held in Voortkapel (Westerlo) on Sunday 26th May 2024 to remember the P/O Hinde crew of DV309 who crashed in Schobbroek. No further details available at the time of writing. So also the item about DV309/BQ-S below. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Duisburg&aircraft=DV309 |
DV309 | THE CONTINUING STORY | You may recall in the previous newsletter the item about the P/O Hinde crew lost on the Duisburg op of 21/22 May 1944 in DV309/BQ-S, crashing on the outskirts of Westerlo Belgium:
- P/O GW Hinde (Pilot) - Sgt TLJ Whittick (Flight Engineer) - Sgt G Hughes (Navigator) - F/Sgt CC Sharland (Air-bomber) - Sgt DRM Davies (Wireless operator) - Sgt EC Beacham (Mid-upper air-gunner) - Sgt AJW Young (Rear air-gunner). The details of the Duisburg operation are available at: (see link right). http://www.550squadronassociation.org.uk/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=DV309. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Duisburg&aircraft=DV309 |
- | The entries on the Roll of Honour can be found at: (see link right). |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=DV309 |
- | - | The crash-site having now been surveyed by the Plane Hunters Research/Recovery Team Belgium plans have advanced as regards the recovery operation of identified parts of the aircraft. Excavation of the site is planned for September / October this year (the fields being, at the time of writing, too water-logged to permit excavation). | - | - | - | All of this activity is being undertaken by Plane Hunters Research/Recovery Team Belgium v.z.w (www.planehunters.be) in full cooperation with the Flemish authorities. |
http://www.planehunters.be |
- | - | The search for relatives continues. If you have any information that could help do please send it in to the web-site or any member of the committee for onward communication to the recovery team in Belgium. | - | - | - | Many thanks to Benny Ceulaers Chairman of the Plane Hunters Research/Recovery Team Belgium the providing details of this ongoing search for 550 Squadron aircrew | - | WILFRED BURIE | Rebecq, Belgium | In early April the Association was greatly saddened to learn of the death on Thursday 4th April of Wilfred Burie of Rebecq. | - | - | - | Wilfred was instrumental in raising the Rebecq Memorial in 2011 commemorating the P/O EC Purney crew lost over Belgium on 27/28 May 1944 on an operation to Aachen in 550 Squadron aircraft JA712. The memorial also recognised the local civilians who suffered as a result of coming to the aid of the crew. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POECPurney/index.php |
- | - | See the Rebecq Memorial Project which details the story of the work to raise the memorial. Link right: |
/documents/public/Rebecq-Memorial-Project/index.php |
- | - | Representatives of the 550 Squadron Association have visited Rebecq many times over the years to participate in the commemorations that Wilfred and the Rebecq Association organised there. On every occasion the visitors from the UK and elsewhere have been so warmly welcomed by Wilfred and members of the Rebecq Association.
Relatives of the crew have also visited and become friends with Wilfred and the many people in Rebecq who have done so much to remember the crew. See Rebecq Commemorations (link right) for photographs and details about the many commemorations over the years. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemorations.php |
- | - | Wilfred was involved in the return to North Killingholme of part of the aircraft aircraft JA712 used to transport one of the injured crewmen to hospital and which is now in the museum in North Killingholme. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Aachen&aircraft=JA712 |
- | - | Over time the Rebecq Memorial was extended to include all of the 550 crews lost over Belgium (six in total). |
https://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/crew.php |
- | - | Wilfred later extended his activities to cover all the Allied air-crews lost over the entirety of Belgium, a huge undertaking. See the Belgians Remember Them web-site (see link right): |
https://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/ |
- | - | See also the (French language) site: Wilfred Burie, mémoire de Rebecq, est mort à 71 ans. |
https://www.lavenir.net/regions/brabantwallon/rebecq/2024/04/05/wilfred-burie-memoire-de-rebecq-est-mort-a-71-ans-BYKER3ERJBGFRFSSTVMISXG5WM/ |
- | - | Wilfred's funeral took place on Monday 8th April at 2PM in the Protestant church in Ecaussines. A wreath was laid on behalf of the 550 Association by Guy De Braeckeleer. | - | - | - | The Squadron and Association owe such an enormous debt to Wilfred, and the people like him, who do so much to remember the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice all those years ago in the liberation of Europe.
Wilfred will be remembered with affection, both here in the UK and in Belgium. God bless you Wilfred, may you Rest in Peace. |
- | Leading Aircraft Woman Evelyn Marlow | MOTOR TRANSPORT SECTION | All too often not enough is known about the ground-staff who supported air-crews on operations. Both the Squadron and Station Operations Books (ORBs) make, at best, passing reference to ground-staff so it is a particular pleasure to be able to include an item about a member of the WAAF in this edition of the newsletter. Without the various ground crew and supporting staff the air-crews would simply not have been able to carry out their duties of pressing the attack on the enemy.
LACW Evelyn Marlow was a member of the Motor Transport Section and this is her story as related by her son as he remembered her on Mothering Sunday in March 2024, just a few days after she would have celebrated her 101st birthday. |
- | - | - | "On 21st January 1944, Aircraftwoman First Class (ACW1) Evelyn Marlow arrived at a bleak RAF North Killingholme to join the Motor Transport Section. 550 Squadron had moved in just three weeks earlier and the airfield was far from finished with the WAAF quarters not being completed for some time.
And so began a lifelong love affair with the Avro Lancaster. This was to be her home for almost two years, the 'best time of her life'. Promotion to Leading Aircraftwoman (LACW) following in April. |
- | - | - | She had begun her WAAF service with three-month postings at RAF Marston Moor (home to a Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) for Halifax heavy bombers) and RAF Woolfox Lodge (home to a HCU for Stirling heavy bombers) | - | - | - | Everyday duties involved moving people and equipment around the airfield in various staff cars, vans, Bedford lorries and crew buses. There were regular trips to nearby RAF Elsham Wolds, as well as further afield, sometimes chauffeuring senior officers on visits to other bases.
She drove crews out to their dispersed aircraft and, sadly, collected the personal effects of aircrew who failed to return. In was a nightly ritual to stand beside the runway, whatever the weather, to wave the crews off, and occasionally, wait for their return. She was very proud to have been associated with the three 550 centurion Lancs. |
- | - | - | A special treat was being allowed by the armourers to drive the tractor towing a train of bomb trollies, something that WAAFs were not supposed to do.
Away from driving, she recalled packing food to be dropped over Holland in the last days of the war in Europe. |
- | - | - | Following the end of hostilities, North Killingholme remained operational until 31st October 1945. In December Evelyn was posted to RAF Sturgate, where 50 Squadron and 61 Squadron operated Lancasters. | - | - | - | In March 1946 she moved on to RAF Swinderby (1660 Heavy Conversion Unit - Lancasters) where she would meet her future husband.
She was released from the WAAF in January 1947." |
- | - | - | Many thanks to Nigel Sayer-Payne for contributing this item to the newsletter. | - | Memorial Bench | To honour the Australians who served with 550 Squadron to be erected in North Killingholme | Over 10,000 Australian members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) served in Bomber Command. Some were with distinctive RAAF Squadrons such as 460 Squadron while most were attached to RAF Squadrons. | - | - | - | Their losses were high: some 3539 were killed in operations and another 610 in Bomber Command training units. Their death rate, about one in three, was the highest of the Australians who served in all theatres in WWII, and amounted to 20% of all Australian combat losses. | - | - | - | Many Australians were attached to 550 Squadron. You can pick them out in the photos on the 550 website by their dark blue uniform compared to the lighter colour ones of those in the RAF. The most notable was Edgar Pickles, DFC and Bar, who flew 50 missions (one tour with the 100 Squadron and one with 550 Squadron). He finished as Squadron Leader Pickles, Flight Commander of B Flight. | - | - | - | His remarkable story is told in the 2021 book by Di Websdale-Morrissey: "I'll be back for breakfast: the life of war hero Edgar Pickles DFC and Bar" | - | - | - | The descendants of Edgar Pickles, and those of some of the Australians who served with 550 Squadron, have got together and funded a memorial bench to be placed on the verge adjacent to the Ashbourne Hotel at North Killingholme. | - | - | - | From the Australian end, the project has been co-ordinated by Kate Houghton (niece of Edgar Pickles) and John Arnold (Secretary of the Australian Branch of the 550 Squadron Association). Grimsby based Gary Brooks (son of Len Brooks, DFM, the rear gunner in the Pickles 550 crew) has organised the actual making of the bench by a local carpenter, the plaque to go on it and liaising with the local council through Kath Robinson to obtain formal permission to have bench placed at North Killingholme. Great job Gary! | - | - | - | The plaque to be installed on the bench reads:
In Memory of Edgar Pickles, DFC and Bar, and the many other Australians who served with the 550 Squadron. |
- | - | - | Many thanks to John Arnold for contributing this item to the newsletter. | - | THANKS | Donations in Memory of Stan Freemont | Association member Paul Freemont, son of 550 Squadron flight engineer Stan Freeman ran the RAFA London Landmarks half marathon on the 7th April 2024 in memory of this father. Sgt. I S Freeman was a member a member of the F/Lt Jack Harris crew. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?id=6041 |
- | - | Many members of the Association were able to make donations to Paul for this worthy cause. Paul sent in a thank-you note now that he has recovered from the run! |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtJHarris/index.php |
- | - | "Just to say I managed to complete the London Landmarks half marathon yesterday. It was hard after 17km (10.5 miles), but I managed to get around without stopping in 2h 34.
More importantly, I want to personally thank you for supporting me with donations and I managed to raise £1000 for RAF Association which is fantastic. The RAFA runners raised over £5000 - most were in Wave 1 doing times of 1.30 (eek!), and all were in the RAF club having refreshment by the time I finished! Thank you again. Photo is of myself and my wife Liz after the race (Liz was running for Guys cancer research fund). It was an amazing day and thanks again for being so generous for a fantastic cause and in memory of all the amazing crews and ground staff of 550 squadron." |
- | OTHER NEWS | 550 Squadron Association Museum | The 550 Squadron Association Museum in North Killingholme is open by arrangement. | - | - | Association Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to the editorial team using the details given in the "Contact" section of this newsletter | - | - | Your Association Needs YOU! | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions are due on 1st July and the majority of members return their Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. All the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter.
All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
Wilfred Burie - Member of 550 Squadron and North Killingholme Association |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members of the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter. Those who have chosen to share their contact details are:
Douglas de Gast (son of F/O M. A. de Gast) |
- |
Issue 87 (March 2024)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 87 | March | 2024 | Reunion 2024 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | March 2024 Newsletter | This newsletter is issued in time for interested members to plan for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July. | - | - | At the time of publication of this newsletter the 2024 reunion is planned to take place Friday 12th - Saturday 13th July 2024. Any alterations or other updates will of course be notified in the next newsletter, planned to be issued before the reunion, and on the Association web-site. Other items in this month's newsletter include: |
- | - | A report on the 2023 Remembrance Weekend in North Killingholme. | - | - | On the 22nd May the regular annual remembrance ceremony will take place in Rebecq, Belgium. On 26th May there will be a commemorative event in Voortkapel/Westerlo for the crew of DV309/BQ-S. For more details see the items below. | - | - | A new memorial was unveiled in December 2023 at Fulstow Bridge on the Louth Canal in Lincolnshire to two 550 Squadron crews killed in a collision in the air.
The Association was represented at the ceremony on Christmas Eve, 80 years to the day after the loss of the aircraft and the two crews. |
- | - | The Association was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of William Albertyn of Sint Niklaas, Belgium in December.
William was a wonderful supporter of the Association in particular because of his efforts to remember the 550 crew lost over Sint-Niklaas. |
- | - | There is news of the "adoption" of the grave of a 550 Sqdn airman in a third CGWC cemetery further underlining the importance of the "Adoptiegraven Scheme" that operates in The Netherlands. | - | - | Meanwhile in Westerlo, Belgium there has been a recent interesting development in respect of the P/O Hinde crew and the DV309/BQ-S crash-site. Please read on! | - | - | Finally there is an item by Mike Leeman outlining the answer to the most frequent question he is asked when a visitor arrives in North Killingholme to see the village and the station where 550 Squadron service personnel lived and operated from. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2023 | North Killingholme | A simple ceremony, with 2 mins silence observed, took place at 11am at the Memorial Stone on Lancaster Approach. | - | - | The service was taken by the Reverend Trevor Riess. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Squadron Association by Don Kentish, by Liz Broddley on behalf of NK Parish Council and Graham Dolan for RNAS. Numerous wooden poppy crosses were placed in remembrance of 550 crews lost on operations and for survivors who have since passed away.
Following the brief ceremony at The Memorial Stone, there was a service in St Denys' Church, also led by the Reverend Trevor Riess. |
- | - | As in previous years our programme in November included an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel. Eight people attended the Saturday evening dinner and sixteen for Sunday lunch. | - | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2024 | The 2024 reunion is planned to take place Friday 12th - Saturday 13th July 2024. | - | - | - | The Ashbourne Hotel is booked, and they will take bookings for th wishing to stay. Do not forget to mention "550 Squadron Association"5 when you are booking in order to receive the discounted rate.
It may well be the case that a more competitive rate can be found on one of the comparison web-sites online. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | - | A submission has been made to the BBMF for a flypast of the Lancaster; the reply for that request is awaited.
The Immingham Air Training Corps Band has been contacted and confirmed they will attend. Following the Service in St. Denys' Church there will be tea and cakes available in the Village Hall. |
- | - | - | More details will be released nearer the time. The web-site will, of course, be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. | - | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2024 | Belgium | A ceremony will be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 to remember the six 550 Squadron crews who crashed in Belgium:
- Berinzenne (Milburn crew) - Jalhay (Jefferies crew) - Sint-Niklass (Dukelow crew) - Westerlo (Hinde crew) - Lichtervelde (McCrea crew) - Rebecq (Purney crew). The event is to take place in the presence of the Representatives of HM the King of the Belgians, with a Royal band and a Guard of Honour. |
- | - | - | A ceremony will be held in Voortkapel (Westerlo) on Sunday 26th May 2024 to remember the P/O Hinde crew of DV309 who crashed in Schobbroek. No further details available at the time of writing. So also the item about DV309/BQ-S below. | - | - | - | As soon as updated information, about either event, is available then this will be published in the next available Newsletter as well as on the Association web-site. | - | NEW 550 MEMORIAL IN FULSTOW | - | Earlier in the year the Association learned of the plans for a new memorial at Fulstow Bridge on the Louth Canal in Lincolnshire for the Sgt HFJ Woods (of ED730) and F/Sgt WR Cooper (of ND327) crews killed on Christmas Eve 1943.
Eighty years to the day a short ceremony was held to formally "unveil" the memorial at the site close to where the aircraft crashed. Mike and Margaret Leeman, represented the 550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association, laying a wreath on behalf of the Association and providing the following summary of the day. |
- | - | - | Approximately fifty people gathered for a short ceremony conducted by Mrs. Camilla Carlbon Flynn (described in a note by Coun. Nicola Pike as a "trustee of Bomber Command and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire"). The Epitaph was read by Piers Pike, names were read by original researcher Danny Malone and a poem was read by Yvonne Hallam - ex-RAF Queen Mary RAF Nursing (as per info from Parish Councillor Nicola Pike who was heavily involved in fund-raising for the project). The land for the memorial was donated by Rob Willerton of Heelgate Farm and the hole for the memorial was dug by Will Thornes.
The only crew families' representatives present were the nephew and niece of Gordon Claydon (flight engineer of the Cooper crew). |
- | - | - | For details and more photos of event the see the memorial page: |
/pages/550-sqdn-fulstow-memorial.php#FulstowBridgeMemorial |
- | - | When this item was being compiled for the newsletter some interesting additional information was uncovered from the Squadron ORB.
Sgt J McConnell the rear-gunner in the Sgt Woods crew and Sgt J A Jordan the mid-upper gunner in the F/Sgt Cooper crew were not in fact the regular gunners with those respective crews. Rather they were the gunners from the Sgt W Bradley crew (with whom they transferred into 550 Squadron on the 18th December 1943). Neither actually flew an op at 550 Squadron with Sgt Bradley being killed before they could do so. In fact the Christmas Eve that they were lost Sgt Bradley was flying his first flight at 550 Squadron, his "second dickey" op with the F/O R H Maule crew in Lancaster DV3345. |
- | - | - | One can only imagine the impact this would have had on the Bradley crew that two of their number, with whom they will have spent several months in training before joining 550 Squadron, were killed before they even flew an op together. The Squadron Operations Record Book (ORB) does give some idea of the purely practical outcome of the loss of the two gunners. After the Christmas Eve loss the Bradley crew flew a single operation, with substitute gunners, on 29 December 1943 to Berlin in LM319: see (link right) for which the ORB reads "Abandoned at 18.05hrs at 20,000 ft. Navigator on wrong course and heading to NORWAY." |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Berlin&aircraft=LM319 |
- | - | Thereafter all of the crew members, with the exception of Sgt Bradley the pilot, were posted to other units in mid/late January 1944. | - | - | - | Sgt Bradley himself flew a single further operation as the pilot with what was effectively the S/Ldr P A Nicholas crew (JE Legg (F/Eng), W Dinney (Nav), FC Wilkinson (A/B), BG Todd (W/Op), WH Ansell (MU/AG), NS Smart (R/AG)) on 28th January 1944, again to Berlin this time in ME582: see (link right), where the ORB records "Returned early. No air pressure to operate Super Charger change gear. Difficult to maintain height." After that Sgt Bradley transferred out of 550 Squadron to 103 Squadron on 5th February 1944. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Berlin&aircraft=ME582 |
MEMORIES SHARED | William Albertyn | In early December the Association was greatly saddened to learn of the death of William Albertyn of Sint Niklaas. William was instrumental in commemorating the P/O Dukelow crew lost over Belgium on 21/22 May 1944 on the operation to Duisburg in LL851. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Duisburg&aircraft=LL851 |
- | - | Over the years since William initiated this commemoration many relatives of the crew and members of 550 Squadron Association have visited Sint Niklaas and all will attest to the warm welcome they received from William and Denise and the deep respect they felt towards the 550 Squadron crew-men who sadly died and are buried in their town. The Squadron and Association owe such an enormous debt to William, and the people like him, who insist that we remember the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice all those years ago. A letter was sent to William's family, parts of which are reprinted below: | - | - | - | "On behalf of the members of the committee of the North Killingholme RAF 550 Squadron?Association, I would like to place on record the respect that?the members had? for? your father . For all those many years that he tended the graves of the seven young men of the P/O Dukelow crew who were killed in action on the night of 21/22 of May 1944, when the Lancaster LL851, BQ-V crashed at Sint-Niklaas. His dedication in preserving?their memory is very much appreciated and he will be sadly missed at our future reunions. William was a very modest man, quietly?spoken, and it was always a pleasure to be in his company and he will be long remembered for his friendship over the years. We send our condolences to you and your mother Denise and all the family. May God bless you all, Kind regards, George Turner, Chairman of the 550 Squadron Association." | - | - | - | For a record of the many visits to remember the crew see Sint Niklaas Commemorations. (see link right) |
/pages/550-sqdn-sint-niklaas-commemorations.php |
CWGC CEMETERIES | OVERLOON | In several newsletters over the last couple of years (for example, Newsletters No. 85 June 2023, No. 83 October 2022 and No. 78 June 2021) there have been items on the "Adoptiegraven Scheme" that operates in The Netherlands. Graves of 550 Sqdn air-men in CGCW cemeteries in Nederweert and Venray have been adopted by local people. Days of particular significance such as birthdays, the days the air-men fell in action, and days of significance in the Dutch year (Liberation Day, etc) the adopters pay special attention to ensure the fallen are remembered. | - | - | - | News has been received that the grave of a 550 Sqdn airman has been adopted in a third Dutch cemetery. Two 550 Sqdn air-crew are buried in Overloon War Cemetery (see the list of cemeteries in the Netherlands at: |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_cemeteries.php?country=NL |
- | - | The grave of Sgt GC Dennis (MU/AG) (see link right) of the F/Lt JP Morris crew crew has been adopted by a local man. Already some relatives of George Charles Dennis have been traced. As more news of this development becomes available it will be followed up in a future newsletter. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?id=4425 |
DV309 | CAN YOU HELP? | The P/O Hinde crew flying in DV309/BQ-S were lost on the Duisburg op of 21/22 May 1944 crashing on the outskirts of Westerlo Belgium:
- P/O GW Hinde (Pilot) - Sgt TLJ Whittick (Flight Engineer) - Sgt G Hughes (Navigator) - F/Sgt CC Sharland (Air-bomber) - Sgt DRM Davies (Wireless operator) - Sgt EC Beacham (Mid-upper air-gunner) - Sgt AJW Young (Rear air-gunner). The details of the Duisburg operation are available at: (see link right). http://www.550squadronassociation.org.uk/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=DV309. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Duisburg&aircraft=DV309 |
- | - | The entries on the Roll of Honour can be found at: (see link right).
There has been a memorial to the crew at Schobbroek since 1998, and relatives of the crew and members of the Association have visited Westerlo over the intervening years. Earlier this year the crash-site was surveyed by the Plane Hunters Research/Recovery Team Belgium with a view to undertaking a recovery operation of any identified parts of the aircraft. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=DV309 |
- | - | All of this activity is being undertaken by Plane Hunters Research/Recovery Team Belgium v.z.w: www.planehunters.be in full cooperation with the Flemish authorities. The team has undertaken successful recoveries before, for example NN775, 514 Squadron, (https://www.planehunters.be/lancaster-nn775/) parts of which are now in a special exhibition at the Oorlogsmuseum, Overloon (https://www.oorlogsmuseum.nl/nl/) |
http://www.planehunters.be |
- | - | Two of the DV309 crew have no grave, and thus are remembered at Runnymede. It may be possible that they could recovered and laid to rest with their colleagues in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp.
Contact has been re-established with the daughter of F/Sgt. Sharland who attended the inauguration of the memorial in 1998. A relative of Sgt. Whittick has been found and is in contact with the recovery team. The search for relatives of other members of the crew continues. |
- | - | - | Can you help in the search for relatives? If you have any information that could help do please send it in to the web-site or any member of the committee for onward communication to the recovery team in Belgium. | - | - | - | Many thanks to Benny Ceulaers Chairman of the Plane Hunters Research/Recovery Team Belgium the providing details of this ongoing search for 550 Squadron aircrew | - | MIKE LEEMAN | What's your connection to 550 Squadron? | When showing visitors to North Killingholme around the Museum, church or airfield, I am often asked "What is your connection with 550 Squadron?" My usual answer is along the lines of "I am not directly related with either 550 or the RAF but I will explain later when we are further on with the visit."
It is only when we reach the almost four foot tall granite Squadron Memorial Stone on Lancaster Approach that the subject gets mentioned. Along the front of the Memorial's plinth appear the following words - "Donated by the North Killingholme Fittie Lands Charity". |
- | - | - | Having moved to North Killingholme with a young family in May 1977, a couple of years on I sought the support of a local district councillor in order to get planning permission for an extension to what was then a bungalow. A short while later (1981) I was approached by the same councillor (who was also a local parish councillor) to see if I would take on the post of clerk/treasurer of a village charity. The previous incumbent had died and the position was being filled on a temporary basis by the treasurer of the local district council (Glanford Borough).
Having met the three charity trustees I accepted the post in the summer of 1981. Soon afterwards there was a letter from North Killingholme Parish Council - requesting ... "financial aid in order that a stone could be erected in commemoration of the airmen who flew from North Killingholme airfield. It was agreed in principle that a contribution should be made, subject to schemes being submitted in order to evaluate the amount". Charity minutes dated October 1981 record the receipt of a letter from the Parish Council clerk ... "in which she thanked the Charity for their offer to undertake all the expenses connected with the provision of the Memorial Stone for North Killingholme Airfield". |
- | - | - | Various bodies now became involved, Glanford Borough Council were asked if they were able to supply a suitable plot on the airfield site, and quotations for suitable stones were sought from suppliers. As well as North Killingholme Parish Council getting involved there was an input from St Denys' Parochial Church Council. Members of both these bodies were Brenda and Maurice Labourne. They lived at Church Farm, behind the church, and on many occasions following the war had received visits from ex-servicemen and their families. Fortunately, details were exchanged and some became regular visitors, Eric Redshaw and family being one example. | - | - | - | The first Commanding Officer of 550 Squadron, Wing Commander J. J. Bennett DFC made regular visits from his home in Lincoln and arrangements were made for the unveiling and dedication of the memorial on 31st July 1982. The event was advertised in appropriate publications aimed at ex-servicemen and both national radio and press were asked for help in finding former personnel.
Along with Wing Commander Bennett, Cllr. Mrs Labourne, Eric Redshaw and Charles Whitters participated in the ceremony, led by Rev. Bob Kenyon. Looking at my list of those attending the July event, amongst the names are some that will be familiar to members: Wally Fitch, Jim Lord, Ken Brotherhood, Vernon Wilkes, Philip Blackham and Len Thompson. The event was a great success, with officials of all three councils present. At this stage no arrangements were made for a November gathering on Remembrance Sunday. However, a small wreath was placed on the Stone each Christmas until the end of the decade, this being funded by Jim Lord. |
- | - | - | My involvement now moves on to 1991 when, from out of the blue, I had a letter from Jack Harris. He had been told about Brenda and myself by Frank Pritchard and Charles Whitters and explained that he had three aims:
- to form a 550 Squadron Association; - to arrange the first 550 Squadron reunion; - write a history of the squadron. |
- | - | - | The Reunion was planned for RAF Hendon, with the mention of a possible event in North Killingholme in 1993. I was invited to the RAF Hendon event but declined, feeling that I could not intrude upon what was going to be a very nostalgic (and possibly private) occasion for the estimated attendance of around 100.
The Reunion was a great success and the Squadron Association was set up. On hearing of the parts played previously by Maurice and Brenda Labourne and myself, we were invited to become honorary members of the Association. A future Reunion was planned for North Killingholme for the summer of 1993, with Jack meeting the Labourne's and myself for the first time in November 1992. |
- | - | - | Annual Reunions at North Killingholme have been a regular feature since July 1993, with a number of local residents coming on board to assist. If I name them I risk causing offence by missing someone out. My contribution has included acting as assistant reunion organiser, Association newsletter printer and distributor and Association treasurer for ten years. The reason for taking on these responsibilities was to try to lift some of the workload from Jack. Since 2010 I have been the curator of the Squadron Museum here in North Killingholme. I also worked closely with Patrick Otter on the production of "Five Fifty", the book of the squadron's history. In recent years I have produced what is now known as the "Visitor Booklet" that is given free to first time visitors as a memento when they come to the village to see the church, the Museum or the airfield. | - | - | - | Now you are aware of my connection with 550 Squadron and how I have been involved for more than forty years.
Many thanks to Mike Leeman for contributing this item to the first newsletter of 2024. |
- | OTHER NEWS | 550 Squadron Association Museum | The 550 Squadron Association Museum in North Killingholme is open by arrangement. | - | - | Association Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to the editorial team using the details given in the "Contact" section of this newsletter | - | - | Your Association Needs YOU! | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions are due on 1st July and the majority of members return their Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. All the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter.
All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
William Albertyn - Member of 550 Squadron and North Killingholme Association |
- |
Issue 86 (October 2023)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 86 | October | 2023 | Remembrance 2023, Reunion updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2023 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme in November. | - | - | The latest information about Remembrance Weekend appears below. | - | - | There are reports on the Annual Reunion in North Killingholme in July this year plus the date of next year's Association Weekend. | - | - | At this year's reunion we welcomed visitors from Ireland, The Netherlands and Australia. Anne Yang from Australia has provided an item recalling memorable moments from her UK trip which included visiting the North Killingholme airfield her father flew from. Norval Black met the wonderful folks from The Netherlands who tend his father's grave in Venray War Cemetery. | - | - | In May in Sint Niklaas in Belgium the P/O Dukelow crew was remembered; the photographs from that event are included in the newsletter this month. | - | - | In September Jack Harris celebrated his 103rd birthday. As well as completing a 37 op tour with 550 Squadron Jack was deeply involved in the formation of the 550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association. Jack celebrated with family and friends and, of course, some fizz. Happy birthday Jack! | - | - | As this is the "remembrance" issue newsletter then it seemed appropriate to include "His Last Letter Home", F/O Paul Roche RCAF writes to his parents the letter they would have hoped never to have needed to receive. | - | - | We are still recruiting to the important role of Newsletter Co-Ordinator so if you have the skills to fulfil this position please do not delay in contacting us. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme - Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November 2023 | As in previous years our programme includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at The Ashbourne Hotel on the Saturday evening followed usually by the opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and St Denys' Church will be followed this year by lunch at the Ashbourne Hotel. | - | - | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel. When booking do please mention you are with the "550" group in order to get the discounted rate. We advise booking early as availability may be limited.
It may well be the case that a more competitive rate can be found on one of the comparison web-sites online. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | Please book rooms directly with the hotel and settle your food and accommodation bill on departure.
To book meals and for any queries regarding the meals or timetable please contact Honor Redshaw. Details as follows: Email: honorredshaw@hotmail.co.uk. |
- | Saturday Evening 11th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45pm in the Fork and Spoon. If you would like to join the group please let Honor know by Friday 3rd November. As menu pre-selection is required you will be contacted nearer the time with the latest menu. Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay.
Please note that on Saturday evening there is a "Dolly Parton Tribute Act" booked from 7PM at the Ashbourne Hotel. So if you plan to stay at the hotel it might be advisable to book your accommodation sooner rather then later. |
- | Sunday 12th November | Our provisional timetable is shown below and includes a two minute silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone.
- 09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall by appointment. Contact Mike Leeman on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com - 10.45 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. - 10.52 - Service starts. - 11.00 - Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. - 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. - 11.20 - Church Service starts. - 12.00 - Service ends. - 12.30 - Lunch in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. |
- | Sunday Lunch | Lunch this year has been arranged to take place in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. A Sunday Lunch menu is available (of mainly roasts): either main course (£15.00) or starter and main (£18.00). Dessert (£8).
Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. Pre-selection may be required. Please let Honor know by Friday 3rd November if you will be dining. Please check the 550 Association website for updates closer to the date or if you do not have access to the internet contact Honor Redshaw using the information given above. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2023 | It was great to be able to meet up again at the reunion in North Killingholme in July. Present this year were visitors from Ireland, The Netherlands and from as far away as Australia. Flags and bunting adorned the village, and the Memorial Stone and surrounding area was also suitably flagged. Saturday was, however, a bit of a washout out from the point of view of the weather. An unfortunate consequence of this was that the hoped for flypast by the BBMF Lancaster did not take place. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2023.php |
- | - | Friday dinner was a chance for friends who had not seen each other since last year's reunion to catch up. | - | - | - | Saturday evening dinner was well attended and a warm welcome was offered to all our visitors. Grace was said by one of our visitors, Rev. Ray Owen. George Turner formally welcomed Association members and proposed the toasts.
Rev. Ray Owen, who was attending his first Reunion (along with his son) met Malcolm and Susie Batt. Both families had relatives who were in the Ft/Lt A Grain crew. See: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtAJGrain/index.php |
- | - | Thank you to everyone who played a part in making it all happen. To the members of the committee who, among the many tasks necessary, made the arrangements with BBMF for the flypast, prepared the Memorial Stone area for pubic assembly, made the arrangements for our use of the Church, the Village Hall and the museum. To the Revd. Trevor Riess for leading our services of Remembrance. To the people of North Killingholme for warmly welcoming the visitors who annually overrun their village. Thanks to all the Association members and others who attended from all over the UK, Australia and The Netherlands, helping to make it a memorable weekend. | - | - | - | Photographs and documents relating to the reunion are available online at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2023.php |
CONNECTIONS | - | In the Newsletter No. 83, October 2022, there was an item on the Adoptiegraven Scheme that operates in The Netherlands.
In a further link between the Association and the Dutch grave adoption foundations, the Annual Reunion in July was attended by Arno and Mariska Gommans of Venray who have adopted the grave of a 550 Bomb Aimer, Flying Officer Henry Black. Mariska is pictured beside the grave in a photograph taken by Stephen Roke when he visited the CWGC Cemetery in March this year, see the item in Newsletter No. 85, June 2023, and online at (link right): |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHDodds/LogBooks/RokeVenrayCemeteryVisitApril2023.pdf) |
- | - | Arno and Mariska were warmly welcomed to the Association and are pictured at the Dinner with Norval and Dorothy Black and on the airfield tour conducted by George Turner. Also online at (see link right):
Many thanks to Norval Black for contributing this item. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2023.php |
A GRAND TOUR | - | In early July I made the long journey from Australia to North Killingholme, where a warm welcome awaited all those attending the annual Reunion of the 550 Squadron Association. Sharing this special time with me, was my friend, Lyn McGettigan whose father served with Squadron 463 at RAF Waddington.
The weekend activities included a relaxed welcome dinner on Friday night, with another enjoyable dinner Saturday, as George Turner extended a warm welcome to those who were attending for the first time. Saturday was rather damp as we took the opportunity to look at all the Museum memorabilia and purchase 550 badges and pins, before we walked to the Memorial Stone to lay wreaths and poppies in remembrance of all those who served with 550, including my father, Charlie Baldwin RAAF 420806. A lovely service was held at St Denys' Church and later everyone enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea of home-made cakes, which almost made up for our disappointment when the Lancaster fly-past had to be cancelled. Thunderstorms and mechanical problems unfortunately won the day, giving us a very good reason to return! |
/images/NorthKillingholme/20110211%20North%20Killingholme%20(20).JPG |
- | - | On Sunday several of us were grateful to be given an informative tour of the airfield by George Turner, which completed our understanding of the overall layout of runways, and we could imagine the take-off and landings of the mighty Lancaster. Various industries have been built on the runways, but we could still see original tarmac and hangars.
On Sunday afternoon George and his wife Ruth took Lyn and myself for a wonderful drive to the North York Moors - such an unexpected pleasure for us to see the rolling hills of heather and black-faced sheep. Thank you for the end of a perfect time at North Killingholme, where we formed new friendships linking us to 550 Squadron. |
- | - | - | An added highlight of our journey was a visit to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby, where we had booked an Interior Lancaster experience. This was a memorable experience, sitting in the positions of the airmen in a very confined space, being surrounded by a complex array of instruments. A guide explained the workings of everything as we got to try out all the different positions. Both Lyn's and my father were bomb-aimers, so that one was special for us. The Centre featured so much to see, it deserves a whole day to absorb everything. If you want to do a Lancaster experience, book well in advance. | - | - | - | Another great experience was our visit to RAF Waddington, where we were privileged to be shown through the museum with our guide imparting years of knowledge and expertise. We learned so much about the operations of a bomber including how the order of bombs was selected to be dropped in sequence. For Lyn, it was special to see the location where her father, Jack Bewes RAAF 423600 had been stationed. | - | - | - | Staying in Lincoln, we next headed to the IBCC, another memorable day, all-be-it a rainy one, where the life-size figures of airmen stood tall, but comparatively small next to the Lancaster wingspan soaring into the grey sky. Making a deep impression on us, and with so much to take in, we would hope to visit again. Searching through the Wall of Names featuring 23 panels that list the names of Bomber Command losses, I was pleased to find a young airman, Sgt. Arthur (Gus) Welstead who was killed during a training crash at RAF Hixon, Staffordshire, an accident that my father was lucky to escape. The IBCC is a remarkable place telling stories of lives lost. | - | - | - | Before our departure for home, we visited St Clement Danes Church, the Central Church of the RAF, which stands quietly on the Strand, amidst busy city streets. A statue of Sir Arthur Harris stands nearby. Sunday services often feature a guest singer, and on this occasion we were lucky to listen to a beautiful voice. The church contains the Books of Remembrance, whilst over a thousand slate squadron and unit badges are embedded in the floor. Although the writing has almost worn completely away, I was able to find the 550 Squadron badge with the help of a plan on the wall of the church. It was a peaceful setting and brought Lyn and I closer to the spirit of lives lost. We were disappointed that the Bells couldn't ring, due to netting around the crumbly spire. Costs to maintain this beautiful building are high and I would encourage everyone to donate towards its upkeep. | - | - | - | Finally we made a dash in the rain to see the Bomber Command Statue in Green Park, getting drenched in the process, but it was all worth it. An imposing statue, it depicts the life-size figures of seven aircrew in all their battle clothes, ready to take to the skies and brings home the reality of these brave men. | - | - | - | If we have an opportunity, both Lyn and I would return to visit all of these special places again and recommend them to anyone interested in the RAF and Commonwealth Forces during WWII. | - | - | - | See the online version on the crew web-page (see link right):
Many thanks to Annaxue Yang for sending in this record of her visit to the UK in remembrance of her father 550 airman Charlie Baldwin RAAF (air-bomber with the F/O Cowper crew). |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOGGHCowper/index.php#UKVisit |
CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2023 | Sint Niklaas, Belgium, 21st May | In addition to the ceremonies that took place in Rebecq in May this year the P/O Dukelow crew of LL851 / BQ-V was remembered in Sint Niklaas. | - | - | - | "Today we remember the crash of the Avro Lancaster LL851 BQ-V London's Pride and Joy of 550 Squadron.
79 years ago on the night of May 21-22, 1944, this heavy bomber crashed with its seven-member crew (The DUKELOW Crew) in Heimolenwijk in Sint-Niklaas. All of the crew members lost their lives and were buried on May 23, 1944 by the German occupiers in the Tereken cemetery (the old cemetery of Sint-Niklaas). In 2019, following the 75th commemoration ceremony, a Memorial Stone was placed at the chapel of Heimolenwijk located in the street Heimolenhoek, between the Kiemerstraat and the Weverstraat. Every year a small ceremony is held at the monument and in the cemetery where wreaths are laid. This year three replica air-crew, all crew members of an Avro Lancaster, were placed next to the monument." See link right: |
/pages/550-sqdn-sint-niklaas-commemoration-2023.php |
- | - | As always the Association is greatly appreciative of the efforts of individuals and organisations in Belgium in remembering 550 Squadron crews who left North Killingholme never to return.
Many thanks to Andy Daelman for sending in the details and photographs of this commemoration. |
- | HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK HARRIS | - | At 103 years young Jack Harris is still going strong. W/Cmdr J Harris DFC OBE celebrated his 103rd birthday on 21st September 2023 with family and friends and a bottle, or two, of bubbly.
The first train to ever officially reach 100 miles per hour, the 60103 Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster in 1922, and was given its name in 1923, so turning 100 this year. A couple of months back Jack was standing in front of the "Flying Scotsman", almost 3 years older than the engine and looking just as well. Further photos are available online at (see link right): |
/images/JackHarris103rdBirthday/index.php |
CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2024 | - | Currently there is limited information on events planned in Europe in 2024.
However preliminary information about a ceremony to be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 has been received. |
- | - | - | This event takes place in remembrance of all of the 550 crews who crashed in Belgium: - Berinzenne (Milburn crew) - Jalhay (Jefferies crew) - Sint-Niklass (Dukelow crew) - Westerlo (Hinde crew) - Lichtervelde (McCrea crew) - Rebecq (Purney crew). | - | - | - | It will take place in the presence of the Representatives of HM the King of the Belgians, with a Royal band and a guard of honour. The Ambassadors of countries having nationals involved in the crashes in Belgium in WW2 will be invited.
As soon as more information about this, or other events in Belgium or elsewhere is available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site. |
- | HIS LAST LETTER HOME | FLYING OFFICER PAUL ROCHE RCAF | F/O P M "Paul" Roche was the pilot and captain of Lancaster LM455, BQ-T which crashed near Blamont in France on 28th July 1944. He and the other members of the crew had arrived at North Killingholme on 8th July and were part of a raid on Stuttgart from which they failed to return. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOPMRoche/index.php |
- | - | Photo from the 550 web-site, courtesy of Christine Lang (see link right): |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOPMRoche/Images/IMG_4827.jpg |
- | - | It was the crew's 5th operation together although F/O Roche had completed an extra "trip" as second pilot with F/O Wareham on 18th July, the day before the crew's first mission.
The letter Paul had written to his parents to be sent in the event of his death is reproduced below and mixes his experience of squadron life with concern for his family and his feelings about the risks he faced. [the document (as two images) is not attached here in this online version of the newsletter.] This document was accessed from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial entry for Paul Roche: |
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2320043 |
- | - | Further information about the Roche crew can be found on the 550 website at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOPMRoche/index.php |
- | - | There is also a page on the 550 website about a memorial in Blamont dedicated to the crew: |
/pages/550-sqdn-blamont-commemorations.php |
ASSOCIATION WEEKEND | JULY 2024 | The 2024 Association Weekend is planned to take place on Friday 12th - Saturday 13th July 2024. More details will be released nearer the time. In the meantime rest assured that the steps required to request a flypast by the BBMF Lancaster are already underway! | - | - | - | When further information about the plans for the weekend become available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site. In the meantime pencil the dates in your diary! | - | OTHER NEWS | Your Association Needs YOU! | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions were due on 1st July and the majority of members have returned the Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. For anyone that missed the July renewal an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter. | - | - | All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form.
If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker. |
- | "Five Fifty" - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association still has a number of copies of the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", available. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £10 (plus P+P) and can be shipped within the UK or overseas. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
John Phillips - Member of 550 Squadron and North Killingholme Association |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members of the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter.
Dr. Keith Gould |
- |
Issue 85 (June 2023)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 85 | June | 2023 | Reunion 2023 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | June 2023 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with final preparations for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July and includes the booking forms and menus for those planning to attend. | - | - | At the time of publication of this newsletter the 2023 reunion will take place Friday 7th - Saturday 8th July 2023. | - | - | This year marks the 80th anniversary of squadron formation and commencement of operations (from RAF Waltham). It also marks 30 years of reunions in North Killingholme. | - | - | As part of the Operation Chastise 80 commemorations the BBMF Lancaster overflew a number of Lincolnshire wartime airfields, including North Killingholme, on 16th May. There follows below a brief report on, and some photos of, that event. | - | - | Commemorations for 550 crews were held in May in Belgium. There was also a rather unexpected flypast of the BBMF Lancaster for which an event was hastily organised by the Rebecq Association. There are reports from both these events in this newsletter. As ever the Association is greatly appreciative of the efforts made by local people in Belgium in remembering, in a very active and demonstrative manner, the Bomber Command air-crews lost over their communities in times of war. | - | - | The local people in the Netherlands are no less thorough in their remembering of RAF crews. A visit to Venray in the Netherlands to remember the F/O Dodds crew, one of several 550 Squadron crews at rest in that cemetery, is provided by Stephen Roke. It is a moving report and makes us mindful both of the sacrifice all those years ago and the attentiveness of local communities towards the service personnel who fought and died for their liberation. | - | ANNUAL REUNION 2023 - NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Friday 7th and Saturday 8th July 2023 | The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum, and includes a flypast by the BBMF Lancaster over St. Denys' Church at ca. 13:00. We thank the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for including us in its busy flying programme. | - | - | There will be a short Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone. The Service continues at St. Denys' Church and is followed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. We extend a warm welcome to Revd. Trevor Riess who will be conducting our Services and thank him for his support.
The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening and on Sunday there is the option of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car. Should there be any changes to the plans the web-site will of course be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. |
- | Booking | Please complete and return your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 23rd June to:
Liz Broddley [...] Email: lbroddley@gmail.com |
- | - | Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website (see link right):
The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the various groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion |
/documents/public/newsletters/2023/Reunion2023-BookingForm.pdf |
Programme Friday 7th July |
A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00 pm.
There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £20.00 or three courses at £24.00 per person. Please indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form. |
- | - | Programme Sat. 8th July |
A flypast by the BBMF Lancaster has been approved and will take place over St Denys' Church at 13:00 or thereabouts. This is subject to the usual caveats of serviceability of the aircraft and weather permitting. Once again the Association is highly appreciative of the BBMF for including a flypast over North Killingholme in their busy schedule.
Our timetable is: 9.30 a.m. - 550 Squadron Museum open. 11.30 a.m. - Museum closes. Lunch Break 1.00 p.m. - Flypast by the BBMF Lancaster over St Denys' Church. 1.20 p.m. - Gather outside the Village Hall. Proceed behind the Immingham ATC band to the Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. 1.35 p.m. - Act of Remembrance and the laying of wreaths and poppy crosses. 1.50 p.m. - Service ends. Photo opportunity. 2.00 p.m. - Walk back to the village behind the Immingham ATC band. 2.30 p.m. - Service of Thanksgiving in St. Denys' Church begins. 3.30 p.m. - Service ends. 3.45 p.m. - Tea in Village Hall. 550 Squadron Museum open. 4.45 p.m. - People disperse except for those staying Saturday night. 7.30 p.m. - Formal Dinner at Ashbourne Hotel. Pay on departure if non-resident. |
- | - | This schedule is correct at the date of publication of this newsletter but will be updated should there be alterations; key to everything is the timing of the flypast!
Copies of the schedule will be posted locally and will be available at the Ashbourne Hotel. |
- | - | Members are requested to walk to the Memorial Stone behind the band rather than travel by car.
However if it is essential to use a car, then please do not park on Lancaster Approach other than to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. |
- | - | Should people attending the Saturday events require a bite at lunch time then light lunches are available at the Ashbourne Hotel and the Yarborough Arms at Ulceby station (note that booking is essential for The Yarborough Arms (tel. no. 01469 588383) as the dining area is not too big and it does get busy especially at weekends).
There is a new Jet garage at the traffic-light-controlled crossroads on the A160 going towards South Killingholme and the refinery. There is a shop on the forecourt that has an extensive range of snacks and drinks that may be an alternative to the Ashbourne and the Yarborough Arms. |
- | Programme Saturday 9th July - Reunion Dinner |
Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30 pm and is a three course meal at £32.00 per head.
Menu options are given in the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate on the form if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel please pay at the end of the meal. |
- | Programme Sunday 9th July - Airfield Tour |
There is the possibility of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car should there be sufficient interest. Please complete the relevant section of the Booking Form. | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay and quote "550" when booking to receive the discounted rate for the 'executive' room, normally £100, with no cancellation fee and payment on departure. The "550" rate is £85 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double.
Alternative rooms are available and can be booked via The Ashbourne website, these need to be paid upfront with no refund if cancelled. Check the 550 website for further updates on the "550" room rates. The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | Other Accommodation | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website (see right): |
http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com |
- | - | There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website details (see right): |
http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
Travel Arrangements | By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the new roundabout.
Take the second exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. The 550 Squadron Museum is in the Village Hall on the left, just before St. Denys' Church. Immediately opposite the church is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left. Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park. There are now parking restrictions on Lancaster Approach with double yellow lines on both sides of the road. It is a busy access point for heavy goods vehicles entering the industrial estate and only park to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2023 | Belgium | Notice was received in February of a ceremony to be held in Rebecq on 4th May 2022 as the BBMF Lancaster made a flypast over the Rebecq Memorial. The BBMF Lancaster was making an overseas commemorative sortie overflying a number of sites in Belgium and The Netherlands.
This ceremony was organised by the Rebecq Association at quite short notice once the possibility of the flypast by the Lancaster was confirmed. It was fantastic to see that the work of the Rebecq Association in remembering the men of 550 Squadron lost over Belgium has been saluted in this way. Thanks to Wilfred Burie of the Rebecq Association, and to the individuals named, for making the above photographs available. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemoration-2023.php#LancasterFlypast |
In addition notice had also been received of the regular combined ceremony to be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 18th May 2022 to remember the six 550 Squadron crews who crashed in Belgium.
The event took place in the presence of the Representatives of HM the King of the Belgians, with a Royal band and a Guard of Honour. A wreath was laid on behalf of the 550 RAF Squadron Association at the Memorial Stone and a short message was sent on behalf of the 550 Association. |
- | - | Details, and further web-links to the Rebecq Association web-site, are available on the 550 Squadron Association website:
Once again our thanks to Wilfred Burie of the Rebecq Association, and to the individuals named, for making the above photographs available. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemoration-2023.php#Commemoration |
SOME SIGNIFICANT DATES | 80th Anniversary of Squadron Formation | This year marks the 80th anniversary of the formation of the squadron and the commencement of operations from RAF Waltham in November 1943. It was not, however, until the beginning of January 1944 that the squadron could move to a newly created home, North Killingholme Station, where it stayed until squadron disbandment at the end of October 1945. | - | 30 Years of Reunions in North Killingholme | This year also marks 30 years of reunions in North Killingholme the very first reunion having been held only the year before in RAF Hendon (as described in the June 2022 newsletter).
Accommodation in Hull University was used as a base-camp with squadron veterans and their partners travelling down to North Killingholme on the Saturday to enjoy - yes, you have probably guessed - a flypast by the BBMF Lancaster in the afternoon. By all accounts it was a most successful weekend; the first of many in North Killingholme. |
- | OPERATION CHASTISE 80 | - | Notice was received of a flypast by the BBMF Lancaster to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise (The Dambusters Raid). This flypast overflew many/most of the Lincolnshire wartime airfields including North Killingholme.
The event was well published in the local and national media and so it will come as no surprise that it generated a lot of interest. In North Killingholme it was huge success. The village centre and churchyard was packed and cars were parked all the way up to East Halton Road on both sides! It was even possible to track the Lancaster's progress on a phone app. It approached the village from Kirmington, flew over the church, and turned to make its way to RAF Grimsby thereby flying over the Memorial as well. |
- | - | The route and timings of the various overflights can be seen on the 550 web-site at (see link right):
We thank the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for including us in its busy flying programme. Many thanks to Matty Cruddas for permission to use the above photographs. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2023/OperationChastiseNote.php |
VENRAY WAR CEMETERY | VISIT TO THE GRAVE OF ARTHUR 'REG' BROWN | I had long wanted to visit the gravestone of Arthur 'Reg' Brown in Venray. Reg lost his life along with the Dodds' crew in PD319 on the 14th October 1944, whilst making their run at bombing the steelworks at Duisburg, as part of Operation Hurricane.
I wrote a short book about Reg's relationship with my Mum, which I have donated to the 550 Squadron Museum, and this trip was to complete my research, as something I just had to do. So on a beautiful sunny morning in April, my wife Janet and I met up with Theo Vervoort at our hotel for a coffee and a chat, before moving onto the Cemetery. Theo is not only the custodian of Reg's gravestone, but a historian who has painstakingly searched for information on all the gravestone names in the Venray Cemetery. Who would have thought there would be names of Black, White and Brown on a single crew list! |
- | - | The day we attended the Cemetery did nothing aesthetically for the place, as the trees had been cut back, the grass removed, and all the flower beds removed as well. We had been told by Theo earlier that this would be the case, as we have been in email contact for several months. We stood on flat tilled soil, with our wellies in the car if it rained. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was working to re-grass the whole cemetery and replace all the flower beds in time for the summer. Just to be there was very moving, talking to the lovely people who have given up their time, not only to meet us that morning, but to look after the graves as an ongoing dedication to the servicemen's memories.
On the day of our visit, three adopters of the PD319 crew graves gave up their morning to come and meet us at the Cemetery. It was a humbling experience. One adopter, Diede, is only thirteen years old and her school had given her permission to attend our small gathering. The school also have adopted a grave in the Cemetery. |
- | - | 'The local Dutch people are ensuring that their names are not forgotten'.
The Foundation for the Adoption of the War Graves, and what it does, is detailed from its own website. |
- | - | On the outskirts of Venray, in a beautiful green environment, you will find the Commonwealth Military Cemetery of Honour, officially called "CWGC Venray War Cemetery", managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
This Military Cemetery has a total of 692 soldiers and 1 civilian. They died between September 1944 and June 1945. Most of the soldiers buried in Venray died during the Liberation Campaigns in Central and North Limburg, including many casualties of the battles near Overloon and Venray. Crew members of Allied planes that had crashed in the region also found their final resting place at Venray. After the Liberation, the Allies continued their advance into Germany and soldiers who died there were regularly buried in Venray. The soldiers came mainly from the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, but also one from Poland. The only civilian in the Cemetery was a British war correspondent from the Peterborough Citizen and Advertiser. Of the 693 graves, 30 belong to unidentified servicemen. |
- | - | It was customary at the time to bury fallen soldiers and airmen in a field grave in the immediate vicinity of the place where they had died. This could be in an orchard, in the garden of a house, along the roadside or in people's yards. Sometimes, this happened with larger numbers in a temporary burial field. For example, in the centres of Kronenberg and in Helden, there were small burial fields. There was also a temporary British burial field on the borders of Maasbree and Baarlo, just to mention two villages at random. Incidentally, such small burial fields were found throughout Central and North Limburg.
After the war, the casualties were transferred from the temporary cemeteries and field graves in the region to "CWGC Venray War Cemetery". The United States did not want to leave their soldiers in 'enemy' German ground, so they were collected and transferred from Germany to Margraten and Henri Chapelle in Belgium amongst others. British soldiers who were killed in Germany were initially buried in the American cemetery in Margraten, but were later transferred to CWGC Venray War Cemetery, and others. |
- | - | The aim of the Foundation for the Adoption of War Graves, set up in May 2020 by Mr Piet Snellen, is that soldiers buried in Venray continue to be commemorated and honoured, and that their graves continue to be visited and cared for, even now 75 years after the end of the Second World War, and into the future. Sadly Piet passed away in 2021, but the Foundation goes from strength to strength with all the 693 graves adopted by local people. | - | - | "As long as their names are spoken, or read, they will not be forgotten. We will remember them".
Having met some of these lovely people I was heartened to think that human nature is so powerful when directed in the proper way and service personnel must know they will be treated with great respect after the event where they lost their life and become part of the world history, we all learn about, and therefore not forgotten. Though we were only visiting the gravestones of Reg Brown and the Dodds' crew of PD319, we left our wreath in safe keeping for all the fallen 550 Squadron, which will be placed on the cross when the Cemetery opens again. Our thanks to Stephen and Janet Roke for providing this moving report of a visit so very important to them. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHDodds/LogBooks/RokeVenrayCemeteryVisitApril2023.pdf |
- | Our thanks also to the local people in the Netherlands who take part in schemes that ensure each and every serviceman fallen on their land is remembered.
The photos below include a number of the wonderful people who have adopted 550 aircrew: Arno & Mariska Gommans look after the grave of F/O Henry Black (Bomb Aimer) Erwin Lups looks after the grave of Sgt Harold Lewis (Mid Upper Gunner) Theo van den Hoogen and his granddaughter Diede look after the grave of Sgt Albert Laidlaw (Rear Gunner) Theo Vervoort and his daughter Lieke look after the grave of P/O Arthur Reginald Brown (Flight Engineer) Sander Dijkink looks after the grave of F/O Henry Dodds (Pilot) Jose & Chrit van de Enckevort look after the grave of F/Sgt Clarence Walter Beckingham RAAF (Wireless Operator) Scot Mathieson looks after the grave of F/O Douglas John Kenneth White (Navigator) |
- | - | The full document of the visit (as a PDF) and the complete set of photos are available on the F/O Dodds crew web-page on the 550 web-site: see |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHDodds/index.php#RokeVenrayCemeteryVisitApril2023 |
OTHER NEWS | Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to the editorial team using the details given in the "Contact" section of this newsletter. | - | Your Association Needs YOU! Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters.
Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. |
- | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website.
It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret to report that the following have died since the last newsletter:
Margaret Woodley - Member of 550 Squadron Association (widow of Sgt F W Woodley (MU/AG)) |
- |
Issue 84 (March 2023)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 84 | March | 2023 | Reunion 2023 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | March 2023 Newsletter | This newsletter is issued in time for interested members to plan for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July. | - | - | At the time of publication of this newsletter the 2023 reunion is planned to take place Friday 7th - Saturday 8th July 2023. Any alterations or other updates will of course be notified in the next newsletter, planned to be issued before the reunion, and on the Association web-site | - | - | Other items in this month's newsletter include: | - | - | A report on the 2022 Remembrance Weekend in North Killingholme. | - | - | This year there are two events in May in Rebecq, Belgium. On the 4th May the BBMF Lancaster will make a flypast over the memorial there and a short ceremony has been organised at relatively short notice. Then on the 17th May the regular annual remembrance ceremony will take place. For more details see the items below. | - | - | A new memorial was unveiled in February 2023 in Rimswell, East Riding of Yorkshire to the F/O Lockyer crew lost on a training flight. The Association was represented at the unveiling ceremony and the research that led up to the creation of the memorial makes a very interesting read. | - | - | A newly received crew photo creates a mystery. Who is in the photo? Which crew is it? Can you help with the identifications? | - | - | Finally some memories are shared by F/Sgt D L Marks (R/AG) who flew a total of 31 operations with the squadron. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2022 | November 2022 | A simple ceremony, with 2 minutes silence observed, took place at 11am at the Memorial Stone on Lancaster Approach. | - | - | The service was taken by the Reverend Trevor Riess. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Squadron Association by Honor Redshaw, by Liz Broddley on behalf of NK Parish Council and Kath Robinson for RNAS. Numerous wooden poppy crosses were placed in remembrance of 550 crews lost on operations. | - | - | Following the brief ceremony at The Memorial Stone, there was a service in St Denys' Church, also led by the Reverend Trevor Riess. There was a good turn out at the Memorial Stone, both 550 Association members and local people. A similar number attended the Church service. | - | - | As in previous years our programme in November included an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel. Ten people attended the dinner on Saturday evening and seventeen got together for Sunday lunch.
Those attending the Sunday lunch received a small memento of the occasion. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | July 2023 | The 2023 reunion is planned to take place Friday 7th - Saturday 8th July 2023.
A member of the Clergy and St Denys' Church are booked. |
- | - | The Ashbourne Hotel is booked and they will take bookings for those wishing to stay. Do not forget to mention "550 Squadron Association" when you are booking in order to receive the discounted rate. The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | A submission has been made to the BBMF for a flypast of the Lancaster; the reply for that request is awaited.
The Immingham Air Training Corps Band has been contacted and confirmed they will attend. Following the Service in St. Denys Church there will be tea and cakes available in the Village Hall. |
- | - | More details will be released nearer the time. The web-site will, of course, be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. | - | CHASTISE 80 FLYPAST | Tuesday 16th May 2023 | The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are currently arranging a special flypast of Bomber Command airfields by the BBMF Lancaster to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Operation Chastise the Dambuster Raid which took place on the 16th May 1943. | - | - | The Association has received confirmation of a flypast over North Killingholme, and has been granted permission to advertise events to coincide with "Chastise 80".
On the 16th May the Lancaster will fly over St Denys' Church, North Killingholme some time between 1900-2030hrs. A more exact time will be given when the schedule is completed. |
- | - | As with all BBMF flypasts, this is subject to aircraft serviceability and weather conditions.
We thank the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for including us in its busy flying programme. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2023 | Belgium | Notice has been received of two events in May. | - | - | A ceremony has been arranged at short notice in Rebecq on Thursday 4th May 2023 to coincide with a flypast of the BBMF Lancaster.
The RAF offered the opportunity to fly the Lancaster over the Rebecq Memorial. The British Embassy supported the Rebecq Association in this endeavour, and they thank the British Defence Attach?, Group Captain John Dickson. A ceremony commemorating the Allied Victory over Nazism will be held at 11:15 followed by the aircraft fly-past over the memorial at 12:19*. Full details can be found online at (see link right): *Subject to the usual caveats such as engineering status of the aircraft and weather conditions on the day. |
https://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/c2023-flypast.php |
- | A ceremony will be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 17th May 2023 to remember the six 550 Squadron crews who crashed in Belgium.
The event is to take place in the presence of the Representatives of HM the King of the Belgians, with a Royal band and a Guard of Honour. As soon as updated information is available then this will be published in the next available Newsletter and on the Association web-site. |
- | NEW MEMORIAL IN RIMSWELL | F/O Lockyer crew memorial | The Association recently learned about a new memorial in Rimswell, East Riding of Yorkshire for the F/O A C Lockyer crew of NG132. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOACLockyer/index.php |
- | The Lockyer crew were shot down, while on a training exercise, by an intruder (Fw Rudi Morenz from 1V.NJG2) over the Humber estuary 17 March 1945. All of the crew, with the exception of the flight engineer Sgt. Drawbridge, were killed. This is believed to have been the last Bomber Command aircraft to be shot down by an intruder over the UK in WWII. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=NG132 |
- | The Lockyer crew were shot down, while on a training exercise, by an intruder (Fw Rudi Morenz from 1V.NJG2) over the Humber estuary 17 March 1945. All of the crew, with the exception of the flight engineer Sgt. Drawbridge, were killed. This is believed to have been the last Bomber Command aircraft to be shot down by an intruder over the UK in WWII. | - | - | The memorial is outside Homeleigh, Church Lane, Rimswell, East Riding of Yorkshire. To find it if you travel out of Withernsea on Hull Road to the Rimswell turn, turn right and follow the lane for about half a mile and it's on the right. For those who embrace the technology: on "What3Words" it is threaded.fortnight.innovate. | - | - | The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 12th February 2023 at 10:50 - 11:15. The event included the local RBL standard, scouts, cubs, beavers and their standards, and a bugler. The Association was represented by George Turner and Mike Leeman. George laid a wreath on behalf of the Association and thanked the organisers for creating this memorial to a 550 Squadron crew. | - | - | The precise location of the memorial can be related to locally available information. Jean Everson's mother, who was 14 at the time, and in the local village hall dance, ran outside with others when she heard a plane with engine trouble and witnessed it fly over very low and crash in the field. Jean and her husband Simon agreed to have the memorial on their land which is 500m from the crash site. It is clear to see that a small section of their garden has been sectioned off the provide the memorial site. | - | - | The bench is at an angle so that it faces the crash site. On top of the bench is the enscription: "NG132 Crash Site 500 mts" with arrows pointing to it.
Two plaques on the memorial relate details from Station Narrative #17 which is the interrogation report of Sgt. Drawbridge. |
- | - | For more details see the recent updates to the F/O Lockyer web-page (link above) and also the detailed document produced by the research team led by Darren English: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOACLockyer/Images/RimswellMemorial/NG132_CrashedLancaster_17thJune1945.pdf |
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS CREW | Unknown Crew photo | Earlier in the year a photograph of a Bomber Command crew was emailed in to the Association.
Dave Wicks had bought a photograph on ebay that was labelled "550" crew. However there is no indication of which crew. Some annotation on the back of the photo identifies a "Jack" but with no surname, and no other information other than "1939-45 war". |
- | - | Dave looked through crew photographs on the web-site and made an initial tentative identification that it might be the F/Lt A J Grain crew. However relatives of three of that crew are known to the Association and have been contacted and all three where able to confirm that their relative was not in the photo. A photograph of another member (RCAF) of that crew was unearthed (from the Canadian archives) and he was clearly also not in this crew photograph. So that tentative identification has been ruled out. Leaving us with something of a mystery. Who are the men in the photo? Which crew is this? | - | - | The plinth in the photograph is of course familiar. The are photos of multiple 550 crews with that item present. So it certainly seems to be North Killingholme, which means a 550 crew on operations with the squadron after early January 1944 when the squadron moved to North Killingholme. | - | - | A web-page with the photograph, and other relevant details, has been created, see: (link right). |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/UnknownCrew/index.php |
- | If you recognise anyone in the photo that could perhaps lead to an identification of the crew then do please contact the Association with details | - | STOP PRESS! | Crew IDENTIFIED | Just a day or two before this newsletter was finalised and issued for distribution new information was received identifying the mystery crew in the photo in the above section. | - | - | The crew is the F/Lt E S Allen crew. Many thanks to Don Kentish for emailing in this update. There is a web page for the Allen crew (see link right). That page includes one of the "semi-formal" photos that were taken of many crews, and this indeed confirms that the crew in that picture is also the crew in the photo in the section above. However, in the formal photo all of the crew are wearing their caps and in the new photo all are bare-headed, on what looks like a windy day, which helped make the identification just that little bit trickier (except to the eye of a relative). |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOESAllen/index.php |
- | We are glad to have this previously unknown photo of the Allen crew to add to the record.
Thanks to Dave Wicks for sending the photo in and to Don for solving the mystery. |
- | MEMORIES SHARED | F/Sgt D L Marks | After the death of F/Sgt D L (Les) Marks, the Association received an email from his son-in-law, Neil Regan. He thanked the Association for the newsletters Les received and which he passed on proudly to Neil after reading.
Neil also recounted some of the experiences Les told about his life in the RAF. Les was a Rear Air Gunner with 550 Squadron who flew 31 missions. He was very proud of his squadron and indeed every member of the RAF who fought in WWII. |
- | - | He flew 31 operations because on one occasion they couldn't get their payload off so it didn't count as a completed mission. He said that when they landed at a US airfield the US personnel started to come out to help them but as soon as they shouted that they still had a full bomb-load aboard they turned around and went "hell for leather" back towards the base ... "very closely followed by us". Les always said this with a smile and a chuckle. | - | - | During his service with 550 Squadron he had to bale out twice. The first time, his aircraft had taken a hit during heavy flak over Germany and had lost two engines. One of the remaining engines then caught fire and they had to feather it. They then managed to restart one of the other engines but again this was only about half power. They were losing height coming over the North Sea and were at about 5,000 feet when they made the UK coast but were still losing height fast. It was at this point his pilot, Andrew Clark, instead of instructing his crew to bale out called them all up to the front of the aircraft and then told them they had to bale out. Les told us that if the pilot had not done this he wouldn't have made it in time and would have been killed. Andrew Clark then piloted the aircraft over a village but unfortunately hit some overhead cables and lost his life. | - | - | The second time (in an incident not previously known to the Association) Les told us he had baled out and landed in a tree in the middle of the night. As it was so dark he decided it was safer to stay in the tree until daylight as he couldn't see how high up he was. When daylight finally came he was only about 6ft up. He would always laugh about it saying "I bloody froze for about four bloody hours and I was 6 bloody feet up".
He was the last member of his crew to pass away and said he missed them "every day of his life." |
- | - | Les Marks and the rest of the crew were transferred out of 550 after the death of F/O H A T Clark RCAF on 18/19 July 1944 but were posted back to the squadron at the beginning of October 1944 with F/O L O Williams DFC RAAF. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHATClark/index.php |
- | Further information about the crew and the two pilots can be found on the 550 website: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtLOWilliams/index.php |
- | The photo [below], from the website, is of the crew with F/O Williams after their return to 550 Squadron.
Our thanks to Neil Regan for passing on Les's recollections. |
- | OTHER NEWS | 550 Squadron Association Museum | The 550 Squadron Association Museum in North Killingholm is open by appointment. | - | - | Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to the editorial team using the details given in the "Contact" section of this newsletter. | - | Your Association Needs YOU! Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. |
- | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions were due on 1st July and the majority of members have returned the Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. For anyone that missed the July renewal an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter.
All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult please call or email Steve Parker. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret to report that the following have died since the last newsletter:
Sgt Vic R. Farmer - Navigator - 05/44 - 09/44 Mrs. Barbara Sutton - widow of Leslie Sutton and Member of 550 Squadron Association Mrs. Janice Owen - Member of 550 Squadron Association |
- |
Issue 83 (October 2022)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 83 | October | 2022 | Remembrance 2022, Reunion updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2022 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme next month.
Further details about Remembrance Weekend appear below. |
- | - | In September Jack Harris celebated his 102nd birthday. As well as completing a 37 op tour with 550 Squadron Jack was deeply involved in the formation of the 550 Squadron and Raf North Killingholme Association.
We wish Jack belated best wishes for his birthday and trust that he had a great day with family and friends. |
- | - | There are reports on the Annual Reunion in North Killingholme plus the date of next year's Association Weekend. | - | - | 550 Squadron was formed out of 100 Squadron and one of the key men involved in the creation of the Squadron was Group Captain McIntyre the first Station Commander. Association member Norval Black has put together a brief biography in this newsletter. | - | - | With Remembrance in mind a scheme in The Netherlands where local families "adopt" a grave in a CGWC cemetery is described and shows the benefits it brings in helping the generations who do not remember the war to better understand the sacrifices made in the liberation of Europe. | - | - | We are still recruiting to the important role of Newsletter Co-Ordinator so if you have the skills to fulfil this position please do not delay in contacting us. | - | REMEMBERING QUEEN ELIZABETH II | Thank you for your Service Your Majesty 1926 - 2022 | Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a constant figure in the lives of nearly everyone in our country for the entirety of their lives. Many of us do not remember a time without her. It was with deep sadness that we learned of her passing on 8th September. A seismic event in the history of this country, the Commonwealth and the world.
The impact Her Majesty had on the lives of the grand and the ordinary alike has been evident from the enormous number of tributes from around the globe. Tributes from heads of state and world leaders, and tributes from ordinary folk who felt their lives enriched from having met her or seen her. No person in our life-time, perhaps any life-time, has had such influence for good across this country and the globe. Wherever one might stand in the pro/anti constitutional monarchy debate there can be no denial that the Queen gave a life of unstinting service to her country and her people with grace, dignity and compassion and for that we are truly grateful. |
/images/BomberCommandMemorial/HMQueenElizabeth.jpg |
- | There cannot be many, if any, of us who thought, as we sang the words "God save our gracious Queen" at the Memorial Stone in July that that would be the last time in our lives we would sing those words. That the next time we would sing the National Anthem we would use words we have never heard sung before except, for some, in hazy memory and for others only in newsreel archives. | - | - | In 1947 the then Princess Elizabeth made a speech on her 21st birthday:
"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service ..." Throughout a very long life the Queen was true to the word of her younger self. We who have lived our lives during the second Elizabethan age have indeed been truly privileged. Rest in peace ma'am. God Save the King. |
- | - | Peter and Sally Coulter visited London on the Saturday before the State Funeral and stopped by the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park. A lot of flowers had been placed at the memorial for the Queen. |
/pages/bomber-command-memorial.php#HMQueenPhotos |
REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme - Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November 2022 | As in previous years our programme includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at The Ashbourne Hotel on the Saturday evening followed usually by the opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and St Denys' Church will be followed this year by lunch at the Ashbourne Hotel. | - | - | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel at a discounted "550" rate of £85.00 including breakfast. When booking do please mention you are with the "550" group in order to get the discounted rate. We advise booking early as availability may be limited. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | Please book rooms directly with the hotel and settle your food and accommodation bill on departure.
To book meals and for any queries regarding the meals or timetable please contact Honor Redshaw. Details as follows: Email: honorredshaw@hotmail.co.uk. |
- | Saturday Evening 12th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45pm in the Fork and Spoon. If you would like to join the group please let Honor know by Friday 4th November. As menu pre-selection is required you will be contacted nearer the time with the latest menu. Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. | - | Sunday 13th November | Our provisional timetable is shown below and includes a two minute silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone.
- 09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall by appointment. Contact Mike Leeman on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com - 10.45 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. - 10.52 - Service starts. - 11.00 - Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. - 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. - 11.20 - Church Service starts. - 12.00 - Service ends. - 12.30 - Lunch in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. |
- | Sunday Lunch | Lunch this year has been arranged to take place in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. A Sunday Lunch menu is available (of mainly roasts): either 2 courses (£15.00) or 3 courses (£20.00).
Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. Pre-selection may be required. Please let Honor know by Friday 4th November if you will be dining. Please check the 550 Association website for updates closer to the date or if you do not have access to the internet contact Honor Redshaw using the information given above. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2022 | It was with great delight that after an enforced two year break it was once again possible to hold the reunion in North Killingholme in July |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2022.php |
- | - | At last it was possible for members to meet again in North Killingholme to savour a flypast of a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) aircraft, remember absent friends and enjoy good company at Saturday dinner. Although a flypast of the BBMF Lancaster could not be secured everyone was nonetheless thrilled to see a flypast by one of the BBMF Spitfires.
There was a smaller attendance than in recent years, but this was not surprising. Many people were still hesitant to travel in the post-Covid world and some travel issues also impacted decisions. Nonetheless a gathering was able to take place and was very much appreciated by all who attended. |
- | - | - | Thank you to everyone who played a part in making it all happen. To the members of the committee who, among the many tasks necessary, made the arrangements with BBMF for the flypast, prepared the Memorial Stone area for pubic assembly, made the arrangements for our use of the Church, the Village Hall and the museum. To Rev Peter Green for leading our services of Remembrance. To the people of North Killingholme for warmly welcoming the visitors who annually overrun their village. | - | ASSOCIATION WEEKEND | JULY 2023 | The 2023 Association Weekend is planned to take place on Friday 7th - Saturday 8th July 2023. More details will be released nearer the time. | - | - | - | The alert reader may notice that what was previously named the Annual Reunion has undergone a slight name change to "Association Weekend".
This name change was decided on at the annual committee meeting held in July this year in North Killingholme, and the decision relayed to members at the dinner on the Saturday evening. |
- | - | - | It was decided that with so few remaining squadron veterans able to attend the reunion then the name reunion itself did not seem appropriate. We aim to continue the weekends with our emphasis on remembering the squadron and its service so that future generations will know of the ordinary men who did extraordinary things from an airfield in a small village in Lincolnshire that took them into their homes and hearts.
As and when further information about the plans for the weekend become available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2023 | - | Currently there is no information on any events planned for 2023. As soon as any information is available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site. | - | GROUP CAPTAIN MCINTYRE | Richard Valentine McIntyre, DFC and Bar | The RAF base at North Killingholme began operations in January 1944 and closed in October 1945. For the entire period the Station Commander was Group Captain Richard McIntyre, a regular officer born in Brandon in Durham, the son of a Scottish doctor from Dundee. McIntyre had strong RAF connections. His sister Elizabeth married an airman named Walter Dawson who rose to be an Air Chief Marshal and another sister, Marjorie married a Spitfire pilot, Flying Officer William Nelson DFC. Nelson was killed in 1940 but was the top scoring Canadian in the Battle of Britain.
After attending Durham School McIntyre joined the RAF and trained at the Staff College at Cranwell where he was a contemporary of Douglas Bader. He graduated in December 1929 as a pilot officer and was posted to 19 Squadron flying Siskin fighters. Two years later he went to No. 447 Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance Flight, an RAF detachment aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious based at Malta in the Mediterranean, a posting which lasted for two years. Back in the UK in 1935 he married a nurse named Sylvia Stainthorpe in whose father's hospital he had received treatment after a flying incident. The couple had two children, a son David, born in 1936, and a daughter Unity, born in 1938. Sadly, David who became a lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm was killed in the crash of a Gannet aircraft in Pembroke in 1965. |
- | - | - | For the remainder of the interwar period McIntyre had various postings including as a flying instructor at Cranwell College (1933-1935) and service with Nos 41, 73, 55, and 84 Squadrons. In 1940 as a squadron leader he assumed command of 70 (Bomber Transport) Squadron in Iraq flying Valentia bomber/transports.
In 1941 he became a wing commander and spent a period as Chief Flying Instructor at Montrose in Scotland and in April 1943 took command of 100 Squadron based at Waltham (Grimsby) and flying Lancasters. On 13 May 1943 he led the squadron on a raid on Bochum. Over Cologne his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and two engines were put out of action. In spite of this McIntyre continued and bombed the target. With the aircraft badly damaged and difficult to control he headed for the nearest base in England and made a forced landing near RAF Coltishall in Norfolk. For this operation he was awarded an immediate DFC and his wireless operator a DFM. You can find more details about this particular operation at: |
https://www.aircrewremembered.com/mcintyre-rv.html |
- | - | In October 1943 in a practice quite common in the wartime RAF, 'C' Flight from 100 Squadon was formed into 550 Squadron. In addition to the aircraft and aircrew, Richard McIntyre, now aged 34 and a group captain also came over as commander of the base at North Killingholme. | - | - | - | During 1944 he flew on four operations (the links to the Squadron ORB for each of these ops are shown):
30 April, ammunition dump at Maintenon France |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Maintenon&aircraft=LL826 |
- | - | 3 August, flying bomb sites at Thossay St Maxim |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Trossy%20St%20Maximim&aircraft=PD221 |
- | - | 8 August, enemy troop concentrations near Caen |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Fontenay&aircraft=DV200 |
- | - | 25 October, Krupp Works at Essen |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Essen&aircraft=PD221 |
- | - | After leaving North Killingholme, and now with a second DFC, McIntyre had a variety of RAF appointments; he was station commander at Leeming in Yorkshire and served in NATO HQ in Oslo, in Haifa and at the Air Ministry. On leaving the service in retirement he lived in Yorkshire and died at Northallerton on 10 March 1991, aged 81.
See also (link right): Thanks to Norval Black for contributing this item for the newsletter. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/GpCaptRVMcIntyre/index.php |
VENRAY WAR CEMETERY | - | Thanks, again, to Norval Black for contributing the following item for the newsletter so appropriate at this time of year in the approach to Remembrance | - | - | - | Late last year I got a message from Mike Leeman and Peter Coulter saying that the Association had been contacted by a Dutchman called Arno Gommans in Venray saying that he had "adopted" my father's grave and asking for any information about him or his relatives. My father, F/O Henry Black is indeed buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Venray along with his crew so I immediately got in touch with Arno to learn about the adoption and how it had come about. Since then we have been communicating and exchanging information. | - | - | - | Arno explained that there was a scheme in Venray which he called the Foundation, whereby families could adopt a grave and provide it with special attention in addition to the CWGC care normally given. This meant gestures such as placing flowers on the grave and at Christmas lighting a candle and generally treating the grave as if it were of the family. The adopters either pick a grave or have one allocated to them when they join the Foundation and receive an Adoption Certificate. They then try to find out all they can about the history of their person, and as Arno put it "to give these fighters a face". I was able to provide him with photographs of my parents and background on my father's career before and during the war. In return Arno sent photos and information about his wife Mariska, sons Jens and Niek. He is a RNLAF weapons specialist, Mariska is a mortgage underwriter at a bank and the boys are still at school; I now feel I know this family. I was especially moved when at Christmas they sent me photos of the cemetery lit up with hundreds of candles and of flowers on my father's grave. | - | - | - | I have now got further information about the grave adoption scheme. It was set up on the initiative of a man called Piet Snellen from Sevenum, a village just south of Venray. Some years ago he started a Facebook group "Venray War Cemetery" and through this collected information and photographs of 110 of the servicemen buried there. It is a cemetery of 693 graves, mainly army killed in the fighting in Holland but also 92 RAF aircrew of whom 17 are from 550 Squadron. Inspired by the example of the American cemetery at Margraten near Maastricht where all 8301 graves have been adopted by "caretakers" and there is a waiting list of over 300, Piet contacted the CWGC and out of this in 2020 came the "Stichting Adoptiegraven CWGC Venray War Cemetery" (Stichting is Dutch for foundation). Such foundations exist in other locations in Holland and this year the Association Reunion was attended by Paul Batenburg who has adopted a 550 bomb aimer buried in Nederweert War Cemetery. Adoptions are now being taken up by a younger generation who have no memories of the war but all have the same objectives of researching the history and honouring the memory of those who fell fighting for their country's liberation. | - | - | - | Sadly, Piet Snellen died in 2021 but the Venray Stichting remains a proud memorial to him. I am eternally grateful to him and particularly to the Gommans family for caring for a dead airman's grave and ensuring that his name is not forgotten. God bless the Dutch and their long memories. | - | CWGC CEMETERIES - 550 AIRCREW | - | The complete list of CWCG cemeteries (in alphabetical order), where there are 550 air-crew buried, is available at the following link on the 550 Association web-site (see link right):
It is a simple matter to search for "The Netherlands" and find the nine cemeteries in which 550 aircrew are buried. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_cemeteries.php |
- | - | If you are feeling moved to find out about "Stichting Adoptiegraven" and whether it is possible to become involved in supporting this for a grave that is important to you then do please follow this up. A google search for "Stichting Adoptiegraven" will return links to Facebook pages for the Venray and Nederweert cemeteries among others. The (non-Facebook) Venray link (see right) will help greatly. |
https://www.adoptiegraven-venray.nl/ |
- | - | If the cemetery that contains a grave important to you does not have a "Stichting Adoptiegraven" why not try to kick-start it by contacting one of the existing organisations to see how that could be progressed? There are good people in The Netherlands trying to make that happen across the country. If all else fails email the 550 Association web-site to see if details about similar initiatives are known or contacts contacted to make commemoration a reality. | - | OTHER NEWS | 550 Squadron Association Museum | The 550 Squadron Association Museum in North Killingholme is open by arrangement once again. | - | Your Association Needs YOU! Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions were due on 1st July and the majority of members have returned the Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. For anyone that missed the July renewal an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter. | - | - | All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form.
If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker. |
- | "Five Fifty" - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association still has a number of copies of the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", available. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £10 (plus P+P) and can be shipped within the UK or overseas. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
Mrs Pauline Binder - widow and member of the 550 Squadron Association John Hathaway - 550 Squadron Flying Control Duties |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members of the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter.
Revd. Raymond and Mrs Janis Owen |
- |
Issue 82 (June 2022)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 82 | June | 2022 | Reunion 2022 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | June 2022 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with final preparations for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July and includes the booking forms and menus for those planning to attend. | - | - | At the time of publication of this newsletter the 2022 reunion will take place Friday 8th - Saturday 9th July 2022.
Hopefully there will be no major late changes, and that at last, after a two year absence, our reunions in North Killingholme will resume. |
- | - | In this issue the 30th anniversary of the first reunion, at RAF Hendon, is remembered.
The 40th anniversary of the unveiling and dedication of the Memorial Stone (31st July 1982) is also recalled. As noted in the last newsletter (No. 21, March 2022), this year is the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Memorial Window in St Denys' Church. All in all this year is very significant in the history of the Association! |
- | - | Squadron Leader A P Gainsford DFC (RNZAF) was the Flight Commander "C" Flight from September to November 1944.
Tony Gainsford sent in some information about his father's time at 550 Squadron including pages from the his log book. See the "News from New Zealand" section below. |
- | - | There are reports from the commemorations for 550 crews held in May in Belgium and The Netherlands.
As always the Association is greatly appreciative of the efforts made by local people in Belgium and The Netherlands in remembering, in a very active and demonstrative manner, the Bomber Command air-crews lost over their communities in times of war. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION 2022 - NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Friday 8th and Saturday 9th July 2022 |
The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel.
The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum, and includes a Spitfire flypast over St. Denys' Church at 14:24. We thank the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for including us in its busy flying programme. |
- | - | There will be a short Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone.
The Service continues at St. Denys' Church (after the flypast) and is followed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. We extend a warm welcome to Revd. Peter Green who will be conducting our Services and thank him for his support. The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening and on Sunday there is the option of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car. Should there be any changes to the plans the web-site will of course be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. |
- | Booking | Please complete and return your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 24th June to: Liz Broddley [...] Email: lbroddley@gmail.com | - | - | Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website (see link right):
The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the various groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion |
/documents/public/newsletters/2022/Reunion2022-BookingForm.pdf |
Programme Friday 8th July |
A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00 pm.
There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £18.95 or three courses at £22.95 per person. Please indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form. |
- | - | Programme Sat. 9th July |
A flypast by one of the BBMF Spitfires has been approved and will take place over St Denys' Church at 14:24 or thereabouts..
Our timetable is: 9.30 a.m. - 550 Squadron Museum open. 11.30 a.m. - Museum closes. Lunch Break 1.40 p.m. - Gather outside the Village Hall. Proceed behind the Immingham ATC band to the Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. 1.50 p.m. - Act of Remembrance and the laying of wreaths and poppy crosses. 2.00 p.m. - Service ends. Photo opportunity. 2.05 p.m. - Walk back to the village behind the Immingham ATC band. 2.24 p.m. - Flypast by a Spitfire over St Denys' Church. 2.35 p.m. - Service of Thanksgiving in St. Denys' Church begins. 3.35 p.m. - Service ends. 3.45 p.m. - Tea in Village Hall. 550 Squadron Museum open. 4.45 p.m. - People disperse except for those staying Saturday night. 7.30 p.m. - Formal Dinner at Ashbourne Hotel. Pay on departure if non-resident. |
- | - | This schedule is correct at the date of publication of this newsletter but will be updated should there be alterations; key is the timing of the flypast.
Copies of the schedule will be posted locally and will be available at the Ashbourne Hotel. |
- | - | Members are requested to walk to the Memorial Stone behind the band rather than travel by car.
However if it is essential to use a car, then please do not park on Lancaster Approach other than to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. |
- | - | One noteworthy change from earlier years is that there is no longer an organised lunch at The Amethyst Hotel.
Should people attending the Saturday events require a bite at lunch time then light lunches are available at the Ashbourne Hotel and the Yarborough Arms at Ulceby station (note that booking is essential for The Yarborough Arms (tel. no. 01469 588383) as the dining area is not too big and it does get busy especially at weekends). There is a new Jet garage at the traffic-light-controlled crossroads on the A160 going towards South Killingholme and the refinery. There is a shop on the forecourt that has an extensive range of snacks and drinks that may be an alternative to the Ashbourne and the Yarborough Arms. |
- | Programme Saturday 9th July - Reunion Dinner |
Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30 pm and is a three course meal at £30.00 per head.
Menu options are given in the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate on the form if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel please pay at the end of the meal. |
- | Programme Sunday 10th July - Airfield Tour |
There is the possibility of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car should there be sufficient interest. Please complete the relevant section of the Booking Form. | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay and remember to quote "550" with the receptionist when booking to receive the discounted rate.
The "550" rate is £88 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double. Check the 550 website for further updates on the "550" room rates. The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | Other Accommodation | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website (see right): |
http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com |
- | - | There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website details (see right): |
http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
Travel Arrangements | By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the new roundabout.
Take the second exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. The 550 Squadron Museum is in the Village Hall on the left, just before St. Denys' Church. Immediately opposite the church is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left. Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park. There are now parking restrictions on Lancaster Approach with double yellow lines on both sides of the road. It is a busy access point for heavy goods vehicles entering the industrial estate and only park to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2022 | Rebecq, Belgium | Notice had been received of a combined ceremony to be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 18th May 2022 to remember the six 550 Squadron crews who crashed in Belgium.
The event took place in the presence of the Representatives of HM the King of the Belgians, with a Royal band and a Guard of Honour. The Ambassadors of UK and Canada were invited. A wreath was laid on behalf of the 550 RAF Squadron Association. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemoration-2022.php |
The full coverage of the event including photos and links to TV reports of the event can be found at (see right):
Thanks to Wilfred Burie (of the Rebecq Association) for making the above photographs available. |
http://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/cer-reb-22.php |
Westerlo, Belgium | On Sunday 22nd May 2022 a Ceremony of Remembrance for the 550 Squadron crew lost over Westerlo on 22nd May 1944 took place. This included:
- 10.30 am: Mass of Remembrance in Voortkapel Church. - 11.30 am: Service of Commemoration and laying of wreaths at the Memorial Stone. Following the ceremony there was a lunch at Voortkapel Gild. A wreath was laid on behalf of the 550 RAF Squadron Association at the Memorial Stone. |
- | Details are available on the 550 Squadron Association website (see right):
Our thanks to Louis Michels and Wilfred Burie for the photographs above |
/pages/550-sqdn-westerlo-commemoration-2022.php |
The Netherlands | As mentioned in the last newsletter (No. 81 March 2022) on Friday 6th May 2022, at 12 noon a memorial in Gendringen (close to the German border) to remember all (500+) casualties during WWII in the former municipalities of Gendringen and Wisch (nowadays: Oude IJsselstreek) was unveiled.
Gary Berg of the 550 Association (a relative of JJ Berg of the S/Ldr G S Smith crew of ME840) was among those taking part. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=ME840 |
Below is Gary's report of the ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by over 200 people which included the Canadian Ambassador to The Netherlands, the UK and USA Military Attaché's to The Netherlands and various local mayors. Gary Berg was asked to speak along with Dennis Isfeld (his father, a Canadian soldier died when he was 2) and knew nothing about his father's death until this visit when he was shown the actual place where his father had been shot. As you can imagine it was a very emotional speech. One very poignant moment for Gary was when, after the ceremony, a young German girl came up to him and apologised "for what the German people had done to the British people". Before he had a chance to reply she was off in a very embarrassed state. A reception was held after the event which lasted approximately an hour and a half. The plan is to hold another ceremony next year for veterans and members of the Canadian forces who could not attend this year due to Covid restrictions. The monument features a Canadian soldier and a Lancaster bomber overhead. Gary's address at the ceremony, and further details, are available on the 550 Squadron Association website (see right): |
/pages/550-sqdn-gendringen-commemorations.php |
Full information can be found on the memorial website, and many photos are available here (see right): |
https://www.ownv.nl/?lang=en |
Thank you to Gary Berg for representing the Association at the unveiling and for providing the above report and photographs. |
https://stjornuryk.jalbum.net/OWNV/ |
FIRST REUNION MEETING | - | Thirty years ago this year the first 550 Squadron reunion was held at RAF Hendon, North London.
In the days before the internet, if you can believe that there was such a time, it was a considerable challenge to locate former members of the squadron after a period of almost fifty years. However, a small team of dedicated individuals did just that and almost 250 veterans had been identified and contacted. Many, along with their wives and other family members, were able to attend that first reunion meeting. The minutes from that meeting are reproduced in full below. |
- | 550 SQUADRON REUNION, 6th JUNE, 1992, RAF Museum, Hendon | Transcript TBA | - | MEMORIAL STONE | - | Forty years ago this year the unveiling and dedication of the 550 Squadron Memorial Stone took place on 31st July 1982.
Attending that day was Wing Commander J J Bennett DFC the first Squadron Commanding Officer (pictured [above] with Mrs Brenda Labourne, Chairman of North Killingholme Parish Council). A full selection of photographs of this event, and other details about it, is available on the 550 Squadron Association website: (see right) |
/pages/550-sqdn-memorial-stone.php |
- | The Order of Service is available online at: |
/documents/public/Memorial-Stone/OrderOfService-Dedication1982.pdf |
NEWS FROM NEW ZEALAND | S/Ldr A P Gainsford (RNZAF) | We are always delighted to hear from members of the Association or the relatives of those who served with 550 Squadron.
Tony Gainsford from New Zealand contacted the 550 website to compliment the Association on the information it provides and to share further details about the career of his father, Squadron Leader Arthur Percy Gainsford AFC DFC. S/Ldr Gainsford was posted to 550 from 166 Squadron in mid-September 1944 and became "C" Flight Commander. Most, if not all, of the Gainsford crew were on their second tour and they flew seven operations with 550 before leaving the squadron on 7 November. |
- | - | The other members of the crew were:
|
- | - | Experienced crews sometimes had new pilots accompany them on an operation as "second pilot" before the first trip with their own crew.
One such was F/Lt M F A "Michael" Maltin DFC who flew as second pilot with the Gainsford crew shortly after joining 550 and whose flying career later embraced a stint as a Concorde test pilot. S/Ldr Gainsford joined 150 Squadron on 8 November 1944 along with five other members of the crew; the exception being F/O Cook, who was posted to RCAF "R" Depot with effect from 20 November. |
- | - | S/Ldr Gainsford flew his last operation with 150 Squadron on 22 December 1944. He had completed a total of 62 operations, flying both Wellingtons and Lancasters.
Tony reports his father was awarded the DSO, AFC and DFC during his war service and the OBE in 1963. His career continued with the Royal New Zealand Air Force until his retirement with the rank of Air Commodore in 1967. He passed away in 1974. Tony attached copies of the relevant pages of his father's Log Book and these can be found along with other information about the crew on the 550 website at: Our thanks to Don Kentish for contributing this item. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderAPGainsford/index.php |
OTHER NEWS | Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to the editorial team using the details given in the "Contact" section of this newsletter. | - | Your Association Needs YOU! Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters.
Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. |
- | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website.
It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret to report that the following have died since the last newsletter:
F/O Brian Sibree, Nav 05/44 - 08/44 |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?lastname=Sibree |
Issue 81 (March 2022)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 81 | March | 2022 | Reunion 2022 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | March 2022 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July. | - | - | At the time of publication of this newsletter the 2022 reunion is planned to take place Friday 8th - Saturday 9th July 2022. Hopefully there will be no changes, or any pandemic-related restrictions re-introduced, and that after two years our reunions in North Killingholme will finally resume | - | - | Also in this issue the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Memorial Window in St Denys' Church is remembered. | - | - | The reunion of pilot Edgar Pickles with his navigator Peter Spindler in 2018 is recalled. | - | - | A photograph of a rear-gunner, William Arthur John Young, has been received and this finally completes the faces of the crew of DV309 lost over Belgium and commemorated at the memorial in Westerlo. | - | ANNUAL REUNION | July 2021 | The Association Reunion was planned to be held in North Killingholme 9th-11th July 2021.
However, in June the decision was taken to cancel the reunion because of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country. |
- | - | Although the reunion was cancelled, a small group of committee members paid their respects at 2.00pm on 10th July on behalf of all the Association members. It was possible to hold a short, socially distanced, service, a musician from 866 Squadron cadets played the Last Post, wreaths were laid, and Poppy crosses planted on behalf of some members.
The event took place in rather overcast conditions to the extent that had the planned reunion taken place it is unlikely that the Spitfire flypast could have taken place. Due to the very low heavy cloud, it is unlikely that the BBMF Spitfire would have been airborne for any events that day. |
- | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2021 | North Killingholme - Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November 2021 | Despite the COVID-19 situation the Remembrance Weekend in North Killingholme did take place as planned.
A simple ceremony, with 2 minutes silence observed, took place at 11am at the Memorial Stone on Lancaster Approach. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/RemembranceWeekend2021.pdf |
- | The service was taken by Rev. Peter Green and wreaths laid by Honor Redshaw, Jill Stocks and Kevin Surrey (relatives of Sgt R A Drury), Paula and Dan Jeffries (relatives of F/O Donald Rudd) and Kath Robinson.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Squadron Association. Numerous wooden poppy crosses were placed in remembrance of 550 crews lost on operations. |
- | - | As in previous year years our programme in November included an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel. Fourteen people attended the dinner on Saturday evening and twenty-four for Sunday lunch when we were joined by the East Halton RBL group. It was great to have a proper get-together again. |
/pages/remembrance-sunday-2021.php |
CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2021 | - | Once again ceremonies planned to take place were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. | - | Belgium | The ceremony planned to take place on the 20th May 2020 in the presence of the Representative of the King of the Belgians, to mark the loss of the six 550 Squadron crews lost in Belgium, and also to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, was cancelled in April of 2020 and re-scheduled for May 2021. Then that date also had to be altered, being pushed back to 29th September 2021.
Finally on 29th September it was indeed possible for the event to take place. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemoration-2021.php |
- | The year 2021 coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Rebecq Association. As you may know, the Rebecq Association have extended their tribute to the crews of 550 Squadron aircraft to all those who, under the command of the Royal Air Force, fell in Belgium during WWII. Ambassadors and Defence Attach?s representing the 14 nations having nationals fallen in Belgium between May 1940 and 1945 had all been invited to take part in the event, and all responded that they would be present. His Majesty the King of Belgium was also represented. | - | - | Sadly it was not possible, this year, for any UK representatives of the 550 Squadron Association to visit Rebecq to take part in the Commemorations at the Memorial, but a wreath was laid on behalf of the Association.
Our thanks to the people of Rebecq for the wonderful efforts they have made to remember the crews who failed to return home to North Killingholme. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | July 2022 | The 2022 reunion is planned to take place Friday 8th - Saturday 9th July 2022. Hopefully, after a two year absence, reunions in North Killingholme will finally resume.
The Vicar and St Denys' Church are booked. The Ashbourne Hotel is booked and they will take bookings for those wishing to stay. |
- | - | You can book rooms at the Ashbourne Hotel for the nights of 8th and 9th July by contacting them using the details below and quoting "550" to qualify for a discounted rate across all room types, including single occupancy. The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | A submission has been made to the BBMF for a flypast of the Lancaster; the reply for that request is awaited.
The Immingham Air Training Corps Band has been contacted and confirmed they will attend. Following the Service in St. Denys Church there will be tea and cakes available in the Village Hall. |
- | - | One noteworthy change from earlier years is that there is no longer an organised lunch at The Amethyst Hotel. Should people attending the Saturday events require a bite at lunch time then light lunches are available at the Ashbourne Hotel and the Yarborough Arms at Ulceby station. Note that booking is essential for The Yarborough Arms (tel. no. 01469 588383) as the dining area is not too big and it does get busy especially at weekends. | - | - | Fingers crossed members of the Association can once again gather in North Killingholme this year and remember 550 Squadron.
More details will be released nearer the time, and may well of course be impacted by any ongoing restrictions in connection with the pandemic (if still applicable). The web-site will of course be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2022 | - | - | - | - | Belgium | Notice has been received of a combined ceremony to be held in Rebecq on Wednesday 18th May 2022 to remember the six 550 Squadron crews who crashed in Belgium.
The event is to take place in the presence of the Representatives of HM the King of the Belgians, with a Royal band and a Guard of Honour. The Ambassadors of UK and Canada have been invited. As soon as updated information is available then this will be published in the next available Newsletter and on the Association web-site. |
/documents/public/events/index.php#2022 |
- | The Netherlands | On Friday 6th May 2022, at 12 noon a memorial in Gendringen (close to the German border) to remember all (500+) casualties during WWII in the former municipalities of Gendringen and Wisch (nowadays: Oude IJsselstreek) will be unveiled. These victims are, citizens, Dutch, Canadian, English and German soldiers and RAF victims of the nine crashes in that area. |
/documents/public/events/index.php#2022 |
- | - | The monument is 4m wide and 3m high, with a Canadian soldier in front and a Lancaster overhead.
Gary Berg of the Association (a relative of JJ Berg of the S/Ldr G S Smith crew of ME840) will be among those taking part. The ambassadors of five countries have been invited to take part. Local school children will be involved. The Dutch Ministry of Defence will provide support on the ground and in the air. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=ME840 |
- | - | Any updates to the information will be published in the next available Newsletter and on the Association web-site. | - | MEMORIAL WINDOW | St Denys' Church | Twenty five years ago this year a new memorial to 550 Squadron, the beautiful stained glass window in St Denys' Church, was unveiled. This striking window is a wonderful memorial with much symbolism in the intricate design. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Bomber Command memorial windows in the country. The speech given by Jack Harris at the dedication of the window is reproduced in full below. | - | - | Reunion 12 July 1997 | A special and proud occasion for members of the 550 Squadron/RAF North Killingholme Association. Our minds must go back over 50 years when we were stationed at or flying from the airfield.
Apologies Joan Bennett, Eric Redshaw, Edgar Pickles, Kenyon Bowen-Bravery, Arthur Major and Brian Petch |
- | Thanks to | Don Timms who proposed the Memorial Window nearly two and a half years ago.
Ronald Sims, the architect from York who designed the Window. He has been working on it for nearly two years. I suspect architects are used to clients changing their minds in mid-project and we certainly exercised our options in this area. However Mr. Sims has been remarkably patient with us, has met our requirements and has come up with a wonderful final product. Sep Waugh and his team, also from York, who have manufactured and installed the window. The large number of people who have contributed funds to help pay for the window, including: - Our own Association members have been very generous especially those from Canada and Australia; it has been touching to receive contributions from widows. - The local companies who have given us such generous donations. Their names are at the back of the Roll of Honour except that one company, Simon Storage Group, sent us a cheque the day after we had gone to print. - Individual donations from the local villages and from Grimsby. - Next, we have to thank Sandra Day and Ray Chapman, who together run "Friends of 550" and who together thought up the idea of the "Phantom of the Ruhr" painting by Brian Petch who did the original at much reduced cost. Ray Chapman got a printer friend to run off 500 numbered prints and Sandra got companies to help offset the costs. A Christmas card was then produced and Sandra and Ray helped to sell the prints and the cards in the local area. We are very grateful to the companies and local individuals who supported these ventures and to our members who purchased both prints and cards. |
- | The Window | The Window is first a Memorial to the 370 [sic] aircrew who gave their lives flying from NK. Their names and dates of death are given in The Roll of Honour and you will see that the Royal Canadian Air Force played a big part in the squadron's operations.
Secondly the window is a permanent tribute to a unique partnership which did exist in wartime and still exists today between the residents of the locality and those stationed on the airfield. During the war, local families were always inviting serving men and women to their homes to enjoy good country food and cooking. Frequently they accommodated the wives of aircrew who came up for a week's holiday - aircrew on ops were given one week's leave every 6 weeks and in many cases wives living in big cities, which were possible Luftwaffe targets, would prefer to come to NK. This partnership reached unlikely levels; the Black Bull at East Halton was a favourite watering hole; if, at the end of the evening or when the beer had run out, an individual became unsteady on his feet and a hazard to passing traffic, 4 of his mates would unhinge a 5-barred gate and, taking a corner each, would use it as a stretcher to take him back to his billet. Furthermore, the farmer knew where to collect his gate next morning. This partnership flourishes today; we in the Association are indebted to a lovely group of individuals from the 3 villages and Immingham who provide all our needs for these reunions including the tending of the Memorial Stone and the provision of tea after the services. Plus support throughout the year. We really appreciate this help. |
- | Looking Back | On such an occasion, it may be permissible to take a brief look back to the war years. The airfield was barely ready when the squadron moved in. The ground everywhere was a sea of mud. It took several months to bring the technical facilities up to standard and early on equipment, e.g. heavy lifting gear, had to be borrowed from the Americans at Goxhill. In mid-winter all the plumbing to huts dispersed in distant fields would freeze up.
For aircrew, life was controlled by whether "ops" were on or not; if the squadron was "Stood down", the sign on the flight commander's door would point to a foaming tankard, a training programme arranged and preparations made for an evening out in the villages, Grimsby or Cleethorpes. If the squadron was on "ops", the flight commander's sign would point to a tap meaning water, the aircraft would be prepared, fuelled, bombed up and armed by the ground crew. The aircrew would be called to a briefing; it was a tense moment when the curtain on a large map would be pulled back revealing the target and the route to it. There could be another anxious moment when the padre shook hands with you as you were leaving the briefing room; some could construe this as tantamount to the last rites. When crews got down to the aircraft and stowed their kit, there was often a difficult half hour to fill in before engines were started. Chocolate rations would be shared with the ground crew; a football would be kicked about; there was a good deal of forced jocularity; one crew would line up and sing "This is a lovely way to spend an evening" to the ground crew; superstitions demanded the constant wearing of certain items of clothing, boarding the aircraft in a certain order and sometimes doing unmentionable things against the tailwheel. Engine start would relieve the tension and between 20 and 30 aircraft would taxy out for take-off leaving ground crew with a wait of perhaps 8 hours or more before their kite came back, if it came back. |
- | - | Final Thanks:
To all of you for attending. To Charles Whitters and Sam Lipfriend for all their help. To Group Captain Cross for representing todays service. To the Right Reverend Snellgrove and Barbara Harrison. |
- | - | Many thanks to Mike Leeman for retrieving the original transcript from the archive in the 550 museum. | - | PETER HAROLD SPINDLER | - |
As noted later in the newsletter shortly before Christmas 2021 Peter Spindler DFC and Bar passed away. F/O Peter Spindler was the navigator in the Squadron Leader Edgar Pickles crew which carried out their second tour with 550 Squadron.
At Peter's funeral both his son Nick and the clergyman conducting the service spoke of his delight at having discovered the association web-site online, especially as this contributed to Peter and Edgar meeting up again in 2018 at Peter's home on one of Edgar's visits back to the UK. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?id=1006 |
- | On Sunday 22nd April 2018 Edgar and Peter met again for the first time in the 72 years since they had completed their tour with the squadron. That was an afternoon of raised voices, scribbled notes on jotters (both men were almost completely deaf) and much laughter as they remembered good, and sometimes not so good, times as they pored over Peter's collection of photos and memorabilia from their shared time in Bomber Command. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderEdgarPickles/index.php |
- | It is worth mentioning that there were a total of seven men in 550 Squadron awarded DFC and Bar; Peter and Edgar were two of those seven. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_decorations.php |
MARY BOWEN-BRAVERY | - | It was with great sadness that the Association learned of the death of Mary Bowen-Bravery in February. Mary was the wife of 550 Squadron pilot Kenyon Bowen-Bravery.
Mary attended reunions in North Killingholme in recent years accompanied by her daughters. Indeed Mary, despite her 101 years, had hoped to attend the reunion in July this year. Sadly, this was not to be. |
- | - | In 2020 an item titled "Mary Bowen-Bravery: Wartime Service in WW2" was published on the RAF web-site for International Nurses Day about the work of nurses on the front-line; it is well worth the read. The loss of a cousin in a Pathfinders squadron prompted Mary to join Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) to "do her bit". See: |
https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/international-nurses-day-raf-nurses-on-the-front-line-from-wartime-service-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/ |
- | Mary loved attending the 550 reunions; she will be greatly missed. | - | WILLIAM ARTHUR JOHN YOUNG | - | In 1998 a memorial to the P/O G W Hinde crew of DV309 was unveiled in Westerlo, Belgium. The crew was lost on the Duisburg operation of 21/22 May 1944. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Duisburg&aircraft=DV309 |
- | Despite extensive research photos of only six of the seven men were available, and that had remained the case since then. Until now! |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POGWHinde/index.php |
- | In February 2022 that gap in our knowledge about the crew was finally rectified with the receipt of a photo of William Arthur John Young.
We are greatly indebted to Diane Fenn (a relative of Sgt Young) for making the photograph available, allowing us to update our records about this crew and ensuring the continued remembrance of another brave young man of the squadron lost on operations. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?id=4405 |
OTHER NEWS | 550 Squadron Association Museum | An agreement that has been drawn up by the Association and presented to the new North Killingholme Parish Council and accepted by them, as a way forward to secure the long term occupation of the two small rooms in the village hall for use as the association museum. | - | - | - | There will also be access to the main hall when necessary for viewing the 550 items housed in there. A ninety nine year lease has been agreed with a peppercorn rent of £1.00 per annum, due to begin on 1st April 2022. We have agreed to continue giving an annual donation to the Parish Council towards the heating costs for the two small rooms. It was agreed that George Turner, as chairman signed the agreement along with the Chair of North Killingholme Council, and this has now been completed. | - | - | Many thanks to Mike Leeman and George Turner for taking this forward and achieving agreement with the Parish Council. | - | - | Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to the editorial team using the details given in the "Contact" section of this newsletter. | - | - | Annual Subscriptions (July 2021 - June 2022) | Subscriptions were due on 1st July 2021 and the majority of members have returned the Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. For anyone that missed the July renewal an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter.
All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. |
- | Your Association Needs YOU! Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. |
- | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website.
It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret to report that the following have died since the last newsletter:
F/Lt Edward Fleming - Pilot - 03/45- 08/45 F/O Peter H Spindler DFC and Bar - Navigator (S/Ldr Pickles crew)- 12/44 - 05/45 Mary Bowen-Bravery - wife of 550 pilot Kenyon Bowen-Bravery CdG DFC Maurice Williamson - Member of 550 Squadron Association |
- |
Issue 80 (October 2021)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 80 | October | 2021 | Remembrance 2021, Reunion updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2021 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme next month. | - | - | Further details about Remembrance Weekend appear below. | - | - | Jack Harris recently celebrated his 101st birthday. Jack celebrated in style with a trip up to London to see "Anything Goes", which is just the kind of tap-dancing musical that he loves. Then, the following evening, enjoyed a wonderful dinner in Tunbridge Wells with Angela, Anne, Sue and Andrew. Some photos from the evening dinner are shown at (see link).
Happy birthday Jack |
/images/JackHarris101stBirthday/index.php |
- | In a number of past newsletters we have included items on both Sgt F Habgood (A/B) and F/O Roy Kay (F/Eng). Some recent developments in relation to both men are summarised in articles below. | - | - | There are also reports about some of the memorial ceremonies held this summer and the date of next year's Annual Reunion. | - | - | We are still recruiting to the important role of Newsletter Co-Ordinator so if you have the skills to fulfil this position please do not delay in contacting us. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme - Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November 2021 | As in previous years our programme includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at The Ashbourne Hotel on the Saturday evening followed usually by the opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and St Denys' Church will be followed this year by lunch at the Ashbourne Hotel. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/RemembranceWeekend2021.pdf |
- | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel at a discounted "550" rate of £85.00 including breakfast. We advise booking early as availability may be limited. The Ashbourne contact details are: The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://oakridgehotels.co.uk/ashbourne-hotel/ |
- | Please book rooms directly with the hotel and settle your food and accommodation bill on departure. To book meals and for any queries regarding the meals or timetable please contact Honor Redshaw. Details as follows:
Email: honorredshaw@hotmail.co.uk. |
- | Saturday Evening 13th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45pm in the Fork and Spoon. If you would like to join the group please let Honor know by Friday 5th November. As menu pre-selection is required you will be contacted nearer the time with the latest menu. Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/RemembranceWeekend2021.pdf |
Sunday 14th November | Our provisional timetable is shown below and includes a two minute silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone. We are very pleased that the Reverend Peter Green, who was recently appointed, will be conducting our services.
- 09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall by appointment. Contact Mike Leeman on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com - 10.45 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. - 10.52 - Service starts. - 11.00 - Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. - 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. - 11.20 - Church Service starts. - 12.00 - Service ends. - 12.30 - Lunch in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/RemembranceWeekend2021.pdf |
- | Lunch this year has been arranged to take place in the Oak Room of the Ashbourne Hotel. A Sunday Lunch menu is available (of mainly roasts): either 2 courses (£18.00) or 3 courses (£20.00).
Please pay on the day or at the end of your stay. Pre-selection may be required. Please let Honor know by Friday 5th November if you will be dining. Please check the 550 Association website for updates closer to the date or if you do not have access to the internet contact Honor Redshaw using the information given above. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/RemembranceWeekend2021.pdf |
ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2021 | It was hoped that this year, following the disappointment of last year, it would be possible for veterans and members to meet again in North Killingholme to savour a flypast of a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) aircraft, remember absent friends and enjoy good company at dinner on Saturday evening. Although the BBMF Lancaster was not flying at that point in the summer a flypast by a Spitfire had been confirmed.
As the date approached, however, it became clear that an organised event was not going to be possible, and it was with considerable sadness that the weekend was again cancelled as a consequence of the pandemic. |
- | - | - | Nonetheless a small group of committee members were able to pay their respects at 2.00pm at the Memorial Stone on behalf of all the Association members. A short service was held, a musician from 866 Squadron cadets played the Last Post, wreaths were laid, and Poppy crosses planted on behalf of some members.
The event took place in rather overcast conditions to the extent that had the planned reunion taken place it is rather unlikely that the Spitfire flypast would have been possible. Due to the low heavy cloud it is unlikely that the BBMF Spitfire would have been airborne. Afterwards a number of people retired to The Ashbourne Hotel for a socially distanced coffee in the hotel courtyard. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2021 | - | As was the case in 2020 plans for commemorations in Belgium and The Netherlands were severely disrupted because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. | - | - | Belgium | The ceremony planned to take place on the 20th May 2020 in the presence of the Representative of the King of the Belgians, to mark the loss of the six 550 Squadron crews lost in Belgium, and also to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, was cancelled in April of 2020 and re-scheduled for May 2021.
Unfortunately that date also had to be altered, being pushed back to 29th September 2021, but at last the commemoration has now taken place. As can be seen from the great number of wreaths and flags it was a significant event. A wreath was laid on behalf of the Association. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemoration-2021.php |
- | - | The year 2021 coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Rebecq Association. As you may know, the Rebecq Association have extended their tribute to the crews of 550 Squadron aircraft to all those who, under the command of the Royal Air Force, fell in Belgium during WWII. The ambassadors from the 14 countries that had nationals involved in the crashes in Belgium all took part in the event. It was an important ceremony during which His Majesty the King of Belgium was represented. | - | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2022 | Currently the 2022 reunion is planned to take place on Friday 8th - Saturday 9th July 2022. More details will be released nearer the time. It is, we are sure, everyone's hope that the pandemic, or at least some of the restrictions associated with the pandemic, will be behind us and it will be possible to gather once again in North Killingholme.
As and when any information becomes available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2022 | - | Currently there is no information on any events planned for 2022.
As soon as any information is available then this will be published in the next scheduled Newsletter and on the Association web-site. |
- | SGT F "FREDDIE" HABGOOD | - | In Newsletter No. 71 October 2018 we reported on the discovery at the former Natzweiler-Stuthoft concentration camp in France of a metal bracelet that belonged to Sgt Frederick Harold Habgood. The Centre Européen du Résistant Déporté (CERD) had publicised the find in the hope of contacting his relatives. A follow-up item in Newsletter No. 72 March 2019 brought the news that relatives of Sgt Habgood had been located and had been able to visit Natzweiler-Stuthoft and see the bracelet in the museum. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHJones/index.php |
- | Just in the past month the great news is that the bracelet is now back with the family in the UK. Up to thirty media organisations from across Europe and the UK were on hand as Sgt Habgood's relatives took possession of this very important personal item. |
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9984901/Murdered-RAF-bombardiers-family-reunited-bracelet.html |
SGT ROY KAY | - | Regular readers of the newsletter will be familiar with the story of Roy Kay as recounted in a couple of newsletters, most recently in Newsletter No. 65 October 2016. The article entitled "A Crew Remembered" reported on the reunion of the relatives of a former serviceman Roy Kay, who evaded capture after his aircraft crashed in The Netherlands, with the granddaughters of "Uncle Jan" Wikkerink who helped hide the airman.
Lancaster ME840 was shot down by a German fighter on June 16, 1944, killing the six other crew members. They were on a bombing mission to Sterkrade, in Germany. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderGSSmith/RKay-evader.php |
- | Jacques Ploeger in The Netherlands has been involved with the creation of some videos based on WWII aircraft that crashed in The Netherlands. There is one such video telling the story of the ME840 crash and the escape of Roy Kay. It can be found on You Tube (see link on the right).
The video is in Dutch but there are English subtitles. Our thanks to Gary Berg for bringing the video to our attention. |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OOCNdXSoHw&t=34s |
OTHER NEWS | 550 Squadron Association Museum | The 550 Squadron Association Museum in North Killingholme is open by arrangement once again.
Thanks are due to Paul Broddley who, using recycled materials, has vastly improved the amount of storage space in Museum Room 1. Also there is now space for books and folders to be put down on a desk for inspection. Thanks to Anne, Philip Blackham's widow (now sadly deceased) and Graham Knott, a family friend, the Museum now houses a display of Philip's medals, along with photographs of him and his brother Geoffrey who also served with 550 Squadron. Thanks should also go to David Thompson of Piddlehinton in Dorset. He was for many years a neighbour of Sgt. John Chapman who was a wireless operator with the F/O Sidwell crew. John's widow, Joan, died recently and David Thompson was helping the executor sort through her papers as there were no close relatives. David came across John's Log Book and some photos and offered to pass these on to the Museum. The offer has been accepted. |
- | Your Association Needs YOU! Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker.
The position is currently vacant. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions were due on 1st July and the majority of members have returned the Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. For anyone that missed the July renewal an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter. | - | - | All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker |
- | "Five Fifty" - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association still has a number of copies of the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", available. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £10 (plus P+P) and can be shipped within the UK or overseas. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
- | "I'll Be Back For Breakfast" - the life of war hero Edgar Pickles DFC and Bar | A new book about the life and times of 550 Squadron veteran S/Ldr Edgar Pickles DFC and Bar is due to be published shortly.
"I'll be back for breakfast" by Di Websdale-Morrissey is available for pre-order for Christmas 2021 delivery. For details see (link right): |
/pages/bomber-command-books.php#BackForBreakfast |
Should any member wish to express an interest in purchasing a copy then please either contact the Association, or contact Gary Brooks via the 550 Association Facebook page or via the Association.
For a detailed description of the book see link (right): |
https://edgarpickles.company.site/ |
ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter:
F/Sgt. W. W. "Wally" Fitch - Bomb Aimer 7/44 - 1/45 Wally was a member of the 550 Squadron Association for many years. Sadly he passed away on the 27th August 2021. The funeral of F/Sgt. W. W. Fitch will take place 14.30hrs on the 22nd October 2021 in Camberley, Surrey. Should any Members wish to attend then please contact our Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, whose contact details appear at the end of this newsletter. |
- |
Issue 79 (June 2021)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 79 | June | 2021 | Reunion 2021 updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | June 2021 Newsletter | This newsletter gives details about the Annual Reunion and includes a Booking Form. It is important that bookings are sent to Liz Broddley as soon as possible but no later than Friday 25th June. | - | - | In view of the fact that the Government are still planning to end all restrictions by 21st June, the Association is proposing to go ahead with the reunion for the weekend of the 9th-11th July. Of course, this is subject to the COVID-19 situation prevailing at the time. Changes in plans will be notified on the Association web-site prior to the scheduled reunion weekend. | - | - | We are still recruiting to the important role of Newsletter Co-Ordinator so if you have the skills to fulfil this position please do not delay in contacting us. | - | ANNUAL REUNION 2021 NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Fri 9th and Sat 10th July 2021 | The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum and is followed by a Spitfire flypast over St. Denys' Church at 2.11 p.m.
We thank the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for including us in its busy flying programme. |
- | - | Following the flypast, there will be a short Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone. The Service continues at St. Denys' Church and is followed by tea and cakes. | - | - | The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening and on Sunday there is the option of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car. | - | - | Booking | Please complete and return your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 25th June to Liz Broddley on email: lbroddley@gmail.com
The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the many groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion. Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2021 |
- | - | Booking Form (PDF format) |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/Reunion2021-BookingForm.pdf |
- | - | Booking Form (Word format) |
/documents/public/newsletters/2021/Reunion2021-BookingForm.docx |
- | Programme, Fri. 9th July | A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00pm. There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £18.95 or three courses for £22.95 per person. Indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form. | - | - | Programme, Sat. 10th July | A Spitfire flypast has been approved and will take place over St. Denys' Church at 2.11 p.m. or thereabouts.
Our timetable is: 9.30 a.m. - 550 Squadron Museum open. 11.30 a.m. - Museum closes. Lunch Break 2.05 p.m. - Gather outside St. Denys' Church in time for flypast. 2.11 p.m. - Spitfire flypast over St Denys' Church. 2.15 p.m. - Form up outside the Village Hall behind the 866 (Immingham) Sqn Air Training Corps Band. Walk to 550 Squadron Memorial Stone. 2.30 p.m. - Act of Remembrance/Memorial Stone Service begins, including the laying of wreaths. 2.45 p.m. - Service ends. Photo opportunity. 2.55 p.m. - Walk back to Village behind 866 Sqn Air Training Corps Band. 3.15 p.m. - Service in St. Denys' Church begins. 4.15 p.m. - Service ends. Followed by - Tea in St. Denys' Church. 5.30 p.m. - People disperse except for those staying Saturday night. 7.30 p.m. - Dinner at Ashbourne Hotel. Pay on departure if non-resident. |
- | - | Programme, Sat. 10th July - Reunion Dinner | Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30pm and is a three course meal at £30.00 per head. Menu options are given on the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel pay at the end of the meal. | - | - | Programme, Sun. 11th July - Airfield Tour | There is the possibility of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car should there be sufficient interest. Please complete the relevant section of the Booking Form. | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay and remember to quote "550" and ask if there is a preferential rate as there has been in the past, as this had not been confirmed by the Ashbourne at the time of going to print. Check the 550 website for further updates on the "550" room rates. The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. |
- | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | Other Accommodation | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website: http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com/ There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website: http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
- | - | Travel Arrangements | By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the new roundabout. Take the second exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. The 550 Squadron Museum is in the Village Hall on the left, just before St. Denys' Church. Immediately opposite the church is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left.
Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park. There are now parking restrictions on Lancaster Approach with double yellow lines on both sides of the road. It is a busy access point for heavy goods vehicles entering the industrial estate and only park to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. Off-road parking is available at John Somerscales Ltd (approximately 200 yards from the Memorial Stone on the right) but you park at your own risk and the gates are locked shortly after the Service ends. The site is used by a number of hauliers so please do not block in other vehicles. |
- | Change to the Location of the Flypast | Prior to every Annual Reunion the companies based on the airfield are advised about our activities. They are extremely supportive but Lancaster Approach has become increasingly busy over the years with many firms working 24 hours a day plus weekends.
We have to consider the safety of participants at the Memorial Stone and preserve the solemnity of the Service in what has become an increasingly busy traffic environment. Following the success of the 2019 flypast the 550 Committee have again requested a flypast over St. Denys' Church. It is not ideal given the symbolism of the Lancaster flying at low level across the airfield and above the Memorial Stone but limits the time spent at the Stone and reduces the number of pedestrians close to the road junction. On the plus side, the church is a significant landmark, has an atmosphere conducive to reflection and remembrance and its grounds offer a safe and enclosed environment from which to view the aircraft. |
- | Your Association Needs YOU! | Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek for a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters.
The position is currently vacant. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are handled by Steve Parker. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | OTHER NEWS | News From Australia | Edward Fleming (P/O EL Fleming RAAF) sent us news of a pavement plaque installed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to recognise the contribution of the "odd bods" of the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War.
Edward reports that some 25,000 Australians, ground staff and aircrew, served with units other than those specifically designated as Australian and that collectively they belong, or may belong, to the Odd Bods Association - RAAF. This includes any Australian who was part of the 550 Squadron complement. He goes on to say that until recently the Australian War Memorial had declined to accord these RAAF personnel recognition in the form of a pavement Memorial Plaque in its grounds. However, on 14 March 2020, some six months after a chance meeting with the then Director of the War Memorial, an appropriate memorial plaque was approved, dedicated and installed. |
- | - | We were delighted to meet Edward, Clare and Lloyd when they attended the Annual Reunion in 2017. It was highly fitting, given the contribution of Australians and the many other nationalities who served with 550 Squadron, that Edward was able to join Jack Harris and Wally Fitch at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln on the Sunday afternoon to present a copy of the book "Five-Fifty" to the centre.
Our thanks to Don Kentish for contributing this item. |
- | Five Fifty - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association has had the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", reprinted. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £15 which includes P&P and UK delivery. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
/php-library/mysql-utils/forms/merchandise-enquiry-noform.php |
Remembrance Weekend 2021 | Please note in your diaries Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November. The Remembrance Weekend programme will follow previous years' and start with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne at the discounted 550 rate on Saturday night but please book early, using the details given earlier in this newsletter. Further details will appear in Newsletter 80 which will be distributed in early October | - |
Issue 78 (March 2021)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 78 | March | 2021 | Reunion 2021 updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | March 2021 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Reunion Weekend activities in North Killingholme in July. | - | - | It has been, to say the least, a very unusual 12 months. As you will be aware all the events that were planned to take place in 2020 had, in the end, to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected every country in the world. | - | - | Hopefully with the rollout of vaccines, coupled with the measures aimed at reducing transmission, things will start to improve and life can begin to return to normal, or at least as normal as possible, as the world adapts to living with the virus. | - | - | In view of the fact that the Government is planning to end all restrictions by 21st June, the Association is proposing to go ahead with the reunion for the weekend of the 9th-11th July. Of course, this is subject to the COVID-19 situation prevailing at the time. Changes in plans will be notified both on the Association web-site and in future newsletter(s) planned prior to the scheduled reunion weekend. | - | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2020 | As we know this was planned to take place with the usual events such as a Lancaster Flypast, commemorative services and tea in the village hall, but then had to be cancelled due to the continuing COVID-19 situation. Sadly therefore there was no chance for old friends to meet or opportunities for photographs with veterans to take place. Also, of course, no Lancaster flypast. | - | VE DAY | NORTH KILLINGHOLME May 2020 |
The 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II should have been marked by major events all over Europe.
In the end these could not take place thanks to the restrictions placed on travel and group gatherings as governments responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
- | - | Local members of the Association in North Killingholme did mark the day with an Act of Remembrance at the Memorial Stone and the placing of flags, notice boards and poppy lawns around the village. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2020 | NORTH KILLINGHOLME | As in previous years our programme in November was planned to include an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening followed by the usual opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Then Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and in St. Denys' Church would have been followed by a lunch in the Ashbourne Hotel. | - | - | Once again the prevailing pandemic situation meant that the events had to be cancelled. However, a small Act of Remembrance did take place with local members of the Association laying wreaths, and placing poppy crosses in remembrance of individual members of the squadron lost on operations, at the Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2020 | - | Again ceremonies planned to take place had to be cancelled due to the world-wide pandemic. | - | Belgium | The ceremony planned to take place on the 20th May 2020 in the presence of the Representative of the King of the Belgians, to mark the loss of the six 550 Squadron crews lost in Belgium, and also the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, was cancelled in April.
Similarly a ceremony in Westerlo on Thursday 21st May 2020 was also cancelled in April. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2021 | At the time of publication of this newsletter the 2021 reunion is planned to take place on Friday 9th - Saturday 10th July 2021. | - | - | In view of the fact that the Government is planning to end all restrictions by 21st June, it is hoped that it will be possible to go ahead with the reunion for the weekend and to this end action has been, and is being, taken to get everything in place to make the weekend a success.
- The Vicar and St Denys' Church are booked. - The Ashbourne Hotel is booked and they will take bookings for those wishing to stay and will not charge if cancellations have to be made due to a change in the virus situation - A submission has been made to the BBMF for a flypast of the Lancaster; the reply for that request is awaited. - The Immingham Air Training Corps Band has been contacted and will reply when the rules for events become clearer. - The Village Hall is currently out of use, but it is planned that the afternoon tea could be held in St Denys' Church (if hall roof repairs are not completed in time). |
- | - | You can book rooms at the Ashbourne Hotel for the nights of 9 and 10 July by contacting them using the details below and quoting "550" to qualify for a discounted rate across all room types, including single occupancy. | - | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | Fingers crossed members of the Association can once again gather in North Killingholme this year and remember 550 Squadron. | - | - | More details will be released nearer the time, and may well of course be impacted by any ongoing restrictions in connection with the pandemic (if still applicable). The web-site will of course be kept up-to-date with developments as soon as they are known. |
- | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2021 | Belgium | The ceremonies in Rebecq planned to take place in 2020, to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, were initially postponed to Wednesday 19th May 2021. The latest information is that even that date has now been pushed ahead to Wednesday 29th September 2021. | - | - | Once again, as soon as updated information is available then this will be published in the next available Newsletter and on the Association web-site. | - | Your Association Needs YOU! | Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek for a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. The position is currently vacant. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are handled by Steve Parker. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | WILLIAM GEORGE RATE | - | Rodney Rate (son of William George Rate) (of the F/O Richard crew recently sent a photo from his father's collection for display on the Association web-site, along with a couple of questions that perhaps someone in the Association can help answer. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?id=6544 |
- | The photo had no attached information. So it is/was assumed by Rod to be the crew his father flew with. However, as can be seen eight men, some in overalls, feature in the photo. So this is not simply a Lancaster crew. Frequently the men in overalls might be assumed to be the ground crew. Except that in this case one of those in overalls is William George Rate (front right kneeling in overalls), the wireless operator with the Richards crew. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOJORichard/index.php |
- | Also if this is the Richard's crew then is the photograph from North Killingholme? Again there is some doubt on this, as that particular type of hut has not been seen in other (known) photos from North Killingholme. If the photo is not from North Killingholme, then quite possibly this is not of members of the Richards crew. | - | - | So there are several mysteries surrounding this photo and the people in it. Any information that might shed light on the men in the photo, or indeed the location, would be welcomed by Rod. Please do email in any information or insights you might have about the people or the location. |
- | LESLIE WALLACE HARVEY | Nederweert War Cemetery, Netherlands | Paul Batenburg has adopted the grave of Leslie Wallace Harvey RCAF in Nederweert, Netherlands as part of a project to help the younger generation to know and understand the history of World War II and of more recent conflicts in the world. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?id=4573 |
- | Leslie Harvey was the a member of the F/O C J Jones crew (see link right) flying in 550 Lancaster PA995 "The Vulture Strikes" when it was lost on its 101st operation on 7/8 March 1945 to Dessau. |
/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOCJJones/index.php |
- | To this end Paul has researched the loss of PA995, the Jones crew, and in particular Leslie Harvey the only one of the three aircrew killed (the remainder became PoWs) with a known grave. Paul's very detailed document about Leslie Harvey is available on the Jones crew web page. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_operations.php?target=Dessau&aircraft=PA995 |
- | Other details about the crew and Leslie Harvey have been published on (see link right) as well as on the site of the foundation adopting graves in Nederweert War Cemetery (see link right below) |
http://www.wo2sacrifies.jouwweb.nl |
- | Some questions, however, remain, and the search continues for more information about the circumstances of the loss of the aircraft, and the handling of the aftermath such that Leslie Harvey ended up being buried in Nederweert War Cemetery having originally been buried in German territory. If you have any information about the crash or know details about the processes followed when dealing with the remains and possessions of the deceased airmen then do please contact the web-site. |
https://adoptiongravesnederweert.com/ROLL-OF-HONOUR/Stories/ |
OTHER NEWS | Five Fifty - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association has had the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", reprinted. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £15 which includes P&P and UK delivery. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
/php-library/mysql-utils/forms/merchandise-enquiry-noform.php |
ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following person has died since the last newsletter:
Martin Carnell - Member of the 550 Squadron Association. |
- |
Issue 77 (October 2020)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 77 | October | 2020 | Remembrance 2020, Reunion updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2020 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with the plans for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme next month. | - | - | Further details about Remembrance Weekend appear below but in keeping with the theme of the ongoing COVID-19 situation the proceedings will be rather curtailed. | - | - | Jack Harris celebrated his 100th birthday just a couple of weeks ago. Jack celebrated with a great day at the RAF Club in Piccadilly with Angela, Anne, Sue and Andrew, a telegram from the Queen and Association members from all over the world sending in their best wishes.
Congratulations Jack |
- | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme - Sunday 8th November 2020 | Our programme in November was planned to include an informal meal in the "Fork and Spoon" at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening followed by the usual opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Then Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and in St. Denys's Church followed by a lunch in the Ashbourne Hotel. However the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated lockdown and/or restricted movements, have meant a much reduced event. |
- | - | For the short service at the Memorial Stone, this event will obviously be outside with room for social distancing and numbers may/will be restricted.
- Please wear a mask/face-covering. - There will be no singing. - The Last Post will not be sounded (wind instruments are not allowed to be played even outdoors). |
- | - | The Service in St. Denys's Church can take place but only with very strict adherence to social distancing rules. For the service in church it will be best if numbers are known in advance so that the seating can be arranged. Please note: - Masks to be worn in Church. - Hand sanitiser to be used as you go in. - Names and contact details taken. - No sung hymns just prayers and a sermon. - Prayer sheets all on chairs ready. Single sheet of laminated A4. - Everyone exits out of the side door coming out at the back of the church. |
- | - | The museum will remain closed as it is impossible to social distance inside. | - | - | The Ashbourne Hotel cannot take group bookings for lunch. Therefore, if you wish to have lunch at the hotel then that needs to be arranged by individuals themselves. | - | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | Please contact Honor Redshaw if you are attending the Remembrance Service by Sunday 1st November (to aid with making the necessary arrangements for social distancing in the church). Email: honorredshaw@hotmail.co.uk. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2020 | As we all now know this was planned to take place with the usual events such as a Lancaster Flypast and then had to be cancelled during the continuing COVID-19 situation. Sadly therefore there was no chance for old friends to meet and opportunities to take photographs with veterans or of event activities. | - | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE | 2020 | Again ceremonies planned to take place had to be cancelled due to the world-wide pandemic. | - | Belgium | The ceremony planned to take place on the 20th May 2020 in the presence of the Representative of the King of the Belgians, to mark the loss of the six 550 Squadron crews lost in Belgium, and also to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, was cancelled in April. | - | - | Similarly a ceremony in Westerlo on Thursday 21st May 2020 was also cancelled in April. | - | OTHER NEWS | Annual Reunion 2021 | Currently the 2021 reunion is planned to take place Friday 9th and Saturday 10th July 2021. More details will be released nearer the time, and may well of course be impacted by any ongoing restrictions in connection with the pandemic (if still applicable). | - | Ceremonies in Belguim 2021 | The ceremonies in Rebecq planned to take place in 2020 have been postponed until Wednesday 19th May 2021. As soon as updated information is available then this will be published in the next available Newsletter and on the Association web-site | - | Your Association Needs YOU! | Newsletter Production | The Association continues to seek for a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are handled by Steve Parker. The position is currently vacant. |
- | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Subscriptions were due on 1st July and the majority of members have returned the Annual Subscription form together with their membership payments. For anyone that missed the July renewal an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter. | - | - | All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker |
- | - | "Five Fifty" - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association has had the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", reprinted. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £10 (plus P+P) and can be shipped within the UK or overseas. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following person has died since the last newsletter:
WO Reg Eves MBE - Air Gunner 5/44 - 11/44 Richard McCormick - Member of the 550 Squadron Association. Richard was responsible for the restoration of the Lancaster at the top of the sign on the North Killingholme village green. |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members to the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter. Those who have chosen to share their contact details are:
Peter Thompson (son of W/O Len Thompson) |
- |
Issue 76 (May 2020)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 76 | May | 2020 | Information and updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | May 2020 Newsletter | The Association sends its very best wishes to members and their families. We hope the shared interest in 550 and the network of friendships it generates has helped lift the spirits in these testing times. | - | - | Inevitably, the events listed in the previous newsletter scheduled for spring and summer were cancelled and we now look ahead to Remembrance Weekend (circumstances permitting) as the next opportunity to mark the contribution of those who served with 550 Squadron; 75 years after the end of the Second World War and the disbanding of 550 Squadron at the end of October 1945. | - | - | In a year of anniversaries, this newsletter contains not only preliminary information about Remembrance Weekend but also an article written by Jack Harris twenty years ago in Newsletter 20 (May 2000) about the hair raising experiences of Sergeant DJ "Doug" Hicks RCAF. There is a piece by William Albertyn about a Belgian national who flew with 550, Flying Officer Georges de Menten de Horne and Kathleen Robinson has written about her memories of growing up on the site of what later became the Amethyst Hotel. | - | - | In addition, there is the opportunity to help with the production of Association newsletters, news about the reprint of the squadron history, "Five Fifty", and the publication of a book about the F/O R D Harris RCAF crew. | - | - | Please remember the membership year runs from 1st July until 30th June. An Annual Subscription Form is attached which also provides information about options for payment. | - | - | The news from Tunbridge Wells is that all is well with Jack and Angela although they are limited to walking in the garden for exercise. Angela is playing Bridge online and Sue and Andrew are helping out with shopping. Andrew and Sue are hosting video meetings with Jack, Angela and Anne every 2-3 days so the family can stay in touch. | - | Your Association Needs YOU! | Newsletter Production | The Association is seeking a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker. The position becomes effective following the publication of this newsletter, allowing sufficient time for the production of Newsletter 77 to be distributed in October. | - | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter to express your interest without delay. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2020 | NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Please note in your diaries Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday night and the programme will follow previous years' and start with an informal meal on Saturday evening. | - | ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS | - | Subscriptions are due on 1st July and an Annual Subscription Form with all the necessary information about how to pay is attached to this newsletter. | - | - | All forms should be returned to the Membership Secretary, Steve Parker, but subscriptions should be paid either directly into the Association's bank account or by cheque to the Treasurer, Gary Berg. Gary and Steve's contact details appear at the top of the Annual Subscription Form. | - | - | Electronic versions of the Annual Subscription Form are available and can be found on the 550 website (see right and below for MSWord and PDF formats respectively): |
/documents/public/Forms/2020AnnualSubscriptionForm-WebsiteVersion.doc |
- | If returning the Annual Subscription Form proves difficult at the moment and you anticipate a delay, please call or email Steve Parker. |
/documents/public/Forms/2020AnnualSubscriptionForm-WebsiteVersion.pdf |
Two "Hairy" Experiences | - | Jack Harris wrote newsletters from the first in July 1992 until No.62 in October 2015. He combined information about the Association's regular events with anecdotes and news from members as well as articles written from his research and personal archive. His extensive knowledge of Bomber Command and experience as a Lancaster pilot give authenticity and insight to the pieces he produces and are well worth revisiting. The following is from Newsletter 20 in May 2000. | - | - | Doug Hicks, rear gunner with the F/O R.D. Harris, RCAF crew, has sent me accounts of two experiences which I think are worthy of repetition. The crew joined 550 on 8 January 1945. They went down on their 8th operation but, as the following two incidents demonstrate, they packed in a lot during their short tour. | - | - | On the night of 23/24 February 45, the crew took off at 15.58 to attack Pforzheim. They were part of a force of 367 Lancasters on this raid. The target did not have heavy flak defences - the bombing heights were between 7500 and 9500 feet - but on this night the night fighters were active and responsible for the 12 aircraft lost. However, F/O Harris and crew met a different problem. 15 seconds after bombing from 8000 ft., their aircraft, NF998-D, was hit by a large number of 4lb. incendiary bombs dropped from above. Later inspection showed that approx. 60 incendiaries had hit the aircraft. One set the port outer engine on fire, the propeller was feathered and the fire seemed to go out. One incendiary came through the perspex of the mid-upper turret and fractured the shoulder of Sgt. M.T. Ditson, RCAF, the gunner. The aircraft had lurched violently to port and sparks and flames were streaking past the rear turret, which had lost hydraulic power and had to be turned by hand. Tracer bullets were seen passing about 20 feet behind the aircraft; the rear gunner could not see the source of these bullets but fired a burst in the presumed area. Other incendiaries had hit both mainplanes, the tailplane and rudders and about 10 had fallen inside the fuselage, most of which failed to ignite. Meanwhile, the pilot was experiencing severe problems with directional control. One of the incendiaries may have damaged a rudder trim tab but the problem was more likely due to one of the incendiaries lodging under a rudder control rod and burning it through. The aircraft could only fly straight after the flight engineer had used a piece of rope to lash the rudder controls in the extreme right position. Course was set for Manston, the emergency airfield with the very long and wide runway, and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe - aircraft recognition by ground radar) was set to "broad" indicating emergency. The aircraft touched down at Manston at 00.13 with the crew in crash landing positions. The tyre on the port main undercarriage leg burst, the aircraft veered off the runway and hit a line of new sewer pipes about to be laid. The undercarriage collapsed and the damage was assessed as Category E. The mid-upper gunner was taken to hospital and the rest of the crew returned to North Killingholme. The crew discussed amongst themselves whether they would refrain from bombing if they saw another aircraft directly underneath them and the answer was "no"; that risk had to be accepted. | - | - | On the night of 7/8 March 45 the F/O R.D. Harris crew, with Sgt. E.R. Robinson as MUG, took off at 17.04 in ME428-O for the Dessau raid. Night fighters were active again, claiming most of the 13 bombers lost from 526 Lancasters despatched. It was a bad night for 550 which lost 3 aircraft. Doug Hicks reported two bombers crashing on the outward leg flying low over France and, from the display of red, green and yellow pyrotechnics on the ground, they must have both been Pathfinder Force aircraft which had collided in the air. Another crash on the ground merely revealed incendiaries burning - a Main Force aircraft. Flying at 20,000ft. about 100 miles short of the target, the aircraft suddenly started to shake violently, sparks and smoke streamed past the rear turret, tracer bullets were seen coming up from below and it was obvious that a night fighter with upward firing cannon had attacked. Large flames from the burning wings began to stream back past the rear turret. The pilot gave the order to abandon the aircraft shouting "Jump, jump, jump". The rear gunner set about disconnecting his oxygen and intercommunication leads, not easy with heavily gloved hands. He removed the gloves from his left hand but still had difficulty as the aircraft was now flying very erratically. By now, the flames streaming back were making the rear turret very hot and evacuation was imperative. He rotated his turret to port, opened both doors and, wearing a seat type parachute, pushed his rump through the open doors and fell out backwards into the slipstream. The exit was made but unfortunately one foot remained caught up with the turret and he found himself being towed along by the aircraft. It was not a good place to be in, particularly as flames continued to stream back from the wings. He quickly reviewed his options, not that there were many. Aircrew were trained to cope with emergencies but this situation was not in the training manual. He had just decided that his only hope was to pull the parachute ripcord when suddenly there was a blinding flash as the aircraft blew up; the rear gunner found himself floating down with his parachute open. He negotiated the landing safely and became a POW along with the navigator, bomb aimer and wireless operator. The bodies of the flight engineer and the mid-upper gunner are buried in the Berlin War Cemetery. The body of the pilot was never found and his name, F/O R.D. Harris, RCAF, appears on the Runnymede Memorial. Four weeks later, Doug Hicks and his three other crew mates were released from the POW camp by American troops and flown to England where Doug Hicks had his burns treated in hospital. A rear-gunner's life was not only lonely but exciting as well! | - | - | For further information about Doug Hicks and the F/O RD Harris RCAF crew see the "Other News" section of this newsletter and the 550 website.
Our thanks to Jack Harris for permission to reproduce this article. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FORDHarris/index.php |
A Belgian Flying with 550 | Flying Officer Georges de Menten de Horne | In Patrick Otter's book "Five Fifty-The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron" he reports on the crash of the P/O RH Maule crew. The aircraft, D345 BQ-R, came down on 2 January 1944 near Spalding after catching fire. Patrick notes that the navigator, F/O Georges Marie Ghislan de Menten de Horne was one of a handful of Belgians to serve with Bomber Command. William Albertyn, a great supporter of the Association and the longstanding organiser of ceremonies in St. Niklaas, was prompted to find out more. He writes: | - | - | Georges was a descendant of an aristocratic family and his father Armand de Menten de Horne was a volunteer in the Great War.
Georges was the eldest son and joined the Belgian Army at the outbreak of war in 1939, becoming a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Guides Regiment. He was taken prisoner by the Germans in May 1940 and after repatriation to Belgium escaped via France and reached Gibraltar before travelling to the UK. He later joined Bomber Command and trained as a navigator. He was a founder member of 550 Squadron, transferring from C Flight of 100 Squadron on 25 November 1944. He was killed on the night 2 January 1944, on his 27th mission, when his aircraft crashed returning from an operation to Berlin. |
- | - | During the war there was a German airfield at Brustem near Melveren and a story circulated locally that "ghost-pilot" Georges de Menten de Horne attacked it every night. | - | - | Armand's second son, Eric, joined the Belgian Resistance at the onset of war and managed to move approximately 40 air crew from Belgium to Paris. In early 1943 the head of the escape line was arrested and Eric returned to Brussels. On arrival, the Gestapo were waiting for him and he was arrested before being shot on 20 October 1943. | - | - | Armand de Menten de Horne had lost his two sons within two months but the story did not finish there. At the local parish church in Melveren a commemorative Mass was organised and the national anthem was played on the organ at low volume. Those present were betrayed and the Germans arrested Armand, the priest, the organist and others. They were taken into custody and only freed following liberation. Armand died on 13 December 1947. | - | - | There is further information on the 550 website about the P/O RH Maule crew and Georges de Menten de Horne's family: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FORHMaule/index.php |
The Amethyst Hotel | 100 Years of History | Many members reading this will not know of the connections between the Amethyst Hotel and the family of George Turner and myself, Kathleen Robinson (nee Andrew). | - | - | Herbert Turner, the son of a miller in East Halton and cousin to George Turner's grandfather, was badly wounded in WW1 and with the compensation money he received, bought a plot of land where the Amethyst Hotel stands today. He built a small workshop and repaired bicycles. The business grew and a prefabricated cottage was built. Further development saw petrol pumps installed. It became known as The Garage, Townside, East Halton. |
- | - | In 1948, when I was 2 years old, my father John Andrew, but always known as Jack, purchased the property from Mr Turner and, together with my grandfather, we moved from Waddingham, just east of Scampton to East Halton. My earliest memory of living there was scrambling over the doorstep because a bus was coming along the road to East Halton village. Living on a farm across a field I had no notion of traffic and it frightened me.
My father repaired and sold bicycle spares, carbide for lamps and paraffin for stoves and lamps. He had an Austin 7 car and did taxi runs to the local railway stations etc.. My mum sold lemonade, crisps and cigarettes from the cottage. In 1948 the cottage had no mains water supply; our water came from a well and pump in the yard. My father was a hands-on sort of man and soon had the water connected and put a new sink and tap in the kitchen for Mum. Cooking was done on the black lead range in the sitting room and a primus stove in the kitchen. There was no bathroom or water toilet so the tin bath came out once a week. After a mishap with the tilly lamp in the sitting room my father bought a second hand generator and wired up the bungalow for electricity - but only for the lighting. Luxury! |
- | - | I would like to share with you some of my funnier memories of living there to try and lift your spirits in the difficult time we are all having to cope with. Hopefully they will bring a smile to your faces.
The first one is about learning to ride my bicycle. Dad bought a second hand bike frame and built it up for me. I would think I was about 5 years old. He had to put wooden blocks on the pedals so I could reach them from the seat. One Sunday morning whilst Mum was at Church, Dad decided to teach me to ride. He held the back of the seat while I pedalled; there were no stabilisers in those days. "Hold on to me Dad" I said, "I'm wobbling". There was no reply so turning round, I saw him about 20 yards down the road and promptly fell off. There was no damage done. One day I thought it would be nice to take the cat for a walk so I made it a string collar and lead. Well she got away. I didn't tell Mum and Dad what had happened but next morning I got a good telling off. The vicar had rung my Dad as our cat was stuck fast up his tree and Dad had to climb up in the dark to rescue her. No further punishment was administered. |
- | - | The last one was my banty chickens. My parents both came from farming backgrounds and one birthday my paternal grandmother arrived unannounced with about a dozen banty chicks. Well, we had no coop or run where we could keep them so they lived in a box at the side of the fireplace while my Grandad made up a new home for them. At feeding time, newspaper was spread on the floor and they were fed and then put back. This went on a while until one day Dad got up to light the fire for Mum and they had all escaped from the box and were sitting on the bars of the grate and the kettle handle. So, during the day they were put out in the garden - but there was a rush for the door if it rained.
Around 1954 another garage opened further down in the village which took a lot of Dad's trade so he decided to sell up. He had been a lorry driver during the war and had got to know the local tanker drivers very well so he got a job driving for Harold Woods of Heckmondwyke on contract to Shell Mex and BP as it was then. |
- | - | My mother suffered very badly with rheumatoid arthritis and would go to Woodhall Spa for treatment. On one occasion Dad said "get up early tomorrow and you can come with me for a ride as I'm delivering fuel to Coningsby and we'll call and see Mum on the way back". At Coningsby I had to sit in the Guard Room and the friendly guard asked me why I was with my Dad. I told him that Mum was at Woodhall Spa and he took me to a lovely flower bed of Sweet Williams and allowed me to pick a bunch for her.
The garage was sold in 1954 to Bill Gissing who ran it until the early 1960's when it was sold and taken over by Ted and Maggie Horsefall. They had big plans to knock it all down and build a motel. The old garage and bungalow as I knew it was pulled down and the new motel emerged. It was renamed the Haven Service Station. Ted and Maggie lived in the flat to the right of the property and the downstairs space was earmarked as a snack bar. To the left of the building was a garage for repairs. The bedrooms upstairs were not developed for letting at this stage. On the 22nd January 1975 a freak gale blew up and took the roof off the building. It landed in the grass paddock on the opposite side of the road although fortunately the land was not developed at the time. |
- | - | The Haven Service Station was bought and taken over by Alan and Beattie Turner (no relation to George Turner) in 1981. A complete refurbishment was undertaken, including the creation of hotel bedrooms, and they opened for business in Oct/Nov 1983. It was renamed the Amethyst Hotel. The 550 Squadron Association was formed in 1992 and the first reunion was held at the RAF Museum, Hendon. Jack Harris and Maurice Williamson came to see Alan and Beattie and discussed with them the possibility of holding future reunions in North Killingholme. This was implemented and from 1993 Alan and Beattie hosted Saturday buffets. On Remembrance Day each November they also hosted a delicious Sunday carvery for members.
Sadly in 2019, Alan and Beattie took what must have been the difficult decision to retire. Sadly I lost my father in 1955, a year after leaving the garage so you can imagine what lovely memories opened up for me when I attended the 550 functions. It all seemed like yesterday. |
- | - | I will just add that it has been a pleasure for me to compile this article and I would like to thank George Turner and Alan and Beattie Turner for their help.
We thank Kathleen Robinson for contributing this article and sharing her childhood memories of life in East Halton. |
- | OTHER NEWS | "Five Fifty" - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron - Reprint | The Association has had the Squadron history, "Five Fifty", reprinted. It is 266 pages in length, contains nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge by celebrated aviation author Patrick Otter.
Books cost £10 (plus P+P) and can be shipped within the UK or overseas once the current restrictions are lifted. Please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com |
- | Museum News | Sgt CP "Phil" Blackham was a regular at reunions for many years and due to the generosity of Anne Blackham and Graham Knott the Association is now in possession of his medals along with a number of handbooks and photographs.
Public Health Notice: At the time of writing, May 2020, the museum is closed until further notice. |
- | Ceremony in Rebecq - 2021 | Along with many others, this year's ceremony in Rebecq was cancelled due to public health concerns. The next is scheduled for Wednesday 19th May 2021. Further details will be available closer to the time and information about this and other events will appear on The Belgians Remember Them website at: |
http://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/ |
The Harris Crew | Doug Hicks, who featured earlier in this newsletter, was the R/AG with the F/O RD Harris RCAF crew. A book written by Association member Allyson Newburg has been published recently called "The Harris Crew" and is available through Amazon and other online retailers. It comprises 234 pages and contains a considerable amount of information about the crew and their operations. The author has kindly donated a copy to the 550 Museum.
For further information visit: |
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52832661-the-harris-crew |
The National Archives | If you use the internet, the National Archives is offering free access to its digital records while its site at Kew is closed. You need to register as a user but can then order and download up to 10 items; with a maximum of 50 documents over 30 days.
To register for a free account and to find out more go to: |
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/digital-downloads/ |
Annual Reunion 2021 - North Killingholme | Following the disappointing but necessary decision to cancel this year's event, we are pleased to announce that the dates for next year's Annual Reunion are Friday 9th and Saturday 10th July 2021. Although unable to visit this summer, we remember those who died as a result of war and everyone whose companionship we have enjoyed over the years. We look forward to returning. | - | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following person has died since the last newsletter:
Richard Black - Grandson of F/O H. Black |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members to the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter. Those who have chosen to share their contact details are:
Elaine Whyte (Daughter of Tom and Medora Muat) Nigel Sayer-Payne (Son of Evelyn Marlow - WAAF Driver) Patricia Pearson (Great niece of Sgt. A C Crilley) |
- |
Issue 75 (March 2020)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 75 | March | 2020 | Reunion 2020, COVID-19 updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | March 2020 Newsletter | This newsletter gives details about the Annual Reunion and events in 2020. In particular because of the great disruption to all events across the nation, and indeed world, due to COVID-19.
Shortly after the publication of this Newsletter the Reunion, and events in Belgium, were CANCELLED due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. |
- | - | This year is significant for the Association as it marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the disbanding of 550 Squadron at the end of October 1945. | - | - | However, we are disappointed to announce that in light of the present public health concerns the 550 Association Committee has made the decision to cancel the Annual Reunion in July. In addition, please note that other events featured in this newsletter may also be subject to change or cancellation. | - | - | On a more positive note, this newsletter contains a short biography of Sgt. RW "Roy" Harris sent in by his son Paul and a fascinating piece about F/O FS "Pop" Adley DFC researched and written by Norval Black. There is an appeal for help with running the Association, information about two ceremonies planned in Belgium, a report on Remembrance Weekend 2019 and news of a memorial bench in South Yorkshire | - | - | On the committee front, Gary Berg has taken up his position as Treasurer to the Association while Don Kentish and Andrew Etherington have stepped down. Don organised the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events for a number of years and has produced Association newsletters in recent times while Andrew has co-ordinated hospitality and catering arrangements at reunions since being introduced to the Association by Jack. We thank them for their contributions to the organisation. | - | - | Liz Broddley has taken on the task of handling bookings for future reunions and we are seeking someone who can take on the important role of compiling newsletters; please see below for more details. | - | - | The news from Tunbridge Wells is that all is well with Jack and Angela although they may have to take to the Internet to continue playing Bridge over the coming months. True to form, at the age of 99 Jack featured in the Sunday Times Magazine on 9th February in its regular item entitled "A Life in the Day". | - | Can you Help? | Newsletter Production | The Association is seeking a person to compile and co-ordinate the production of newsletters. Responsibilities do not include layout and distribution as these are expertly handled by Steve Parker. The position becomes effective following the publication of Newsletter 76 in June. | - | - | The task is to lead on the co-ordination of tasks related to the production of three newsletters a year. These are produced in the March-April, May-June and September-October periods to coincide with preparations for the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend events. | - | - | Newsletter content is assessed to provide a balance of material in each edition and there is invariably an abundance of information available, whether in the form of articles submitted by members or stories identified through the 550 website. The international nature of the Association's membership and the expanding network of support for 550 in Europe offer rich sources of material while the Announcements section requires liaison with the Membership Secretary, who is also Steve Parker. Photographs and other images are often sourced from the 550 website. | - | - | It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter without delay to express your interest. | - | CEREMONIES IN BELGIUM | - | To mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War there are two ceremonies in Belgium especially relevant to 550 crews who crashed in the country. The nature of the tribute in Rebecq is wider this year as it is a national event commemorating all RAF aircrew and members of the Resistance involved in crashes within the country. We believe that many of the individuals and groups who dedicate their time and resources to the memory of 550 aircrew will be represented at the ceremony and thank each of them for their fantastic support. | - | - | Rebecq: Wednesday 20 May | The memorial ceremony in Rebecq on Wednesday 20 May will begin at 10.00 and pay tribute to all the RAF crews who crashed in Belgium as well as the Resistance fighters who assisted them at great risk to themselves, their families and members of their communities. The King of the Belgians will be represented by an Aide-de-Camp and the Ambassadors of fourteen countries have been invited to attend as they had personnel who were killed in the conflict. The ceremony will conclude at 11.00 and be followed by a Reception. | - | - | Westerlo: Thursday 21 May | The long-established memorial in Westerlo commemorates F/O Hinde and the other crew members aboard Lancaster DV309 BQ-S which crashed on 21/22 May 1944. On Thursday 21 May there is a Church Service at 10.30 followed by a ceremony at the Memorial Stone at 11.30. This is followed by a lunch at 12.30 in a local club and dinner at 6.00pm. | - | - | - | George Turner is liaising with the groups in Belgium and can be contacted by email geowturner@gmail.com.
Public Health Notice: These events subject to review in mid-April (due to on-going Corvid-19 situation) |
- | Sgt. RW "Roy Harris" | A Brief History (as told to AE Lane) | Roy Harris was Navigator with the Jock Shaw (F/Lt DA Shaw DFC and Bar) crew and a regular at the Annual Reunion for many years. His son Paul accompanied him on a number of occasions and has sent us a short biography of Roy. | - | - | - | Roy Walter Harris was born on Tuesday 22nd July 1924 at 109 Floyer Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, England. He died on Monday 18th March 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. His father was Walter John Harris (born 1891, died on 15th October 1937) and his mother Laura Marion Page (born 1894, died on the 3rd October 1952).
Roy first saw the light of day in Small Heath, Birmingham, which at the time was recognised as a nice, respectable part of the city, mainly peopled by what is now called "middle-class" society. |
- | - | - | Roy's mother (Laura Marion) was a far-seeing, private woman who realised the advantages of owning one?s home and although putting herself in considerable debt, contacted her aunt in Leamington Spa (the moneyed part of the family) and with a certain amount of trepidation, asked her if she would be prepared to finance the property. She agreed and it was arranged that the debt would be paid over a number of years, of course with adequate interest, and the capital was eventually repaid after many years of hard work and worry. So,109 Floyer Road became Roy's home from 1924 to 1939 and he retains some very happy memories of his childhood; and his memories are considerable. | - | - | - | Tragically, Roy's father passed away in 1937 having contracted septicaemia by virtue of stepping on a plank of wood which had a nail protruding from it.
Roy's mother did what work she was capable of but the loss of Roy's father?s income obviously made things extremely difficult and she was very concerned about Roy's education. Roy, 13 years old, and now being the "man of the house" did what he could by supplementing his weekly wage of seven shillings (35p) earned from his three paper rounds. This entailed a considerable amount of walking but was made easier by the use of the trolley which his father had made for him. So he delivered the morning papers, the evening papers and the heavier Sunday newspapers. One of his memories of those days was delivering a Braille "Radio Times" to a blind lady. It was about ten inches by eight, and a half-inch thick and punched with dots with which a blind person could read. However, Roy knocked on her door and receiving no reply forced it into the letter box, only to have the good lady complain to his mother that many of the impressions on the paper had been flattened and more than a day?s programmes obliterated. During Christmas 1938, Roy called on all his customers to wish them a Happy Christmas and was rewarded with tips to the value of £3. This he was very proud to give to his mother in order to help with Christmas expenses. |
- | - | - | During this period, Roy's mother sent him to the Waverley Road Grammar school and whilst there he became interested in joining an RAF Apprenticeship programme; he sat the exams at school and passed. | - | - | - | August 1939. Roy joined the Royal Air Force as a Fitter 11 Aircraft Apprentice at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire and served as a full fitter for approximately 12 months.
Roy remembers that for a few days before joining (or signing up) we used to walk past a Warrant Officer on our way to the dining hall and he would say, "Have you signed up yet lads?" and we would jovially reply "Not yet W.O." and he would answer "Good Luck lads". Then one day we had the usual exchange, to which we answered "Yes W,O., just this morning". Then this angel of a creature turned into a satanic one - "Right go get your hair cut - NOW" he thundered and our new life had begun. He was a terror until we shaped up and did things his way. On parade, our skins came up in goosebumps as he walked around us. Behind one lad, he stopped and whispered in his ear, "Am I hurting you lad?" "No sir!" "Well I ought to be (quietly) I'M STANDING ON YOUR HAIR - GET IT CUT!" I recall one lad in tears as the W.O. thrust his face into that of the poor apprentice and thundered, "You're not at home with your mother anymore - I'M YOUR MOTHER NOW." They were bad days but once you began to shape up you became proud that you were on the way to becoming a man?at 15 though, it felt like pretty hard going. |
- | - | - | 1941. Roy completed his apprenticeship and was posted to Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, Warwickshire. He then transferred to various stations as an airframe mechanic. | - | - | - | 1943. Roy re-mustered for Aircrew training. Trained at Earls Court, he was "broken-hearted as poor eyesight ruled me out of being a pilot - but I could be Navigator.
Training followed at Bridgnorth, Jurby (on the Isle-of-Man), Hemswell etc. and he was fortunate to become one of the best three and chosen for six months training. They were then posted to crews where the Navigator had washed out and were to be replaced. P/O David (Jock) Shaw was Roy's pilot. His first comment was "Oh my God, not another ginger head." He told Roy that his previous navigator also had red hair and on a flight westwards across England towards Blackpool with the Navigator under a hood (for blind navigation testing) the turn was to be south from Blackpool. Jock kept saying "Tell me when". They passed over Blackpool, the Irish Sea and Northern Ireland and were heading over the Atlantic when Jock said "That's it, you're out". So Roy took over. "He tried me out under the hood and said get us home from here". Roy said he navigated with a sweaty brow, giving new headings every few minutes until he called "Now!" and tore back the hood - "I found us right over the intersection of three runways. Talk about pride and a very large head!" Posted to 550 Squadron at North Killingholme near Grimsby, he flew in Lancaster ED 905 (called "Press on Regardless"). This was one of three aircraft from 550 Squadron that flew over 100 operations. His first operation was Sterkrade in the Ruhr Valley - scary and thought-provoking. Many ops over Germany and France followed with the furthest trips being to Stettin and Stuttgart. |
- | - | - | D-Day and the Normandy Campaign. The crew were part of daylight raids in support of ground forces. The most memorable were over Caen and the Falaise Gap.
During this period Roy remembered "flying low and, like an attack fighter, our Lanc shot up a German troop/supply train - a witness to this was Johnny Johnson who never forgot this amazing scene and having been one of the "Dambusters" recognised the low-flying skills of our pilot, "Jock" Shaw!". [Ed: In fact the Johnny Johnson referred to is in fact S/Ldr "Johnnie" Johnson of Fighter Command (rather than Bomber Command). See the book "Wing Leader" (pages 247 and 248) where AVC Johnson describes this encounter. See link right. ] |
/pages/bomber-command-books.php#WingLeader |
- | - | Early 1945. Roy was invalided out of the RAF and via RAF Evesham was moved on to Bordesley Green Sanitarium in Birmingham for a two year recuperation from TB (tuberculosis) and pleurisy following a service-related chest injury.
Marriage. On 13th September 1945 Roy married Marguerite Frances Lane of 190 Douglas Road, Acocks Green Birmingham. Their son Paul was born on 27th October 1949 followed by Christopher on 6th October 1952 and a daughter, Julie Maria, on 17th August 1958. The family lived with Frances' parents until they bought a property on Manor House Lane in Yardley, Birmingham. They later moved to Christchurch in Hampshire and bought a brand new house at 15 Island View Avenue from where they could see the Isle of Wight. From there the family moved to 164 East Scenic Road, Springfield, PA 19064 (near Philadelphia) when Roy was hired by Boeing Vertol. Later, after touring the United States in an RV (a Recreational Vehicle, usually a motorhome) and following their retirement, Roy and his wife built their own home at 5000 Indian Horse Trail, Tucson, AZ 85749. More information about Roy and the F/Lt DA Shaw DFC and Bar crew can be found at (see link right): Our thanks to Paul Harris for contributing this item. |
documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtDAShaw/index.php |
An Untold Story - Frederick Sydney Adley | - | Norval Black's father was F/O Henry Black, Bomb Aimer with the F/O RA Tapsell crew. Norval's research into the crew has uncovered a compelling story. | - | - | - | This photograph, taken at North Killingholme in September 1944 is of Bob Tapsell's crew in front of their Lancaster. The man on the extreme right is the Flight Engineer, Sergeant Frederick Sydney Adley and on the extreme left is the Bomb Aimer, my father, Flying Officer Harry Black who was 6 feet tall. Adley is obviously a few inches taller, perhaps 6 feet 2 or more but the most remarkable thing about the man is not his height but his age for Frederick Adley was born on the 6th October 1896.
His father, James Adley was a carpenter in the village of Newington in Kent but by the start of the First World War the family had moved to Wandsworth in London and James was a builder's foreman. |
- | - | - | Fred, when he left school was a grocer's apprentice but not for long as by 1915 he was working as a labourer before joining the army as a private in the East Surrey Regiment. His records show that aged 19 his height was 6 feet 2 inches and that he weighed 11 stone. In 1917 he transferred to the Royal Engineers at their Buxton Depot. From there he went to France in one of their Roads and Quarries Companies. There were 11 of these, responsible for creating and maintaining the infrastructure to enable the transport of men and materiel to the front line, and after the Armistice assisting the French in reconstruction. | - | - | - | In 1919 Fred was demobbed and returned to London with the rank of sergeant and with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He now worked in the building and construction industries and in 1924 married a lady from Devon named Ella Brett. The following year when their son Frederick John was born Fred's occupation was given as road contractor's contracts manager. | - | - | - | When the Second War started Fred succeeded in enlisting in the RAF in September 1942, lying about his age. His service record gives his date of birth "per Birth Certificate" as 6 October 1898 so he had shaved off 2 years, presumably by amending the 6 to an 8.
For a year he served in a variety of Maintenance Units, not surprising given his background, but in late 1943 he moved to an Operational Training Unit to commence training as a flight engineer including a period with A V Roe in Manchester. By August 1944 he was in Tapsell's crew and on the 11th they joined 550 Squadron at North Killingholme where Fred for obvious reasons acquired the nickname "Pop". |
- | - | - | Their first operation was a raid on Stettin on 29/30 August, a long trip of 9 hours 32 minutes enlivened by an attack by a German night-fighter near the coast of Sweden. In September they flew on 9 operations almost all in support of ground troops but with a trip to Frankfurt included. In October Adley was commissioned as a Pilot Officer but did only 2 operations as his original crew was broken up, having lost both the gunners on a training flight with another pilot and the navigator and bomb aimer flying in a crew lost in a raid on Duisburg. With replacements for these aircrew Pop resumed operations with Tapsell in November but between then and March 1945 he also flew 7 operation with 5 other pilots (Shaw (3), Ansell, Smith, Michie and Jamieson). From late March, now back with Tapsell he went on to complete his final operations, ending with a Manna drop on 2 May 1945. By this date he was a Flying Officer and had a DFC, a rare distinction for a flight engineer. | - | - | - | He was posted out of 550 on 16 May but remained in the service on ground duties. In 1948 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and served in various establishments including Cardington where he had enlisted in 1942 and finally at RAF Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire. He left the RAF in July 1949 but stayed on at the base as assistant clerk of works, a civilian employee of the Air Ministry Works Department, until Moreton closed in 1955. After his first wife's death in 1966 he married a lady named Mona Bishop and moved to Hereford. He died there on 12 December 1975. He was 79 years of age. | - | - | - | "Pop" Adley served on the squadron from August 1944 to May 1945 and flew on operations in every one of the months in between, a total of 30 trips and with 6 different pilots. At 15.15 on Wednesday 2 May Pop, again piloted by Tapsell, landed from his 30th and last operation, a Manna drop. He was 48 years and 213 days old. This is certainly a record for 550 and he has a substantial claim to have been the |
- | - | - | He was a squadron character and as such he deserves to be remembered in its archives.
Frederick Sydney Adley DFC 1896 - 1975 Further information about the F/O RA Tapsell crew and its members can be found at (see link right): We thank Norval Black for contributing this article. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FORATapsell/index.php |
REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2019 | Remembrance 2019 | The weekend began with an informal meal in the Oak Room at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening which 17 people attended and the next morning visitors took the opportunity to look round the 550 Squadron Museum. | - | - | - | A good number of members and local people gathered at 10.50 for the short service at the Memorial Stone conducted by Reverend Stephen Bowring. Wreaths were laid and the 2 minute silence observed at 11.00. The group then moved on to the service at St Denys' Church. A three course lunch followed at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton, enjoyed by 14 of us. At the meal's end we took a moment for reflection as Gary Brooks said a few words in memory of Edgar Pickles. | - | - | - | Over coffee we welcomed our new Treasurer, Gary Berg and complimented Kathleen Robinson, Sylvia Pexman and the others involved on the wonderful display of knitted poppies in the church porch. | - | - | - | In conclusion, we bade a final farewell to the Amethyst and thanked again Alan, Beattie and the other members of the family for looking after us so well over many years. We look forward to keeping in touch with Alan and Beattie and seeing them at future reunions. | - | OTHER NEWS | Remembrance Weekend 2020 | Please note in your diaries Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday night at the discounted 550 rate but please book early, using the details given earlier in this newsletter. The programme will follow previous years and start with an informal meal at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening. | - | - | RAF 100 Memorial Bench - Penistone, South Yorkshire | A sculptural wooden bench has been placed in the grounds of Penistone Grammar School in memory of the Sq/Ldr GS Smith crew who crashed at Oude IJsselstreek in the Netherlands flying ME840 BQ-V on 16/17 June 1944. A Service to dedicate the memorial took place at the end of September and our thanks go to Joe Pinguey (a relative of the Bomb Aimer, F/O L Pulfrey) for supplying information about the project.
Photographs and further information can be found at (see link right): |
http://www.550squadronassociation.org.uk/pages/RAF100_MemorialBench_Sept2019.php |
- | Museum News | We are grateful to Jean Frings who has donated Sgt EJ Molnar's (RCAF) survival knife as well as a small cross and a similar sized model of a Lancaster made from perspex recovered from JA712-BQ-H which crashed at Rebecq on 27/28 May 1944 with the P/O EC Purney crew on board. Sgt Molnar escaped the aircraft by parachute and was helped by the Belgian Resistance to evade capture.
Public Health Notice: Please note the museum will be closed until further notice. |
- | - | Newsletter 76 - Closing Date for Contributions | The closing date for articles or other news to be included in Newsletter 76 is Friday 1st May 2020. We always seek to include material but please note that sometimes the constraints of space or a need to balance the content of a newsletter may mean we have to postpone inclusion until a later date. | - | - | Squadron Personnel - Membership Numbers | Although 75 years have passed since 550 Squadron was operational, we are pleased to report that there are 15 squadron personnel who are members of the Association, 9 of whom are resident in the UK, 3 in Australia and 3 in Canada. The Association continues to thrive as the families of former squadron members become involved and the partnerships deepen with our many friends in continental Europe who tend graves or have created memorials for 550 crews. The Association also has co-ordinators in North America and Australia and the effectiveness of the 550 website enables not only easy access to information but facilitates the development of friendships across the globe. | - | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We always seek to inform the Association when members have died and on this occasion have included Michael Maltin, who we learnt recently died in 2015 and Kelso Robinson. Kelso's newsletters have been returned on two occasions and our research indicates he is likely to have died in 2016:
M. "Marjorie" Grey WAAF - MT Driver - Dates Not Known F/Lt M.F.A. "Michael" Maltin DFC - Pilot 10/44 - Date Not Known Medora "Dora" Muat - Wife of T. "Tom" Muat (Ground Crew) S/Ldr E.L. "Edgar" Pickles DFC and Bar RAAF - Pilot 1/45 - 5/45 K.T. "Kelso" Robinson - Detail and Dates Not Known Sgt M.G. "Maurice" Snowball - Flight Engineer 3/45 - Date Not Known |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members to the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter. Those who have chosen to share their contact details are:
Allyson Newburg (Great niece of DJ "Doug" Hicks RCAF) John Thompson (son of LG "Len" Thompson CdeG) |
- | - | - | The Association recently received a donation from Elaine Whyte and her 2 sisters, Anne and Christine, in memory of their parents, Thomas (Tom) and Medora (Dora) Muat. Dora grew up in the North Killingholme area and met Tom while he was stationed at RAF North Killingholme with 550 Squadron as Ground Crew. | - |
Issue 74 (October 2019)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 74 | October | 2019 | Remembrance 2019, Reunion updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2019 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme next month. | - | - | Further details about Remembrance Weekend appear below and in keeping with the theme of remembrance we have taken this opportunity to reproduce a letter from the father of Peter Dukelow (P/O P J Dukelow) to the mother of Don Bruty (Sgt D S Bruty) in the aftermath of their failure to return in May 1944. | - | - | In the last newsletter we included part of the Station Operations Record Book from 3/4 May 1944 that told of the loss of F/Lt A J Grain DFM. By coincidence, an article appeared on The Guardian website in May that discussed remembrance and featured Arthur Grain so we have included an abbreviated version in this newsletter. There are also reports about some of the memorial ceremonies held in Europe this summer and the date of next year's Annual Reunion. | - | - | Jack Harris indicated earlier this year that this was likely to be his final reunion and a presentation to mark the occasion was made at the Reunion Dinner on Saturday evening. At the 550 Committee meeting on Sunday morning it was agreed that Jack would become President of the Association. Steve Parker has taken on the position of Membership Secretary and Gary Berg that of Treasurer. Local residents Liz and Paul Broddley have joined the committee and George Turner is Chairman. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme - Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November 2019 | Our programme in November includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening and there is usually an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone and then St. Denys' Church will be followed by a three course carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. | - | - | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel at the discounted "550" rate but we advise booking early as they have a function on the Saturday evening and availability may be limited. Settle your food and accommodation bill on departure. |
- | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | All arrangements are being made by Honor Redshaw. Email: honorredshaw@hotmail.co.uk. | - | Saturday Evening 9th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45 p.m. in the Fork and Spoon and if you would like to join the group, please let Honor know by Friday 1st November. Menu pre-selection is required for groups of 10 or more and Honor will contact you if this is necessary | - | Sunday 10th November | Our provisional timetable is shown below and includes a two minute silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone. Please check the 550 Association website for final details closer to the date or if you do not have access to the internet contact Honor Redshaw using the information given above.
09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall by appointment. (Contact Mike Leeman) 10.45 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. 10.52 - Service starts. 11.00 - Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. 11.20 - Church Service starts. 12.00 - Service ends. 12.30 - Three course carvery lunch plus tea/coffee and mints at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton. Pay £22.50 per head on the day. Please tell Honor if you are coming to lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton by Friday 1st November as the hotel must have accurate numbers |
- | ANNUAL REUNION | JULY 2019 | After two years, when the Annual Reunion was held in September in order to coincide with the short-lived Scampton Air Show, the event returned to its more usual date in July. With the area around the Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach becoming increasingly busy, the Association requested a Lancaster flypast above St. Denys' Church. It took place at 1.40pm and we are indebted to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for including us in its flying programme as the Lancaster was on its way from Coningsby to an air show at Yeovilton in Somerset. | - | - | The weather held up with only the lightest of showers immediately before the Lancaster arrived and it was a poignant few minutes for those present as the sight and sound of the aircraft filled the senses as it circled the church and airfield.
There is never a shortage of food at the Annual Reunion and the weekend began with 30 people attending the Friday evening dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel. The 550 Museum was open on Saturday morning and 42 people enjoyed a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. After following the Immingham Air Training Corps (ATC) from the Village Hall to Lancaster Approach, the Service of Remembrance conducted by Reverend Mark Hutson included the laying of wreaths, flowers and crosses. The Memorial Stone looked highly impressive with the many tributes laid at its base and flags flying behind. Jack Harris and Maurice Snowball were the 550 Squadron personnel able to attend this year and they were the centre of attention for many photographs before the ATC led the procession back to St.Denys' Church. The church was almost full for the service and the afternoon's activities concluded with 46 people booked for tea and cakes in a packed Village Hall. The scale and quality of the refreshments is a tribute to the team of volunteers who work so hard to support the Association and indicative of the warm welcome we receive from local people. On Saturday evening 64 people sat down for the Reunion Dinner. We were delighted that people travelled not only from across the UK but also Belgium and Denmark. William Albertyn and Denise Rammeloo from St. Niklaas in Belgium and Ole Seberg from Denmark are regular and welcome visitors and it is always a great pleasure to see them. Andy Daelman and Petra Faes, also from St.Niklaas, came to their first reunion with the children Florian and Manon Hellinck. We hope they all enjoyed the experience and will return in future. |
- | - | Jack Harris is approaching his 99th birthday and had indicated that this was likely to be his last reunion. A presentation was made and Jack was thanked not only for his pivotal role in forming the Association but his diligent, energetic and charismatic leadership. We hope very much he might re-consider his position next year and visit North Killingholme 75 years after the end of the war and the disbanding of 550 Squadron. | - | - | As Alan and Beattie Turner from the Amethyst are likely to sell the business in the coming months, they were thanked for their long term support of 550 and presented with a bouquet of flowers. A presentation was also made to Mike Leeman who was standing down from the position of Treasurer to the Association. | - | - | The weekend concluded on Sunday morning with an informal tour of the airfield which was led by George Turner. | - | CEREMONIES IN EUROPE 2019 | - | This year marked the 75th anniversary of 550 crews who crashed during 1944 and are remembered at memorials in northern Europe. We receive wonderful support from these groups and thank them all for their unwavering dedication to preserving the memory of the RAF aircrew who fought for peace and freedom. | - | Belgium | Six members of the Association attended two ceremonies that took place at the end of May to commemorate 550 crews that crashed in Belgium. Both were attended by many civil and military authorities and we thank them for their support. | - | - | The ceremony in Rebecq remembered not only the P/O Purney crew who were shot down in JA712 BQ-H on 27/28 May 1944 but paid tribute to all the 550 crews who are commemorated at memorials in Belgium. This year?s ceremony also served as a national tribute to the Royal Air Force airmen who died in Belgium during the Second World War as well as the Belgian Resistance who risked their lives to help them evade capture.
It is a sign of the importance given to this act of remembrance that a representative of the King of the Belgians attended the ceremony. As ever, students from local schools participated in the event. |
- | - | In St. Niklaas, a memorial plaque was unveiled close to the crash site of Lancaster LL851 BQ-V (P/O Dukelow) which crashed on 22 May 1944. A ceremony was also held at the cemetery in which the Dukelow crew are buried and it is a tribute to all concerned that 26 relatives from four of the crew members? families travelled from England, Canada and Scotland to be at the event. | - | France | The F/O P M Roche RCAF crew are buried in the cemetery at Blamont in France having failed to return from a raid on Stuttgart on 28 July 1944 flying Lancaster LM455 BQ-T. Longstanding member of the Association Paula Jefferies (daughter of the Bomb Aimer, F/O D "Donald" Rudd) has supplied photos of a plaque erected in memory of the crew at the crash site and of a ceremony held in the cemetery at the beginning of June. | - | - | The Officer Commanding 550 Squadron, W/Cdr P E G G Connolly and the crew of LL837 BQ-Q were shot down on a raid to Revigny on 14 July 1944. A memorial to the crew was unveiled at Bussy-la-Cote in July and a wreath was placed on behalf of the Association by Alan Watson, the nephew of the rear gunner Sgt C J "Cecil" Watson. | - | - | We welcome short reports and photographs of ceremonies that have taken place and will always try to include them in the newsletter and add them to the 550 website. Further information about all the memorials dedicated to 550 crews can be found at (link right): |
/pages/550-sqdn-memorials.php |
MR DUKELOW | LETTER TO MRS BRUTY | Regular readers of the newsletter will be familiar with the ceremonies that take place in memory of the Dukelow crew who crashed near St. Niklaas in Belgium (see report above). William Abertyn has copies of official documents, personal letters and photographs from the period immediately following the crash, one of which is reproduced below. Mr Dukelow's son Peter was the pilot of the aircraft and Mrs Bruty's son Don, the flight engineer. | - | - | The letter written in early November 1944, five months after the aircraft failed to return, illustrates not only some of the practical matters to be addressed but hints at the feelings of loss, empathy and compassion following a period of uncertainty about the fate of the young men involved. | - | - | More information about the members of the P/O Dukelow crew can be found at (link right): |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/LL851/index.php |
- | Our thanks go to William Albertyn for supplying this information and the Bruty and Dukelow families for giving permission for the material to be published. | - | THE GRAIN CREW | (Another Perspective on Remembrance) | In Newsletter 73 the article entitled "A Dicey Return" contained a reference to the F/Lt A J Grain DFM crew, flying LL 826 (BQ-H), who were shot down on the Mailly-le-Camp raid of 3/4/May 1944. By coincidence, an article appeared on The Guardian website at the end of May 2019 written by Stefanie Bolzen, Die Welt's London correspondent. She is married to a relative of Arthur Grain and in recent years has found out that members of her family were killed during a bombing raid on her home town of Monchengladbach. A heavily abbreviated version of her article is reproduced below where she tells a story of what she terms "remembrance, pain and catharsis". | - | My great uncles' war: how my German-British marriage linked two wartime tragedies | Stefanie Bolzen
Sun 26 May 2019 07.00 BST Last modified on Wed 29 May 2019 15.42 BST On the night of 3 May 1944, just over a month before D-day, pilot Arthur Grain took off in his Lancaster bomber, and never came back. His aircraft was just minutes from its target when it was hit by German shells that sent Grain and his seven crew (Note: An army observer, Major S Whipp, was flying with the crew on this operation) from 550 RAF squadron hurtling into woodland near the village of Cheniers, north-east France. |
- | - | Photographs from the time show village residents with a small wooden box containing the human remains they had retrieved from the crash site. Today, white tombstones erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission stand in the eastern corner of the cemetery in Cheniers. To their right is a large piece of the wing of Grain's plane. After 75 years, the metal has not rusted and the black paint is still visible. For a long time, the villagers kept it in a barn. Now it stands like an exclamation mark: this all really happened, right here. | - | - | Soon after I met my husband's family, I learned that Grain - Uncle Arthur, as he is still known to them - had a special place in their hearts. He was a hero, like the 257 other RAF men who died that night. As a German, I still find wartime memories difficult: the Lancaster coffee cup on the breakfast table, the Lancaster biscuit tin. I detached myself from that part of my husband's heritage until I was confronted, unexpectedly, by the wartime tragedy of another family. This time, it was my own. | - | - | Three Christmases ago, while we were staying in my home town of Monchengladbach, in the Rhineland, my husband asked my father about his memories of the war, and he slowly started to speak: "One morning we came out of the cellar after a heavy air raid. My mother rushed to Uncle Jean's house with me and my sister. I will never forget that. There Uncle Jean stood, on the rubble of his house. With bare hands he tried to dig out his three children. And my grandma, and my aunt."
I was stunned. Just as Uncle Arthur was my husband's great-uncle, Uncle Chang was mine. That wasn't his real name, of course, but it was what we called him: Johann (or Jean) rendered in our broad Rheinish dialect. I had known him briefly: there's a photo of us together from Christmas 1973, me a year old and in his arms. But I had never been told of this tragedy: that in 1944 he lost his mother (my great-grandmother), his sister and his three children died in a bombing raid by British planes. I couldn't understand why - in stark contrast to the way my husband's family cherish the memory of Uncle Arthur - this had never been spoken of in my family. Internationally, Germany is well-known for having stared into the dark heart of its past, confronted what it saw, and moved on. But this did not appear to have happened in my family. Why not? I was determined to find out more. |
- | - | Until that moment, the five victims of the 1944 raid were abstract figures to me. Now, 75 years after my great-grandmother died in her basement, I was holding her death certificate in my hand. It had taken barely five minutes to pull this document from digital storage. A document that no one in my family had bothered to ask for and which in an instant put a fate to a name. Franziska Küppers suffocated under the rubble, as did my great-aunt Theodore and the three children: Elizabeth, 15, Max, 11, and Theo, at seven the baby of the family. (The children's mother had died a few months earlier.) Despite the horror, the document brought a certain relief. There is catharsis in knowing. But I still didn't understand why my parents had never told me. | - | - | "History is like a quarry which each generation makes use of," said Dietmar Süß, a German historian, when I asked him about my family's story. "Memory is not static; it adapts to the respective political and cultural context."
According to his research, immediately after 1945, German cities that were bombed intensively commemorated the air war and its victims. With the peace movement in the 1970s, Germans began to face up to their role as perpetrator, and finding a place for their victimhood became more difficult. |
- | - | In Britain, too, the memory of two world wars feeds national identity, but in a very different way. It is the story of the nation that made huge sacrifices and liberated Europe from Nazi terror. The nation that won the war. But here, too, memory adapts.
It was on a cold morning earlier this month that an RAF guard of honour from 101 Squadron stood at the war memorial in Mailly-le-Camp, north-central France. Opposite them was a guard of honour from the French military and, in between, a row of French veterans. They faced families, including ours, who had travelled from the UK, France and Germany to remember loved ones, men like Arthur, whose bravery brought the end of Adolf Hitler's regime. |
- | - | Above this very spot 75 years ago, German flak made the starry sky bright as day as 346 Lancasters raced through the night, dropping 1,500 tons of bombs on a compound where the Wehrmacht was training tank units ready for the Allied invasion.
On 6 June, world leaders will gather in France to remember D-day. But the attack on Mailly-le-Camp, and many other raids around the time, helped weaken German military defences and infrastructure on French soil. It is a stark illustration of what it had taken to get to that point. |
- | - | The full article can be found at (link right): |
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/26/my-family-at-war-raf-hero-bereaved-uncle-second-wolrd-war-stefanie-bolzen |
THE AMETHYST HOTEL | Sub-title | Lunch at the Amethyst Hotel in East Halton has become a fixture for many of those attending the Annual Reunion. In the early years a coach would run from The Lawns at Hull University (where the event was based) and after a trip round the airfield, would drop the group at the Amethyst for lunch. They were often joined by those who had travelled to North Killingholme on Saturday morning to attend the reunion. | - | - | We heard recently that Alan and Beattie have decided the time is right to move on and we would like to thank them and their family for their enduring support, friendship and hospitality over the many years we have been visiting. The warmth of welcome we receive at the Annual Reunion and on Remembrance Sunday is second to none and we wish them well for the future. We will be at the Amethyst in November and there is no precise date set for the business to close but feel sure it will not be the last time we meet. | - | - | The family photograph to the right, taken at the Annual Reunion in July 2019 includes daughters Elaine and Caroline who are also well known to those who have visited the hotel with 550. | - | OTHER NEWS | Membership Secretary | Steve Parker has taken on the position of Membership Secretary and will maintain the Association's membership records. He will process membership applications, liaise with members about subscriptions and is the person to contact if you need to update your membership information or perhaps tell the Association of a bereavement. Steve can be contacted on [...] Email: membership550@btinternet.com. | - | Annual Reunion 2020 | We can confirm the dates of next year's Annual Reunion as Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July 2020. An application for a Lancaster flypast on Saturday afternoon has been submitted and the outcome of the bid and the programme for the afternoon will be published closer to the date. | - | Newsletter Items | We always welcome suggestions and contributions to the newsletter and would like to receive stories and copies of photographs that throw light on the lives of 550 Squadron air and ground crew or those who supported them. Please send contributions to the newsletter email address: contact550@btinternet.com | - | Five Fifty - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron | If you have not yet ordered your copy of "Five Fifty", written completely free of charge for the Association by acclaimed aviation author Patrick Otter, please contact Mike Leeman, on email: mikeleeman@btinternet.com
The book is 266 pages in length and contains nearly 100 photos. It costs £10 and can be collected over Remembrance Weekend. Alternatively, postage and packing is £5 within the UK and separate shipping arrangements have been put in place for delivery overseas. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following has died since the last newsletter:
Sgt. I. S. "Stan" Freemont - Flight Engineer 8/44 - 5/45 John McMillan - Electrician 10/44 - 11/45 |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members to the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter.
Richard McCormick. Aviation artist |
- |
Issue 73 (June 2019)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 73 | June | 2019 | Reunion 2019, A "Dicey" Return and Memorial updates | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | June 2019 Newsletter | This newsletter gives details about the Annual Reunion and includes a Booking Form. It is important that bookings are sent to Andrew Etherington as soon as possible but no later than Friday 28th June. | - | - | In this newsletter you will also find an article entitled "A "Dicey" Return" about the W/O T A Lloyd crew, updates on the memorials at Achiet-le-Petit and Barlo, advance notice of arrangments for Remembrance Weekend 2019 and a compliment from the International Bomber Command Centre about the 550 website. Somewhat unusually, there is also news about a vintage Bentley motorcar. | - | - | We are pleased to announce that following the appeal in the last newsletter Gary Berg will be joining the 550 Committee as Treasurer following this year's reunion. Mike Leeman has held this position for many years and will now focus his attention on the Squadron Museum, hosting visitors to North Killingholme and 550 merchandise. | - | - | It is extremely encouraging to see members stepping forward to share the workload and contribute to the ongoing success of the organiusaiton and we welcome not only Gary but recent recruits Honor Redshaw and Steve Parker to the committee. | - | ANNUAL REUNION 2019 | North Killingholme | Annual Reunion Date - Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July 2019
The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum and is followd by a Lancaster flypast over St Denys' Church at 12.01. The reason for the early start is that the aircraft is enroute for the Yeovilton Air Show in Somerset and we thank the Battle of Britain Flight (BBMF) for including us in its busy flying programme. See: |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2019 |
- | Following the flypast, there is the opportunity for a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel and there will then be a short service at the Squadron Memorial Stone. The Service continues at St. Denys Church and is folowed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. We extend a welcome to Revd. Mark Hutson who will be conducting our Services for the first time and thank him for his support. | - | - | The formal Reunion Dinner takes places at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening and on Sunday there is an option of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car. | - | Booking | Please complete your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 28th June to Andrew Etherington, "Royston", Thorn Road, Marden, Kent, TN129EJ
Tel: 01622 832995 Email: andreweth@btinternet.com Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website. The sooner you complete and return the Booking From the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the many groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2019 |
- | - | Booking Form (PDF format) |
/documents/public/newsletters/2019/Reunion2019-BookingForm.pdf |
- | - | Booking Form (Word format) |
/documents/public/newsletters/2019/Reunion2019-BookingForm.docx |
- | Programme, Fri 12th July | A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00pm. There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £18.95 or three courses for £22.95 per person. Indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form | - | - | Programme, Sat 13th July | A Lancaster flypast has been approved and will take place over St. Denys' Church at 12.01 or thereabouts. See: |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=MEMO2019 |
- | Programme, Sat 13th July - Reunion Dinner | Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30pm and is a three course meal at £30.00 per head. Menu options are given on the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel pay at the end of the meal. | - | - | Programme, Sun 14th July - Airfield Tour | There is the possibility of an informal tour of North Killingholme Airfield by car should there be sufficient inteerest. Please complete the relevent section of the Booking Form. | - | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay and remember to quote "550" to receive a discounted rate. The "550" rate, across all room types, is £80 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double and £70 for single occupancy. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2019/AshbourneHotelInformationJuly2019.pdf |
- | - | The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. | - | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | Other Accommodation | Possible alternatives to the Ashbourne Hotel are:
The Amethyst Hotel, Townside, East Halton, Immingham, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN40 3NS. Telephone: 01469 540205 Church Farm Guest House, Immingham Road, Habrough, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 3DB. Telephone: 01469 576190. Website: http://www.churchfarm-guesthouse.com/ The Old Chapel Hotel, 50 Station Road, Habrough, Immingham, DN40 3AY. Telephone 01469 572377 The Yarborough Arms, Killingholme Road, Ulceby, North East Lincolnshire, DN39 6TZ. Telephone 01469 588383 or Mary on 07876 147182. Website: http://www.yarborougharms.co.uk/ |
/documents/public/newsletters/2019/OtherAccommodationJuly2019.pdf |
- | - | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites. Please note that not all establishments are listed.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website: http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com/ There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website: http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
- | - | Travel Arrangements | North Killingholme is approximately 8 miles from Humberside Airport and a 45 minute drive from Robin Hood Airport.
The nearest station to North Killingholme is Habrough. This is on the Doncaster to Cleethorpes line and is approximately 3 miles from North Killingholme. Please note that not all trains stop at Habrough although the majority do stop at Barnetby, 9 miles from North Killingholme. A taxi from Habrough station to North Killingholme should cost in the region of £10 and from Barnetby £20 (prices quoted in May 2019). Local taxi firms include Fred's Cars (01469 577100) and Mick's Cars (01469 571159). Placebook Private Hire (01469 541600) is based in North Killingholme and therefore may be slightly cheaper. If travelling to the Annual Reunion by road from the A180 please note there is a diversion locally this summer and allow extra time for your journey. This is because the main road into North Killingholme (East Halton Road) will be closed to all traffic at the railway bridge from 11th May until the end of September. Leave the A180 at the usual turn off (Brocklesby Interchange) and at the next roundabout take the dual carriageway towards Immingham Dock. After half a mile pass under the road bridge and then bear left at the traffic lights. Go past Phillips 66 and continue over the new railway bridge and past the Total refinery entrance on the right. Turn left towards North Killingholme (there is a sign to the Ashbourne Hotel at this junction). Please note that there are bollards partly across the road but there is enough room for cars to pass. After entering the village the Ashbourne Hotel will be on the left opposite St. Denys' Church. Turn left at the village green and the hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left. The 550 Squadron Museum is in the Village Hall on the right about fifty yards past St. Denys' Church. Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park. Visitors will be able to travel from North Killingholme to the Memorial Stone and Amethyst Hotel by the usual route with no diversions. The Amethyst is in East Halton, approximately 1.5 miles from North Killingholme and there is ample free parking. There are now parking restrictions on Lancaster Approach with double yellow lines on both sides of the road. It is a busy access point for heavy goods vehicles entering the industrial estate and only park to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. Off-road parking is available at John Somerscales Ltd (approximately 200 yards from the Memorial Stone on the right) but you park at your own risk and the gates are locked shortly after the Service ends. The site is used by a number of hauliers so please do not block in other vehicles. |
/images/NorthKillingholme/RailwayBridge20190527/20190527_084450.jpg |
- | Lancaster Flypast - Time, Location... and Travel | The flypast is seen by many as the centre piece of the Annual Reunion and there are significant changes to its time and location this year.
The flypast is planned for 12.01 over St. Denys' Church and any changes are likely to be minor as the Lancaster will be en-route to a major air show at Yeovilton in Somerset. We are indebted to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for including us in its programme for the day and do not wish members to miss the aircraft because of the early start to the afternoon's activities. As usual, any flypast is subject to the weather, aircraft serviceability and RAF operational requirements Remember to allow extra time for your journey if travelling to the Annual Reunion by road from the A180, exiting at the Brocklesby Interchange, as there is a diversion locally. See "Travel Arrangements" in the Annual Reunion section for details and plan accordingly. |
- | - | International Bomber Command Centre - Lincoln | If you are attending the Annual Reunion it might also be worth considering a visit to the highly impressive International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.
However, please note it is closed on Mondays other than Bank Holidays. In addition to the Spire and the highly evocative Walls of Names that list nearly 58,000 casualties, the Chadwick Centre houses state of the art exhibitions about Bomber Command. There is a Peace Garden, a caf? and shop as well as a digital archive of personal accounts from a wide variety of sources.
The site is open to the public six days a week (closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays) and the address is: International Bomber Command Centre, Canwick Hill, Lincoln, LN4 2RF. The telephone number is 01522 514755 and the website can be found at (see link right). Admission and parking charges apply, with the usual range of concessions. |
http://internationalbcc.co.uk |
A "DICEY" RETURN | 1. The Operation | The W/O T A Lloyd crew was one of eighteen from 550 Squadron who took part in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp on the night of 3/4 May 1944 when Bomber Command lost 42 Lancaster's from a total of 346 taking part.
Members of the Lloyd crew brought a severely damaged aircraft (ND733, BQ-J) back to England, landing at RAF Ford in Sussex. The Station Operations Record Book (ORB) refers to some of the problems experienced by the RAF that night, the contribution made by 550 Squadron and the problems faced by W/O Lloyd and his crew (Note: the ORB refers to F/Sgt Lloyd). The document not only makes interesting reading but offers a snapshot of the attitudes of the time and the pride shown in the actions of the squadron: |
- | - | "Eighteen aircraft and crews were offered for operations and were accepted. The crews were briefed to attack the Military Barracks at MAILLY. The accepted number of aircraft and crews took off without incident in the usual Squadron style. The weather was clear throughout the journey to and over the target, good visibility and bright moonlight assisted in locating the target, resulting in the target being effectively dealt with. Fires caused by earlier attacks in the MAILLY area were still burning but the Master of Ceremonies had some difficulties in assessing the markers accuracy, with the result that the main force was held up for some minutes. When the order to bomb was finally given, the rush, to quote W/O Knox "D", was like the starting gate at the Derby!
Markers appeared to be accurate and a very good concentration of bombing at once became apparent with one or two healthy fires and smoke clouds rising to a height of 8,000ft. The flak defences in the MAILLY area were only moderate, although the light flak was more intense than had been seen for some time. Numerous enemy night fighters were present and many combats were seen taking place in the bright moonlight ? these combats continued until well on the way homewards. "J" F/Sgt Lloyd had a somewhat "dicey" return journey, about half an hour after having bombed the objective he was attacked by an unidentified aircraft and with the trimming tabs shot away his aircraft became temporarily out of control but managed to shake off the enemy fighter. Five minutes later a second attack set fire to the aircraft bomb bay and fuselage. The order to bail out was given and obeyed by the Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Pearce, Rear Gunner Sgt Crilley and the Air Bomber F/O Yaternick. The aircraft went into a dive which helped to extinguish the flame. Sgt Moore the wireless operator, used all the extinguishers to put out the remaining fire, and when these were exhausted, beat out the flames with his feet and hands. Finding the navigator suffering from severe burns, he rendered first aid and took over the navigational duties, obtained accurate fixes which enabled the pilot to bring back his aircraft safely to England, landing at R.A.F. Station FORD. A very good show put up by the worthy members of 550 Squadron. Many crews found that interference from a broadcasting station made listening to the Master of Ceremonies possessive wireless instructions difficult ? as F/Sgt Salmon of "Q" said "One didn't know whether to go in and bomb or stay "Deep in the Heart of Texas"!" Fourteen good night photographs taken by the Squadron aircraft show that this small precision target received a good "Strafing". One aircraft "H" (F/L Grain and crew) failed to return. In addition to a very fine crew the aircraft contained the Army Local Defence Adviser, who had gone to see what real modern bombing attacks were like." |
- | 2. The Evader | Sgt J F "Jack" Pearce (MU/AG) was one of the three who bailed out when ordered to do so by the Captain. The remaining members of the crew managed to regain control of the aircraft and return home while F/O E Yaternick RCAF (A/B) and Sgt. A C Crilley (R/AG) became Prisoners of War. Sgt Pearce evaded capture, returning home via Gibraltar. The Association recently received copies of documents relating to Jack's escape, some of which are reproduced here. | - | - | Jack Pearce met his future wife, Ruth May, while convalescing in Cornwall and they married in June 1946. Jack was posted to 228 Squadron Coastal Command in August 1944 and demobbed in January 1946. Jack and Ruth lived in East Anglia before moving to Tonbridge, Pembury and later Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Jack worked as a lecturer at the London College of Printing and died in August 1992.
The 550 website has more information about the W/O Lloyd crew and further documents relating to Sgt. Pearce?s escape: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/WOTALloyd/index.php |
- | The article "A Glimpse of Heaven" about Jack Pearce which contains information and photographs supplied by the family can be read at: |
https://farmboysandpioneers.com/2019/01/29/jack-pearce-and-the-freedom-trail/ |
MEMORIAL UPDATES | Achiet-le-Petit | John Logan contacted us with an update on the situation in Achiet-le-Petit where the F/Lt. R W Picton DFC crew were killed on 10/11 April 1944 flying LL836, BQ-E. The Mayor, Xavier Duquesne, has done an enormous amount of work to commemorate the crew and the graves are proudly maintained by the village. In 2018 the Mayor commissioned a commemorative plaque and relatives of F/O J J Logan DFC (Navigator) joined local people to honour the crew.
Information about the crew and previous ceremonies in Achiet-le-Petit can be seen at (see link right): We would like to thank John Logan for the latest information on the memorial at Achiet-le-Petit and welcome similar items from members about developments elsewhere. |
/pages/550-sqdn-achiet-le-petit-commemorations.php |
Barlo | We have received news that a replacement plaque in memory of F/O L Pulfrey has been erected in Barlo. It includes revised information about the circumstances of the crash in which six members of the S/L G S Smith DFC crew were killed when flying BQ-V, ME840 on 16/17 June 1944. Les Pulfrey escaped the burning aircraft but did not survive the parachute jump and the memorial plaque is located close to where his body was found.
A memorial plaque to the crew as a whole is located in Oude IJsselstreek. Further information about the crew can be found at (see link right): |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderGSSmith/index.php |
- | Information about the memorial plaques at Oude IJsselstreek and Barlo are at (see link right):
Our thanks to Joe Pinguey for contacting us with this information. |
/pages/550-sqdn-oude-ijsselstreek-commemorations.php |
OTHER NEWS | Change to the Location of the Flypast | Prior to every Annual Reunion the companies based on the airfield are advised about our activities. They are extremely supportive but Lancaster Approach has become increasingly busy over the years with many firms working 24 hours a day plus weekends.
We have to consider the safety of participants at the Memorial Stone and preserve the solemnity of the Service in what has become an increasingly busy traffic environment. One of the ways the 550 Committee felt it could tackle the issue was to request a flypast over St. Denys' Church. It is not ideal given the symbolism of the Lancaster flying at low level across the airfield and above the Memorial Stone but limits the time spent at the Stone and may reduce the number of pedestrians close to the road junction. On the plus side, the church is a significant landmark, has an atmosphere conducive to reflection and remembrance and its grounds offer a safe and enclosed environment from which to view the aircraft. We cannot alter the timing of the flypast this year but would appreciate feedback after the Annual Reunion on the change of location. |
- | International Bomber Command Centre - Research | The Association recently received an email from a researcher at the IBCC who is conducting an ongoing project into Jewish aircrew killed during the war. We were told that the IBCC find the 550 website "a fantastic resource" and were very happy to signpost the researcher to a relative of an airman who flew with the squadron. | - | Remembrance Weekend 2019 | Please note in your diaries Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November.
The Remembrance Weekend programme will follow previous years' and start with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne at the discounted 550 rate on Saturday night but please book early, using the details given earlier in this newsletter, as they have a function that evening and the hotel is likely to be busy. Further details will appear in Newsletter 74 which will be distributed in early October. |
- | A Lifelong Interest | If you have attended reunions in recent years you may have heard Phil Blackham talking about his interest in cars and motorcycles. Indeed, while serving with 550 he recounted the story of an officer stopping to admire his ("Sgt" Blackham's) motorbike; their common interest overcoming the barriers of rank. Phil died earlier this year and in March we were alerted to a report on the BBC News website. A shortened version appears below: | - | - | Rusty Bentley found in Stockport garage sells for £450k:
Image copyright H&H Classics - The Bentley is "unusual" because it was assembled in the mid-1930s using parts which dated no later than 1931, H&H Classics said. A rusty 1936 Bentley which spent the last 30 years locked up in a garage has sold at auction for £454,250. The car was owned by World War Two pilot Charles Blackham, who took part in a raid on Adolf Hitler's Bavarian retreat, and was one of just six of its kind made by Bentley. (Note ? Phil trained as a pilot but served with 550 as a Flight Engineer) H&H Classics sold the "unusual" car for more than double its estimate. Mr Blackham, from Stockport, bought the car in 1952 for £260 and drove the classic convertible for 36 years. |
- | - | Ultimate Find:
It was then locked up in his garage for three decades and only rediscovered after the 96-year-old's death in January. The car, which now has "torn leather seats" and is "covered in rust", is one of just six WO Bentley 4.5-litre cars assembled by the service department from stockpiled and reconditioned parts in 1936. |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-47651741 |
- | The full report can be found at: |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-47651741 |
- | Further information about the F/Sgt D P Lambert crew is available at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtDPLambert/index.php |
ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following has died since the last newsletter:
Sgt R.W. "Ginger" Harris - Navigator 6/44 - early 1945 |
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Issue 72 (March 2019)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 72 | March | 2019 | Reunion 2019, and reports in events in 2018 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | March 2019 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Reunion activities in North Killingholme in July. | - | - | This year marks the 75th anniversary of 550 Squadron's arrival at North Killingholme and in this newsletter you will find information about the Annual Reunion in July. There are also details about the ceremonies in Belgium arranged for May, a positive update on the tragic story of Sgt F H Habgood and a short biography written by Bryan Thomas of his father, F/Lt Rhys Thomas DFC. In addition there is advance notice of the arrangements for Remembrance Weekend and a number of short news items. | - | - | We are very pleased to report that Honor Redshaw has joined the 550 Committee and will organise this year?s Remembrance Weekend activities. We would also like to welcome Steve Parker to the committee. As many of you will know, Steve is responsible for the design of 550 newsletters but will now add to his remit by taking on the role of Membership Secretary from mid-July. | - | - | We are also recruiting to the important role of Treasurer so if you have the skills to fulfil this position please do not delay in contacting us. | - | - | The news from Tunbridge Wells is that all is well with Jack and Angela and they are planning to attend the Annual Reunion. They will be accompanied by members of the family and Jack will conserve his energy over the weekend by passing on speech-making duties to others. | - | URGENT | Your Association Needs YOU! | The Association committee needs to recruit a Treasurer to its ranks. The position becomes effective from mid-July 2019 following the Annual Reunion. The Treasurer is responsible for administering the Association?s finances and providing the Committee with information to facilitate its decision-making. This will include processing payments, quarterly reports to the committee on transactions, income and expenditure as well as producing an Annual Report prior to audit. It is important for the continuing success of the Association that this post is filled so please use any of the contact details given in this newsletter without delay to express your interest. |
- | CEREMONIES IN BELGIUM, 2019 | - | There are two ceremonies in May 2019 to commemorate 550 crews who crashed in Belgium. As ever, we are grateful for the fantastic support we receive from the individuals and groups concerned. |
|
Rebecq: Wednesday 22 May | It is the 75th anniversary of the crash on 27/28 May 1944 in which the P/O Purney crew were shot down flying JA712 BQ-H. This year the ceremony held in their memory will take place on Wednesday 22 May in the presence of a Representative of the King of the Belgians, likely to be a senior military officer. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/cer2019.php |
There will be an informal dinner for guests arriving on Tuesday 21 May and the official ceremony the following day starts at 10.00 and finishes at 11.00. A guard of honour will be formed by detachments of 1 Wing, Belgian Air Force and 866 (Immingham) Squadron, Air Training Corps. A flypast is planned with either aircraft or helicopters from the Belgium Air Force and a military band will play hymns. A Reception will follow the Service and a light lunch will be served for 550 Squadron representatives and the ATC. There is the option of a meal at a local restaurant on Wednesday evening at a cost of approximately 30 euros per head. | - | Sint-Niklaas: Saturday 25 May | It is 75 years since the crew of Lancaster LL851 BQ-V (P/O Dukelow) crashed on 22 May 1944 and there will be a ceremony to inaugurate a Memorial Stone at Heimolen Chapel, close to the crash site, on Saturday 25 May at 10.00. Those attending will meet at the entrance to Tereken Municipal Cemetery in Sint-Niklaas at 9.30 with the coach leaving for the short journey to Heimolen at 9.45. The party will return to the cemetery at 10.30 and assemble at the graves at 11.00. The Service finishes at 12.00 midday and there is a cold buffet at "Ons Huis" next to St. Joseph's Church at 12.30 (pay 15 euros per head on the day. |
/images/Sint-Niklaas-Commemoration-2019/Invitation25thMay2019LancasterLL851(ENG).pdf |
George Turner is liaising with the groups in Belgium and coordinating arrangements on behalf of the Association so please contact him if you would like information about any of the events or intend travelling to Belgium. If you would like to order a wreath from the British Legion George can do so on your behalf. Alternatively, you are welcome to lay your own flowers or other personal tributes. George can be contacted on [...] or by email geowturner@gmail.com. |
- | ANNUAL REUNION 2019 | NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Please note that this year's Annual Reunion will take place on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July. | - | - | We are delighted to announce that our application for a Lancaster flypast on Saturday 13 July has been successful. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will confirm the time a few weeks before the reunion but any flypast is subject to the weather, serviceability and operational requirements. | - | - | When planning your trip to this year's reunion please note that the access road to North Killingholme from the A160 will be closed from 22 May to 10 September in order for the railway bridge to be demolished and a new one put in place. An alternative route is to leave the A180 at the Brocklesby Interchange and stay on the A160 until you reach the traffic lights near the Jet Garage. Turn left into Eastfield Road and continue past the Total Refinery on the right and take the next left turn into Church Lane, signposted for North Killingholme. There may be bollards at the junction to stop lorries cutting through but there is sufficient space for cars and vans. | - | - | Newsletter No.73, to be distributed at the beginning of June, will contain detailed information about the programme and a Booking Form. The closing date for bookings is Friday 28 June but please return your information as early as possible. | - | - | You can book rooms at the Ashbourne Hotel for the nights of 12 and 13 July by contacting them using the details below and quoting "550" to qualify for a discounted rate across all room types, including single occupancy.
Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
WARTIME EXPERIENCES | F/Lt Rhys Thomas DFC | F/Lt Rhys Thomas DFC and crew completed their tour at the end of August 1944. His son, Bryan Thomas, has sent us a brief biography of his father's time in the RAF, a shortened version of which appears below. | - | A brief biography by Bryan Thomas | The majority of RAF Bomber Command pilots who flew Lancaster's in WWII would have been born during or soon after the end of WWI. Rhys Thomas, however, was born in January 1911 and so was quite a bit older than the average WWII pilot, which I believe influenced his RAF career path. His family originated in North Wales but he was born in Essex and trained as a cost clerk. In his early twenties he was a Special Constable in the Police and he volunteered for the RAF at the outbreak of WWII, becoming a member of the RAFVR. It is likely he started active duties sometime in 1941 and no doubt he spent time in the classroom and on the parade ground before taking his first flight in November of that year in a DH82 Tiger Moth with the rank of LAC. Five weeks later and with less than 13 hours flying experience he made his first solo flight. |
- | Towards the end of March 1942 and with just over 100 hours in the air (and a few more on Link trainers) at No.9 EFTS he moved on to the next stage of his career as a trainee instructor, having passed out of pilot training with a "Well Above Average" assessment. His move to instructor was likely the result of his being older than average and, theoretically at least, able to command respect. So his next move was to No.5 SFIS in Perth, Scotland. Here he met his future wife Helen Lorimer who was a native of Edinburgh. Helen had joined the WAAF and was working at Leuchars collecting meteorological data. Rhys graduated as an instructor in May of 1942 with a total of 173 hours on both the Tiger Moth and the Miles Magister. He began as an instructor in June 1942 at No. 14 EFTS Elmdon (Birmingham) and at the end of the year he finished at EFTS with about 550 hours flying time and had contributed to the basic training of forty or so young pilots. A typical day of instruction may involve five, ten or more flights of about 30 to 60 minutes each together with the associated classroom work which would have made some days quite long. At some time before September 1942 Rhys advanced to the rank of Sergeant. |
- | At the end of December 1942 Rhys went to No.2 FIS and commenced training on the Airspeed Oxford for six weeks, after which he returned to No.14 EFTS Elmdon, the Tiger Moth and more pupils, moving to No.4 EFTS in early June 1943. The next move also in June 1943 found him back in Oxfords, at Cranwell undertaking a wide variety of exercises. He finished on Oxfords on the 22nd of August and was then posted to No.30 OTU but took time off to marry Helen Lorimer on the 24th. |
- | On October 1st 1943 he started on Wellingtons at No.30 OTU doing everything from "circuits and bumps" to extended cross country trips lasting five or more hours, and the final flight of this period on November 22 was a Nickel (leaflet drop) on Nantes in occupied France, but such raids were not counted as "ops". During this period on Wellingtons he flew with a regular crew of four (O'Donohue, Herkes, Bunker and Elsbury) and clocked up his thousandth flying hour. Rhys then had 10 weeks leave before returning to flying with 1656 HCU in a Halifax. The initial "conversion" to heavies consisted of three flights under instruction (about 3 and a half hours) followed by 2 and a half hours as pilot, all on the same day and with his old Wellington crew. Five weeks later he is again flying the Halifax, but by now he has "crewed up" with the regular six that he was to fly his operations with. These six were Beardmore, Cronk, Curtiss, Farmer, Stack and Wilkins. They signed out of 1656 HCU on May 6th and started at LFS (Lancaster Finishing School) on May 20th. Eight flights and just over 10 hours later they were deemed ready for operations. |
- | June 1st 1944 saw them at 550 Squadron North Killingholme. Rhys's logbook records that on 11th August (their 27th trip) W/C Sisley and some top brass from other services joined the crew on a daylight operation to bomb Douai. Confusion in the overcrowded cockpit led to mis-identification of the target and the Railway Junction at Cambrai was hit instead of Douai. For this Rhys, somewhat unfairly received a rap over the knuckles and the crew was ordered onto another mission the following day, making it three in three days and probably interfering with their planned leave. Following the trip on 12th August to the Bordeaux Submarine pens they went on leave and Rhys was with his wife Helen for the birth of their first son, Michael in Edinburgh on the 22nd August. Wing Commander Sisley flew with the crew on their next mission, 28th August to Wemors Capell BB site, no doubt checking up on the crew and making sure they got the correct target. | - | One could say that, compared with crews who flew earlier in WWII, this was an easy tour. Many of Rhys's missions were over France, in daylight and relatively short in duration, but we should not forget that during the course of the war both sides made continuous advances in equipment, tactics and training so I am not going to compare a couple of hours over Berlin in 1942 to an hour over France in 1944. Certainly losses were fewer in 1944 and for that I am grateful. Some memories of the time this crew spent with 550 Squadron have been documented in the books "Five Fifty" by Patrick Otter (Willsons Group Services, 2017) and in "Men Of Air" by Kevin Wilson (Phoenix, 2007). |
- | Rhys left 550 Squadron immediately after his last "op" and spent a few days with 92 GIF (presumably this is Glider Instruction Flight), and from then until the final entry in his log book he was with No.14 OTU and No.17 OTU in Wellingtons, his penultimate flight being a "Bullseye" (simulated bombing exercise) on September 6th 1945. He never piloted an aircraft again after leaving the RAF. | - | Rhys logged 1344.30 hours flying over a period of almost 4 years. He completed one tour of operations. The Lancaster used on the first few operations was appropriately "T Tommy", but it failed to return from an operation while Rhys and his crew were away on leave, so most operations were carried out in "X X-Ray". This latter Lancaster carried the nose art "Daily Express" recalling the (almost) daily delivery of explosives into various parts of Europe. X-Ray was struck off charge after the war finished. | - | During his period of RAF service Rhys met his future wife, was married immediately before commencing operations training, and their first son was born during his tour of operations. He finished his career with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was awarded the DFC. He died on 30 March 1972 in Harlow, Essex. | - | A longer version of the document including additional photographs and copies of pages from Rhys's Logbook can be found at:
Our thanks go to Bryan Thomas for contributing this item. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-
Crews/FlLtRThomas/LogBooks/FlLt-RhysThomas-Wartime-Experiences.pdf |
REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2018 | Our Remembrance Weekend programme in 2018 began with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening and continued on Sunday morning with an opportunity to visit the 550 Squadron Museum in the Village Hall. The weather held and approximately 30 people met at the Memorial Stone for a short Service starting at 10.50 when wreaths were laid. The two minute silence followed at 11.00 before the group moved to St. Denys' Church. The Service concluded at midday and was followed by a three course lunch at the Amethyst Hotel in East Halton. Over coffee Don Kentish outlined the 550 Committee's interest in finding out more about squadron personnel as individuals and shared a short biography of P/O Dukelow to illustrate this approach. |
/pages/remembrance-sunday-2018.php |
The meal finished at approximately 2.30 and Don ended by congratulating Rachel Coulter and Jamie Pickering on their marriage and wishing Sally Coulter a happy birthday. Katy Pritchard had recently emailed to say that she and Lewis (Mason) are marrying in May 2019 and Don said it is heartening to see different generations becoming part of the 550 community and helping the "spirit of 550" to live on. | - | We thank Rev. Paul Salmon and Mark Cuerton, the bugler, for their excellent support of 550. Sadly, we have to report that Paul has recently taken up a position in the Louth area and will not be able to continue conducting our services. We should have further news about the situation in time for the next newsletter. | - | RELATIVES TRACED | Sgt F.H."Freddie" Habgood | In Newsletter No. 71 we reported on the recent discovery at the former Natzweiler-Stuthoft concentration camp in France of a metal bracelet that belonged to Sgt Frederick Harold Habgood. The Centre Européen du Résistant Déporté (CERD) had publicised the find in the hope of contacting his relatives. |
http://www.struthof.fr/fr/actualites/detail/article/decouverte-rare-et-exceptionnelle/ |
Sgt Habgood was the Bomb Aimer with the F/O H Jones crew who failed to return when flying NE164 BQ-O on the night of 28/29 July 1944 on a raid to Stuttgart. The aircraft came down near Ottrot in France and Sgt Habgood along with four other members of the crew bailed out. The pilot and rear gunner were in the aircraft when it crashed. Research indicates that Sgt Habgood initially managed to hide in the Ottrot area but was captured by the Gestapo, interned briefly in Schirmeck camp and then transferred to Natzweiler-Stuthoft where he was hanged on 31st July 1944. He was 21 years old. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHJones/index.php#RecentDiscovery |
The Daily Telegraph newspaper took up the story and accompanied family members to France. An extract from the resulting online article published in December 2018 is reproduced below: Freddie Habgood had trained in Canada throughout 1943. He had relatives in the country, and for his graduation they had given him a gift of a silver bracelet engraved with his name, service number and RAF wings. On the reverse was one name, Jean, Freddie's beloved cousin. His family assumed it had been stolen by the Nazis after his murder |
- | In July this year, as she watered the flowers at the concentration camp in France, preserved as a warning to future generations, a local girl saw something glinting in the soil. Although muddy and tarnished, some lettering was still clear and two names were visible. On one side "Jean", on the other, "Habgood". It had not been looted by the Nazis. It had not been consumed by fire or by earth. Incongruously, incredibly, for 74 years the ground had kept the secret of Freddie's silver bracelet, and now the soil had offered it up. Freddie had been survived by his brother, Ronald, older by 13 months, and younger sister, Madelene. Ronald had two children, Marilyn and Paul, but the family had rarely discussed their loss. "Growing up, all we knew was that Freddie had been killed during the war," says Marilyn, "it wasn't until I was quite a bit older that I realised he had actually been executed.". "It was never really spoken about. Certainly my father didn't want to talk about it." |
- | The Telegraph accompanied Marilyn and Paul to France to be reunited with the bracelet. Up to that point they say the story of their uncle had been part of the family fabric, but as neither had known Freddie personally,
and his death had been so little talked of, there had been no direct emotional connection. That changed in France. "It feels unreal," says Paul when he and Marilyn are presented with the bracelet, "it's incredible it has survived." "He probably wore it ever since he was given it back in 1943, right through to when he was shot down." |
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/25/family-world-war-two-lancaster-bomber-reunited-bracelet-74-years/?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0XOYqEGG1ofTexFiSu8bHqu_qWYcmNWpZfGlweOyQnAvpAgtHwXBelBe8#Echobox=1545772812 |
Despite the stoicism, Marilyn suggested the family had felt Freddie's loss more deeply than they had shown. "I think it was hard for them not knowing exactly what happened to him or whether he was ever laid to rest in a grave of any kind," she says. "The trial and subsequent punishment of his executioners would have brought some closure to our dad and his parents." | - | A British Military Court, convened in June 1946 in the Zoological Garden at Wuppertal, found five men guilty of Sgt Habgood's murder. One was given a term of imprisonment, the four others faced death sentences. Two sentences were later commuted to imprisonment and the remaining two men, whose names are known but do not deserve to be remembered, were hanged in October 1946. Freddie's younger sister, Madelene, died in early December this year, aged 93. She had expressed a wish that the bracelet be offered to a museum in Britain. "We would like to have it back here as a family. We would like it to go to a museum for everybody to see," Marilyn and Paul agree. |
- | Freddie had written to his parents on July 29, 1943 from Canada, saying how much he had enjoyed his time with his uncle Harry and Aunt Gladys, and of how they had given him his silver bracelet. "My dearest mum and dad," he wrote, "I was able to visit aunty Gladys and uncle Harry for a few hours. They gave me a bracelet, with RAF wings and name and number engraved, for a graduation present. I was very sorry to say goodbye and hope that I shall be able to see them again after the war. A year later, to the day, NE 164 was shot down, and Freddie Habgood's voice fell silent." |
- | He speaks again now, and we remember him, through a bracelet emerging from the earth. Light shining from the darkness. Dominic Nicholls, Defence correspondent Kathryn Parker, Video Producer 25 December 2018 - 9:00pm |
- | The story can be found on the Daily Telegraph website (link earlier). The Daily Mail also carried the story: |
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6529871/Family-RAF-airman-executed-Nazis-reunited-bracelet.html |
OTHER NEWS | Remembrance Weekend 2019 | Further to the report earlier in this newsletter, please note in your diaries Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne Hotel at the discounted 550 rate on Saturday night but please book early, using the details given earlier in this newsletter, as they have a function that evening and the hotel is likely to be busy. The programme will follow previous years' and start with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon on Saturday evening. | - | 866 (Immingham) Squadron, Air Training Corps | We appreciate greatly the longstanding support of the ATC at our reunions and representatives of the Association recently attended their annual awards ceremony. They were impressed by not only the vast range of activities in which the cadets are involved but their level of achievement and success in national competitions. The benefits to the young people involved and the dedication of those who support them can be easily overlooked and we wish them continued success in their endeavours | - | 550 Squadron Museum | A son of Howard Elderfield (Wireless Operator in the F/Lt V P Ansell crew) has written a book about the missions flown by his father. The book, published in Australia, is entitled "One More Mission" and a copy has been donated by the family to the Squadron Museum. |
/pages/550-sqdn-association-newsletter-and-museum.php |
Visitor Pack | An illustrated pack has been produced by the Association giving information about the airfield, 550 Squadron reunions and the museum. We wish to thank Orsted, the business behind on-going work on the power lines being constructed between North Killingholme and the east Lincolnshire coast for funding the booklet. | - | Research Required | Harry Foster has joined the Association as his mother believes his father, Harold F Foster, served with 550 in 1944/45. He has little other information and there is nothing in the records held by the Association. If you can help Harry please use the email address given in the New Members section of the newsletter. | - | North Killingholme Village Hall | We are indebted to the unsung group of volunteers who provide us with tea and cakes in the Village Hall to round off Saturday afternoon activities at our annual reunions. A few of them were photographed at the Annual Reunion in 2018 and we thank them again for their delicious contribution to the success of our events. | - | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter:
Sgt C.P. "Phil" Blackham - Flight Engineer 3/45 - Not Known Sgt A. "Alan" Carter - Wireless Operator 6/45 - Not Known Sgt J.M. Craine - Rear Air Gunner 2/45 - Not Known F/Sgt J.W. "John" Eppel RAAF - Navigator - Not Known - 2/45 P/O G.E. "Ward" Thomas CdG DFC - Navigator 12/43 - 7/44 |
- | New Members | We are pleased to welcome all new members to the Association but please note that as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) some may have opted out of publicising their contact details through the newsletter. Those who have chosen to share the information are:
Harry Foster (Son of H F "Harold" Foster) Lyn Jones, (Friend of Barbara Hercliffe and Maurice Snowball) Philip Labourne (Son of Brenda and Maurice Labourne) |
- |
Issue 71 (October 2018)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 71 | October | 2018 | Remembrance Sunday, report on 2018 Reunions. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2018 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Weekend activities in North Killingholme next month. | - | - | This year will be particularly poignant as Remembrance Sunday falls on 11th November and therefore coincides with the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. It also marks to within two weeks the 75th anniversary of the formation of 550 Squadron. | - | - | Further details about Remembrance Weekend appear below and there is also an article by Jack Harris about Luftwaffe intruders and a fascinating newspaper article about 550 Squadron originally published in 1945 that was sent in by Colin Blowers. There is a piece about the recent unearthing of a personal item belonging to Sgt F H Habgood who was killed at the end of July 1944, a list of memorials commemorating 550 personnel, a report on the Annual Reunion, the date for next year's event and news about the grandson of a 550 airman who has embarked on a career in the RAF. | - | - | We are delighted to announce that Jack Harris and Angela Tompson were married in Tunbridge Wells on 14th August at a ceremony attended by family and close friends. They are a fantastic couple and we offer them our best wishes and warmest congratulations. | - | - | Jack was in good form at another highly enjoyable Annual Reunion although on this occasion passed over many of his public speaking duties to others. He and Angela took a short break after their wedding but delayed their honeymoon until after the Annual Reunion, holidayed in the Cotswolds earlier in the summer and continue to play bridge regularly. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2018 | Our programme in November includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening and there is usually an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone, including a two minutes silence at 11.00am, and then St. Denys' Church will be followed by a three course carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. | - | - | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel at the discounted "550" rate but we advise booking early as they have a function on the Saturday evening and availability may be limited. Settle your food and accommodation bill on departure. |
- | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | - | All arrangements are being made by Don and Val Kentish. Please contact Don and Val by telephone on 0121 778 6614 or 07757 722185. Email: dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk. | - | - | Saturday Evening 10th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45 pm. in the Fork and Spoon and if you would like to join the group, please let Don and Val know by Friday 2nd November. Menu pre-selection is required for groups of 10 or more and Don or Val will contact you if this is necessary. | - | - | Sunday 11th November | Our provisional timetable is shown below and includes a two minute silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone. We are delighted that Reverend Paul Salmon will be conducting our Services and hope he will be accompanied again by Mark Cuerton, the bugler. | - | - | - | 09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall by appointment. Contact Mike Leeman
10.45 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach. 10.52 - Service starts and will include two minutes silence at 11am. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. 11.20 - Church Service starts. 12.00 - Service ends. 12.30 - Three course carvery lunch plus tea/coffee/mints at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton.Pay £21.00 per head on the day. |
- | - | - | Please tell Don and Val if you are coming to lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton by Friday 2nd November 2018 as the hotel must have accurate numbers. | - | ANNUAL REUNION, SEPTEMBER 2018 | - | The number of people attending the Annual Reunion was extremely encouraging although the weather was marginal with a forecast of showers on Saturday afternoon. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight confirmed the time of our flypast 48 hours before the event but the Lancaster's crew called late on Saturday morning to postpone it by 30 minutes in order to allow for improvements in the weather. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2018.php |
- | There is never a shortage of food at the Annual Reunion and the weekend began with 35 people attending the Friday evening dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel. The 550 Museum was open on Saturday morning and 34 people enjoyed a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. | - | - | After following the Immingham Air Training Corps from the Village Hall to Lancaster Approach, the Service of Remembrance conducted by Reverend Paul Salmon included the laying of wreaths, flowers and crosses. The Memorial Stone looked highly impressive with the many tributes laid at its base and flags rippling behind. However, the Lancaster did not appear and the procession departed for St. Denys' Church. | - | - | Just as the Church Service was about to start, a message was received to say that the Lancaster was in the air. The almost full building emptied rapidly just as the sound of Merlin engines filled the sky above North Killingholme. The sight and sound of the Lancaster circling St. Denys' Church lifted the spirits while reinforcing the message of remembrance that is central to the afternoon's activities. | - | - | After tea and cakes in a full Village Hall it began to rain heavily and we realised how committed the BBMF crew were to getting airborne and providing us with such a memorable and emotional experience. | - | - | On Saturday evening 66 people sat down for the Reunion Dinner and added to the toasts that are made at the end of the meal was one to the "newly-weds", Jack and Angela. We were pleased that Patrick and Eva Otter were able to join us and amazed as ever at the level of support we receive from far afield. People travelled from across the UK while John Arnold came from Australia, Jos de Ryck, William Albertyn, Denise Rammeloo, Wilfred Burie and Ben Vorspoels from Belgium and Ole Seberg from Denmark. | - | - | We extend our thanks to Reverend Paul Salmon for his ongoing support of 550. We were sorry to hear that he may not be taking our services at next year's reunion but he will always be a very welcome visitor to our events. | - | LUFTWAFFE INTRUDERS | SOME THOUGHTS FROM JACK HARRIS | During the winter of 1940/41, Luftwaffe bombers carried out a series of heavy night attacks on London and many of the English cities. By the end of May 41 the nights were getting shorter and the Luftwaffe developed night intruder tactics. He111, Ju88, Do17 and Do217 fitted with front guns and extra fuel tanks were used as long range night fighters flying across the North Sea. They often mingled with RAF bombers returning from raids or sea mining to patrol Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire looking for flare paths they could bomb or RAF aircraft from squadrons or training units which they could shoot down. | - | - | At this early stage of the war not all RAF aircraft were fitted with R/T (radio-telephone). Not only could they not receive warnings about "bandits" but they were still showing navigation lights. The presence of "bandits" forced airfields to shut down flare paths and stop flying operations. If aircraft had to be diverted to other airfields in the Midlands or West Country it was a big upset. The intruders would also force air raid sirens to be sounded over Eastern England and cause wide disruption. | - | - | When Jack Harris was training on Oxfords at No. 12 Service Flying Training School at Grantham in July 1941 he had first-hand experience of German intruders. | - | - | The Grantham airfield was not suitable for night flying and so it was carried out from Ingham, about 10 miles north of Lincoln. Ingham had no resident flying units as it was a grass airfield with no buildings, only tents and a telephone. This meant that everything, including petrol bowsers, was brought in night by night. It was an Advanced Landing Ground but a portable flare path could be unrolled on the grass with a generator to provide a take-off and landing strip. | - | - | On the night of 13 July 41, Jack Harris had done several circuits and landings with an instructor. The instructor got out and said "Do three circuits and landings on your own". On his first take-off, Jack had just lifted the Oxford off the flare path and was retracting the undercarriage with the aircraft about 30 feet off the ground when six bright reflections showed up on the perspex of his cockpit canopy. He knew what it was before he heard the crumps of the explosions and the air blasts of the last two or three bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe intruder. | - | KILLINGHOLME SQUADRON'S GREAT RECORD | - | Colin Blowers' father-in-law was the late Sgt. J S Jenkins, A/B in the F/O G H Packham crew who were shot down on 16/17 June 1944. Sgt Jenkins initially evaded capture but became a POW at the end of July 1944. Among his father-in-law's papers, Colin found a newspaper cutting that probably dates from mid to late 1945 as it seems to have been written before 550 was disbanded on 31 October. It is reproduced in full below: (see link right) |
/images/KillingholmeNewsClip19450213/Scan-prt1.jpg |
- | second page (see link right) |
/images/KillingholmeNewsClip19450213/Scan-prt2.jpg |
SGT. F. H. HABGOOD | - | We learnt recently about the discovery at the former Natzweiler-Stuthoft concentration camp in France of a personal item that belonged to Sgt Frederick Harold Habgood. It looks like a metal bracelet with RAF "wings" on the front along with his service number and name. The chain is still attached and "Jean" is engraved on the rear. The Centre Européen du Résistant Déporté (CERD) has publicised the find in the hope of contacting his relatives. |
http://www.struthof.fr/fr/actualites/detail/article/decouverte-rare-et-exceptionnelle/ |
- | Sgt. Habgood was the Bomb Aimer with the F/O H Jones crew who failed to return when flying NE164 BQ-O on the night of 28/29 July 1944 on a raid to Stuttgart. The aircraft came down near Ottrot in France and Sgt Habgood along with four other members of the crew bailed out. | - | - | The pilot and rear gunner were in the aircraft when it crashed. Research indicates that Sgt Habgood initially managed to hide in the Ottrot area but was captured by the Gestapo, interned briefly in Schirmeck camp and then transferred to Natzweiler-Stuthoft where he was hanged on 31st July 1944. He was 21 years old. | - | - | A memorial stone was erected for F/O H Jones (Pilot), Sgt I Williams (Rear Gunner) and Sgt Habgood (Bomb Aimer) near the crash site in 2008. Sgt Habgood is commemorated on Panel 230 of the Runnymede Memorial. | - | - | Further information and photographs can be at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHJones/index.php |
COMMEMORATING 550 SQUADRON LOSSES | - | The 550 Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach and the Memorial Window and Roll of Honour in St Denys' Church, North Killingholme commemorate those who died flying from North Killingholme and are thus of great significance to many people connected with the squadron.. | - | - | A little further afield, the highly impressive International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln lists on its Walls of Names nearly 58,000 men and women who were killed serving or supporting Bomber Command during World War Two. The Association organised two "preview" visits to the site when it was under construction and as well as a "550" wreath, many members of the party left poppies for those with whom they have a connection. |
https://internationalbcc.co.uk/ |
- | Elsewhere, the Runnymede Memorial near the River Thames in Surrey lists all servicemen and women with no known grave from across the air forces of the Commonwealth who died on operations flying from bases in the United Kingdom and in North and Western Europe. |
/pages/RAF-Runnymede-Memorial.php |
- | A notable development over the years has been the creation of memorials in mainland Europe dedicated to 550 Squadron aircrew. This process has almost invariably required considerable research, fundraising and negotiations with private landowners and/or civic authorities. We have built strong relationships with many of those involved and know that relatives from across the world have visited the relevant sites. |
/pages/550-sqdn-memorials.php |
- | Within the United Kingdom, a memorial was unveiled near Ellingstring, Yorkshire in June 2017 at the crash site of the F/O Hayter crew (NF963, BQ-A). |
/pages/550-sqdn-ellingstring-memorial.php |
- | Further information about memorials known to the Association can be found at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-memorials.php |
OTHER NEWS | Annual Reunion 2019 | We can confirm the dates of next year's Annual Reunion as Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July 2019. The decision to return to a date in July was taken as the Ashbourne Hotel is available and it appears there are currently no major airshows in the United Kingdom that weekend. In a break with tradition, it has been decided to apply for a Lancaster flypast on Saturday afternoon over St. Denys' Church rather than the 550 Squadron Memorial Stone. The programme for the afternoon will be published closer to the date. The 550 Committee will monitor and review the revised arrangements but has provisionally booked the Ashbourne in mid-July until 2023. | - | Personal Stories and Photographs | We always welcome suggestions and contributions to the newsletter and would particularly like to receive stories and copies of photographs that throw light on life away from the operational side of 550 Squadron, whether about air and ground crew or those who supported them. This could take the form of short biographies that give a flavour of the person behind the service number, their fears, hopes and aspirations but might also focus on the social activities at North Killingholme such as which pubs and dance halls were visited, sporting activities (did you know that ice-hockey was played on the airfield during the very cold winter of 1944/45?), the relationships established with local people and any other anecdotes that throw light on the daily life of those associated with 550. | - | - | If we can gather sufficient material in the form of photographs and text it may be that in future the Association will consider collating the material and publishing it. | - | - | Please send contributions to Don Kentish as soon as possible but no later than 1st March (Newsletter 72) and 3rd May (Newsletter 73) using the details given in the Remembrance Weekend section of this newsletter. If you would like to discuss your idea before putting "pen to paper" please do not hesitate to contact me. | - | Five Fifty - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron | If you have not yet ordered your copy of "Five Fifty", written completely free of charge for the Association by acclaimed aviation author Patrick Otter, please contact Mike Leeman using the information at the end of this newsletter. The book is 266 pages in length and contains nearly 100 photos. | - | - | It costs £10 and can be collected over Remembrance Weekend. Alternatively, postage and packing is £5 within the UK and separate shipping arrangements have been put in place for delivery overseas. | - | Can you Help? | We want to protect the Association's future by adding to our pool of committee members and volunteers so if you can spare a little time please contact us, we would love to hear from you. | - | - | There is plenty to do as the Association organises two events a year (the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend), runs a comprehensive and highly respected website while also producing and distributing three newsletters a year. | - | - | This range of activities affords many opportunities for those who might feel able to contribute and enable the "Spirit of 550" to live on. If you think you can help in any way please contact us for an informal discussion using the details given at the end of this newsletter. | - | PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE | - | Adrian Klos is the grandson of Sgt. M H "Jim" Levy who served as a navigator with the F/Lt F J Mitchell crew on 550 Squadron. While serving with the Squadron Jim met and later married Sheila, from East Halton. Jim became a teacher and they lived with their family in the area for many years. | - | - | Adrian is the son of their second daughter and worked as a Chaplain at Hull Royal Infirmary before applying to join the RAF. After two years of interviews and various courses he was finally accepted and went to RAF Cranwell for his officer training. He is pictured with Lara, now his wife, after his graduation parade and is now Chaplain at RAF Honington in Suffolk. | - | - | Jim died when Adrian was thirteen years old and his grandfather would have been very proud of him. Kathleen Robinson, with kind permission of the family. |
- | - | A photograph of the F/Lt F J Mitchell crew can be found at: |
http://www.550squadronassociation.org.uk/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FLtMitchell/Images/FLtMitchellCrew.jpg |
ANNOUNCEMENTS | New Members | We are pleased to welcome:
John Logan, Nephew of F/O J J Logan DFC Jane Bravery Schwartz, Daughter of F/O K Bowen-Bravery CdG DFC Katy Bowen-Bravery, Daughter of F/O K Bowen-Bravery CdG DFC Mrs Pamela Watkin, Daughter of F/L A W Browne DFC RCAF |
- |
Issue 70 (July 2018)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 70 | July | 2018 | Reports on events in Belgium in 2018; information on forthcoming events. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | July 2018 Newsletter | This newsletter gives details about the Annual Reunion and includes a Booking Form. It is important that bookings are sent to Andrew Etherington as soon as possible but no later than Friday 24th August. In addition, there is an important "GDPR" Form for all members to complete and return so that the Association can comply with recent legislation concerning the use of personal information. | - | - | This year marks the 75th anniversary of the formation of 550 Squadron and the Association continues to thrive as the families of air and ground crew become members and attend our events. This success would not have been possible without the warm welcome afforded newcomers by those who served at North Killingholme and the sense of community they created. Similarly, the support of family and friends in enabling former Squadron members to attend the Annual Reunion in recent years has been a pleasure to observe. | - | - | In this newsletter you will find an article by Jack Harris entitled "The Ages of 550 Aircrew" and a piece by Kathleen Robinson about the Garden Village in North Killingholme, created during World War One. Other than news about the Annual Reunion there is a report about recent ceremonies in Belgium, the unveiling of an Information Board in Holland, news about Remembrance Weekend 2018 and an item about how 550 is contributing to modern-day scientific research. | - | ANNUAL REUNION 2018 | North Killingholme | Annual Reunion Date - Friday 7th and Saturday 8th September 2018.
The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum followed by a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, a Lancaster flypast and short Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone. The Service continues at St. Denys' Church and is followed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening. |
- | - | Booking | Please complete and return your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 24th August 2018 to Andrew Etherington, "Royston", Thorn Road, Marden, Kent, TN129EJ
Tel: 01622 832995 Email: andreweth@btinternet.com Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2018 |
- | - | Booking Form (PDF format) |
/documents/public/newsletters/2018/Reunion2018-BookingForm.pdf |
- | - | Booking Form (Word format) |
/documents/public/newsletters/2018/Reunion2018-BookingForm.docx |
- | - | The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the many groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion. | - | - | Programme, Fri 7th Sept | A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00pm. There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £16.95 or three courses for £20.95 per person. Indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form | - | - | Programme, Sat 8th Sept | A Lancaster flypast has been approved and we have requested 2.00pm but will not receive notification of the actual time from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight until a few weeks before the reunion. As ever, any change to the time of the flypast may mean alterations to the afternoon's schedule. Our preferred timetable is: (see right) |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=MEMO2018 |
- | Programme, Sat 8th Sept - Reunion Dinner | Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30pm and is a three course meal at £27.95 per head. Menu options are given on the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel pay at the end of the meal. | - | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay and remember to quote "550" to receive a discounted rate. The "550" rate, across all room types, is £80 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double and £70 for single occupancy. | - | - | - | The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. | - | - | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | Other Accommodation | Possible alternatives to the Ashbourne Hotel are:
The Amethyst Hotel, Townside, East Halton, Immingham, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN40 3NS. Telephone: 01469 540205 Church Farm Guest House, Immingham Road, Habrough, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 3DB. Telephone: 01469 576190. Website: http://www.churchfarm-guesthouse.com/ The Old Chapel Hotel, 50 Station Road, Habrough, Immingham, DN40 3AY. Telephone 01469 572377 The Yarborough Arms, Killingholme Road, Ulceby, North East Lincolnshire, DN39 6TZ. Telephone 01469 588383 or Mary on 07876 147182. Website: http://www.yarborougharms.co.uk/ |
- | - | - | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites. Please note that not all establishments are listed.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website: http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com/ There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website: http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
- | - | Travel Arrangements | North Killingholme is approximately 8 miles from Humberside Airport and a 45 minute drive from Robin Hood Airport.
The nearest station to North Killingholme is Habrough. This is on the Doncaster to Cleethorpes line and is approximately 3 miles from North Killingholme. Please note that not all trains stop at Habrough although the majority do stop at Barnetby, 9 miles from North Killingholme. A taxi from Habrough station to North Killingholme should cost in the region of £10 and from Barnetby £18-20 (prices quoted in June 2018). Local firms include Fred's Cars (01469 577100) and Mick's Cars (01469 571159). Placebook Private Hire (01469 541600) is based in North Killingholme and therefore may be slightly cheaper. By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the new roundabout. Take the second exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. St Denys' Church is on the left and immediately opposite is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the Hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left. Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park The Amethyst Hotel is in East Halton, approximately 1.5 miles from North Killingholme. There is ample free parking. Please do not park on Lancaster Approach other than to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. Off-road parking is available at John Somerscales Ltd (approximately 200 yards from the Memorial Stone on the right) but as the site is used by a number of hauliers please do not block in other vehicles. |
- | CEREMONIES IN BELGIUM | - | Six members of the Association attended the three ceremonies that took place at the end of May to commemorate 550 crews that crashed in Belgium. We receive wonderful support from the groups in Belgium and thank them all for their warm welcome and unwavering dedication to RAF aircrew. Representatives of many civil and military authorities in Belgium attended the ceremonies and we also wish to place on record our appreciation for their support. | - | - | Rebecq: Wednesday 23 May | At the ceremony in Rebecq for the P/O Purney crew who were shot down in JA712 BQ-H on 27/28 May 1944, local school children placed crosses in memory of both the aircrew and villagers who lost their lives as a consequence of the crash. While staying in the area, members of the 550 group visited a local museum dedicated to the Belgian Resistance. |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemoration-2018.php |
- | Sint-Niklaas: Saturday 26 May | In St. Niklaas, a memorial plaque was unveiled beside the graves of the crew of Lancaster LL851 BQ-V (P/O Dukelow) that crashed on 22 May 1944. Details about the crew and the crash are shown on the plaque in English and Flemish and school children placed flowers in memory of those who died. Members of the Bruty (Sgt D S Bruty) and Jarvis (Sgt, S A Jarvis) families travelled to attend the ceremony. |
/pages/550-sqdn-sint-niklaas-commemoration-2018.php |
- | Westerlo: Sunday 27 May | This year marked the 20th anniversary of events in Westerlo commemorating F/O Hinde and the other crew members aboard Lancaster DV309 BQ-S that crashed on 21/22 May 1944. Transport from the church to the Memorial Stone is provided by a convoy of military vehicles and as part of the ceremony local children told the story of the crew in Flemish and English. |
/pages/550-sqdn-westerlo-commemoration-2018.php |
- | Other | While in Belgium, Peter and Sally Coulter took the opportunity to visit the other 550 crash sites at Berinzenne. |
/pages/550-sqdn-berinzenne-commemoration-2018.php |
- | - | And also Jalhay. |
/pages/550-sqdn-jalhay-commemoration-2018.php |
- | Other | Photographs of 550 memorials in the UK and Europe can be found at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-memorials.php |
CEREMONIES IN THE NETHERLANDS | Information Board, Oude IJsselstreek, Holland | Squadron Leader G S Smith DFC and his crew failed to return from a raid to Sterkrade in Germany on 16/17 June 1944. The aircraft, ME840, crashed near Aalten in Holland and the flight engineer, F/O R (Roy) Kay, was the sole survivor (see Newsletter No. 65). An Information Board was unveiled close to the crash site on 8th June which shows the crew's names and the exact location of the crash. The Association would like to thank Jacques Ploeger who has responded to requests from relatives and worked with the local authorities to have the board erected in memory of the crew. |
/pages/550-sqdn-oude-ijsselstreek-commemoration-2018.php |
- | - | The Association has a considerable amount of information about S/Ldr G S Smith and other members of the crew. It can be found at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderGSSmith/index.php |
THE AGES OF 550 AIRCREW | SOME THOUGHTS BY JACK HARRIS | Most people think that the aircrew on 550 Squadron were single and very young, most probably in their early twenties. This was not always the case, particularly with flight engineers who often spent several years in RAF ground trades, especially engine fitters, before they volunteered for, and were accepted, as flight engineers. Consequently, they were well above the usual aircrew entry age. "Senior" flight engineers on 550 were:
Sgt. E T "Ted" Smith, F/E with F/L E S Allen killed on 13 February 1945 after a collision with a 300 Squadron near Wragby, Lincolnshire: he was aged 42. Sgt. "Pop" Adley, F/E with P/O R A Tapsell, 8/44 to 5/45, was over 40. Sgt.Hartley, F/E with F/O M D Hayes, killed on 4/5/April 1945 was aged 36. |
- | - | Not all older aircrew were flight engineers. Sgt. Alec Bentley, R/G with F/L J Harris did his first op with 550 on 12 September 1944 three days after his 36th birthday. He was married with two children. The conscription age at the beginning of the war was eighteen but it was gradually increased and by 1943/44 men in their thirties were called up. | - | - | Pilots could be much younger. Recruiting Offices were not fussy about birth certificates and some were accepted age seventeen. After a stiff medical exam and Aircrew Selection Board, the pilot training sequence was:
2 weeks at Aircrew Reception Centre (attestation, service number, uniform, innoculations, drill) 8 weeks at Initial Training Wing (all ground school-meteorology, navigation, principles of flight, morse code, guns) 8 weeks at Elementary Flying School (Tiger Moths) 8 weeks at Service Flying Training School (Oxfords or Battles) 10 weeks at Operational Training Unit (Wellingtons, Whitleys, Hampdens or Blenheims) |
- | - | Leaves between courses added another 6 or 7 weeks and, at the beginning of the war, the RAF in the UK was restricted to grass airfields and soft ground in winter caused long delays with airfields out of action. | - | - | Aircrew sent to Canada for flying training had to add a further 6 or 7 weeks to the training period because they had to sail across the Atlantic twice and spend time at Embarkation and then Disembarkation Units in England and Canada. On the other hand the airfields in Canada were all brand new and had runways while many were on the prairies with good flying weather and no enemy interruptions so flying hours could be accumulated in a shorter time. | - | - | Coming back to the UK, pilots and navigators needed further training to re-adjust from flying conditions in Canada to those in England and north-west Europe. Night flying in Canada was easy as, with no black-out, towns and cities were ablaze with light. In England everything was dark. For day flying there were big differences; in Canada railway lines were scarce, just the main Canadian Pacific east-west line and a few branch lines; in England railways were everywhere. In Canada, rivers and lakes were huge while in England they could be miniscule. Large forests in Canada had distinctive firebreaks where power and telephone lines crossed them and these firebreaks were marked on maps and provided good navigation aids. In England woods and forests were small with no firebreaks. There were no Gee (navigation aid) chains in Canada and navigators had to get used to the Geebox. | - | - | It meant that pilots and navigators coming back from Canada had to spend 4 or 5 weeks at an Advanced Flying Unit in England to get used to European conditions. At the end of 1942 when the four-engined Halifax and Lancaster bombers started on squadrons, pilots and navigators and all the other aircrew had to spend one month flying the Halifax at a Heavy Conversion Unit followed by two weeks at a Lancaster Finishing School to become operational on the Lancaster. | - | - | Even with these extra courses, pilots and navigators could join 550 Squadron in 1944 soon after their nineteenth birthdays. | - | - | Our thanks go to Jack Harris OBE DFC for contributing this item. | - | THE GARDEN VILLAGE IN NORTH KILLINGHOLME | - | 550 Squadron Association members sometimes ask me "why Garden Village?" and "is it a separate village to North Killingholme?"
The answer is that Garden Village lies within the Parish of North Killingholme and came into existence during the First World War, probably around 1916/17, the date is uncertain. The Old Vicarage which stands in the middle of the village was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as the Officers' Mess for officers and pilots of the Royal Naval Air Service base which is approximately two miles away on the banks of the River Humber. |
- | - | The entrance to Garden Village from East Halton Road, or Top Road as we still call it here, was in fact the private driveway to the Vicarage. On either side of this, land was requisitioned and building began. There is a small row of old bungalows across the bottom of the site which were built as "Cook Houses". They may have housed the cooks who serviced the Officers' Mess or could have been the kitchens but I think the former is most likely as there would have been quite a substantial kitchen in the Vicarage at that time. | - | - | A large block of flats was built nearer the roadside to house pilots and officers.
Some of you who have been visiting the village for some time may remember it. It was quite a large, dark looking building. The accommodation at the time it was built was far superior to the houses in the village. It had its own water supply from a water tower and possibly flushing toilets as there was a sewerage bed in the field opposite. Mains sewerage did not come to the village until the 1960s. This building together with the Vicarage was also used by the Americans in 1918 as the RAF men had been moved out to Habrough House, the large house opposite the church at Habrough. |
- | - | The photograph above was taken in 1917 by Flt Sub Lt Denis Holcombe Carey, a RNAS pilot stationed at Killingholme. It looks as if the flats were under construction at this time as there don't appear to be any windows.
After the war the whole lot was sold off and came into private hands. The officers' accommodation block was turned into self-contained flats. A shop was included and during World War Two was run by Mrs Witty. Land at each side of the flats was turned into allotments and the centre grassed area was possibly a village green. The flats remained until about 16 years ago when they were finally pulled down and Garden Village as we all know it now was built. |
- | - | An American wrote in the camp magazine "The Fly Paper" that "Killingholme is about the best equipped station as regards the comforts of the men that I have yet come across. Stone houses, paved streets, excellent bathing and scrubbing facilities, electric lights etc - Some Place!" I don't know if this was a bit tongue in cheek or if he really meant it!! | - | - | I do not know if it was the British or Americans who named the site "Garden Village" but that is its history. | - | - | Our thanks go to Kathleen Robinson for contributing this fascinating story. | - | OTHER NEWS | Remembrance Weekend 2018 | Please note in your diaries Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2018. Our programme in November includes an informal meal in the "Fork and Spoon" at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening at 7.45pm and there is likely to be an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone, including a two minutes silence at 11.00am, and then St. Denys' Church will be followed by a three course carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. | - | - | General Data Protection Regulation | There has been considerable publicity in the UK recently about new data protection legislation and you need to complete and return the form included with this newsletter to give us permission to contact you. Members based outside the UK/EU do not have to complete the GDPR Form but may wish to do so in order that we know their preferences in respect of sharing personal information. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2018/July2018-GDPR-Form.pdf |
- | International Bomber Command Centre - Lincoln | We recommend a trip to the highly impressive International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln but please note it is closed on Mondays other than Bank Holidays. The formal opening ceremony took place on a very wet day in April and 550 aircrew were in attendance. In addition to the Spire and the highly evocative Walls of Names that list nearly 58,000 casualties, the Chadwick Centre houses state of the art exhibitions about Bomber Command. There is a Peace Garden, a café and shop as well as a digital archive of personal accounts from a wide variety of sources. | - | - | - | The site is now open to the public six days a week (closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays) and the address is: International Bomber Command Centre, Canwick Hill, Lincoln, LN4 2RF. The telephone number is 01522 514755 and the website can be found at (see right). Admission and parking charges apply, with the usual range of concessions. |
http://internationalbcc.co.uk |
- | 550 Contributes to Scientific Research | We were pleased and not a little surprised to receive an email recently from Professor Christopher Scott at Reading University. He explained that he is a space physicist specialising in the study of the Earth's ionosphere and has recently been investigating the influence of ground-based explosions on the ionosphere (the electrified regions of the Earth's atmosphere at altitudes above 100 km). He has used some unique ionospheric records taken at the Radio Research Station in Slough (who's Director, Robert Watson-Watt developed radar) to investigate how the ionosphere varied during the intensive bombing of Europe by the RAF during the latter stages of World War Two. Professor Scott wrote "your website has been invaluable in determining the exact time of some of the main bombing raids and I would very much like to acknowledge your contribution to the research". He will send us a copy of his manuscript when completed and we will happily loan it to any member who would like to read it. | - | - | It's been a while | Pilot Edgar Pickles, "B" Flight Commander between January and May 1945, visited the UK in April to attend the opening of the International Bomber Command Centre and took the opportunity to meet up with his navigator, Peter Spindler (seated on the left) for the first time in 72 years. The photograph to the right shows them poring over some of Peter's scrapbooks and notes from their operations together. | - | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter: F/Sgt W. A. "Bill" Swan - Flight Engineer 2/45 - 8/45 |
- | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - |
Issue 69 (April 2018)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 69 | April | 2018 | Information on events in 2018; news about a new Memorial Stone in Belgium. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | April 2018 Newsletter | This newsletter contains details about three ceremonies in Belgium arranged for May and preliminary information about the Annual Reunion along with advance notice of the options for next year's reunion dates. There is also an article by Jack Harris about the F/O K Bowen-Bravery crew who were awarded a collective Croix de Guerre for their part in D-Day. | - | - | This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the RAF and you will find a piece by Kathleen Robinson about RNAS Killingholme which opened in 1914 and became a USNAS base in 1918 after the United States had entered the war the previous year. Also included is an item from Ole Seberg who has updated an article that originally appeared in the Grimsby Telegraph about the W/O W H S Ansell crew who crashed on 29/30 August 1944. Ole regularly attends reunions and tends the grave of F/Sgt. G W Battersby, the only member of the crew whose body was found. In addition, there is a report on Remembrance Weekend 2017, news about developments at the highly impressive International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln and an appeal for help to any members who may be able to spare a little time to help run the Association. | - | - | The "News from Tunbridge Wells" is that Jack had a slight stroke at the end of October but is recovering well although taking things a little easier than previously. He and Angela continue to play bridge 3-4 times a week and he has researched and written the Bowen-Bravery article for this newsletter as well as sifting through his archive for future items. With regret, he feels it wise not to travel to Belgium in May but plans to be at North Killingholme in September, a few weeks short of his 98th birthday. | - | CEREMONIES IN BELGIUM | Three ceremonies in May 2018 | There are three ceremonies in May 2018 to commemorate 550 crews who crashed in Belgium. As ever, we are grateful for the fantastic support we receive from the individuals and groups concerned. There is a strong bond of friendship and solidarity between us that spans national borders and a warm welcome is assured for anyone connected with 550 who attends | - | Rebecq: Wednesday 23 May | Many of those travelling to Rebecq will wish to arrive the day before the ceremony and there is an informal evening meal arranged on Tuesday 22 May. We have used the Hostellerie Au Coeur Du Spinois for a number of years and a discounted 550 room rate may be available. On 23 May the ceremony in memory of the P/O Purney crew who were shot down in JA712 BQ-H on 27/28 May 1944 will take place at 10.00 at the Rebecq Memorial, Chemin du Stoquois 27, 1430 Rebecq. It will be followed by a Reception at 11.30 and then lunch. For those staying longer, Wilfred Burie is hosting dinner on Thursday 24 May. | - | Sint-Niklaas: Saturday 26 May | A ceremony will take place on 26 May to commemorate the crew of Lancaster LL851 BQ-V (P/O Dukelow) that crashed on 22 May 1944. Those attending will meet at the entrance to Tereken Municipal Cemetery at 10.00 and assemble at the graves at 10.30. The inauguration of the Memorial Stone will take place at 11.00 and the Service ends at 12.00 midday. This will be followed at 12.45 by a cold lunch at Hotel Serwir, Astridlaan, Sint-Niklaas (pay 25 Euros on the day). Places must be booked by no later than 19 May. | - | Westerlo: Sunday 27 May | This year marks the 20th anniversary of events in Westerlo commemorating F/O Hinde and the other crew members aboard Lancaster DV309 BQ-S that crashed on 21/22 May 1944. There is a tribute to the crew at Schoonselhof Cemetery in Antwerp on the afternoon of 26 May followed by dinner in the evening. On Sunday 27 May there is a Church Service at 10.30 followed by a Service at the Memorial Stone at 12.00 midday. This is followed by a Reception and lunch at 1.00pm in the Polyvalente room. | - | Coordinating Arrangments | George Turner is liaising with the groups in Belgium and coordinating arrangements on behalf of the Association so please contact him if you would like more information about any of the events or intend travelling to Belgium. If you would like to order a wreath from the British Legion George can do so on your behalf. Alternatively, you are welcome to lay your own flowers or other personal tributes. George can be contacted on 01469 540228 or 07811454105 or by email him at geowturner@gmail.com |
- | ANNUAL REUNION 2018 | North Killingholme | Please note that this year's Annual Reunion will take place on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September.
As you may recall, the reason for changing the date of the Annual Reunion from July to September each year was to maximise the chances of securing a Lancaster flypast by coinciding our event with the Scampton Airshow. Although the show has unfortunately been cancelled this year we are delighted to announce that our application for a Lancaster flypast on Saturday 8th September has been successful. We have requested 2.00pm but the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will not confirm a time until a few weeks before the reunion. Any flypast is subject to the weather, serviceability and operational requirements although the BBMF has always done its best to fit in with our schedule. |
- | - | - | You can book rooms at the Ashbourne Hotel for the nights of 7 and 8 September by contacting them using the details below and quoting "550" to qualify for a discounted rate across all room types, including single occupancy.
The Ashbourne contact details are: Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | Newsletter No.70 will contain detailed information about the programme and a Booking Form. | - | 550 OPENS THE NORMANDY INVASION | A CREW RECEIVES A COLLECTIVE CROIX De GUERRE | The five beaches selected for the Normandy Invasion landings were called Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah. The British and Canadian troops landed on the first three; Americans the last two. The Germans had set up ten heavy gun batteries whose fields of fire covered these beaches and posed a big threat to the Allied ships mounting the invasion. These guns had to be put out of action. | - | - | There were other gun batteries along the Channel coast from the Pas de Calais to Cherbourg. In May and early June 1944 Bomber Command attacked these batteries on thirteen nights taking care to spread the attacks as widely as possible to avoid giving the Germans clues on likely invasion areas. | - | - | The Allied Landings took place at dawn on 6 June 1944 and on the night of 5/6 June Bomber Command was given the task of attacking the ten batteries which posed the biggest threat to the ships approaching the Invasion beaches. Bomber Command sent 1012 aircraft to bomb these batteries, approximately 70-100 aircraft to each battery. Nine of these batteries were attacked an hour or two before dawn. There was a special circumstance with Utah Beach which was at the western end of the Normandy Beaches but situated on the eastern side of the Cherbourg Peninsula where American troops were to land. The land behind Utah Beach was very low-lying and the Germans had flooded large areas. The only exits inland from Utah Beach were a number of raised embankments or causeways constructed and manned by the Germans. The plan was for two American Airborne Divisions to drop paratroops into the Cherbourg Peninsula about midnight on 5 June so that they could take control of the exits from Utah Beach before the dawn landings. | - | - | Utah Beach was protected by a heavy gun battery at Crisbecq (also known as the St. Marcouf Battery) which was equipped with six powerful 210mm guns with a range of twenty miles plus flak guns for protection. The battery was manned by a mixed force of 300 men, the German Navy looking after the big guns and the Luftwaffe responsible for flak guns. | - | - | The Bomber Command raid on Crisbecq had to take place just before midnight on 5 June to safeguard the American paratroops. 550 Squadron was part of the Bomber Command attack and sent off 18 Lancasters between 21.10 and 21.31 on 5 June each carrying 11x1000lb and 4x500lb bombs. The bombers crossed the English Channel coast at Bridport (west of Weymouth) outbound and flew over a cloud covered sea to the north and east of Cherbourg. The crews had been told not to jettison bombs over the sea because of the invasion ships which the crews could see through the occasional gap in the clouds. There was 10/10 cloud over the target with cloud tops at 5000ft but flying at 9000-10,000ft crews bombed on the glow of red target indicators visible through the cloud. Flak over the target was negligible but the return route took the bombers close to the Channel Islands (under German occupation) where some flak guns opened up. All 550 aircraft landed between 01.16 and 02.35 at North Killingholme. 598 tons of bombs had been dropped on Crisbecq and post war research revealed that all the flak guns on site had been destroyed and many men killed. The big guns were protected by thick concrete casemates which 1000lb bombs could not penetrate. The guns were silenced by the destruction of their target finding radar and the loss of electrical and control facilities. Soon after bombing, the gun site was attacked by American paratroops. | - | - | Post raid analysis by Bomber Command showed that the crew of F/O Bowen-Bravery flying LL811 "J-Jig" with the nose art of "Bad Penny" were the first to bomb Crisbecq at 23.34 and had opened up the Normandy Invasion attack.
The crew of "Bad Penny" were: F/O K Bowen-Bravery Pilot Sgt. L G Thompson Flight Engineer P/O G E Thomas Navigator Sgt. J G Fyffe Bomb Aimer Sgt. A Cleghorn Wireless Operator Sgt. R R Thompson Air Gunner Sgt. A Bodill Air Gunner |
- | - | It is believed that the French Authorities put the crew forward for an award in 1944 or 1945 but this did not materialise until June 1986 (42 years after the event) when the Bowen-Bravery crew were awarded a Collective Croix de Guerre. A wall shield was placed in St. Denys' Church, North Killingholme in September 1990. | - | - | Soon after the Bowen-Bravery crew finished their first tour in Bomber Command at the end of June 1944, both F/O K Bowen-Bravery and P/O G E Thomas were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Our thanks go to Jack Harris OBE DFC for contributing this article. |
- | A NIGHT IN AUGUST 1944 | In Newsletter No.68 we had an item sent in by Roy Parker titled "What Remembrance Day Means to Me" which referred to Roy's eldest brother, Sgt. Ernest William Parker. This article also relates to Sgt. Ernest William Parker and the last sortie of Lancaster EE193 BQ-C from 550 Squadron. | - | - | More than 70 years ago, on the night of 29/30 August 1944, a fierce battle was fought over Danish territory between English bombers and German night fighters. Ten English aircraft crashed in Denmark or Kattegat. One met its fate in Store B?lt. It is 21.19 on Tuesday night 29 August 1944 when the heavily loaded huge four-engined Lancaster EE193 BQ-C is thundering along the runway to take off from North Killingholme airbase, north of Grimsby, heading for Stettin. The bomber is the last of 16 planes from 550 squadron to take off. It is the crew's 14th sortie since joining 550 Squadron on 26 June 1944. The flight to Stettin is long, nine hours, and the aircraft's deadly load consists of a 4000lb cookie, 60 30lb bombs plus 750 incendiaries. The attack on Stettin is the second in just two weeks. |
- | - | Over the North Sea EE193 and the other aircraft from the squadron join the other 402 Lancaster bombers and the single Mosquito headed for the target. The aircraft are ordered to maintain absolute radio silence and to stay at a height of only 2000ft until reaching the Danish coast, where they are supposed to ascend to operational height. Having crossed Danish territory the Lancasters were supposed to cross into Swedish airspace and turn south towards Stettin. The violation of Swedish territory was chosen to minimise losses on the long outward leg to the target. The flight across the North Sea is event free. The cloud cover is dense just after take-off but dissolves partly over Denmark. Almost simultaneously with the attack on Stettin 189 Lancasters from 5 Group are on their way to K?nigsberg. These planes took off one hour earlier than the planes headed for Stettin and have succeeded in passing over Denmark into Swedish airspace almost unscathed. However, they alerted the German airdefence, which is now ready to attack the next bomber stream close to midnight as it passes the coast of Jutland. Additionally, the bombers headed for Stettin breached radio-silence when using their navigation radars. Some of the planes have even had their position lights on almost all the way up to the Danish coast to avoid mid-air collision. |
- | - | Two Lancasters are attacked by night-fighters that have taken off from Grove (Karup) airbase to attack the bomber stream even before it reaches Danish territory. One of them goes down in flames near F?rby and is completely destroyed. Over Denmark the sky is ominously illuminated by flares released by German night fighters. On their path across Jutland three more bombers are shot down and several are engaged in combat. The fighting continues over Kattegat where two bombers ditch into the sea near the island of Anholt. A third Lancaster is hit but manages to reach the east coast of Jutland between Ingerslev and Estruplund where it explodes as it hits the ground. Shortly after midnight the first bombers reach Swedish territory chased by German fighters. At the same time Swedish anti-aircraft fire becomes active but the fuses are deliberately set to explode at low altitude. Combat continues in Swedish airspace and the bomber stream is stretched from the east coast of Denmark and deep into Sweden. Five more Lancasters crash on Swedish ground but a large number of the crews manage to escape. A lone Lancaster is even attacked north-west of the island Bornholm by a night fighter and is seriously damaged. | - | - | Bombing was planned to take place from a height of 18,000-20,000ft but visibility at the target is bad and therefore the Master Bomber, codename Basement 12,000, instructs the bombers to go down below the clouds to drop the bombs. Unfortunately, this radio transmission was jammed or believed to be a German attempt to trick the bombers, including those of 550 squadron, and they remain at the scheduled height and jettison their bomb load using reflections from the markers through the cloud cover as target indicators. As the planes attack Stettin from different heights, bombs and incendiaries from the high flying bombers hit the bombers below. However, the Master Bomber has done a perfect job, and the red and green markers are right on target. As a result the attack is precise and the northern suburbs of Stettin that have hitherto not been hit are damaged. A German attempt to deceive the bombers by setting up phoney markers 10 miles away was in vain. In the pale moonlight the docks are clearly visible and further to the west the residential quarters. The ships in the harbour are anchored as if a new attack was not expected. The AA is horrendous - it is an incredible sight! The searchlights are moving back and forth in the sky in their constant search for targets, tracers illuminate the sky and bombers are hit and fall to the ground as coloured fireballs. The smoke from the burning city reaches 14,000ft. Thousands lose their lives and 32 factories are laid in ruins. A ship is sunk in the harbour and at least seven damaged. | - | - | Two bombers crash near the target and en route over southern Sweden two further Lancasters, badly damaged over the target, also crash. Over Danish territory the bombers are attacked again, not only by night fighters from Grove but also from fighters brought in from Schleswig. Nearly all the planes pass over Denmark unharmed, except for one that crashes near Dejberg and another that crashes near Karup, both having been shot down in flames by night fighters. A lone Lancaster is even chased over the North Sea, but escapes. However, EE193 does not make it home either but is forced down in Store B?lt in all likelihood killing the whole crew except the 24-year-old flight engineer F/Sgt. G W Battersby. He would have been fairly close to the front escape hatch and may have managed to get clear of the falling plane. At least he is the only crew member that was ever found, drifting ashore dead on the west coast of Reers?. The other members of the crew are the pilot, W/O W H S Ansell, navigator C R Cameron (RCAF), bomb aimer F/O H I R Hood, radio operator Sgt. A Anderson, mid-upper gunner Sgt. E W Parker and tail gunner Sgt. O Tabuteau. |
- | - | We will never know the fate of EE193 BQ-C for sure, but it is highly likely the Lancaster was attacked by a night-fighter that had taken off from Grove (Karup) airbase to attack the bomber stream. According to a Danish Newspaper published a day after, the air raid alarm sounded in Kalundborg, North of Reers? at around midnight due to an approaching bomber. EE193 was still heading for Stettin with its full bomb load when it was attacked by a German night fighter and from what is known it is assumed that EE193 exploded mid-air and crashed in Store B?lt. From the Luftwaffe archives the loss of EE193 is listed at 00.31 hours, shot down by a Junkers 88 flown by Herbert Gieseke from Nachtjagdgeschwader 3. A total of 23 Lancasters were lost during the night. F/Sgt. Battersby's body was found washed ashore on 4 September and the local association of fishermen collected money for a coffin so that he could get a decent burial. He was buried on 6 September at 6 am ? a very unusual time of the day (to avoid attracting attention) and the Germans allowed only the vicar, Glenth?j, and the sexton to be present at the funeral. Despite this a larger group of people from the small fishing community gathered outside the graveyard to give Battersby the final honours. |
- | - | The rest of the crew were never found and neither was the aircraft. The crew is commemorated at Runnymede Memorial near Windsor in England, as are the 20,000 other members of the Royal Air Force who lost their lives during the Second World War and have no known grave. Our thanks go to Ole Seberg for contributing this article, which has been updated since it was originally published in the Grimsby Telegraph on the 8th June 2008. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_roll_of_honour.php?value=extended&aircraft=EE193 |
- | The family of Sgt. Ernest William Parker would appreciate any information Association members can give about the 29/30 August 1944 raid on Stettin or about the crew of EE193 BQ-C. Unfortunately we have been unable to track down any images of the EE193 BQ-C crew. | - | - | Further information about the W/O W.H.S. Ansell crew can be found at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/EE193/index.php |
RAF 100 | FLYING FROM KILLINGHOLME IN WORLD WAR ONE | The RAF marked the 100th anniversary of its formation on 1st April 2018. The Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps were merged in 1918 and all who had signed up for the RNAS became members of the Royal Air Force. | - | - | What many people may not know is that a Royal Naval Air Service station was opened in North Killingholme in early 1914 just before the outbreak of World War One. It was situated on the Humber Bank at North Killingholme Haven close to the Admiralty Oil Deport and pier. The old vicarage in the village was put into use as the Officers' Mess and a large accommodation block was built in what is now known as Garden Village to house officers and staff. At its height there were around 1,000 men serving at the base at any one time. It became one of the largest bases, if not the largest, in Lincolnshire. Three slipways out into the river meant that not only seaplanes were flown but also land planes from the grass runway on site. At the outbreak of war RNAS Killingholme was not only placed on an operational war footing but played a very important part in training mechanics and pilots. It was an Air Acceptance base and aircraft were delivered to the base by road and rail where assembly and testing took place prior to distribution to other bases by ferry pilots. Any aircraft that failed a flight test were either repaired or broken down for spare parts. Killingholme was also used as an aircraft storage site for assembled planes awaiting delivery. |
- | - | The Unit Commander Kenneth Whiting sailed into Immingham Dock on the USS Jason on the
1 June 1918, together with cases of aeroplane parts and perhaps more importantly to the men, their baseball equipment. In total around 1300 Americans served at North Killingholme and this is the only time that the Stars and Stripes has flown over the village. When the Armistice was declared in November 1918, the Americans went home and the base was taken back by the RAF and closed in early 1919. |
- | - | North Killingholme's "flying" connection with Canada and Australia began in this period: Flt Sub Lt Arnold Bonnell Massey, born Toronto 1897, served at RNAS Killingholme before being transferred to Catfirth in the Shetlands. Flt Sub Lt Andrew John Boddy, born 1892 in Toronto, lost his life on 27 April 1916 when the paddle steamer "Killingholme" was torpedoed by a U boat in the North Sea. The Killingholme was used as a seaplane carrier. Flt Lt Sydney Pickles. born 1894 Sydney, New South Wales. Chief test pilot for Short Bros and the Blackburn Aeroplane Co. who served at Killingholme as a test pilot for newly constructed aircraft. |
- | - | Photo by Kathleen Robinson. This photograph of the slipway out in the River Humber was taken in 2014 and is all that is left of the RNAS site. What tales it could tell!
This article was kindly supplied by Kathleen Robinson, North Killingholme. |
- | - | Further information about RNAS Killingholme, the First Yale Unit and the 2015 US television documentary about them entitled "The Millionaires' Unit" can be found on a number of websites: among them: |
http://www.forgottenairfields.com/united-kingdom/england/lincolnshire/killingholme-s1029.html |
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http://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/college-students-yale-unit.html |
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http://millionairesunit.org/home.php |
REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2017 | Our Remembrance Weekend programme | Our Remembrance Weekend programme in 2017 began with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening and continued on Sunday morning with an opportunity to visit the 550 Squadron Museum in the Village Hall. | - | - | Approximately 30 people met at the Memorial Stone for a short Service starting at 10.50 when wreaths were laid. The two minute silence followed at 11.00 before the group moved to St. Denys' Church. The Service concluded at midday and included a message from Jack Harris expressing his regret at being unable to attend. It was followed by a three course lunch at the Amethyst Hotel in East Halton. 100 Squadron could not provide a flypast due to circumstances beyond their control and Don Kentish passed on a message from Wing Commander Nick Badel, Officer Commanding 100 Squadron, expressing his "deepest regrets for not being able to honour our veterans and their families on such an important day." The meal finished at approximately 2.30. | - | - | We thank Rev. Paul Salmon and Mark Cuerton, the bugler, for their unstinting support of 550. | - | - | The dates for November 2018 appear later in the newsletter. | - | OTHER NEWS | Newsletter No.70 - Summer 2018 | Please note that due to the change in date of the Annual Reunion the next newsletter will be circulated in mid- July. It will contain information about the reunion and a Booking Form with a closing date towards the end of August. Please return your information as early as possible. | - | Remembrance Weekend 2018 | Further to the report earlier in this newsletter, please note in your diaries Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne Hotel at the discounted 550 rate on Saturday night but please book early as they have a function that evening and the hotel is likely to be busy. The programme will follow previous years' and start with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon on Saturday evening. We anticipate approaching 100 Squadron to request a flypast by one of their fast-fighter aircraft. | - | Scampton Airshow Announcement | This is the announcement that appeared on the Scampton Airshow website in December 2017 "As the organiser, we have concluded that rather than stage an airshow in 2018, we will use next year to fully consider the many lessons learnt with the ambition of running an event in 2019." The full statement can be found at (see link right): |
http://scamptonairshow.com/news/2017/dec/14/scampton-airshow-statement |
Annual Reunion 2019 | At its inception, the Scampton Airshow organisers indicated that they intended the show to take place on the second weekend in September each year. When the Association contacted their office last summer they were unable to provide us with a precise date, possibly because of the review they are undertaking (see above). If the show takes place in 2019, the issue we face is that the 1st September is a Sunday and consequently, the "second weekend" of the month can be interpreted as either 6/7 or the 13/14 September 2019. With the kind support of the Ashbourne Hotel we have these two weekends provisionally booked and will confirm the date of the Annual Reunion when the airshow situation is resolved. If there is no airshow we will do our best to ascertain the deployment of the Lancaster on both weekends and base our decision on the likelihood of it being within a reasonable flying distance of North Killingholme. The RAF Events Team and the BBMF have always supported 550 and sought to allocate other aircraft if the Lancaster has been unavailable |
- | International Bomber Command Centre - Lincoln | In 2016 and 2017 we were privileged to be afforded the opportunity of "preview" visits to the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln as construction work took place. Work is now complete and the site is open to the public six days a week (closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays). In addition to the Spire itself and the highly evocative Walls of Names, the Chadwick Centre houses state of the art exhibitions about Bomber Command. There is a Peace Garden, a café and shop as well as a digital archive of personal accounts from a wide variety of sources.
The address is: International Bomber Command Centre, Canwick Hill, Lincoln, LN4 2RF. The telephone number is 01522 514755 and the website can be found at [see link right]. Admission and parking charges apply, with the usual range of concessions. |
http://internationalbcc.co.uk |
Honorary Member - Patrick Otter | It was a long held ambition of the Association to publish the history of 550 Squadron and one which was finally realised with the publication last year of "Five Fifty - The Wartime Story of a Lancaster Squadron" written for us completely free of charge by highly acclaimed aviation author Patrick Otter. We are indebted to Patrick and are extremely pleased he has agreed to become an Honorary Member of the Association. | - | Five Fifty - The Wartime Story of a Lancaster Squadron | If you have yet to purchase "Five Fifty" it comprises 266 pages, nearly 100 photos and is available at a cost of £10 plus £5 postage and packing within the UK. Separate shipping arrangements are in place for delivery overseas. Order your copy by contacting Mike Leeman using the details given at the end of the newsletter. | - | Rebecq Memorial Association | The headquarters of the Rebecq Memorial Association has moved to 14, rue Saint-Marcoult, 7830 Silly, Belgium. Tel: +32 (0)68/286.466. The purpose and remit of the Association remains unchanged | - | Can You Help? | The Association is run entirely by members who give their time to enable the organisation to function effectively and we want to protect its future by adding to our pool of committee members and volunteers. If you can spare even a little time to help, your input will be greatly appreciated.
There is plenty to do as the Association organises two events a year (the Annual Reunion and Remembrance Weekend), runs a comprehensive and highly respected website, produces and distributes three newsletters annually, administers membership records, responds to requests for information about squadron personnel from family members and carries out the usual administrative functions expected of a voluntary organisation. In addition, there are partnerships with groups in Europe who have created memorials to 550 crews that crashed and our links with members in other parts of the world. For example, we have co-ordinators in northern America and Australia who stay in touch with members, distribute newsletters and generally spread the word about 550. This range of activities offers many opportunities for those who might feel able to contribute and enable the "Spirit of 550" to live on. If you think you can help in any way please contact us for an informal discussion using the details given at the end of this newsletter, we would love to hear from you. |
- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | We regret that the following have died since the last newsletter: Frank Bastin - Ground Crew - Dates Not Known Sgt. G. "George" Bulman Navigator 3/45 - 8/45 F/O S. P. "Steve" George DFC, DFM - Flight Engineer 11/44 - 4/45 F/O G. H. "Geoff" Packham - Pilot 5/44 - 6/44 |
- | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - |
Issue 68 (October 2017)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 68 | October | 2017 | Remembrance Weekend, 2017 Reunion report, 2018 diary. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | October 2017 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Sunday activities in North Killingholme next month. | - | - | - | Further details appear below and also in this edition is a personal perspective on the meaning of Remembrance Day by Roy Parker, an article by Jack Harris about Lancaster Operations by 1 Group squadrons between 1942-45 and a heart-warming story about former 550 Wireless Operator Bill Rate. There is also a report on the recent Annual Reunion, the dates for next year's event and a photograph of a member of the Royal Family enjoying a conversation with one of our members! | - | - | - | Jack was in excellent form at another highly successful Annual Reunion and leads the Association with considerable skill and vigour. He continues to play bridge a number of times a week and enjoyed a summer break in the Cotswolds with Angela and members of the family before returning home, sifting through his archive for items to be held at the 550 Museum and preparing his speeches for the reunion weekend. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND | North Killingholme 11th/12th November 2017 |
Our programme in November includes an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening and an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone, including a two minutes silence at 11.00am, and then St. Denys' Church will be followed by a three course carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. We have approached the Officer Commanding 100 Squadron to enquire about the possibility of a flypast by one of their fast-fighter aircraft during the course of the morning. | - | - | - | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel at the discounted "550" rate but we advise booking early as they have a function that evening.
The Ashbourne contact details are: Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | - | Settle your food and accommodation bill on departure. All arrangements are being made by Don and Val Kentish [...] Mobile 07757 722185 Email: dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk |
- | - | Saturday Evening 11th November | It is usual for a 550 group to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45 pm. in the Fork and Spoon and if you would like to join the group, please let Don and Val know by Friday 3rd November. Menu pre-selection is required for groups of 10 or more and Don or Val will contact you if this is necessary. | - | - | Sunday 12th November | Our provisional timetable, subject to the time of any flypast, is shown below. However, the two minutes silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone is a fixed point in our programme and will not be altered. We are pleased that Reverend Paul Salmon will be conducting our Services and hope he will be accompanied again by Mark, the bugler. | - | - | - | 09.30-10.30 - Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall
10.40 - Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach 10.52 - Service starts, conducted by Reverend Paul Salmon. 11.00 - Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. 11.05 - Move to St. Denys' Church. 11.20 - Church Service starts. 12.00 - Service ends. 12.30 - Three course carvery lunch plus tea/coffee/mints at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton.Pay £21.00 per head on the day. |
- | - | - | Please tell Don and Val if you are coming to lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton by Friday 3rd November 2017 as the hotel must have accurate numbers. | - | - | Flypast Notes, Sunday 12th November | As many members will be aware, 550 was formed from "C" Flight of 100 Squadron in November 1943. 100 Squadron is now a fast-fighter training unit flying Hawks and we have approached them to request a flypast on Remembrance Sunday. As ever, any flypast is subject to the weather and operational requirements and may mean adjustments to our timetable on Sunday morning. If you plan to join us and would like to know about any changes please contact Don and Val Kentish using the details given above. | - | REMEMBRANCE | WHAT REMEMBRANCE DAY MEANS TO ME | This item was sent to us by Roy Parker, brother of Sgt. E.W. Parker. | - | - | - | Remembrance Day means different things to different people, but to me it's a time of very deep sorrow. I remember clearly the day Dad got the telegram saying that my brother Ern (Sgt. Ernest William Parker) had been shot down over Germany. Ern was a mid-upper gunner in a Lancaster Bomber (BQ-C EE193) from 550 Squadron. The year was 1944 and I'd been working as a telegram boy at the Post Office, Whitechapel, London E1 for a couple of years and had delivered many telegrams to mothers and wives saying that their nearest and dearest had been killed fighting for their country. So it was heart-breaking when Dad got the message saying that Ern had lost his life while on a mission over Germany. It must have been devastating for Dad to go to Swaffham and tell Mum, who had been evacuated there along with my brothers Len, Pete, Rex and sister Iris. | - | - | - | On Remembrance Day I always think of those young boys, Ern was 19, climbing into those cold cheerless planes, knowing full well they may not return and that there were anti-aircraft guns and fighter planes waiting for them. But still they went and that was real bravery. | - | - | - | Ern was always my hero. I always remember he came home on leave one time and as night fell the Air-Raid Siren sounded and all the family made their way to the wet, cold shelter. "Aren't you coming?" I asked. "Oh no", Ern said, "If I'm going to die I want to be in my comfortable bed" | - | - | - | I found out via the Internet that Ern was shot down on his way to Stettin, a town in Poland close to the German border, on 30th August 1944. I often wonder what it would have been like in that Lancaster. With anti-aircraft shells bursting all around, the noise must have been deafening and I think of the smell of the smoke from the machine-guns as Ern desperately tried to ward-off the incoming night fighters. Did Ern think "this is not how I planned to die" when the bomber burst into flames, "this is not my nice comfortable bed in Romford". | - | - | - | Ern's body was never found. The badly burned body of the Flight Engineer, F/Sgt. G. W. Battersby, was washed ashore at Reerso Denmark, on the 4th September and he is buried in the village cemetery.
On Remembrance Day I always think of my brother Ernest. |
- | - | - | Our thanks go to Roy Parker for sharing his thoughts with us. Further information about the W/O W.H.S. Ansell crew can be found at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/EE193/index.php |
ANNUAL REUNION, SEPTEMBER 2017 | 2017 Reunion Report | The number of people attending the Annual Reunion for its new spot in September was extremely encouraging and the weather held up on Saturday afternoon after a brief shower shortly after we arrived at the Memorial Stone. There was considerable uncertainty about whether the Lancaster would be airworthy after much-publicised problems with the Merlin engines but to our delight it passed an air test on Saturday morning. The Annual Reunion timetable often seems to revolve around meals and the weekend began with 38 people attending the Friday evening dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel. The 550 Museum was open on Saturday morning and over 40 people enjoyed a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. |
- | - | - | After following the Immingham Air Training Corps Band from the Village Hall to Lancaster Approach, the sight and sound of the Lancaster provided an emotional mix of excitement, celebration and commemoration when flying at low level over the Memorial Stone just before the Service of Remembrance. Ildiko van Dyck from Westerlo sang superbly for us in St.Denys' Church and 84 people sat down for the Reunion Dinner on Saturday evening. Our Services were conducted by Rev. Paul Salmon and we extend our thanks to him for his ongoing support of 550. | - | - | - | Sales of "Five Fifty", the book written about 550 completely free of charge by renowned aviation author Patrick Otter, were extremely healthy and we thank him for signing copies on Saturday afternoon. We were pleased that he and his wife Eva were also able to join us at the Reunion Dinner. Before the meal, Chris Swan passed on a message from Bill, who was unable to travel this year, and Elizabeth Coulter read her poem "Respect", about her grandfather Jim Cassidy. A singing duo called Magic Moments performed after dinner and Jack rounded off the evening with a highly entertaining series of jokes. For those who have ever attended a Reunion Dinner, "Jack's Jokes" have always been a highlight and he did not disappoint. | - | - | - | On Sunday morning a group of 31 visited the highly impressive Spire and Memorial Walls at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln where building work is continuing apace and the Chadwick Building is close to completion. A 550 wreath was laid by Jack Harris, Wally Fitch and Edward Fleming and a copy of "Five Fifty" was presented by them to Dave Gilbert, representing the Centre. Those who had time stayed for an informal lunch at the Mill Lodge pub/restaurant opposite the entrance to the site. Find out more about the IBCC at: |
http://internationalbcc.co.uk |
- | - | People travelled from across the UK and elsewhere to attend the reunion. From Australia we were delighted to welcome the Fleming family (Edward, Clare and Lloyd) and Chris Swan, while Jos de Ryck, Ildiko van Dyck, William Albertyn, Denise Rammeloo and Wilfred Burie came from Belgium and Ole Seberg from Denmark. | - | - | - | This was the twenty fifth year of Annual Reunions held in North Killingholme and we are indebted to the people, groups and organisations who have contributed to the success of the event over the years. Long term supporters include the 866 (Immingham) Squadron Air Training Corps band and the group of volunteers who provide us with refreshments in North Killingholme Village Hall. We also appreciate greatly the commitment of the generations of clergy who have served us so well and the warm welcome we receive at the Ashbourne and Amethyst hotels. In addition, there have been innumerable individual contributions over the years and we can only thank those people for their goodwill in giving their time so freely in support of 550. | - | - | - | This goodwill has helped foster the sense of belonging we experience not only in the North Killingholme area but across Belgium, Denmark and elsewhere in northern Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA and through our "online" community. This year we celebrated a significant landmark and the "Spirit of 550" lives on. | - | - | - | Photographs of the Annual Reunion can be found on the 550 website at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunions.php |
- | - | The Grimsby Telegraph website includes video footage of the flypast and parts of the Service at the Memorial Stone. See: |
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/watch-world-famous-lancaster-bomber-451013#ICID=sharebar_whatsapp |
LANCASTER OPERATIONS | BY No.1 GROUP SQUADRONS 1942-45 | The Table below gives 1 Group losses for the period 1942-45. It shows 550 as having the second lowest loss rate at 1.6%. The only squadron with a lower loss rate was 170 Squadron at 1.3% but that was formed in October 1944 when conditions for the Bomber Command Main Force were easing. Also, 170 only took part in one third of the raids 550 flew and only 28% of the sorties. (Full details in newsletter.) |
- | ACROSS CONTINENTS | THE BILL RATE STORY | Rod Rate in Australia contacted us about his father, Bill (F/Sgt. W. G. Rate RAAF), who transferred from 100 Squadron to 550 on its formation in November 1943. Bill was Wireless Operator with the F/O J. O. Richard DFC RCAF crew and would have been 100 years old this year. Rod writes: I thought you might be interested in a story about my Dad. It goes like this: | - | - | - | While at Killingholme, Bill met the daughter of the English base commander. When he finished his tour sometime in 1945, he was sent to Italy to do training
work of some kind. We don?t know the details and neither did the daughter of the base commander, whom we have since found out, thought that he must have been killed. Neither made contact. Well, Bill returned home to Fremantle, Western Australia in early 1946 and recommenced building a family (I was born in 1941 before he joined the Air Force). He and my mother Jean had three girls and another boy. Mum died suddenly in 1981 and Bill lived alone at 416 Canning Highway (which he built before he went to war) on his own for the ensuing six years. Then one day, an amazing thing happened. |
- | - | - | Two ladies from Bill's lawn bowls club in Hilton near Fremantle were playing a slot machine in a casino in Las Vegas. An American speaking lady who was an employee of the casino and was on her way home, sat down beside them. | - | - | - | Shortly later she said "Where do you ladies come from?"
To which they replied "Australia". The American said "I can hear that, but where in Australia?" They said "Western Australia". To which the American said "Where in particular in Western Australia?" They replied "Fremantle". And the American said "Well I'm in fact British born but I married an American serviceman and we brought our four boys up here in Las Vegas. However, during the war, I was the daughter of the North Killingholme base commander and I met an Aussie from Fremantle called Bill Rate." And they said "He plays bowls at our lawn bowls club in Hilton"!!!! |
- | - | - | Well, they came home and got up in front of the mob at the Hilton Park Bowling Club and given that my mother Jean had been a long term bowler at the same club, as we say in Australia, "did him over". Bill went home and called the American lady who had given her details to the Aussies (her husband had also passed away) and invited her to come to Australia for a holiday. She came for three weeks and then returned to Las Vegas. The next year she returned and stayed for six months and took up lawn bowls with Bill. Then she went back to the US. The next year she returned to Oz and became our stepmother!!! | - | - | - | They had ten years together before Dad died in 1998 and she returned to the States. Unfortunately she passed away about two years later. So how about that for a crewman of 550 Squadron? Some of the detail may not be exactly correct but it is an incredible story don't you think? | - | - | - | Rod and his wife made contact with Archie Day and Tom Boyle from Bill's crew but would appreciate any information Association members can give about the others. They are F/O J. O. Richard DFC RCAF (Pilot), Sgt. R. W. Scott RCAF (A/B), Sgt. W. J. Carthew (MU/AG) and Sgt. T. J. Connaghan (R/AG).
Our thanks go to Rod Rate for sharing this incredible story with us. Photographs and information about Bill and the crew can be found at: |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOJORichard/index.php |
A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS | BBMF 60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS | The photograph below [see link right], dated 11th July 2017, was posted by the BBMF on its official Twitter account and features Maurice Snowball. The caption reads "HRH The Duke of Cambridge met with WWII Royal Air Force veterans to celebrate 60th Anniversary of the BBMF". |
/images/Reunion-2017/bbmf-20170711.jpg |
OTHER NEWS | Five Fifty - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron | If you have not yet ordered your copy of "Five Fifty" and would like to do so then please
contact Mike Leeman using the information at the end of this newsletter.
The book is 266 pages in length and contains nearly 100 photos. It can be collected over Remembrance Weekend and costs £10. Postage and packing is £5 within the UK and separate shipping arrangements have been put in place for delivery overseas. |
- | - | Annual Reunion 2018 | We can confirm the dates of next year's Annual Reunion as Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2018. This is the weekend of the Scampton Airshow and should give us a reasonable chance of securing a Lancaster flypast on Saturday afternoon. | - | - | Belgian Parade at the Cenotaph | In recognition of the strong links between the two countries, the Belgian Parade at the Cenotaph in London has taken place annually since 1934. This year Gilbert Beeckmans from the Rebecq Memorial Association and Wilfred Burie on behalf of 550 Squadron were invited to lay wreaths. The 550 wreath was laid in honour of crews from the squadron who were lost over Belgium. More information is available at: |
http://www.rebecqmemorial.eu/cenotaph.php |
- | The Belgians Remember Them | Partly as a result of attending the ceremony at the Cenotaph, Wilfred Burie has started a major project aimed at recording all the Bomber Command crashes in Belgium during the war. He spoke to several people about it at the Annual Reunion and if you would like him to contact you when the website is up and running please email him at: belgian.remember@gmail.com. |
http://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/ |
- | Newsletter | We welcome suggestions and contributions and always try to include material sent to us. Please send contributions to Don Kentish using the details given in the Remembrance Weekend section of this newsletter. | - | ANNOUNCEMENTS | Sad News | The following person has died since the last newsletter: P/O H. C. C. "Harry" Bontoft - Wireless Operator 1/45 - 3/45 |
- | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - |
Issue 67 (July 2017)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 67 | July | 2017 | Event information, reunion booking form, "Five Fifty" order form. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | July 2017 Newsletter | This newsletter gives details about the Annual Reunion and includes a Booking Form. It is important that bookings are sent to Andrew Etherington as soon as possible but no later than Friday 25th August. | - | - | - | It is apt that the 25th Annual Reunion in North Killingholme coincides with the publication of a book written by Patrick Otter and published by the Association entitled "Five Fifty - The wartime story of a Lancaster squadron". Both are significant landmarks for an organisation that continues to thrive and it is a tribute to Jack and the members of 550 Squadron that they have created the welcoming environment that attracts and retains the younger generations who today join the Association and attend its events. | - | - | - | Other than information about the reunion and details of how to obtain "Five Fifty", there is a poem entitled "A Toast to 550 Squadron", reports on ceremonies in Belgium and North Yorkshire and news about Remembrance Weekend 2017 and the Annual Reunion in 2018. | - | ANNUAL REUNION 2017 - NORTH KILLINGHOLME | Annual Reunion 2017 | Date - Friday 8th to Sunday 10th September 2017 | - | - | - | The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum followed by a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, a Lancaster flypast and Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone, a Service at St. Denys? Church and tea and cakes in the Village Hall. The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening. On Sunday there is a private tour for 550 members of the Memorial Spire and Walls at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln with the option of light refreshments or lunch at the Mill Lodge restaurant following the visit. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2017 |
- | - | Please complete and return your Booking Form, enclosed with this newsletter, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 25th August 2017 to Andrew Etherington, [...] Email: andreweth@btinternet.com, The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the many groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion. If enclosing a cheque please ensure it is made payable to 550 Squadron Association. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2017 |
- | Booking Form | Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website. PDF format: |
/documents/public/newsletters/2017/Reunion2017-BookingForm.pdf |
- | Booking Form | Electronic versions of the Booking Form can be found on the 550 website. MS Word format: |
/documents/public/newsletters/2017/Reunion2017-BookingForm.docx |
- | Programme | Friday 8th September A meal has been arranged in the restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00pm. There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £16.95 or three courses for £20.95 per person. Indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form. |
- | - | Programme | Saturday 9th September A Lancaster flypast has been approved and we have requested it for 2.00pm but will not receive notification of the actual time from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight until a few weeks before the reunion. As ever, the time may be subject to change. Our preferred timetable is (see link right): |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=MEMO2017 |
- | Programme | Saturday 9th September - Reunion Dinner Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30pm and is a three course meal at £27.95 per head. Menu options are given on the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel pay at the end of the meal. |
- | - | Programme | Sunday 10th September Our tour of the Memorial Spire and Walls at the International Bomber Command Centre on the outskirts of Lincoln begins at 11.45am. There is the option of light refreshments or lunch at the Mill Lodge following the visit. Full details appear later in the newsletter. |
- | - | Ashbourne Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay as any rooms that have not been reserved by Sunday 27th August 2107 will be released for general sale. Please remember to quote ?550? to receive a discounted rate. The ?550? rate, across all room types, is £78 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double and £68 for single occupancy. The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel. |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | - | The Ashbourne contact details are:
Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk Website: http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | - | Other Accommodation | Possible alternatives to the Ashbourne Hotel are:
The Amethyst Hotel, Townside, East Halton, Immingham, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN40 3NS. Telephone: 01469 540205 Church Farm Guest House, Immingham Road, Habrough, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 3DB. Telephone: 01469 576190. Website: http://www.churchfarm-guesthouse.com/ The Old Chapel Hotel, 50 Station Road, Habrough, Immingham, DN40 3AY. Telephone 01469 572377 The Yarborough Arms, Killingholme Road, Ulceby, North East Lincolnshire, DN39 6TZ. Telephone 01469 588383 or Mary on 07876 147182. Website: http://www.yarborougharms.co.uk/ |
- | - | Other Accommodation | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites. Please note that not all establishments are listed.
A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053). They also recommend the following website: http://www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com/ There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area. Website: http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
- | - | Travel Arrangements | North Killingholme is approximately 8 miles from Humberside Airport and a 45 minute drive from Robin Hood Airport.
The nearest station to North Killingholme is Habrough. This is on the Doncaster to Cleethorpes line and is approximately 3 miles from North Killingholme. Please note that not all trains stop at Habrough although the majority do stop at Barnetby, 9 miles from North Killingholme. A taxi from Habrough station to North Killingholme should cost in the region of £8-10 and from Barnetby £18-20 (prices quoted in June 2017). Local firms include Fred's Cars (01469 577100) and Micks Cars (01469 571159). Placebook Private Hire (01469 541600) is based in North Killingholme and therefore may be slightly cheaper. By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the new roundabout. Take the second exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. St Denys' Church is on the left and immediately opposite is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the Hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left. Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park The Amethyst Hotel is in East Halton, approximately 1.5 miles from North Killingholme. There is ample free parking. Please do not park on Lancaster Approach other than to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. Off-road parking is available at John Somerscales Ltd (approximately 200 yards from the Memorial Stone on the right) but as the site is used by a number of hauliers please do not block in other vehicles. |
- | IBCC | International Bomber Command Memorial Spire | Visit to the International Bomber Command Memorial Spire and Walls on Sunday 10th September Our tour of the International Bomber Command Centre Memorial Spire and Walls begins at 11.45am and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The site is not yet open to the public and we are grateful for the opportunity of a second "preview" visit prior to its official opening in 2018. Please remember to leave ample time for your journey in case of delays due to the Scampton Airshow. |
http://internationalbcc.co.uk/ |
- | - | The address is Canwick Hill, Lincoln, LN4 2RF. Driving up Canwick Hill look out for the Mill Lodge pub/restaurant, fork right and the entrance to The Spire is almost immediately on the right. Drive through the gate and follow the access road until you reach the cream portacabins on your right. Park in the small car park on the side of the road. Our tour guides will be on hand to greet us and take us on the tour but we cannot start until the full group has arrived. | - | - | - | As the site is still under construction:
|
- | - | - | The Centre encourages the placing of floral tributes and poppies and we plan to lay a 550 Squadron wreath. Poppies are available on site. There is no formal entrance charge but we suggest an optional donation of £5 per head as a contribution to the Centre's fundraising efforts. If you wish to make a donation please include it in your payment for the Reunion Weekend. The Association will then send a cheque to the Centre. |
- | - | - | Following the visit there is the option of visiting the Mill Lodge restaurant, a Beefeater, for hot and cold drinks or lunch. If eating, there is the option of a Sunday roast along with dishes from the Main Menu. It is also possible to choose starters, sharing platters, "sides" and desserts for those not wishing to eat a full meal. Please indicate your attendance on the Booking Form so that we can inform them about the number in our party. | - | FIVE FIFTY | THE WARTIME STORY OF A LANCASTER SQUADRON | The book "Five Fifty" comprises 266 pages and nearly 100 photos and was written completely free of charge for the Association by renowned aviation author Patrick Otter. It will be available from mid-August 2017 at a cost of £10 plus £5 postage and packing within the UK. Separate shipping arrangements are being put in place for delivery overseas. | - | - | - | Books can also be collected at the Annual Reunion or over Remembrance Weekend. Patrick has kindly offered to sign copies of "Five Fifty" on the Saturday afternoon of the reunion. | - | - | - | There has been considerable interest in the book and we thank everyone who returned the Pre-Purchase Form distributed with Newsletter No. 66 in March 2017. If you did not return the Form and wish to register your interest in buying a copy/copies, please complete the relevant section of the Booking Form. See web-site link right: |
/documents/public/newsletters/2017/Reunion2017-BookingForm.pdf |
- | - | Mike Leeman will contact potential purchasers closer to the publication date to confirm their requirements and arrange for payment and collection/delivery. | - | CEREMONIES IN BELGIUM | Rebecq | Jack headed the group representing the Association at the memorial ceremony in Rebecq on 24th May. More than 250 people met to pay tribute to the P/O E. C. Purney RCAF crew flying Lancaster JA712/BQ-H that crashed on the outskirts of Rebecq on 28th May 1944. The ceremony also honoured the civilians who were arrested and imprisoned, some deported to Germany, for trying to hide or otherwise help the two survivors. The ceremony was jointly planned and organised by the Rebecq Memorial Association (AMR) and the Military Command of the Province of the Walloon Brabant. Gilbert Beeckmans, President of the AMR, and Jack Harris gave speeches and during the ceremony primary school students presented Jack with drawings that reflected their feelings about the crash. After this act of sharing between the 96 year old former Lancaster pilot and the 12 year old students, wreaths were laid in memory of the Belgian, British and Canadian victims, military and civilian, of this sad event. Information about the Purney crew and photographs of the ceremony can be found at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-rebecq-commemorations.php |
- | Lichtervelde | On 28th May, seventy three years to the day after Lancaster LL810/BQ-K crashed just outside Lichtervelde, a memorial was unveiled to the P/O D. McCrae RCAF crew who were all killed in the incident. Several descendants of crew members were present at the inauguration; Linda Johnston, Fiona and Stephen Pidgeon for Arthur Hall (W/Op), Paul Sant for Charles Bonner (MU/AG) and Kevin Summers and his family for Ronald Drury (F/Eng). The British Ambassador to Belgium, Alison Rose attended as did Nicola Hinder who represented Australia and Colonel Alain Pintelon for the Belgian government. Wilfred Burie attended on behalf of 550, Gilbert Beeckmans for the Rebecq Memorial Association and Michel de Norman d'Audenauve represented the RAF Association. After the speeches, the monument was unveiled by Alison Rose and Ria Pattyn, Mayor of Lichtervelde. This was followed by the laying of wreaths, a one minute silence and national anthems. The memorial has been sponsored by municipality of Lichtervelde, with the support of the local history association ("Heemkundige Kring"). The Association is indebted to all involved for their hard work and perseverance in creating a permanent memorial to the McCrae crew. More information about the crew and photographs of the ceremony can be found at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-lichtervelde-commemorations.php |
MEMORIAL AT ELLINGSTRING, NORTH YORKSHIRE | Ellingstring | A memorial plaque was unveiled on 24th June near Ellingstring, North Yorkshire in memory of six members of the F/O S.H. Hayter crew who were killed on 4th October 1944 when flying BQ-A (NF963). The aircraft crashed on a cross-country training flight with the pilot, Stan Hayter, the sole survivor. There had been confusion about the site of the crash until recent research clarified the location. Relatives and others connected to five of the crew came from across the UK and as far afield as New Zealand to attend a ceremony that was conducted by the Padre to 100 Squadron, Squadron Leader Richard Clement. Those attending included Ralph, Simon, Rachel and Ruth Hayter (F/O S. H. Hayter (Pilot)), Alun Thomas (F/O T. Y. Thomas (Nav)), Barbara Alexander and Derek Drury (F/O R. R. Bradshaw RNZAF (A/B)), Ian Phillips (Sgt. A. J. Pearce (W/Op)) and Ian (family name not known) for Sgt. J. McVey (R/AG). Don Kentish represented the Association and laid a wreath on its behalf. The Association thanks all those who contributed to the research, Dave Donaghy for constructing the memorial and arranging the ceremony and Richard Clement for conducting the Service that brought together the families of the young men involved in this ill-fated flight. |
/pages/550-sqdn-ellingstring-memorial.php |
A TOAST TO 550 SQUADRON | - | The poem below was sent to Jack Harris by Steve Green (Sgt. I. S. Green, A/G with the F/L J. A. Sweeney RCAF crew) who joined 550 in March 1945 and flew 7 ops before the war ended. His friend Brian Porter spent 15 years in the RAF post-war and was a prolific poet keen to take up any RAF theme. Steve Green was very active with the Doncaster Branch of the Air Gunners' Association and went to Germany on occasion to attend the annual gathering of former Luftwaffe Night Fighter personnel. | - | OTHER NEWS | Remembrance Weekend 2017 | Please note in your diaries Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2017. Our programme in November has expanded over the years and now includes an informal meal in the "Fork and Spoon" at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening at 7.45pm and an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Services at the Squadron Memorial Stone, including a two minutes silence at 11.00am, and then St. Denys' Church will be followed by a three course carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel. We will be approaching the Officer Commanding 100 Squadron to enquire about the possibility of a flypast by one of their fast-fighter aircraft during the course of the morning.
Rooms are available at the Ashbourne on Saturday 10th November at the discounted "550" rate but we advise booking early as they have a function that evening. A detailed programme and booking arrangements will appear in the October newsletter. |
- | - | Annual Reunion 2018 | We can confirm the dates of next year's Annual Reunion as Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2018. This coincides with the Scampton Airshow and should give us a reasonable chance of securing a Lancaster flypast on Saturday afternoon. | - | - | Buildings on North Killingholme Airfield | A company called Dong Energy are to run a pipeline through part of the airfield site. The initial route had an impact on some of the remaining airfield buildings and we would like to thank those people who raised their concerns about the situation as the route has been altered following discussions with the landowner and Dong Energy. | - | SAD NEWS | - | The following have died since the last newsletter: | - | - | - | F/O F. W. "Bill" Bennett - Navigator 11/43-6/44 | - | - | - | F/O H. T. A. "Harry" Evans - Navigator 11/43-7/44 | - | - | - | Sgt A. M. Gardner - Air Gunner 4/45-Date not known | - | - | - | Sgt G. "Gerry" Taylor - Navigator 3/45-8/45 | - | - | - | F/O K. H. "Ken" Vaughan - Bomb Aimer 3/45-10/45 | - | NEW MEMBERS | - | We are pleased to welcome: | - | CHANGE OF ADDRESS | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - |
Issue 66 (April 2017)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 66 | April | 2017 | Nine pages with information on events in 2017, and news about a new book. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | INTRODUCTION | April 2017 Newsletter | This newsletter includes important news about the publication of a book dedicated to the history of 550 Squadron and includes the opportunity for members to indicate how many copies they may wish to purchase. This will give the Association an idea about the number of books to have printed. | - | - | - | This year's Annual Reunion is the 25th to be held in North Killingholme and is an important landmark for the Association. This newsletter includes preliminary information about the arrangements for the reunion plus news about commemorative events taking place in Belgium, an article by Jack Harris about the Battle of Berlin and more about Operation Dodge. | - | - | - | Jack reports that he has recently emerged from his winter hibernation and continues to play duplicate bridge with Angela four or five times a week. He is busy writing the Foreword for the book as well as other sections and is contributing his knowledge and expertise to the process. In addition he is busy sorting through his archive for material that can be added to the website or held at the 550 museum. It's a fair amount of work for someone in their 97th year who is trying to cut down on paperwork when also preparing to travel with daughter Sue and son-in-law Andrew to Belgium in May. | - | CEREMONIES IN BELGIUM | - | There are a number of ceremonies taking place in 2017 to commemorate 550 crews who crashed in Belgium. Representatives from Westerlo, St. Niklaas, Lichtervelde, Jalhay and Berinzenne will join our colleagues in Rebecq for the ceremony on 24th May. As ever, we are grateful for the tremendous support we receive from the individuals and groups concerned. The warmth of welcome and the appreciation that the people feel for the efforts of Allied aircrew creates an experience to remember.
Jack Harris will lead a group from 550 attending the ceremony in Rebecq and Wilfred Burie and others connected with the Association will represent us at the other events. |
- | - | Rebecq: Wednesday 24th May | There will be a ceremony in memory of the P/O Purney crew who were shot down in JA712 BQ-H on the outskirts of Rebecq on 27/28 May 1944. The event will be attended by official representatives from Belgium, Canada and the United Kingdom who will be joined by members of the "550" groups in Belgium | - | - | Lichtervelde: Sunday 28th May | The official unveiling of the memorial at the crash site of the P/O McCrae crew (LL810 BQ-K) who were killed on 27/28 May 1944 will take place at 10.30am on 28th May, the 73rd anniversary of their loss. | - | - | Berinzenne: Summer 2017 | A memorial plaque will be laid later in the year in memory of F/O Milburn and crew who crashed flying ME581 BQ-D on 22/23 April 1944. | - | - | - | If you would like to find out more about the crash sites in Belgium, the Rebecq Memorial Association website is a useful resource and can be found at (see link right): |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/index.php |
- | - | To indicate your attendance at any of the events or for more information about our activities in Belgium please call George Turner on 01469 540228 or 07811454105 or email him at geowturner@gmail.com. | - | 550 SQUADRON HISTORY | - | It has been a long held ambition of the Association to publish the history of 550 Squadron. This is now taking shape and we are indebted to Patrick Otter for offering his highly regarded professional skills to us on a completely voluntary basis. To have someone of Patrick's status support us in this way is fantastic and a real boost to the work of the Association. Above all, it is a tribute to all those who contributed to the air war with 550 Squadron and a way for them and subsequent generations to have a lasting record of their endeavours. | - | - | - | Much of the source material for the book is taken from the official daily accounts of operations and crews but the Association also has a number of individual accounts, a library of photographs and a significant archive of other information that we hope will give a flavour of what is was like to be based at, and fly from, North Killingholme. | - | - | - | We would appreciate members registering their interest in purchasing copies of the book and a short "Pre-Purchase Form" is included with this newsletter. Emailed newsletters have the pre-purchase form attached as a separate pdf document. See web-site link right: |
/documents/public/newsletters/2017/SquadronHistoryPre-PurchaseForm.pdf |
- | - | The plan is to have the books printed during the summer and have them available for sale at the Annual Reunion in September. They can also be purchased by post. | - | ANNUAL REUNION 2017 - NORTH KILLINGHOLME | - | Please note that this year's Annual Reunion, the 25th in North Killingholme, will take place on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September and represents a milestone in the continuing success of the Association. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2017 |
- | - | We are very pleased to announce that our application for a Lancaster flypast on Saturday 9th September has been successful. We have requested 2.00pm but the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will not confirm a time until a few weeks before the reunion. Any flypast is subject to the weather, serviceability and operational requirements although the BBMF has always done its best to fit in with our schedule. |
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- | - | Rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne Hotel for the nights of 8th and 9th September 2017 and you can book now by contacting the hotel and quoting "550" to qualify for the discounted rate of £78 per room per night across all room types for a double and £68 for single occupancy. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2017 |
- | - | The Ashbourne Hotel
Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbournehotel.co.uk Website: http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
http://www.ashbournehotel.co.uk/ |
- | - | Newsletter No. 67 will contain detailed information about the programme and a Booking Form. | - | 550's CONTRIBUTION TO THE BATTLE OF BERLIN | - | 550's first raid took place on the night of 26/27 November 1943 when 8 Lancasters were despatched to bomb Berlin. Three points can be made about this raid. 550 Squadron was formed on 25 November and this raid carried out on its second day, emphasised Bomber Command's "Press On" spirit to engage the enemy at every opportunity. Secondly, 550 suffered its first casualty when F/L Prangley and crew failed to return - 5 crew members killed and 2 POW. Thirdly, it marked 550's entry to the "Battle of Berlin" which was Bomber Command's biggest campaign of the War. | - | - | - | Bomber Command had really started to flex its muscles in 1943. Early in the year, a series of "Oboe" guided raids had devastated the big industrial towns of the Ruhr. In July, three very heavy raids on Hamburg almost destroyed the port with negligible casualties thanks to the use of "Window" for the very first time. The bombers dropped packets of Window in huge quantities. The packets contained strips of thin waxed paper with aluminium foil on one side. The length of the strip was cut to half the wavelength of the radars used by German searchlights, flak and night fighters and each strip would show up on radar screens as an aircraft "blip" so that the radars were swamped and useless. | - | - | - | Taking advantage of these successes, Air Marshal Harris, the A.O.C of Bomber Command persuaded Air Ministry and Whitehall that a series of heavy raids on Berlin over the winter period when long nights enabled distant targets to be reached would devastate the city and force Germany to surrender, thereby removing the need for the Normandy Invasion in the summer of 1944. Harris hoped that the American Fortresses and Liberators could attack Berlin by day and Bomber Command would raid at night. Sadly the Americans could not join in as their long range Mustang fighters would not be available until the spring of 1944 to escort their bombers to Berlin. Berlin was outside Oboe range but Harris was relying on a new Mark 3 H2S set with improved performance to be fitted to the Pathfinder Force. H2S was a rotating scanner fitted to the underside of the bombers and gave the navigator a radar picture of the ground below and could show up water features like coastlines, estuaries and ports, large rivers and lakes very clearly and could also identify built up areas like cities and towns ? the Germans floated out rafts fitted with radar reflectors to "hide" their lakes. Harris received approval of his plan and the "Battle of Berlin" started on the night of 18/19 November 1943 and lasted 4½ months until 31 March 1944. Harris was relying on an all 4-engined force of Stirlings, Halifax and Lancaster bombers putting up raids of 400-500 bombers initially then rising to 800 bombers in 1944.
It was hoped that the newly formed 100 Group in Bomber Command could provide effective countermeasures to help protect the bombers. These countermeasures included the jamming of radars used by the early warning chain, the searchlights and flak and the jamming of the radio telephone (R/T) frequencies used by night fighters and their ground control. Also 100 Group could baffle the enemy with diversion raids and spoof attacks dropping huge quantities of Window. |
- | - | - | In the 4½ month period of the Battle of Berlin, Bomber Command carried out 16 heavy raids on Berlin. To stop the Germans concentrating their guns, searchlights and night fighters around Berlin, Bomber Command took care to attack Leipzig, Munich, Stuttgart, Augsburg, Nuremburg and Schweinfurt in the south of Germany as well as Frankfurt, Essen and Mannheim to keep the defences spread. In this period, these cities were attacked 16 times. Sadly for Bomber Command, this period saw the German defences, particularly the night fighters, at their most effective. | - | - | - | The use of Window over Hamburg in July 1943 caused the Germans to abandon their system of "boxes" along the coast from Denmark to France containing the best radars, gun and searchlight teams and night fighter squadrons. They improved their early warning by monitoring all Bomber Command R/T and H2S transmissions. They put outpost radars on ships. They created a network of radio beacons all over Germany over which night fighters could be assembled and directed into the passing Bomber Stream. They used 300 single engine night fighters to pick up bombers over the target area or en route on clear nights. The twin-engined night fighters had 3 new pieces of equipment new to Bomber Command and all extremely effective. Naxos could pick up H2S transmissions and home on to them; a new SN2 air-to-air radar had really good performance with greater immunity to Window jamming; two 20mm upward firing cannon proved to be a very effective weapon with the first burst often bringing down the bomber. Special Ju88 night fighters were equipped to fly above the bomber stream and report on its position, height and course. Berlin was very well defended. The searchlight zone extended for 60 miles and the flak zone for 40 miles. There were plenty of 88mm flak guns, the standard flak weapon, but 3 flak towers had been built in public gardens and each tower accommodated 8 128mm guns on top and these guns could fire bigger and more effective shells up to 25,000 feet. Berlin raids involved long flights of 8 or 9 hours depending on the approach and exit routes chosen. Sometimes a direct in and out route over Holland would give the shortest flight. Longer flights involved flying over the Baltic Sea or over France to stretch defences by varying the approach or return routes. | - | - | - | Casualties were higher than usual. Between mid-November and the end of January Berlin was raided 14 times. Bomber Command put up 7402 sorties and 384 bombers failed to return - a loss rate of 5.2%. Bomber Command could accept loss rates of 3-3.5% but losses higher than this meant that the front line strength would decrease as replacement aircraft and crews were insufficient. Crews found the Berlin raids very stressful. "Early Returns" (when bombers returned to base without attacking the target) were higher than usual because they were reluctant to press on if there was any problem with the engines or key systems. Some crews became jittery and when the Main Force flew over the North Sea to approach via the Baltic there were reports of crews jettisoning the 4000lb. bomb over the North Sea so that they could fly much higher and be less vulnerable to flak. | - | - | - | 550 Squadron's part in the Berlin raids is set out below (large table omitted in online version).
Several 550 bombers suffered nasty attacks by night fighters. On the night of 30/31 January, F/O Morrison was very close to the target when a night fighter attack killed both air gunners, knocked out the starboard outer engine and damaged the controls, compass, air speed indicator and the intercom. The aircraft lost considerable height and the bombs had to be jettisoned, falling in the target area. There was a misunderstanding in the cockpit and F/O Warren, the bomb aimer, put on his parachute and jumped out. F/O Morrison regained control and, without any navigational aids, flew back landing at Woodbridge. Morrison was awarded the D.S.O. 2 weeks later. |
- | - | - | The Battle of Berlin brought early problems. The Stirling bombers could not fly as high as the Halifax and Lancaster bombers and the Stirlings suffered 6.4% casualties and were withdrawn after a few weeks. The Mark 2 and Mark 5 Halifax bombers suffered 9.8% casualties and were withdrawn from the front line in mid-February. These withdrawals cost Bomber Command one third of its front line strength. The weather that winter was very poor both over the target and over England. Continuous cloud over the target prevented any ground recognition and the new mark of H2S fitted to Pathfinder aircraft was a big disappointment. It had been rushed into service too soon resulting in unserviceability rates and an inferior performance when it did work. Risks with bad weather over England had to be taken. On the night of 16/17 December low cloud and poor visibility over eastern England caused 34 bombers to crash. Although much damage was done to Berlin and its numerous industries it was not severe enough to force surrender and the casualties involved were higher than expected. | - | - | - | In April 1944 preparation for the Normandy Invasion became top priority and Bomber Command started attacks on the railway systems in France, western Germany, Holland and Belgium. | - | - | - | Our thanks go to Jack Harris OBE DFC for contributing this item. | - | MORE ABOUT OPERATION DODGE | Postcards from Italy | Glennis Aston contacted us to say that she was interested to read Maurice Snowball's piece in Newsletter 65 about his experiences on Operation Dodge. She sent copies of two postcards that her father, P/O Stanley Walmsley, sent her mother from Naples along with a menu card from the NAAFI. They provide a brief but evocative insight into his feelings about being in Italy. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOVGRoberts/index.php |
- | - | Like Maurice, her father also made a day trip to Pompeii and Glennis reports that it prompted a lifelong interest in Roman history. | - | - | - | Further information about Stan Walmsley, including extracts from his Log Book, who flew mainly as MUG with the F/O V.G. Roberts RNZAF crew can be found on the 550 website. | - | - | - | Our thanks to Glennis Aston for sharing this information with Association members. | - | - | Stolen Lancaster | Stuart Fletcher emailed to say that his father, F/O Percy Fletcher (B/A) flew as part of F/O F.J. Cox's crew three times on operation Dodge; 13, 23 and 26 August 1945. Percy told him that they must have been the only crew to have had a Lancaster stolen. They "parked up" on Pomigliano airfield and when they returned to the aircraft the next day they found it had been taken by another crew. | - | - | - | Stuart would be interested to know if anybody else recalls this "theft" and can be contacted by email at stuart.fletcher@littlehill.net or by telephone [... in hardcopy ...] | - | - | - | If you would like to find out more about the F.J. Cox crew or Percy Fletcher go to : |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOFJCox/index.php |
- | - | Our thanks to Stuart Fletcher for passing on this story and we wish him well with his request for information. | - | REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2016 | - | Our Remembrance Weekend programme began with an informal meal in the Fork and Spoon for 14 people at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday evening and continued on Sunday morning with an opportunity to visit the 550 Squadron Museum in the Village Hall. Approximately 30 people met at the Memorial Stone for a short Service starting at 10.50 when wreaths were laid. The two minute silence followed at 11.00 before the group moved to St. Denys? Church. This Service concluded at midday and at 12.02 there was a flypast over St. Denys' Church by an aircraft from 100 Squadron. This was followed by a three course lunch for 16 people at the Amethyst Hotel in East Halton. Jack Harris said a few words after coffee had been served and the meal finished at approximately 2.30 | - | - | - | We thank Rev. Paul Salmon and Mark (the bugler) for their continued support of 550 at a time of year when there are many calls on their time. We are also indebted to the Officer Commanding 100 Squadron, Wing Commander Andy Wright, along with Flight Lieutenant Nicky Moore who piloted the aircraft and liaised with us about the details of the flypast. | - | - | - | The dates for November 2017 appear later in the newsletter. | - | VISIT TO ACHIET-LE-PETIT | - | You may recall that a memorial was unveiled in Achiet-le-Petit in June 2015 for F/Lt R.W. Picton DFC and the crew of LL836, BQ-E which was lost on a trip to Aulnoye on 10/11 April 1944. Relatives of Dickie Picton could not be located in time for them to attend but members of his family visited in September 2016 and met with the organisers. | - | - | - | Cilla Britton got in touch after the visit to say that they were given a very warm welcome by Xavier Duquesne (Mayor of Achiet-le-Petit) and several of his colleagues along with Michel Lespagnol, who has researched many of the aircraft lost over the Somme. | - | - | - | After lunch in Pozieres they visited Pierre Ben in Warloy. He and his team have been excavating aircraft in the Somme area for many years but have not found much of LL836. Nevertheless, they were able to pass on part of a wiring loom to the family. The day ended with a flight over the WW1 battlefields, flown by Xavier. | - | - | - | Cilla tells us it was a fantastic day and that it was very moving to be given part of the aircraft. She goes on to say that Dickie's cousin Helen is immensely grateful to everyone who has been involved in the research about her much loved cousin. It may be over 70 years ago but it has helped to answer many questions and uncertainties surrounding the circumstances of his death. | - | - | - | More information can be found at (see link right:) |
/pages/550-sqdn-achiet-le-petit-commemorations.php |
- | - | Our thanks go to Cilla Britton for her contribution and the group in Achiet-le-Petit for their support of 550. | - | 550 MUSEUM NEWS | - | Many thanks to those who have made donations to the collection. Those members who have visited the Exhibition Rooms at Elsham Wold during Reunion weekend will probably have met Graham Brett, a stalwart of the Elsham Wolds Association. Graham has produced a very clear version of the May 1945 Flying Echelon photograph (the large photo that dominates North Killingholme Village Hall) on a linen style material and of a size that makes it possible to be hung on the wall at eye level. Graham has donated this to celebrate the 25th Reunion to be held at North Killingholme later in the year | - | - | - | Brian Goodwin, who lives in the north of Scotland, has passed on items concerning Francis Swan Renton who was uncle to Brian's wife and his brother-in-law who lives in Australia. F/O Renton was an air gunner in the F/O J.C. Adams crew who were shot down over Hanover on the night of 5/6 January 1945. Items donated include a set of medals, the Bomber Command clasp, copies of the service record, and literature received by the family following F/O Renton's death. Brian's generosity is much appreciated and our thanks must go to his family. | - | OTHER NEWS | Newsletter No.67 - Summer 2017 | Please note that due to the change in date of the Annual Reunion the next newsletter will be circulated in mid-July. It will contain information about the reunion and a Booking Form with a closing date towards the end of August. Please return your information as early as possible. | - | - | Remembrance Weekend 2017 | Further to the report earlier in this newsletter, please note in your diaries Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November. A small number of rooms have been reserved at the discounted 550 rate on Saturday night but please book early as they have a function that evening and the hotel is likely to be busy. The programme will follow previous years? and we anticipate approaching 100 Squadron to request a flypast by one of their fast-fighter aircraft. | - | - | Annual Reunion 2018 | We have set Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September as the provisional dates of the Annual Reunion in 2018 but are awaiting confirmation of arrangements for the Scampton Airshow. We understand this will be available in the next two months and will confirm the reunion date in Newsletter No. 67. | - | NEWSLETTER ITEMS | - | We would welcome any memories, personal accounts or updates about the articles in this newsletter along with other items that could be included in future editions. Please contact Don Kentish by telephone on 0121 778 6614, email dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk or write to [... address in hardcopy ...]. | - | SAD NEWS | - | The following have died since the last newsletter: | - | - | - | F/Sgt. V. B. (Vic) Cassapi - Flight Engineer 11/44 - 5/45 | - | - | - | F/Sgt. R. E. (Bob) Sloan RAAF - Air Gunner 7/44 - 1/45 | - | - | - | Sgt. T. (Tom) Spicer - Wireless Operator 3/44 - 8/45 | - | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - |
Issue 65 (October 2016)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 65 | October | 2016 | Eight pages with forward information on events in 2017 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | October 2016 Newsletter | This newsletter is timed to coincide with preparations for the Remembrance Sunday activities in North Killingholme next month. Further details appear below and there is also important information about the date of next year's reunion. Also included is an article by Jack Harris entitled "Third time not lucky!" and a piece reproduced from the Grimsby Telegraph that gives a flavour of how a bond initially forged between a 550 airman shot down in 1944 and a community in Holland has continued through succeeding generations. | - | - | - | Jack reports that he recently celebrated his 96th birthday with festivities taking place over four days with members of the family. | - | Remembrance Weekend | North Killingholme - 12th/13th November 2016 | Services will be held on Sunday 13th November at the Memorial Stone and in St. Denys' Church before a carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel in East Halton. | - | - | - | Our programme in November has expanded over the years and also includes an informal meal in the "Fork and Spoon" (formerly the Bistro) at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday 12th November at 7.45pm and an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. | - | - | - | Rooms are available at the Ashbourne Hotel at the discounted "550" rate but we advise booking early as they have a function that evening. The Ashbourne contact details are:
The Ashbourne Hotel Vicarage Lane North Killingholme Immingham DN40 3JL Telephone: 01469 541010 Email: reception@ashbourne hotel.co.uk Website: www.ashbournehotel.co.uk For further enquiries please contact the hotel. |
- | - | - | All arrangements are being made by Don and Val Kentish [...address in hardcopy...] email: dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk. | - | - | - | Don and Val must be advised if you are taking lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton by Friday 4th November 2016 and they would like to know if you are attending the Services. | - | - | - | Settle your food and accommodation bill on departure. | - | Remembrance Weekend | Possible Flypast - Sunday 13th November | 550 was formed from "C" Flight of 100 Squadron in November 1943. 100 Squadron is now a fast-fighter training unit flying Hawks and last year they very kindly agreed to provide a flypast, although it was cancelled on the day due to low cloud cover. We have approached them again and they will try to help us but will not have further information until nearer the date. All arrangements are subject to flying regulations and operational requirements but at present we have changed our meeting time at the Memorial Stone to 10.40am to give us a little more flexibility in our schedule. Members can always stay in their cars until the start of the Service if there is no flypast. | - | - | - | If there are further developments Don and Val Kentish will inform those who have indicated they will be attending. | - | Remembrance Weekend | Saturday Evening 12th November | It is usual for a small group of members to come together for a meal in the Ashbourne Hotel on the Saturday evening. This will take place at 7.45 p.m. in the Fork and Spoon (formerly the Bistro). If you would like to join this group, please let Don and Val know by Friday 4th November. Menu pre-selection is required for groups of 10 or more and Don or Val will contact you if this is necessary. | - | Remembrance Weekend | Sunday 13th November | Our provisional timetable, subject to the time of any flypast, is shown below. However, the two minutes silence at 11.00 at the Memorial Stone is a fixed point in our programme and will not be altered. We are pleased that Reverend Paul Salmon will be conducting our services again and that he will be accompanied by Mark, the bugler who attended in 2015. | - | - | Sunday 13th November | Full schedule:
09.30-10.30 Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall 10.40 Assemble at the Squadron Memorial Stone in Lancaster Approach 10.52 Service starts, conducted by Reverend Paul Salmon. 11.00 Two minutes silence. Wreaths and personal tributes are laid. 11.05 Move to St. Denys' Church. 11.20 Church Service starts. 12.00 Service ends. 12.30 Three course carvery lunch plus tea/coffee/mints at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton. Pay £20.00 per head on the day. |
- | - | Sunday 13th November | Please tell Don and Val Kentish if you are coming to lunch at the Amethyst as the hotel must have accurate numbers. | - | Important News about Annual Reunion Dates | Friday 8th and Saturday 9th September 2017 | For many years the Waddington Air Show took place in early July and our Annual Reunion was arranged to coincide with it in the belief that this gave us the best chance of securing a Lancaster flypast. After a period without an air show in Lincolnshire, a new event is scheduled at RAF Scampton for the second weekend of September 2017. It seems highly likely the Lancaster will be scheduled to appear at large events in other parts of the UK at the beginning of July each year so we have decided to change the dates of future reunions. The date of next year's reunion is: (as noted left). | - | - | - | An application has been submitted for a flypast by the BBMF Lancaster on Saturday 9th September 2017. We will not hear anything from the RAF Events Team until late February or early March 2017 but will report on the outcome of our application in the April newsletter. | - | - | - | Rooms have been reserved at the Ashbourne Hotel for the nights of 8th and 9th September 2017 and you can book now by contacting the hotel and quoting "550" to qualify for the discounted rate of £78 per room per night across all room types for a double and £68 for single occupancy. | - | - | - | We will continue to monitor the situation with regard to the Scampton Air Show and have set Friday 7th and Saturday 8th September as the provisional dates in 2018. | - | Annual Reunion 2016 | July, North Killingholme | Attendances at our 2016 Annual Reunion were healthy and the weather held up on Saturday afternoon after a rather "mixed" forecast. Approaching 40 people enjoyed a buffet lunch at the Amethyst and 59 sat down for the Reunion Dinner on Saturday evening. There were 10 for the Sunday morning airfield tour and 12 visited the museum at Elsham Wolds and the Marrowbone and Cleaver in Kirmington where there is a display of photographs and memorabilia. On Monday, the highly impressive Spire at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln was enjoyed by 21 people and those who had time stayed for an informal lunch at the Mill Lodge pub/restaurant opposite the entrance to the site. | - | - | - | We had four changes to the time of the Spitfire flypast in the last 24 hours and had to re-schedule our activities and timings on Saturday afternoon. This included two calls to Val Kentish from the pilot of the aircraft while we were in St. Denys' Church. We are indebted to the BBMF for supporting us despite the unserviceability of the Spitfire originally timetabled for our event and to Val for informing the ATC band and people gathering at the Memorial Stone about the rapidly changing programme. | - | - | - | It was a pleasure to see Bill Swan and his family from Australia and also John Arnold. John co-ordinates our activities in Australia and gave a short speech after the Reunion Dinner about his father?s crew (F/O D.W. Summons DFC RAAF). There was a display of items at the Ashbourne Hotel, courtesy of the Coulter family, that belonged to F/L Jim Cassidy, DFC and Bar, RAAF. | - | - | - | We were very pleased that Ole and Susan Seberg from Denmark and Susan Schmidt from Canada attended while William Albertyn and Denise Rammeloo joined us from St. Niklaas in Belgium. | - | - | - | A journalist from the Grimsby Telegraph joined us on Saturday afternoon and their article can be found at: (see link right). |
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/25th-anniversary-honours-those-part-of-the-royal-air-force-550-squadron-at-north-killingholme/story-29468831-detail/story.html |
Ceremonies in Belgium 2017 | Various locations | The unveiling of the memorial in Lichtervelde to P/O D. McCrae RCAF and crew is planned for Saturday 27th May 2017. | - | - | - | A combined ceremony to remember the 550 crews who crashed in St. Niklaas (P/O P.J. Dukelow), Rebecq (F/O E. C. Purney RCAF) and Westerlo (F/O G.W. Hinde) will take place in Rebecq on Wednesday 31st May 2017. Further information will appear in the next newsletter. | - | - | - | We receive tremendous support from the groups in Belgium and try to attend as many of their events as we can. If any member would like to visit they will be assured of a very warm welcome. George Turner goes to many of the ceremonies and is a good source of information. He can be contacted by telephone on 01469 540228 or email geowturner@gmail.com | - | THIRD TIME NOT LUCKY! | - | On the night of 28th August 1944 Bomber Command sent out 150 aircraft (Halifax, Lancaster and Mosquitos) to attack 12 flying bomb launching sites in northern France. This was the last raid on the flying bomb sites which would be captured within days as Allied troops had broken out of the Normandy invasion beachheads and were fanning out all over France - Paris had been liberated on 25th August. These were day raids and to ensure accuracy of attack the bombers were sent in at 10,000 feet over targets in Germany which were hotly defended by flak, searchlights and radar the bombing height would normally be 16,000-20,000 feet. | - | - | - | 550 Squadron sent off 10 Lancasters at 17.50hrs to attack a flying bomb launch site at Wemars-Cappell near Amiens. There was some low cloud over the target but all aircraft got their bombs away. Over all the targets only one aircraft was lost that evening. It was PA991 BQ-E from 550 Squadron flown by F/O S.C. Beeson who was on his 31st and last op. Beeson's navigator for this trip was Squadron Leader K. MacAleavy who had joined 550 as Squadron Navigation Officer but was later given command of "A" Flight. This was a big breakthrough for navigators as Flight Commanders were normally pilots. MacAleavy was flying the 15th op of his second tour. Normally the pilot would be Captain of the aircraft and make the key decisions. On this sortie, because of his experience and position as Flight Commander, it is likely that MacAleavy was designated Captain of the aircraft. After bombing, Beeson's aircraft received a direct hit from a flak shell near Dunkirk and the Lancaster went down in flames. The pilot, flight engineer, navigator and bomb aimer managed to parachute out and became POWs; the wireless operator and the two air gunners were killed. | - | - | - | At the end of September MacAleavy sent a postcard from his POW camp to Wing Commander "Jimmie" Bennett who was the first C.O. of 550 Squadron and had served with MacAleavy on his first tour bomber squadron. The card was addressed "c/o Air Ministry, London" to avoid giving away MacAleavy's squadron or station. The brief message on the card included "They got me eventually but I am very much alive and kicking. I pressed on in the old style once too often and the third run did it - don't say clot!". | - | - | - | Not many pilots would opt for a second run over the target let alone a third bombing run. The bomber would be completely isolated over the target and on the way home, would lose the protection offered by "window" dropped by other bombers and in clear skies in daylight at 10,000 feet would be a sitting target for every AA gun. It was a tough call for Beeson who probably had to give way to his Flight Commander and second tour experience. Full marks to MacAleavy for pressing on but much sympathy to Beeson and the rest of his crew. | - | - | - | Our thanks go to Jack Harris OBE DFC for contributing this item. | - | A Crew Remembered | Aalten, Holland | Squadron Leader G.S. Smith DFC and his crew failed to return from a raid to Sterkrade in Germany on 16/17 June 1944. The aircraft, ME840, crashed near Aalten in Holland and the flight engineer, F/O R (Roy) Kay, was the sole survivor. The following article, reproduced courtesy of the Grimsby Telegraph, gives a flavour of how the crash has been remembered. | - | - | - | REUNION: How the Aalten de Telegraaf reported the reunion of the relatives of a former serviceman, Roy Kay. Maureen Kay, widow of the British airman Roy Kay, fourth from left, meets the granddaughters of "Uncle Jan" Wikkerink who helped hide the airman, Riek,left, and Gesina, second from left, second from right JP (Note: probably Juwelier Ploeger). Also on this picture, Marika Wissink, third from left, from the United States and her son, next to her, Henk Wissink, (nephew to Alex Wissink), Gerda Brethouwer, museum director, and Mrs Baanders, the conservator from RAF North Killingholme. (Note: we assume Mrs Baanders is connected with the museum displaying the items in Holland). There has been an emotional reunion of relatives nearly 75 years after a Lancaster bomber from North Killingholme was shot down in Holland. Thanks to the Grimsby Telegraph, the widow of the flight engineer, Roy Kay was reunited with the relatives of the Dutch people who helped save his life. For 40 days Roy was able to hide from the Nazis before he could be secretly returned to Britain. |
- | - | - | Lancaster ME 840 was shot down by a German fighter on June 16, 1944, killing the six other crew members. They were on a bombing mission to Sterkrade, in Germany. | - | - | - | In July 2012, the Grimsby Telegraph reported how the parachute used by the airman was later transformed into wedding dresses, a crib dress and christening gown. The son of one of the brides, Juwelier Ploeger, wanted to know more about how it came to be in his family. The appeal led to a reunion earlier this month which brought the widow of Mr Kay together with her children and the Dutch rescuers. Mr Kay died in March 2009. A step grandson prepared a speech at the funeral and searched the internet, without finding anything. Early this year he tried again and found a Grimsby Telegraph article on the website of the 550 Squadron Association in North Killingholme. Roy Kay, from the 550 Squadron, at North Killingholme, was helped by 19-year-old Jo Wikkerink. Jo later transformed part of Mr Kay's silk parachute into her wedding dress. Here she is with her late husband, Willem Bulsink. |
- | - | - | Mr Kay's wife Maureen Kay, 82, made contact with the relatives of his rescuers. At that time a museum in Aalten, in Holland was preparing an exhibition about the resistance in the border region during The Second World War. Maureen offered the museum her husband's medals which they found after his death. They are now on display along with the remains of the parachute used by the fleeing airman, who was also known as Danny in the RAF. Joe Pinguey, a nephew of Lesley Pulfrey, who was a crew member aboard ME 840 (Note: Bomb Aimer) and Gary Berg the nephew of J.J. Berg, the pilot (Note: Navigator), have also made contact with Mr Ploeger. Gary was also at the reunion, which took place at the museum. |
- | - | - | Mr Ploeger said: "So we have to be very thankful to the Grimsby Telegraph for giving attention to this and being the mediator in bringing so many people together." From the US, a granddaughter of the Dutch resistance man Alex Wissink, who kept Mr Kay hidden for 40 days, together with the Canadians Wentworth and Druett, took part in the reunion with her son. |
- | - | - | Mr Ploeger said the parachute was transformed into several dresses and was the wedding dress of his mother-in-law. He said: "We look back on an emotional day, meeting nice and warm people, with whom we made lasting friendship." Mrs Kay and her daughter and eldest son and a grandson were shown the site where the plane crashed. The relatives also visited the graves of many of the servicemen and Dutch resistance who died in the Second World War. |
- | - | - | The Association has a considerable amount of information about Squadron Leader G.S. Smith and other members of the crew, It can be found at: (see web-site link right). |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderGSSmith/index.php |
- | - | Find details about the uses made of Roy Kay's parachute and the research that has taken place in the UK and Holland at: (see web-site link right). |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderGSSmith/RKay-evader.php |
More About Operation Dodge | - | When we produced articles earlier in the year about Operation Dodge, we asked if any 550 members would be willing to share their memories of it. We were pleased to receive the following from Maurice Snowball. | - | - | - | "I was a spare Flight Engineer who flew to Italy as part of Operation Dodge. One trip was cancelled as we had an engine unserviceable which stranded us for two days at RAF Manston waiting for a new part and then it was straight back to North Killingholme.
On a rest day in Italy we had one day sightseeing in Pompeii. The next time we went to Naples where the first floor of the Royal Palace had been taken over by the NAAFI. I well remember the ornate wide staircase which took us up to the NAAFI. It must have been an embarrassment to the Palace staff to see their building used as a NAAFI club. Our 20 passengers on these trips were taken to RAF Glatton to disembark, except for one time when we were diverted to RAF Tibenham where there was Customs and Excise whereas there was none at Glatton." |
- | - | - | When discussing Operation Dodge at the Annual Reunion in July, Maurice also recalled that on one occasion the crew with whom he was flying stayed overnight in one large room and how during the night he became aware that one of them seemed to be in some discomfort. At the airfield Maurice had been advised to remove his tool box from the aircraft and so had his torch with him. He shone it across the room and the person, still asleep, was covered in bed bugs. When woken, everybody moved their beds into the middle of the room and the next day, after dropping the passengers at Glatton and returning to North Killingholme, the crew and their clothes had to be immediately de-fumigated. | - | - | - | We are indebted to Maurice for providing us with a glimpse of what it was like for him taking part in Operation Dodge. | - | - | - | If other members would like to share their wartime experiences through the newsletter please contact Don Kentish by telephone on 0121 778 6614, dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk or write to [... address in hardcopy ...]. | - | Achiet-le-Petit, France | Crew of LL836 | You may recall that there was a ceremony in Achiet-le-Petit in June 2015 in memory of F/Lt R.W. Picton DFC and the crew of LL836, BQ-E which was lost on a trip to Aulnoye on 10/11 April 1944. Relatives of three of the crew were able to attend, travelling from Australia, Canada and England, but the family of the pilot, R.W. (Dickie) Picton could not be located in time for them to visit. We are pleased to report that members of Dickie Picton's family visited Achiet-le-Petit in September 2016 and met with the organisers of the ceremony. | - | - | - | Further details about the crew and the fantastic day organised last year by the group in Achiet-le-Petit can be found on the 550 website at: |
/pages/550-sqdn-achiet-le-petit-commemoration-2015.php |
Newsletter | "New look" | It was good to learn that when renewing subscriptions, several members have commented about how they like the look of the revised newsletter. We welcome suggestions and contributions and will try to include any material sent to us. The next edition (No.66) will be distributed at the end of March and Newsletter 67 in mid-July 2017 which will contain booking forms for the Annual Reunion. Please send contributions to Don Kentish no later than 10th March and 27th June respectively. | - | Sad News | The following have died since the last newsletter | Barry Clark - Partner of Anne Harris (Daughter of W/Cmdr Jack Harris) Sgt. D. (Don) Hellings - Navigator 8/44 - 3/45 Sgt. D. J. (David) Robinson - Air Gunner 4/45 - Date not known Sgt. P. W. (Percy) William Wise - Flight Engineer 11/43 - 5/44 |
- | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - |
Issue 64 (May 2016)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 64 | May | 2016 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | May 2016 Newsletter | This newsletter gives details about the Annual Reunion and includes a Booking Form. It is important that bookings are sent to Andrew Etherington by no later than 14th June. Electronic versions of the Booking Form are available on the 550 website (see below). There is also information about the important events coming up in Belgium at the end of May. They always make us extremely welcome and the ceremonies themselves are poignant reminders of the losses suffered in the skies over occupied Europe. We have also received news about a ceremony in the Netherlands in June. Also in this edition is the second part of the article about Operation Dodge and a short poem found by Jack in his archive entitled "The Armourer". Among the news items is advance information about Remembrance Weekend 2016; please put the date(s) in your diary | - | Annual Reunion | Dates - 1st to 4th July 2016 | The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal evening meal at the Ashbourne Hotel. The Saturday daytime programme begins with a visit to the 550 Squadron Museum followed by a buffet lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, a Dakota flypast and Service at the Squadron Memorial Stone, a Service at St. Denys' Church and tea and cakes in the Village Hall. The formal Reunion Dinner takes place at the Ashbourne on Saturday evening. An Airfield Tour takes place on Sunday morning and an afternoon visit is scheduled to the Elsham Wolds Museum. On Monday there is a trip to the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln |
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Booking Form | A Booking Form is enclosed with this newsletter and should be completed and returned as soon as possible but no later than Tuesday 14th June to Andrew Etherington, "Royston", Thorn Road, Marden, Kent, TN129EJ Tel: 01622 832995 Email: andreweth@btinternet.com.
The sooner you complete and return the Booking Form the easier it is for us to process the information and liaise with the many groups and organisations that support the Annual Reunion If enclosing a cheque please ensure it is made payable to 550 Squadron Association. If you have any queries about the Annual Reunion please contact Don and Val Kentish by telephone on 0121 778 6614 or 07757 722185. Email: dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk |
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Friday 1st July | A meal has been arranged in the Restaurant at the Ashbourne Hotel starting at 8.00 pm. There is no seating plan and a choice of either two courses for £15.95 or three courses for £20.45 per person. Indicate your menu selections on the Booking Form and return by 14th June |
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Saturday 2nd July | We have requested a flypast at 2.00 pm but will not receive notification of the actual time until a few weeks before the event. As ever, the time may be subject to change up to and including the day itself. Our preferred timetable is: (see link). |
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Saturday 2nd July | Reunion Dinner | Dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel starts at 7.30pm is a three course meal at £26.95 per head. Menu options are given on the Booking Form. There is a seating plan so please indicate if you wish to sit with anyone in particular. If you are not staying at the hotel pay at the end of the meal |
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Sunday 3rd July | The Airfield Tour is scheduled for Sunday morning. Assemble outside Reception at the Ashbourne at 11.00am.
In the afternoon a visit has been scheduled to the Elsham Wolds Museum with the possibility of a stop-off on the way back at the RAF Memorial in Kirmington and the Marrowbone and Cleaver pub in the village that was a favourite meeting place for aircrew and has many wartime photos on the walls. Meet outside Reception at the Ashbourne at 2.30pm.. |
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The Ashbourne Hotel | Hotel Information | If you intend to stay at the Ashbourne please book your room(s) without delay as any 550 rooms that have not been reserved by 14th June will be released for general sale. Please remember to quote "Kentish" and "550" to receive a discounted rate. The "550" rate, across all room types, is £76 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double and £66 for single occupancy.
The Ashbourne has a block of "comfort" rooms that has a lift and easily accessible bedrooms on the ground floor. These are the "400" rooms. Please discuss your accessibility requirements with the hotel |
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Other Accommodation | Possible alternatives to the Ashbourne Hotel are | - | - | - | - | The Amethyst Hotel, Townside, East Halton, Immingham, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN40 3NS.
Telephone: 01469 540205 |
- | - | - | Church Farm Guest House, Immingham Road, Habrough, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 3DB.
Telephone: 01469 576190. Website (see link): |
http://www.churchfarm-guesthouse.com |
- | - | The Old Chapel Hotel, 50 Station Road, Habrough, Immingham, DN40 3AY.
Telephone 01469 572377. Website: (see link) |
http://www.oldchapelhotel.com |
- | - | Hotels and other types of accommodation can be found easily by using any of the well-known price-comparison websites. Please note that not all establishments are listed. |
- | - | - | A Visitor and Accommodation Guide that covers the local area is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Brigg (01652 657053).
Website: (see link) |
http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/tourism-museums-and-the-arts/tourist-information/tourist-info-centres/brigg-tourist-information-centre/ |
- | - | There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes (01472 323111) if you prefer accommodation in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area.
Website: (see link) |
http://www.visitcleethorpes.co.uk |
Travel Arrangements | Humberside Airport is approximately 8 miles from North Killingholme.
North Killingholme is approximately a 45 minute drive from Robin Hood Airport. The nearest station to North Killingholme is Habrough. This is on the Doncaster to Cleethorpes line and is approximately 3 miles from North Killingholme. Please note that not all trains stop at Habrough although the majority do stop at Barnetby, 9 miles from North Killingholme. A taxi from Habrough station to North Killingholme should cost in the region of £10 and from Barnetby £18-20 (prices quoted in March 2016). Local firms include Fred?s Cars (01469 577100) and Mick?s Cars (01469 571435). Placebook Private Hire (01469 541600) is based in North Killingholme and therefore may be slightly cheaper. By road, if travelling east on the A180 take the A160 exit towards Killingholme and drive approximately 1 mile to the roundabout. Take the first exit towards North Killingholme. Follow the road for approximately 1 mile and turn right into Church Lane. St Denys? Church is on the left and immediately opposite is the Ashbourne Hotel. Turn right at the village green and the Hotel car park entrance is fifty yards on your left. Please note there are roadworks at the A180 Brocklesby Interchange and on the A160 towards Immingham and delays are possible. If you do not have access to a car to travel to and from the sites visited over the weekend please inform Don or Val Kentish either before the Reunion or as soon as possible after arrival and they will do their best to arrange lifts for you. Free parking is available at the Ashbourne but may be restricted. Disabled parking spaces are located outside the entrance to the block on your left as you face Reception from the car park. The Amethyst Hotel is in East Halton, approximately 1.5miles from North Killingholme. There is ample free parking. Please do not park on Lancaster approach other than to drop off and collect passengers at the Memorial Stone. Off-road parking is available at John Somerscales Ltd (approximately 200 yards from the Memorial Stone on the right) but as the site is used by a number of hauliers please do not block in other vehicles. |
- | Monday 4th July | Our tour of the International Bomber Command Centre Memorial Spire and Walls begins at 11.15am and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The address is Canwick Hill, Lincoln, LN4 2RF. Driving up Canwick Hill look out for the Mill Lodge pub/restaurant, fork right and the entrance is almost immediately on the right. Drive through the gate, park along the side of the road near the red portacabin on the right. Our guide, Paul Robinson, will meet us, supply high visibility vests and take us on the tour of the Memorial. We cannot begin the tour until the whole group has arrived.
As the site is still under construction: Wear suitable, stout, waterproof footwear, (the ground is uneven in places) and warm clothing (it is quite often windy at the Spire). There is no smoking on site. We must stay together at all times due to the construction work |
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Ceremonies in Belgium | Report: Jalhay Saturday 9th April |
The first of this year's ceremonies in Belgium took place in Jalhay on Saturday 9th April to commemorate the crew of Lancaster LM425/BQ-N, F/Sgt Jefferies and crew, who failed to return on 30/31 March 1944.
Approximately 100 people attended the ceremony including representatives of many veterans? groups and Alison Rose, the British Ambassador to Belgium. Wilfred Burie laid a wreath on behalf of the Association and thanked the local and provincial authorities for their support. This was another fantastic effort in memory of a 550 crew and we would like to thank all involved for their support. Parts recovered from LM425 will be presented to Jack Harris at the ceremony in Rebecq on 25th May and then returned to North Killingholme. A report and photos can be found at: (see link) |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/jalhay2016.php |
Other Ceremonies in Belgium | Jack Harris will lead a group attending the three ceremonies in Belgium at the end of May. | - | Rebecq Wednesday 25th May |
There is an informal evening meal on Tuesday 24 May and a ceremony on Wednesday 25 May at 10.00am in memory of the P/O Purney crew, who were shot down in JA712 BQ-H on the outskirts of Rebecq on 27/28 May 1944. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Sint Niklaas Saturday 28th May |
There will be a ceremony in commemoration of the crew of Lancaster LL851 BQ-V (P/O Dukelow) that crashed on 22 May 1944. Those attending will meet at the entrance to Tereken Municipal Cemetery at 10.00am and assemble at the graves at 10.45am. The Service ends at 12.00 midday followed at 12.45pm by lunch at Kasteel Walburg Municipal Park Sint-Niklaas (arrangements to be confirmed). |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Westerlo Sunday 29th May |
Our longstanding partners in Westerlo will be commemorating F/O Hinde and the other crew members aboard Lancaster DV309 BQ-S that crashed on 21/22 May 1944. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Waterloo | In addition to the above, Wilfred Burie has organised an informal trip on Thursday 26th May to visit parts of the battlefield at Waterloo. It promises to be a highly interesting day and final arrangements (times, meeting place, etc.) will be made while the 550 group is in Belgium | - | Berinzenne Summer 2016 |
A further event is planned in Berinzenne during the summer to lay a replacement plaque in memory of F/O Milburn and crew who crashed flying ME581 BQ-D on 22/23 April 1944 |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Queries | To find out more about these events and our other activities in Belgium or to indicate your attendance please call George Turner on 01469 540228 or 07811454105 or email him at geowturner@gmail.com. | - | Ceremony at Rhenen, The Netherlands | Ceremony at Rhenen, The Netherlands | A memorial to F/O F D Neilson and crew who were killed flying Lancaster LM134/BQ-H on 16/17 June 1944 will be inaugurated on 17th June 2016 at Rhenen in The Netherlands. The details we have at present are that at 1.00pm the Mayor of Rhenen will welcome invited people including representatives from Canada, England, New-Zealand and the Royal Air Force of The Netherlands. The unveiling of the Memorial Stone will be at 2.00pm. This will show the names of eight crew-members as W/O JK Murray (RCAF) was flying as second pilot on his first operation. The ceremony will finish at 2.45pm | - | History | Operation Dodge Part 2 |
You may remember the mention of a 103 Squadron Lancaster based at Elsham Wolds (just along the road from NK) which crashed off Corsica on a Dodge mission on 4th October 1945 with a crew of 6 and 19 passengers, all female, 2 nurses and 17 ATS personnel. No wreckage or bodies were recovered.
The gunner on the flight was Flight Lieutenant John P Whymark, who had done almost 100 operations, some in the Middle East and some on "Airborne Cigar" Lancasters with 101 Squadron at Ludford Magna before moving to 103. He also had a DSO and a DFC, something which probably made him the most decorated air gunner in the RAF. |
- | For reasons which now seem incomprehensible, both the War Office and the Air Ministry were very reluctant
to reveal the facts of the loss of this number of female personnel and simply advised the relatives of the passengers that they were "missing", without reference to the known circumstances. Only about six months later, in March 1946, were the relatives even told that the passengers were "presumed dead". In the face of this
information vacuum, some relatives were driven to placing advertisements in newspapers appealing for any information, a truly pathetic state of affairs.
Meanwhile, after the report of his loss, Flight Lieutenant Whymark's wife, Eileen, had contacted his squadron, and from the CO and colleagues on 103, had been given the true situation regarding the aircraft, its crew and its passengers. So when the advertisement was drawn to her attention she wrote to the family of May Mann, a 23 year-old ATS Lance Corporal, one of the "missing", giving them the information she had obtained about the crash. |
- | Corporal Mann had a fiance, Warrant Officer Basil Henderson, who returned to the UK from overseas in 1946 to be demobbed. He then communicated and subsequently met with Eileen Whymark, and two years later they were married. They had two sons whom they brought up along with Eileen's son, Robert Whymark. | - | The story may be a bit "Woman's Own", but I like to see how happiness and life came eventually out of tragedy. | - | Our thanks go to Norval Black for contributing this item. | - | THE ARMOURER | by LAC Laurence Gurr, Armourer, 550 Squadron | Hanging around, we've got the hump
Wait for the loads to come out from the dump Winding the bomb loads up in the kites No bets when we finish tonight On the plane they hang in racks We always hope the crews come back When they come back we have a "leaky" We hope and pray they've dropped their Cookie We changed the load one day last week A change of target so to speak We've worked all day and through the night And when we've finished we're on our bikes It's down to the NAAFI for tea and wads And then to bed you tired bods. |
- | Our thanks go to Jack Harris OBE DFC for contributing this item. | - | Other News | Flypast and Scampton Update | Further to the news items in the last newsletter, at the time of writing we have no further information about charges for flypasts from 2017 or the date of the proposed Air Show at RAF Scampton. | - | Sad News | The following have died since the last newsletter | F/O W.M. "Dave" Davidson, DFC - Pilot 11/44 - 3/45 | - | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - | Remembrance Weekend 2016 | - | Please note in your diaries Sunday 13th November when Services will be held at the Memorial Stone and in St. Denys' Church before a carvery lunch at the Amethyst Hotel.
Our programme in November has expanded over the years and also includes an informal meal in the "Fork and Spoon" (formerly the Bistro) at the Ashbourne Hotel on Saturday 12th November at 7.45pm and an opportunity to visit the Squadron Museum on Sunday morning. Rooms are available at the Ashbourne at the discounted "550" rate but we advise booking early as they have a function that evening. 550 was formed from "C" Flight of 100 Squadron in November 1943 and is now a fast-fighter training unit flying Hawks. Because of the connection, last year they very kindly agreed to provide a flypast. Unfortunately it was cancelled on the day due to low cloud cover but we anticipate approaching them again this year. More details will appear in the October newsletter. |
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Issue 63 (April 2016)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 63 | April | 2016 | Re-vamped Newsletter (desktop publishing) | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | April 2016 Newsletter | The 550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association was formed in October 1991 and the first Annual Reunion was held at the RAF Museum, Hendon in June 1992. So this year's Reunion will be our 25th anniversary reunion. From 1993 onwards, all Annual Reunions have been held at North Killingholme so next year's will be the 25th at NK. | - | Introduction | Newsletter preparation | Changes are being made to the format, editing and printing of our newsletters. The first newsletter was circulated to members in July 1992. The newsletter sent round in October 2015 was No.62. I [Jack Harris] put together all 62 of those newsletters. Now, at the age of 95, I am finding my typing skills and concentration levels are not what they used to be. So, starting with this newsletter, a new team is assuming responsibility for the newsletters. My role will now be confined to producing titbits about raids, crews, aircraft, casualties and wartime stories. The new crew is Don Kentish, Steve Parker and John Hellings with contributions from the 550 Committee and any Association member who thinks an article or piece of news might be of interest. | - | Ceremonies in Belgium | Jalhay, Saturday 9th April | There will be the presentation of a plaque in the council chambers to commemorate the crew of Lancaster LM425 BQ-N, F/Sgt Jefferies and crew, who failed to return on 30/31 March 1944. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/jalhay2016.php |
Rebecq, Wednesday 25th May | There is an informal evening meal on Tuesday 24 May and a ceremony on Wednesday 25 May at 10.00am in memory of the P/O Purney crew, who were shot down in JA712 BQ-H on the outskirts of Rebecq on 27/28 May 1944. This will be followed by a reception at the Little Mill in Rebecq. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Sint Niklaas, Saturday 28th May | There will be a ceremony in commemoration of the crew of Lancaster LL851 BQ-V (P/O Dukelow) that crashed on 22 May 1944. Those attending will meet at the entrance to Tereken Municipal Cemetery at 10.00am and assemble at the graves at 10.45am. The Service ends at 12.00 midday followed at 12.45pm by lunch at Kasteel Walburg Municipal Park Sint-Niklaas (arrangements to be confirmed). |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Westerlo, Sunday 29th May | Our longstanding partners in Westerlo will be commemorating F/O Hinde and the other crew members aboard Lancaster DV309 BQ-S that crashed on 21/22 May 1944. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Berinzenne, Summer 2016 | A replacement plaque will be laid in memory of F/O Milburn and crew who crashed flying ME581 BQ-D on 22/23 April 1944. |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/accueil.php |
Advance Notice: Lichtervelde May 2017 | We have received advance notice that a memorial to the P/O McCrae crew (LL810 BQ-K) who were lost on 27/28 May 1944 will be unveiled in Lichtervelde, Belgium on 28 May 2017. | - | Annual Reunion | Annual Reunion Date - 1st to 4th July 2016 | The Annual Reunion has grown over the years to include a number of optional activities that have invariably been popular. The weekend starts on Friday evening with an informal evening meal at the Ashbourne Hotel and is followed by a full programme on Saturday. An Airfield Tour will take place on Sunday morning and an afternoon visit is scheduled to the Elsham Wolds Museum. On Monday we have arranged a trip to the new International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. |
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Queries | If you have any queries about the Annual Reunion please contact Don and Val Kentish by telephone on 0121 778 6614 or 07757 722185. Email: dvparadise@yahoo.co.uk.
Further information and a Booking Form will be distributed with the newsletter in mid-May. |
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Friday 1st July | An informal evening meal has been arranged in the Restaurant starting at 8.00pm. There is a choice of either two or three courses. |
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Saturday 2nd July | We have received notification from the RAF Air Events Team that our bid for a flypast has been successful but that we have been allocated the Dakota because the Lancaster will be elsewhere that weekend. Until 2014 we arranged our reunion to coincide with the Waddington Air Show because we felt we would stand a good chance of securing a flypast. With the demise of the Waddington Air Show this tactic has not been possible but nevertheless we appreciate very much the ongoing support of the RAF Events Team and the BBMF who have always sought to provide an aircraft for our event. |
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Sunday 3rd July | The ever popular Airfield Tour is scheduled for Sunday morning. Assemble outside Reception at the Ashbourne at 11.00am. In the afternoon a visit has been scheduled to the Elsham Wolds Museum with the possibility of a stop-off on the way back at the RAF Memorial in Kirmington and the Marrowbone and Cleaver pub in the village that was a favourite meeting place for aircrew and has many wartime photos on the walls. Elsham was home to 103 and 576 Squadrons while 166 Squadron was based at Kirmington. Meet outside Reception at the Ashbourne at 2.30pm. |
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Monday 4th July | The International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln is not yet open to the public but they have kindly agreed to host a private visit by 550 members at 11.15am with the tour likely to last approximately 1.5 hours. This is an excellent chance to pre-view the site and hear the inside story of its development. We will be able to view not only the recently constructed "Spire" but the memorial panels that currently show the names of over 26,000 of the Allied aircrew that died during the war. Following the visit there is the option of lunch at the Mill Lodge pub/restaurant directly opposite the entrance to the site. There is no formal entrance charge but we suggest an optional donation of £5 per head as a contribution to the Centre's fundraising efforts. Please note that as construction work is taking place on site we will have to observe their safety procedures and wear appropriate footwear and clothing. |
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The Ashbourne Hotel | The Ashbourne Hotel is our centre for accommodation and evening meals. The Association does not make bookings and rooms have to be reserved by individuals. Quote "Kentish" and "550" to receive a discounted rate. The discounted "550" rate across all room types is £76 Bed and Breakfast per room per night for a twin or double and £66 for single occupancy. |
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History | Life in Holland Before Operation Manna | Operation Manna saw Bomber Command Lancasters flying day missions to airfields, race courses and sports grounds dropping food sacks and boxes from low level to the starving Dutch. This took place from the 29 April to the 7 May 1945 in which period 550 Squadron flew 181 sorties. F/Sgt. Reg Stockwell was an Air gunner in the crew of P/O Jim Vance, RAAF who flew on most of the 7 days that 550 took part in "Manna". When the 20th Anniversary of Manna was approaching Reg Stockwell wrote to the British Legion in Holland saying how much pleasure the Bomber Command aircrew got from these flights, mentioning how the aircrew dropped their own chocolate rations to supplement the delivery and asking if the Dutch receivers could contact him. His letter was published in a Dutch newspaper and Reg received 30 or 40 letters usually written in good English. One 4 page letter, written in impeccable English, not only thanked Bomber Command crews but gave an interesting account of life in Holland after the German occupation. Here are some of the highlights. | - | The Germans invaded Holland on the 10 May 1940. The Panzer divisions swept aside all opposition. The centre of Rotterdam was heavily bombed killing 1000 people and destroying 60,000 houses. The Dutch surrendered on the 14 May. At that time the writer was a 14 year old boy. His house was not damaged but his family (2 parents and 5 children) had to take in another family. Schooling was a problem as the German military commandeered many schools for headquarters, barracks and messes. Coupons were issued for food rationing but food was scarce. Potatoes were never peeled; they were washed and then eaten with their skins. | - | His father cycled 150km to Eastern Holland to collect food from a friendly farmer. If butter was available, members of the family watched carefully to make sure you were not overspreading it. Radios were banned but the family kept a clandestine radio hidden away upstairs in order to listen to Radio Orange broadcasts from England. The penalties for being caught with such a radio were dire and the children had to be warned never to mention the radio or the content of the programmes. | - | History | Operation Dodge Part 1 |
At the end of the War in Europe in 1945, Operation Dodge was the exercise to ferry home military personnel, mainly 8th Army, from the Italian theatre, specifically from the airfields of Bari and Pomigliano in the south. The operation?s name was supposedly a reference to a remark by Lady Astor after the Normandy landings, describing the army in Italy as "D-Day Dodgers". | - | Lancasters were adapted to carry 20 passengers in the bomb bay, but while the crew had oxygen, passengers did not, so flights could not cross the Alps. The route had to be at lower altitudes as an 'L' shape, south from the UK over France to Marseilles, then east over the Mediterranean, past Corsica to Italy. | - | 550 started on Dodge operations on 26 July with 2 Flight Commanders making the 15 hour round trip. The Operations Record Book does not identify flights by individual crews but gives aggregate flying hours; for example, Dodge No.4 on 2 August gave 165 hours which probably represents 11 aircraft. In total, the Squadron logged nearly 2000 hours, meaning around 130 trips and some 2600 passengers carried. | - | However, this was not done without loss. On 6 October a 550 Lancaster piloted by W/O Graham was leaving Pomigliano with a complement of 26 persons when the port outer engine failed. Attempting to make a 3 engine landing, the aircraft overshot the runway and crashed, killing four passengers. This followed a more serious accident the previous week when the Lancaster of P/O Matthews, returning from Bari with a full complement of 26, was lost without trace, possibly after entering cu-nim cloud. Perhaps the most poignant loss was on 4 October when an aircraft of 103 Squadron disappeared en route to Italy with 19 female passengers, 2 nurses and the rest ATS. It is thought to have crashed in the sea off Corsica as other 103 aircraft reported bad weather in the area, and another Lancaster reported having seen a flash in the sea around the time of the disappearance, but no wreckage or bodies was ever found. | - | It seems likely that Dodge losses were weather related and this may have been compounded by the lack of experience newer crews had of severely adverse weather conditions. (The 550 crew which was lost did not join the Squadron until June 1945). In late October pilots were re-categorised by flying hours so that in 103 Squadron for example, only 5 remained qualified for these operations. Dodge continued into 1946, but 550's contribution ended on 20 October 1945, eleven days before the Squadron was disbanded. | - | Our thanks go to Norval Black for contributing this item. The second part will appear in Newsletter No. 64. | - | 550 Museum News | Painting Donations | The family of Sgt. C. A. Bruce (flight engineer with Jock Shaw) has donated two paintings and a newspaper to the museum. The larger painting was specially commissioned to show ED905 - Press on Regardless attacking a column of German troops on the outskirts of Caen in 1944. The full story can be found on the Association website at (link shown right). The newspaper reports on the handing over of the painting by the artist Phil Rochester to Charles Bruce & Roy Harris in 2000. The smaller painting - by the same artist - shows ED905 over the Humber while returning to base. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtDAShaw/index.php |
Flight Engineer memoir | Rodney Ward, nephew of Alan Kenneth Ward (flight engineer with the Prangley crew) has written a short memoir on his uncle and passed on a copy. |
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Aircraft accidents in Lincolnshire | Graham Platt and his team have written and published a weighty book about aircraft accidents in Lincolnshire during the Second World War and have presented a copy to the Museum. | - | Flight Engineer autobiography | Steve George (flight engineer with the S/Ldr Caldow crew) has written his autobiography and his family has given a copy to the Museum. |
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Thank you | Our thanks go to all the above for their generosity. | - | Other News | Introduction of Charges for Flypasts from 2017 | The RAF Air Events Team has indicated that they will introduce a "small charge" for BBMF flypasts from 2017. They have yet to set a figure but we will monitor the situation over the months ahead. We assume they will have to set a figure relatively soon, as applications for 2017 will begin to arrive once this year's flying season commences. All bids for next year have to be submitted by 30th September. We will provide updated information in future newsletters and on the 550 website. | - | Possible Air Show at RAF Scampton from 2017 | Items have appeared in the media about the possibility of a major Air Show at Scampton in 2017. The date of any event is important to us because the Lancaster is highly likely to be involved. However, we need to balance the benefit of this with the potential for major disruption to our existing arrangements should we change dates. We will pass on developments through the newsletter and website. | - | Sad News | The following have died since the last newsletter | Sgt. Fred Easton RCAF (WOP with P/O W.P.F. Daniels 9/44 - 11/44) Helen Kentish, cousin of F/L E.S. Allen, 9/44 - 2/45 |
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New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Thanks | 25th Annual Reunion - Thank You | Jack referred in his introduction to the newsletter that this year is the 25th Annual Reunion. This is not only a considerable landmark for the Association at a time when many groups are shutting down but a tribute to Jack's energy and commitment. We thank him for his inspirational leadership over this period and the warm welcome that he and his colleagues have given to new members over the years. | - |
Issue 62 (October 2015)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 62 | October | 2015 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | October 2015 Newsletter | Summary of Armistice Events, North Killingholme, November 2015, and in North Killingholme and elsewhere in 2016. | - | Newsletter preparation | Don Kentish and Mike Leeman and other members of our hard-working committee going to take over responsibility for preparing and circulating the newsletter. | - | Armistice Sunday | Sunday 8th November 2015 | Details of arrangements being made by Don and Val Kentish. |
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Sunday 8th November 2015 | We will be welcoming the Reverend Paul Salmon for the first time as he is conducting our Services in November. He will be accompanied by a bugler. |
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Possible Flypast | The Reverend Salmon has connections with 100 Sqdn, now a fast-fighter training unit flying Hawks and we have asked for a flypast on Armistice Sunday. We will keep you informed of progress/details! |
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Armistice Weekend | Saturday Evening | As usual a small group will come together in the Ashbourne Hotel for an informal dinner in the Bistro. Please let Don Kentish know by 31st October if you plan to attend. |
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Sunday | Detailed timetable for Sunday.
0930-1030 Squadron Museum open in the Village Hall. 1040-1100 Assemble at the Memorial Stone, Service. 1100 Two minutes silence. Wreaths are laid. 1105Move to St Denys church. 1120-1200 Service. 1230 Lunch at the Amethyst Hotel |
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Annual Reunion 2016 | 1st-2nd July 2016 | For many years the Waddington Airshow took place in early July, and the reunion date was set to coincide to maximise the chance of getting a Lancaster flypast. However, it looks likely that the RAF have cancelled Waddington. |
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1st-2nd July 2016 | We are sticking with the date. Our reunion weekend in 2016 starts with an informal meals at the Ashbourne Hotel on Friday 1st July. |
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1st-2nd July 2016 | Applications for a flypast have been submitted for 2nd July |
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Annual Reunion 2015 | Report | For the first time in many years we were without a flypast as both the Lancaster and the Dakota were unserviceable. | - | Report | A large Belgian presence from Rebecq, Sint Niklaas and Westerlo | - | Report | We were pleased to see Ole Seberg from Denmark. Ole tends the grave of F/Sgt Battersby (F/Eng W H S Ansell crew, 29-30/8/44) and is a frequent visitor to our reunions. | - | Report | The 550 displays on Saturday afternoon in the chursh and later at the dinner included material about Operation Manna. | - | Ceremonies in Belgium 2016 | Rebecq | 25th May 2016. Details TBA |
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Lictervelde | It is possible that ceremonies will be arranged in Lichtervelde. No further details at present. |
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Jalhay | A memorial is likely to be unveiled in late March or the beginning of April and a plaque in Berinzenne will be inaugurated on the same day. |
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St Niklaas | No details available at present |
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General | If any member would like to visit they will be assured of a warm welcome. Please contact the Association for more details. |
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Homage to F/L R W Picton DFC crew | Achiet-le-Petit cemetery | We are grateful to Guy de Braeckeleer and Wilfred Burie from Rebecq for attending and representing the Association at a ceremony held in Achiet-le-Petit cemetery in the Pas de Calais to honour the F/L R.W. Picton, DFC crew shot down by a night fighter on the Aulnoye raid of 10/11 April 1944. |
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History | Formation of 550 Squadron | 550 Squadron was formed on 25th November 1943 at Waltham (Grimsby) airfield. This is the background to its formation. |
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The War Situation | In the early years of the War, Bomber Command had been forced to divert aircraft and crews to other users judged to be of a higher priority at the time. The early U-boat successes in the Atlantic lead to bomber squadrons being transferred to Coastal Command. By 1943 the arrival of 4 engined Liberators enabled Coastal Command to cover the "mid-Atlantic Gap" and the Allies got on top of the U-boats. In 41 and 42, bomber aircraft and crews had to be used to train parachutists and glider pilots as Britain developed its own Airborne Forces but the Dakota and other aircraft could fulfil this role by 1943. The early campaigns in the North African Western Desert required bomber aircraft and crews as did ferry operations. The Germans were forced out of Africa by May 43 and out of Sicily by August 43. The invasion of Italy began and the Italians sued for peace in September 43. A long advance northwards up Italy began, helped by the Salerno landings south of Naples in September 43. This advance up a narrow front allowed many RAF squadrons to return to Britain. The Mediterranean Sea was opened for Allied convoys. The Commonwealth Air Training Plan reached its peak and large numbers of aircrew became available in 43 onwards. The American 8th US Army Air Force stationed in England began to flex its muscles with a big day raid on Schweinfurt in October 43 losing 60 bombers. The Russian Armies were advancing westwards on a huge front from the Baltic to the Black Sea and the Luftwaffe was coming under a lot of pressure by late 43. |
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Bomber Command | From mid-43 onwards, Bomber Command began to flex its muscles. It was becoming an all four engined force using Lancaster, Halifax and Stirling bombers although heavier losses would force the Stirling out of the front line by early 44. Adequate supplies of aircraft and crews enabled 500-700 bombers to be launched on a single raid. Hamburg was devastated by 3 heavy raids in late July/early August 43 and the introduction of "Window Dropping" so confused the searchlight and flak defences that losses were acceptable. The Pathfinder Force could use Oboe to mark short range targets accurately and H2S navigation sets could help them to long range targets. 100 Group was formed on November 43 to jam enemy radio and radar, to send long range fighters out with the bomber stream to harass the Luftwaffe nightfighters and to mount diversion and spoof raids. |
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Bomber Command | Bomber Command started the "Battle of Berlin" on the night of 18/19 November 43 when 440 "heavies" attacked the city. This was the start of a campaign which would see 16 attacks on the "big city" by the end of March 44. Air Marshal Harris, the Commander in Chief of Bomber Command, thought that with the American bombers joining in with day attacks, overwhelming raids on Berlin would force Germany out of the war. Unfortunately, at that time the Americans did not have long range fighters able to escort their bombers to Berlin and the USAAF ould not take part. |
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Bomber Command | Bomber Command expanded hugely at the end of 43. In October/November 43 No. 1 Group formed 4 new Lancaster squadrons including 625 Sqn. at Kelstern, 626 Sqn. at Wickenby and 576 Sqn. at Elsham Wolds. |
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550 Squadron | 550 Squadron was the 4th new squadron to join No. 1 Group. The pattern was for existing squadrons to form a 3rd Flight which could be hived off to form a new squadron. This provided the new squadron with a core of experienced aircrew and groundcrew along with tried aircraft. 100 Sqn. had already used a 3rd flight to form 625 Sqn. on 1 October 43. They repeated the process on 25 November 43 when C Flight of 100 Sqn. became 550 Sqn. |
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550 Squadron | Crews inherited from 100 Sqdn. Crew Details TBA Crews from other squadrons were also posted into 550 Sqn. on its formation. 550s first raid was to send 8 Lancasters to Berlin on the night of 26/27 November 43 and it suffered its first casualties when the crew of F/L P.J.M. Prangley failed to return. 443 Lanes took part in this raid and 28 failed to return, a loss rate of 6.2%. This was a loss rate which Bomber Command could not afford. If loss rates could be kept to 3% or lower, supplies of new aircraft and new aircrew were adequate to maintain frontline strength. Loss rates above 3% meant that frontline strength would decrease. The loss rate on this raid was mainly due to the Luftwaffe nightfighters who had been fitted with SN2 air-to-air radar which we could not jam at that time and with 2 upward firing 20 mm cannon which caused Bomber Command and 550 Sqn. big problems for many months. |
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History | The Dresden Raid | Bomber Command carried out a very heavy raid on Dresden on the night of 13/14 February 1945. 796 Lancasters bombed the city in two waves dropping 1478 tons of high explosive and 1182 tons of incendiary bombs. Next morning 311 American Fortresses and Liberators bombed the railway yards in Dresden. On 15 February 200 American heavies set out for a day raid on an oil refinery near Leipzig, but bad weather prevented them from finding the primary target so they bombed Dresden as an alternative target. Tremendous damage was done to the city with 1600 acres devastated and huge numbers of casualties. First estimates were that 40,000 died but later this figure was reduced to 30,000. |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | Details TBA |
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The Dresden Raid | So Bomber Command, who bombed Dresden once, gets all the blame for the Dresden raid while the Americans who bombed Dresden twice in that critical three day period are never criticised. |
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History | Operation Manna | Norval Black wrote the article below for the Operation Manna display at the Annual Reunion. We thank him for allowing us to reproduce it here. |
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Operation Manna | Details TBA |
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Operation Manna | Details TBA |
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Operation Manna | Details TBA |
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Operation Manna | Details TBA |
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Operation Manna | Details TBA |
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Operation Manna | Details TBA |
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550 Museum News | Martin Carnell, Berlin | Martin Carnell recently visited the grave of his uncle, Sgt KJB Smith, in the War Cemetery in Berlin. Sgt Smith was lost when ME428 (F/0 RD Harris RCAF) was shot down on the Dessau operation on the night of 7/8 March 1945. Three of the crew were killed and the remaining four became prisoners of war. Martin took photographs of all the graves of 550 airmen in the cemetery. He then made up an album and this is now in the Squadron Museum in North Killingholme. Thank you, Martin. |
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550 Losses in Belgium | Previously, Wilfred Burie had sent a dossier of photographs of crash sites, gravestones and other material relevant to 550 losses in Belgium. This has now been put together in a folder that is also in the Squadron Museum. |
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General | If a member visits other crash sites, cemeteries or memorials that are relevant to 550 then Mike Leeman would be delighted to receive copies of any photos or other material that could go into the museum. These could be sent electronically or through the post. |
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International Bomber Command Centre | Lincoln | The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) has been created to record the contribution made by Bomber Command in the Second World War and recognise the vital role it played in protecting freedom. A Memorial Spire was recently opened at a ceremony attended by representatives of 550 and the Association hopes to organise a trip to the centre as part of the Annual Reunion in 2016. |
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A Motley Crew | Poem by Alan Gall, Nav 550 Sqdn | "A Motley Crew" is an affectionate and irreverent set of "derogatory ditties" about the seven members of a Lancaster crew that was written by Alan Gall, a Navigator with 550 Squadron. Copies were produced for the reunion weekend and sold out very quickly. If you would like a copy they are available at £3.00 including postage and packing. Please send a cheque to Val Kentish, made payable to "550 Squadron Association", at the address given earlier in the newsletter. If you want more than 1 copy contact Val in advance for P&P prices. |
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Phantom of The Ruhr | Ashbourne Hotel | We have based our Annual Reunion at the Ashbourne since 2011 and they have hung a "Phantom of the Ruhr" print signed by 550 air crew immediately on the left as you enter the main entrance. |
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Appeal for Help | Help with producing the newsletter | We are altering the arrangements for producing the newsletter and wonder if there is a member with skills in graphic design, layout or sub-editing who could spare the time to help us. The newsletter is distributed three times a year. If you would like to find out more please contact Don Kentish. |
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Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | F/Lt Jim Cassidy DFC RAAF, 2nd tour as Nav with S/L Caldow Sgt W A Langshaw, W/Op with W/O C W Graham F/O J B Wright DFC, Nav with S/L R Newitt DFC RCAF |
- | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - |
Issue 61 (June 2015)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 61 | June | 2015 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | June 2015 Newsletter | Summary of schedule and events planned in North Killingholme in 2015. | - | June 2015 Newsletter | This newsletter is issued slightly latter than planned due to visit to Rebecq for the 27/28 May commememorations there | - | Annual Reunion | 3-5 July 2015 | Our reunion weekend starts with an informal meals at the Ashbourne Hotel on Friday 3rd July. |
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3-5 July 2015 | The weekend events are organsied by Don and Val Kentish, If you have any queries not addressedin this newsletter then please contact Don as soon as possible. The earlier you get the attached "Booking Form" to Don the better but please make sure he gets it by the 16 June deadline. | - | Friday 3 July | Informal dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel will start at 8PM. |
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Saturday 4 July | A Lancaster flypast has been requested for 2PM. A firm time will not be notified until closer to the date, but for the moment the day's schedule is fitted around that timing. For the preferred timetable, see the link |
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Sunday 5 July | In the morning a tour of the North Killingholme airfield conducted by George Turner. Assemble at the Ashbourne Hotel at 11AM | - | Sunday 5 July | In the afternoon a visit to Elsham Wolds Museum will be arranged. Nos 103 and 576 Sqdns flew Lancasters from Elsham and the station has put together a very good museum. | - | Ashbourne Hotel | The Ashbourne Hotel is again our centre for evening meals and overnight stays. The Association does not make bookaings and rooms have to reserved by individuals. Quote "Kentish 550" when booking to receive a discount. See the link for details. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2015/AshbourneHotelInformationJuly2015.pdf |
Alternative accommodation | If the Ashbourne Hotel is full there are other accommodation alternatives in the area, including:
Amethyst Hotel, Townside, East Halton, Immingham, Grimsby, Lincs. DN40 3NS Tel. 01469 540205 Church Farm Guest House, Immingham Road, Habrough, N.E. Lincs. DN40 3DB Tel. 01469 576190 The Old Chapel Hotel, 50 Station Road, Habrough, Immingham. DN40 3AY Tel. 01469 572377 |
- | Roadworks | Immingham/North Killingholme area | Roadworks on the A160 which links Immingham to the A180 will affect those travelling to the reunion in North Killingholme. Please take account of this in your travel plans. | - | Armistice Sunday | 8 November 2015 | A service will be held at the Memorial Stone followed by lunch at the Amethyst Hotel | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | Newsletter No. 60 sent to Fred Rhodes has been returned marked "Return to sender" - which could be an ominous sign. | - | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - | Form 540 | For RAF Station North Killingholme | The last newsletter gave extracts up to the end of December 1944. Here are further extracts into 1945. | - | New Book | Bombing Germany: The Final Phase | A new book by Tony Redding about the final few months of Bomber Command's war, concentrating on the Pforzheim raid of 23/24 February 1945 which proved to be one of the most damaging attacks of the war. The book includes contributions from 12 aircrew of 550 Sqdn who either flew on the raid or could provide useful contributions. The book can be obtained from Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorks. S70 2AS Tel. 01226 734222 Or the Amazon web-site (see link) |
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1473823544/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE |
Issue 60 (May 2015)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 60 | May | 2015 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | May 2015 Newsletter | Summary of schedule and events planned in North Killingholme and elsewhere in 2015. | - | Rebecq | Belgium ceremonies 27 and 28 May 2015 | Two events this year to commemorate 550 crews; in Rebecq (Purney crew) and Lichtervelde (McCrae crew). | - | Annual Reunion | 3 - 5 July 2015 | The annual reunion is always arranged to coincide with the Saturday of the Waddington Airshow to maximise the chance of the Lancaster flypast. In 2015 there will not be a Waddington Airshow as the runway is being rebuilt. However we have secured a flypast. | - | Friday 3 July | Informal dinner at the Ashbourne Hotel will start at 8PM. |
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Saturday 4 July | A Lancaster flypast has been requested for 2PM. A firm time will not be notified until closer to the date, but for the moment the day's schedule is fitted around that timing. |
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Sunday 5 July | In the morning a tour of the North Killingholme airfield conducted by George Turner. Assemble at the Ashbourne Hotel at 11AM | - | Sunday 5 July | In the afternoon a visit to Elsham Wolds Museum will be arranged. Nos 103 and 576 Sqdns flew Lancasters from Elsham and the station has put together a very good museum. | - | Other Visit possibilities | In recent years ia Guided Tour of The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby was arranged on the Monday. Last year's attendance was very low and we are taking a rest this year. | - | Other Visit possibilities | We had hoped that the new Bomber Command Memorial being built in Lincoln would be open by the time of the reunion, but the opening has been pushed back, so we will monitor the situation for future years. | - | Ashbourne Hotel | The Ashbourne Hotel is again our centre for evening meals and overnight stays. The Association does not make bookaings and rooms have to reserved by individuals. Quote "Kentish 550" when booking to receive a discount. See the link for details. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2015/AshbourneHotelInformationJuly2015.pdf |
Roadworks | Immingham/North Killingholme area | Roadworks on the A160 which links Immingham to the A180 will affect those travelling to the reunion in North Killingholme. Please take account of this in your travel plans. | - | Armistice Sunday | 8 November 2015 | A service will be held at the Memorial Stone followed by lunch at the Amethyst Hotel | - | New Members | New Members since the last newsletter | A warm welcome to a number of new members. | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | Since the last newsletter the Association has lost the following members (in alphabetical order):
Paul Binder, F/Sgt (W/Op) with the F/O H.A.T. Clarke and F/O L.O. Williams crews Ken Brotherhood, Sgt (F/Eng) with the P/O K.J. Markes crew Bill (Taff) Evans, F/Sgt (W/Op) with the F/O W.M. Davidson crew Al Geen, F/O (Nav) with the P/O J.A. Beale crew Ron Germain, F/Sgt (W/Op) with the F/Lt N.A. Burrows crew Graham Logan, Sgt (A/G) with the P/O C.G.W. Kenyon crew Bob McLean, F/O (B/A) with the F/Lt R.E.G. Waite crew Frank Roberts, F/Sgt (W/Op) with the F/O S.D. Thompson crew. |
- | Form 540 | For RAF Station North Killingholme | The last newsletter gave extracts up to the end of August 1944. Here are extracts for September, October, November and December 1944. | - |
Issue 59 (October 2014)
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 59 | October | 2014 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Armistice Events Newsletter | Summary of schedule and events planned in North Killingholme November. | - | 550 Talks | 2013 and 2014 | Jack Harris has over the course of the last year given three talks on "Flying with Bomber Command in World War 2" in support of the Hospice in the Weald where his wife Bobbie spent the last months of her life. A forth talk is in the offing. Meanwhile the talk moves to North Killingholme where there will be a special emphasis on 550 operations from the airfield there. | - | 550 Talk | North Killingholme 7th November 2014 | The "550 Squadron Talk" will take place in St Denys Church at 8pm on Friday 7th November. Tea or coffee and biscuits will be provided at a charge of £5 per head. The proceeds will be distributed equally to the Hospice, to the Bomber Command Association, to the 550 Squadron Association and to St Denys Church for hosting the evening. Contact Mike Leeman if you wish to attend. | - | Armistice Sunday Service | North Killingholme 2014 | Arrangements are being made by Don and Val Kentish. See the link for details. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2014/RemembranceWeekend2014-Provisional.pdf |
Saturday Evening | 8 November 2014 | A small group of members usually gather for a meal at The Ashbourne Hotel on the Saturday evening. This will take place at 7:45 pm. Please let Don and Val know so that menu selections can be notified to the hotel. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2014/RemembranceWeekend2014-Provisional.pdf |
Armistice Sunday | 9 November 2014 | The detailed timetable is available in the link shown right: |
/documents/public/newsletters/2014/RemembranceWeekend2014-Provisional.pdf |
Next Reunion | 3 and 4 July 2015 | The annual reunion is always arranged to coincide with the Saturday of the Waddington Airshow to maximise the chance of the Lancaster flypast. In 2015 there will not be a Waddington Airshow as the runway is being rebuilt. However we are sticking to this early July date as the weekend is already reserved in the hotel and other weekends are already booked for other events. | - | July 2014 Reunion | Attendance | Attendances at our 2014 Annual rnions held up well with 41 at the Firday eening meal, 50 at The Amethyst Saturday buffet and 61 sitting down to the Staurday evening dinner. The church was full. For the Sunday monring an extra event was added when the Killingholme Full Bore Club invited 23 members to the Rifle Range for the unveiling of a Memorial Plaque. Another Lancaster flypast was enjoyed by all. Following the Reunion the Association, along with a contribution from the Ashbourne Hotel, was able to make a donation of £500 towards the upkeep of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London. Thanks to all who contributed. | - | New Members | New Members since the last newsletter | A warm welcome to a number of new members. | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | Since the last newsletter the Association has lost the following members (in alphabetical order): Bill Ansell A/G with S/Ldr P Nicholas 1/44 - 7/44 Bob Bickford W/Op with F/O J Harris 9/44 - 3/45 Ken Down F/Eng with F/O Jim Lord 6/44 - 10/44 Douglas Hicks RCAF A/G with F/O R D Harris 1/45 - 3/45 May Lait WAAF, Waitress 12/43 - 10-45 Jim Vance RAAF Pilot 4/45 - 6-45 |
- | Association Ties | New Stock of Association Ties | Costing £10 each plus £1.50 P&P. Contact Mike Leeman | - | Form 540 | For RAF Station North Killingholme | The last newsletter gave extracts for May and June 1944. Here are extracts from July and August 1944. | - | Subscriptions | Annual Subscription | The usual requests to please send your subscription if you have not done so. Thank you. At £5.50 it is not a lot but it helps defray postage costs, etc. Contact Mike Leeman. | - |
Issue 58 (May 2014)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 58 | May | 2014 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Reunion Newsletter | Summary of schedule and events planned in Belguim in 2014 (Rebecq, Sint Niklaas and Westerlo) and North Killingholme in July and November. | - | Belgium 2014 | Ceremonies in Belgium 27 May - 1 June | See also the link: |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/ |
Outline Programme - Rebecq, Westerlo and Sint Niklaas | Westerlo 30 May - 1 June | Day by day schedule of events See also the link: |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/ |
Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Weekend summary. Contact Don Kentish. |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Full Saturday Timetable |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Full Sunday Timetable |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Full Monday Timetable |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Ashbourne Hotel details |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Menus selecttions |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Collection for Bomber Command Association Ashbourne Hotel also donation an amount for each room booked |
- | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Visit to Alsace | Visit to Alsace, France 12 & 13 April 2014 | Memorial unveilings for Crawford and Craig crews | - | Form 540 | RAF Station North Killingholme, Form 540 | - | - | 2014 Reunion Booking Form | Booking form (inc. menu selections) Return by 19 June |
Word Format |
/documents/public/newsletters/2014/Reunion2014-BookingForm.doc |
2014 Reunion Booking Form | Booking form (inc. menu selections) Return by 19 June |
PDF Format |
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2014 Reunion Booking Form | Booking form (inc. menu selections) Return by 19 June |
JPG Format (pg 1 of 2) |
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2014 Reunion Booking Form | Booking form (inc. menu selections) Return by 19 June |
JPG Format (pg 2 of 2) |
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Issue 57 (April 2014)
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 57 | April | 2014 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
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| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Spring Newsletter | Summary of schedule and events planned in Belguim in 2014 (Rebecq and Westerlo) and North Killingholme in July and November. Another newsletter will follow in May with attendance forms, menu choices, etc |
- | Belgium 2014 | Ceremonies in Belgium 27 May - 1 June | See also the link: |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/programme2014.php |
Rebecq Programme | Rebecq 27-29 May | See also the link: |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/programme2014.php |
Westerlo and Sint Niklaas | Westerlo 30 May - 1 June | See also the link: |
http://www.rebecq-memorial.eu/programme2014.php |
Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Weekend summary. Contact Don Kentish. More details will be published in the May Newsletter |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Full Saturday Timetable |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Ashbourne Hotel details |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Sunday Airfield Tour. Contact George Turner. |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Monday visit to RAF Coningsby. Contact Don Kentish. |
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Annual Reunion | North Killingholme 4-7 July | Friday visit to Elsham Wolds. Details TBC. |
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New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | Since the last reunion the Association has lost too many valued members. In alphabetical order they are: Stan Brasher (RAAF) A/G with F/Lt A B Craig Ivan Daly A/G with P/O H A Findlay Ruth Guthrie widow of Sgt Larry Guthrie W/Op with F/O Purvis Don Hunter W/OP with P/O H O Jones (until be became a PoW on Stuttgart raid of 28/129 July 44) Lucy Doris Reed widow of F/Sgt E W Reed F/Eng Frank Woodley F/Eng with F/O K A Sidwell |
- | The Memory Lingers On | Goodbye to Sam Lipfriend and Kenyon Bowen Bravery | Last summer we had to say goodbye to two of our most valuable and respected members. | - | Form 540 | Form 540 for RAF Station North Killingholme | Extracts for the months of March and Arpil 1994 from the Station Records | - |
Issue 56 (October 2013)
| Newsletter | ||||
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| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 56 | October | 2013 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Remembrance Sunday Newsletter | Summary of November schedule and events planned in Belguim in 2014 (Rebecq and Westerlo) | - | Armistice Sunday | Services in North Killingholme, 10 November 2012 | Arrangements for those planning to be in NK 9th and 10th November. Details in the link. |
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Saturday 9th November | Informal Meal | At the Ashbourne Hotel. No seating plan. Please confirm if you wish to attend by 2 Nov in order that numbers can be confirmed (as menu pre-selection will be required if numbers exceed 10) |
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Sunday 10th November | Remembrance Sunday schedule | Detailed timings and plans; see link. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REMB2013 |
2014 Ceremonies in Belgium | Rebecq 28 May, Westerlo 1 June | Ceremonies are planned in May/June 2014 for two 550 crews lost in 1944 over Belguim. Details will follow in later newsletters. | - | Next Annual Reunion, 4 & 5th July 2014 | Initial notice of planned events | Detailed timings and plans will follow in later newsletters. | - | Farewell | Farewell to our 2 Vicars | We extend fond farewell to Revds. Mike and Sue Page-Chestney who retired in September. They started to conduct our July and November services in 2003 and have given us 10 years of excellent service. We wish them well in retirement. | - | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Change of Address | Member details updates | Names and contact details | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | Since the last reunion the Association has lost too many valued members. In alphabetical order they are: P/O Jim Beale DFC RCAF F/Sgt Dennis Blyth (W/OP with the F/O Rhude crew) F/O Kenyon Bowen-Bravery DFC, CdeG Bobbie Harris (wife of Jack Harris) Sgt. Sam Lipfriend (F/Eng with the F/O Edlund crew) F/Sgt Daniel O'Neil (W/Op with the F/O Mearns crew) |
- | Report on the July 2013 Annual Reunion | Our best ever Annual Reunion | From all angles this was our best ever Annual Reunion. Numbers broke records (91 at the Saturday evening dinner) and the attendance from overseas was impressive (9 from Australia, 6 from Canada and 12 from Belgium). The weather was gorgeous and the Lancaster arrived dead on time. Extras included a tour of the airfield, and a visit to the BBMF at RAF Coningsby. Local support was fantastic. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2013.php |
Association Committee | Call for two volunteers | With the passing of Sam Lipfriend this leaves only one committee member with wartime experience. We would like to add 2 ex-550 aircrew to the committee. Please let Jack Harris know if you would like to volunteer. | - | 550 Squadron Merchandise | - | Stocks of 2013 Ceramic Tankard, ties and lapel badges. Contact Mike Leeman for details. | - | R/T Callsigns | - | Radiotelephone conversations between the North Killingholme Control Tower and 550 Sqdn Aircraft used the following callsigns: NK Tower: LAMBECK 550 Sqdn aircraft: TUSSORE |
- | Form 540 for RAF Station, North Killingholme | - | Each RAF unit and station had to write up daily entries in the Form 540 which provided a Complete History. The F540 for 550 Sqdn concentrated on the "ops" flown and the postings of the aircrew. The Station F540 covered a very wide field and some extracts from the early weeks of the NK airfield are included in the newsletter. | - | Subscriptions | The Association relies upon regular subscriptions | The Assocation relies upon the subscriptions of members to carry out its commitments - be it sending out Newsletters to members, supporting the Immingham Air Cadets, making a payment to the North Killinghome Parish Council to assist with the costs of heating of the Museum, paying for wreaths, poppies and flowers as well as funding an attendance award at the Immingham Oasis Academy.
The Association does not send out reminders about the annual subscription (in the interests of economy), and replies on members to "cough up". Quite a few people pay by standing order - this is easy to set up with your bank & if you have a bank account that can be accessed via the internet it is only a matter of a few minutes to complete. Many members pay "over the odds" - donations which are much appreciated - so please help us to keep the Association funded by paying the tiny subscription and keeping the memory alive. |
- |
Issue 55 (May 2013)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 55 | May | 2013 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Annual Reunion Newsletter | Summary of the period since November | - | Railway Closure | Railway Line Closure: Doncaster/Scunthorpe | Summary details about alternative services | - | Annual Reunion 2013 | North Killingholme Events 5,6 & 7 July | Our reunion weekend starts with an evening meal on 5th July followed by the usual buffet lunch, afternoon activities and dinner on the 6th July and will conclude on Sunday norning 7th July with a tour of the air field. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Friday 5th July |
Informal Meal |
No seating plan, at the Ashbourne Hotel. Cost ?18.95 per head. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Saturday 6th July |
Lancaster Flypast |
Our request for a Lancaster Flypast over the Memorial Stone at 2PM has been approved and we have based our timetable on this preferred time. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=MEMO2013 |
Sunday 7th July |
Airfield Tour |
Assuming favourable weather George Turner will lead a tour of the airfield by car. Starting time 11AM. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Monday 8th July |
RAF Coningsby Visit |
RAF Coningsby is about 40 miles from North Killinghome and the home of the BBMF which flies the Lancaster, 4 Spitfires, 2 Hurricanes and a Dakota on displays. "Red Carpet" tour for 550 people starting at 11AM. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Ashbourne Hotel |
Ashbourne Hotel Accommodation and Meals |
The focal point for the Reunion. Also some alternate hotel addresses in the NK area |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Friday Evening Meal |
Costs and Menu |
Cost ?18.95 per head. No seating plan. |
Starter: Melon fruit compote & sorbet OR Homemade soup of the day Main: Beef bourguignon & chips OR Chicken chasseur & mash OR Wild mushroom risotto Dessert: Apple & rhubarb pie OR Ice Cream Selection
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Saturday Dinner |
Costs and Menu |
Starts at 7:30 PM. Cost ?28.95 per head. There will be a seating plan. |
Starter: Asparagus & soft boiled egg OR Mini duck spring roll Main: Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding OR Roast salmon fillet OR Goats cheese & broccoli tart Dessert: Raspberry creme brulee OR Strawberry tart OR Ice cream selection
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Church Sales |
Saturday 6 July |
At the end of the Saturday afternoon church service several items will be on sale at the back of the church |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
New Members |
A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter |
Names and contact details |
- |
Sad News |
Members who have died since the last newsletter |
George Glover RCAF (F/O B/A with the P/O Jim Beale crew) |
Wal Granfield RAAF F/Sgt A/G with the F/O S D Thompson RAAF crew Vernon Wilkes DFC B/A with the P/O G J Markes DFC crew
- |
F/Lt H Storry |
550 Gunnery Leader |
A gap in the Senior Gunnery Leader post after F/Lt Waycott was killed on 10/11 April 1944 and before the appointment of F/Lt Murphy on 9 June, F/Lt Storry appears in the records but is not in the list of Air Gunners and does not appear to fly any ops with a 550 crew. Does anyone remember F/Lt Storry and was he 550s Gunnery Leader? |
/php-library/mysql-utils/reports/rpt_squadron_servicemen.php?lastname=storry |
New Email Address |
For Mike Leeman |
... |
- |
|
Issue 54 (April 2013)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 54 | April | 2013 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Introduction | Summary of the period since November | - | Annual Reunion 2013 | North Killingholme 5,6&7 July | Outline of activities on 5, 6 and 7th July with a detailed schedule for Saturday 6th July Contact information including for the Ashbourne Hotel |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
New Book | No. 1 Group - Swift to Attack | A new book from Patrick Otter. 550 Sqdn and North Killingholme receive a lot of coverage. Patrick will be at the Reunion this year to sign copies. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
RAF Coningsby | Visit to RAF Coningsby on 8th July | After the reunion if there are folk interested in seeing the BBMF Lancaster up close and personal then this can be arranged. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Rebecq Memorial Service | Rebecq, 29th May 2013 | Details about visiting Rebecq for the Memorial service there this year |
/index.php#Events2013Notice |
Book being written | Pforzheim Raid 23/24 Feb 1945 | A book is being written on the Pforzhein Raid. This is a call for veterans who took part. Contact details: Mr. A C Redding, Mulberry House, Chequer Lane, Ash, Canterbury, Kent | - | Bomber Command Clasp | Application Details | How and where to apply and that details need to be provided NB: there is a form on this web-site complete with address to which it should be sent. PLUS: Sam Lipfriend represented 550 Sqdn at a presentation of Bomber Command Clasps to 24 BC veterans by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on 19th March. |
/documents/public/BomberCommandClaspApplication.pdf |
Flypast Magazine May 2013 | Article by John Elliott | John Elliott of the Jim Lord crew writes and there are 550 Sqdn photos |
/pages/bomber-command-books.php#Magazines |
Little Megs | A fish shop run by May Gabriel from a hut in South Killingholme | In response to a question in the last newsletter the mystery was solved. Thanks to those who provided the answers. Also mentioned on pg. 301 of Patrick Otter's new book. | - | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | P J Bradley (P/F/Eng) Josett Demey-Bens (an incredible Belgium lady and supported of Bomber Command and 550 Sqdn., who lived in St Niklass Belgium and looked after the graves of the Dukelow crew shot down in May 44) Charles (Bill) Peek (550 Bombing Leader July 44 - October 45) Maureen Pritchard (widow of Frank Pritchard A/G with the Sarll crew and amoung the founding member of the Association) |
- | Changes of Address | Some new addresses | Names and contact details | - | Remembrance Weekend 2012 | Details of the weekend last year in NK | Presentation of PD319 fragments by next of kin of the crew lost on this operation. |
/pages/remembrance-sunday-2012.php |
The Mid-UNDER gunner | The 8th member of the crew | A page on this unusual crew position. Introduced because of the vulnerability of the Lancaster to attack from below by night-fighters. Often the crew only knew of the presence of the fighter after it was too late and they were already hit. So a gunner in a turret underneath the aircraft approximately below where the mid-upper was located. W5005, N-Nan had such a gun position - there is no report of it ever having fired in anger. Visibility was poor unless the gunner lay prone, it was cold, it added to the weight of the aircraft so affecting fuel consumption and it did not allow H2S (radar aid) to be fitted so Navigators disliked it. It was a not an entirely successful modification. | - | Biggest losses in one night | 550s biggest losses in one night | Revigny raid 12/13 July 44. On that night 550 Sqdn lost 4 Lancasters - two to enemy action with the loss of all 14 crew members and two to crashes from shortage of fuel (although in each of these cases the crews baled out and all survived). | - | Subscriptions | Annual Subscription | It is only £5.50, and has been since association formation. It is not a lot but it helps defray postage costs, etc. | - | Thanks | Thanks to our helpers | The Association is heavily reliant on a great band of helpers. | - |
Issue 53 (October 2012)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 53 | October | 2012 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | "Remembrance" newsletter | Summer 2012 - what a summer, Diamond Jubilee, BC Memorial unveiling, Olympics, Para Olympics, Ryder Cup - and the 550 Association annual reunion. What a year! | - | Armistice Sunday | Services in North Killingholme, 11 November 2012 | Arrangements for those planing to be in NK 10 and 11th November. See link for details. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2012/RemembranceWeekendProgramme-2012.pdf |
Annual Reunion 2013 | North Killingholme, 5-6 July 2013 | Extra significance: 70 years since the formation of 550 Squadron and will be the 20th reunion in North Killingholme. With a group from Canada already booked in for 2013 and plans for events on the Sunday and the Monday, the reunion will be extra special this year. | - | Annual Reunion 2013 | North Killingholme | Full details of the weekend will be published in the May 2013 Newsletter See link for more info. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2013 |
Annual Reunions 2014/2015 | North Killingholme | Dates for these future reunions are already set (and the hotel booked). 4th and 5th July 2014 3rd and 4th July 2015. |
- | BC Memorial unveiling | Green Park 28 June 2012 | Jack Harris memories of a special day in London. | - | Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme 29th & 30 June 2012 | Visitors from Australia, Canada and Belgium. Presentation of the rudder from Purney crashed Lancaster to 550 Museum. Three new 550 items in the village: Sam and Pam Lipfriend bench, 550 Squadron sign and North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Trail. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2012.php |
Rebecq, 29 May 2013 | Ceremony to commemorate the Purney crew | George Turner will lead a group of visitors (so let him know if you are interested in going). Further information will be in the April/May 2013 newsletter. |
- | New Members | A Warm welcome to New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter | F/L Jim Lord DFC (P) F/O Harry Quick DFC (A/G) F/L (Stainless) Steele RCAF DFC Don Charlwood - although not a 550 flyer, was a Nav who in later years provided much help to the Association. Bill Anderson B/A with F/O Lohrey - mail returned (usually ominous news). |
- | Changes of Address | Some new addresses | Names and contact details | - | Little Megs | A tea shop of cafe in Cleethorpes or Grimsby? | If you know please let us know | - | Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial | Setting up of a new memorial | Information | - | Lancaster bits | Lancaster bits keep turning up | Identifable bits of PD319 found near Krefeld | - |
Issue 52 (April 2012)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 52 | April | 2012 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | "Annual Reunion" newsletter | Issue with details of the Bomber Command Association Memorial unveiling on 28 June 2012, Westerlo Commemoration in May, Annual Reunion in June/July in NK. Key details about plans for all these and contact details for those interested in taking part. | - | Westerlo 2012 | Westerlo, Belgium, 18-20 May 2012 | Details for the Commemoration weekend for the F/Sgt Hinde crew. Full schedule details. See link for more info. |
/pages/westerlo-may-2012.txt |
Bomber Command Association Memorial | Dedication and Unveiling Form | The form for dedication and unveiling, issued in the last newsletter still available (PDF format). If you wish to attend then print off,and either post or email in on completion to the address as detailed on the form. See link for more info. Getting confirmations back from the organisers appears to be slow. |
/documents/public/BCAMemorial/BCA-Memorial-Unveiling-2012.pdf |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Details of the weekend including initial schedule details. See link for more info. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2012 |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Initial detailed Saturday schedule. See link for more info. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=MEMO2012 |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 30 June 2012 | Formal Friday Dinner and informal Saturday evening meal, details and menus. |
|
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Hotel accommdation: booking early is strongly advised (the hotel is filling up, there are a lot of folk visiting this year for the BCA Memorial Unveiling and then also coming up to NK for the Reunion. See link for more info. |
/pages/reunion-weekend-accommodation-july-2012.php |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Ashbourne Hotel Information (1-page summary, PDF format). See link for more info. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2012/AshbourneHotelInformation-2012.pdf |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Other Accommodation in the area (1-page summary, PDF format). See link for more info. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2012/OtherAccommodation-April2012.pdf |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Travel Information (1-page summary, PDF format). See link for more info. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2012/TravelInformation-2012.pdf |
Armistice 2012 | Sunday 11 November 2012 | Please put a note in your diary that the Remembrance Services will be held in NK on Sunday 11 November | - | New Members | New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter. | F/O G C Glover (B/A) Sgt Jim Steer (W/Op) Confirmation that Ron Vietheer (RAAF), contact lost noted in previous newsletter, has died. |
- | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - | Subscriptions | Gentle reminder | Due soon for year beginning 1 July 2012. | - | Goodies | Ties, Badges, pens etc. | Details about 550 items for sale. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/forms/merchandise-enquiry-form.php |
Aviation Heritage Trail | North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Trail | The NK airfield is now officially part of the North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Trial along with Waltham, Elsham, Hibaldstow, and Kirton Lindsey. A large notice is now displayed close to the Memorial Stone. The North Lincs Tourist Board will publish an acccompanying booklet (perhaps in May). | - | Request for Information | Flight Commanders | Details about a number of Squadron Leader Pilots requested. If you have information then contact Jack Harris with details. | - | Things keep turning up! | Sterkade raid 16/17 June 44 | New information from a Dutch family involved with aiding the only survivor of the S/L G S Smith crew, Roy Kay, to evade capture and return to the UK. The story of the wedding dress that used to be a parachute. | - | 550 Squadron Record of Operations | A month by month summary of 550 Ops and losses | A separate attachment showing the full monthly list from Nov 43 to Apr 45. | - | 550 Squadron Association Reunion 29/30 June 2012 | Friday Dinner and Saturday evening meal | Menus for both evenings with selections for completing and returning to Don Kentish. | - |
Issue 51 (February 2012)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 51 | February | 2012 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Special "extra" newsletter | Special issue with details of the Bomber Command Association Memorial unveiling on 28 June 2012. Key details about plans for the unveiling and contact details for those interested in taking part. | - | Bomber Command Association Memorial | BCA Memorial Unveiling, Green Park. London Thurs 28 June 2012 | The date is confirmed and a few essential details are now known. Dedication and unveiling will start at noon and last ca. one hour. Priority for a) members of BCA, b) close relatives of BC personnel who died in WWII c) other members of BCA. Details about the laying of wreaths, etc. Reunion event on evening of Wednesday 27 June. See link for more info. |
/pages/bca-memorial-unveiling-june-2012.php |
Bomber Command Association Memorial | "BCA Memorial Co-ordination Team" contact details | The Memorial Team, Bomber Command Association , RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London NW9 5LL. Tel. 020 8358 4841 email: Bomber.Command.Memorial@rafmuseum.org See link for more info. |
/pages/bca-memorial-unveiling-june-2012.php |
Bomber Command Association Memorial | Dedication and Unveiling Form | Form for dedication and unveiling (PDF format). If you wish to attend then print off,and either post or email in on completion to the address as detailed on the form. See link for more info. |
/documents/public/BCAMemorial/BCA-Memorial-Unveiling-2012.pdf |
Westerlo 2012 | Westerlo, Belgium, 18-20 May 2012 | Details for the Commemoration weekend for the Hinde crew. Full schedule details. Further details to follow in April Newsletter. See link for more info. |
/pages/westerlo-may-2012.txt |
Annual Reunion 2012 | North Killingholme, 29-30 June 2012 | Details of the weekend including initial schedule details. Further details to follow in April Newsletter. See link for more info. |
/pages/reunion-weekend-accommodation-july-2012.php |
Armistice Sunday 2012 | Armistice Sunday 11 November 2012 | Put the date in your diary. Further details to follow in later Newsletters. | - | New Members | New Members since the last newsletter | Names and contact details | - | Sad News | Members who have died since the last newsletter. | R J (Dicky) Lloyd R P (Bob) Stone Lost contact with Ron Vietheer (RAAF) |
- | Change of Address | Members change of address details | Names and contact details. | - | Goodies | Ties, Badges, pens etc. | Details about 550 items for sale. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/forms/merchandise-enquiry-form.php |
Airfield Constructions | Airfield Constructions in the UK in WW II | Details the massive airfield construction programme between 1939 and 1944. Facts and figures. | - | Airfield Constructions | Development of the Airfield in NK | Details about the airfield construction at NK. The first operation was flown from NK on the night of 14/15 January 1944, but the all facilities at the airfield were not fully operational until May. | - | Boot scrapper | Can you help identify a boot scrapper? | Details about a boot scrapper dug up at one of the domestic sites on the NK airfield. Marked "Phantom 25-1-44" and seven sets of initials. BB, JK,JJ, HC, OHK, EJ, CAR. Can anyone throw any light or consult log books to see if the "Phantom" did a training flight on 25/1/44. | - | Jack Allen | Memorabilia | Jack Allen F/Eng with F/O Sidwell died a year ago and his daughter presented all his RAF memorbilia to the Assocation. A few items identified with 550 went into the Museum. The remainder of general RAF interest were sent to auction and raised ?326. Judy, his daughter, was happy for this amount to pass to 550 Association funds. Thank you, Judy. | - | Catherine McIntosh | Parachute jump | Last autumn Catherine, daughter of Jock Shaw DFC* (pilot), volunteered for a sponsored tandem parachute jump to raise funds for the British Legion. She was successful on all counts and raised ?1222 for the Legion. Well done, Catherine. | - | Shortest and Longest Tours | Shortest and Longest Tours on 550 Squadron | The shortest tour was probably flown by P/O N D Holdsworth and crew who did their first op on 2 June 44 and their last op on 10 August. So they did 30 ops in 2 months and one week. 25 of their ops were to French targets and 5 ops took them over Germany. (13 by day and 17 by night). The longest tour was probably flown by a navigator W/O D M Stephen RCAF. |
- | Bomber Command DVD | "Into the Wind" - Capturing the life and wartime experiences of Bomber Command veterans from the WWII | Electric Egg Ltd, Sparkshouse Studios, Ropewalk Lincoln, Lincs. LN8 7DQ Tel. 01522 837273 Features interviews with a dozen or more ex-Bomber Command air-crews. Shots of Lancasters flying and interiors showing crew stations, plus briefings probably lifted from older films. Features a 22 minute documentary looking at New Zealanders in Bomber Command. The DVD costs ?14.99 but quoting 550 Squadron should reduce this to ?12.99. |
http://www.electricegg.co.uk/ |
Issue 50 (October 2011)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 50 | October | 2011 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Introduction | Milestones reached | The Association was founded in 1991, so we are in our 20th year. This is the 50th Newsletter. 2012 will see our 20th Annual Reunion Meeting. | - | Waning powers | Original Association members | Age and illness continue to take their toll with the founding Association members. | - | Young Bloods | New generation taking increasing role in activities | The new younger generation, the families of original Squadron Members, are playing a bigger role in the organisation of events, etc. | - | Armistice Services | Armistice Services North Killingholme, 13 Nov 2011 | The details of arrangements for the Remembrance Sunday Services and contact information are listed. See the web-link in the next cell for details. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2011/RemembranceWeekendProgramme2011.pdf |
Westerlo Memorial | Westerlo, Belguim Ceremonies 19/20 May 2012 | The details of events taking place in 2012 in Westerlo marking the loss of F/Sgt Hinde and crew. |
/pages/550-sqdn-westerlo-commemorations.php |
Unveiling - Bomber Command Memorial | Unveiling provisionally scheduled for 28 June 2012 | The provisional date is set - final approval is awaited (Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games are all impacting the possible dates). As details emerge and the date is confirmed a special newsletter will be circulated (and the information updated online). | - | Annual Reunion 2012 | Reunion, North Killingholme 29/20 June 2012 | The provisional information about this event. Arrive Friday 29 June 2012 afternoon/evening for the formal reunion dinner in the Ashbourne Hotel. Dinner at 08:30 PM. Saturday 30 June the main events, including the Lancaster flypast. Some rooms can be booked for the Saturday evening if required. |
/pages/reunion-weekend-accommodation-july-2012.php |
Rebecq, Belguim | Unveiling of the Rebecq memorial | The Association was represented by George and Ruth Turner and Don and Val Kentish at the unveiling ceremony of the memorial to P/O Purney and crew and Rebecq villagers who died as the result of the loss of the 550 Sqdn Lancaster 27/28 May 1944. |
/documents/public/Rebecq-Memorial-Project/index.php |
Report on the Annual Reunion 2011 | North Killingholme 1/2 July 2012 | Our best ever reunion for several reasons. It was our first in the Ashbourne Hotel which provided excellent facilities. It was superbly organised by the "Young Bloods" mentioned above. Finally we had a large contingent (22) overseas visitors. A total of 82 people attended the dinner on Saturday night. |
/pages/550-sqdn-reunion-2011.php |
North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Trail | Proposal by North Lincolnshire Council | To help promote tourism in North Lincolnshire a number of the wartime airfields, including NK, have been included in the trail. | - | New Members | A warm welcome to new members | Contact details for five new members of the Association. | - | Sad News | Association members who have died since the last newsletter | Three members have died since the issuing of the last newsletter. | - | Association Pens | 550 Sqdn Association Pens | 1 pen - £2.50, 2 pens - £4.50, 3 pens - £6.50. Cheques made payable to "550 Squadron Association". Contact Mike Leeman for details. | - | Annual Subscriptions | Were due on 1 July 2011 | Contact Mike Leeman for details. | - | 550 Museum | New additions | RAF memorabilia from the family of F/Eng Jack Allen of F/O Sidwell crew. | - | Bomber Command attacks in France | In particular on the Marshalling Yards | Details about the operations against railway marshalling yards in France and the strategy of directing attention away from the real site of the proposed D-Day landings. | - |
Issue 49 (May 2011)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 49 | May | 2011 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Annual Reunion | Arrangements for the reunion on Saturday 2 July | Provisional timing for the Lancaster flypast for July 2; remainder of arrangements are built around the timing of the flypast. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=MEMO2011 |
Ashbourne Hotel | Ashbourne Hotel and Reunion Weekend 1-3 July 2011 | Arrangements for using the Ashbourne Hotel as centre for activities in North Killingholme. Hotel contact details. |
/pages/reunion-weekend-accommodation-july-2011.php |
Ashbourne Hotel | Ashbourne Hotel and travel arrangements | Summary hotel details and travel information. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2011/Ashbourne+TravelArrangements-May2011.pdf |
Ashbourne Hotel | Hotel rooms | Room booking details and rates, etc. |
/php-library/popup.php?textFile=REUN2011 |
Ashbourne Hotel | Friday evening dinner | Arrangements (informal seating), costs and menus. | - | Ashbourne Hotel | Saturday evening dinner | Arrangements (formal seating plan), costs and menus. | - | Ashbourne Hotel | Car parking and travel | Details for parking, and also general travel information including taxi contact information for those attending by train. |
/documents/public/newsletters/2011/Ashbourne+TravelArrangements-May2011.pdf |
BBMF at Coningsby | Visit opportunity | Information about the opportunity to visit Coningsby on Fri 1st July or Mon 4th July. Contact Arthur Punchard if interested. |
/pages/BBMF2011-aircrew-special-offer-reunion-weekend-july-2011.php |
Armistice Service | Sunday 13 November 2011 | Put the date in your diary - more details will be issued nearer the time. | - | Badges, ties | Available to purchase | A small supply of ties and lapel badges are available to purchase; details in the newsletter online. |
/php-library/mysql-utils/forms/merchandise-enquiry-form.php |
Membership | - | No new members or reported deaths since the March newsletter. | - | Bomber Command Memorial | Latest information | Two weeks ago the Foundation Stone was laid in Green Park, London. The unveiling is scheduled for May 2010. | - | Rebecq Memorial | Memorial unveiled 7 May 2011 | The Association was represented at the ceremony by George and Ruth Turner and Don and Val Kentish. Those taking part included British Ambassador, a Canadian representative, the Royal British Legion and Belgium military and civil authorities. |
/documents/public/Rebecq-Memorial-Project/index.php |
The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune | Attack by night-fighter | An account of the effect of night fighter attack from below on one 550 Lancaster NE164, BQ-Q flown by F/O H Jones. | - | Acknowledgements | Thanks to helpers | Mike Leemen, George Turner and Don Kentish keeping things ticking over in North Killingholme. | - | Booking form | Reunion booking form and menus | Booking form for Amethyst lunch on Sat 2 July, Annual Subscriptions, Ashbourne Hotel dinner requirements (menu and selection details for Friday and Saturday meals), any dietary requirements, seating preferences. Please return forms by 18 June latest. | - |
Issue 48 (March 2011)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 48 | March | 2011 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Annual Reunion | Arrangements for the reunion on Saturday 2 July | Initial formal approval for the Lancaster flypast for July 2; remainder of arrangements are built around the timing of the flypast. | - | Ashbourne Hotel | Ashbourne Hotel and Reunion Weekend 1-3 July 2011 | Arrangements including using the Ashbourne Hotel for the first time as centre for activities in North Killingholme. Room rate details, etc. | - | Armistice Services | Armistice Services Sunday 3 November 2011 | Initial arrangements for the services in NK this year. | - | Bomber Command Memorial | Bomber Command Memorial unveiling, Green Park, May 2012 | Special mention of this unveiling now planned for May 2012. | - | Canadian Coordinator | New incumbent | Susan Kahro, who volunteered a year ago to take over this role can no longer do so due to family illness. So Robert Taerum in Calgary takes on the job of co-ordinating Canadian members. | - | New members | New members since last newsletter | Daughters of F/L Jock Shaw, niece of Jack Marshall Cantor. | - | Sad news | Members who died since last newsletter | Sgt Les Allington (P), F/Sgt Harold Barton(A/G). | - | Brian Sibree | Brian Sibree - 550 Navigator | Second World War Experience Centre, Walton, Wetherby. 01937 541 274. Journal No. 22 published autumn/winter 2010 devoted to the Lancaster Bomber. The navigator article was written by F/O Sibree (of F/L Les Wareham crew). Photos of the crew, bombing-up procedures, etc. £5.95 in bookshops. | - | Douai Raid | Douai Road of 11 Aug 1944 | Details about the attack on the Douai Marshalling Yards with 120 Lancasters and 550 Squadron leading the No. 1 Group bombers. | - | O.A. Hardy | O.A. Hardy - the bravest and luckiest Air Gunner | The career of O.A. Hardy pieced together with the help of his son L.O. Hardy. Joined 550 Squadron June 44 as the R/AG in the crew of F/Lt B.J. Redmond after a period with 264 Squadron, and some adventures along the way. See article for details. | - | The Grim Reaper | The Grim Reaper showed no respect | Details of crews lost on their first (Prangley, Collier, Woodger and Craig crews) or second (Cooper, Bryson, Hunter and Siddall crews) live ops. | - | A Tribute | A Tribute to Air-Gunners | The lonely life of the air-gunner, lodged in turrets some distance from the other five crew members and dependent on the intercom for contact. | - | 550 Squadron merchandise | Ties,lapel badges,brooches | Details of stocks remaining: contact Sam Lipfriend. | - | Rebecq Memorial | Memorial unveiling 7 May 2011 | Call of assistance: representation at the ceremony to be held in Rebecq, 25km SW of Brussels to the crew and local civilians lost as the result of the crash of 550 Lancaster JA712/BQ-H. |
/documents/public/Rebecq-Memorial-Project/index.php |
Issue 47 (October 2010)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 47 | October | 2010 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Annual Reunion July 2010 | Report on events | Only 6 wartime aircrew were in attendance: Ken Brotherhood, George Bulman, Harry Evans, Roy Harris (travelled from USA with his son Paul) Sam Lipfriend and Jack Harris. A sign of the times. Sadly no ground crew could attend, but we were pleased to see Marjorie Grey a station M/T driver. But the church was full confirming that our Association has become an Extended Family. | - | Annual Reunion July 2010 | Warm welcomes | To: John Arnold from Australia son of W/Op in Dave Summons crew, and who looks after our Australian member (also with Brian Troath, and Prof. Bruce Scates). Prof. Ole Seberg from Denmark who tends F/Sgt Battersby grave (lost Stettin raid Aug 1944). Gordon and Karen Bell (Gordon son of W/C Brian Bell shot down Feb 1945 and POW). Catherine Macintosh, daughter of F/L Jock Shaw DFC*. Peter and Sally Coulter (Sally daughter of F/L James Cassidy DFC*, navigator with S/L Caldow crew). Jim Cameron son of Les Cameron DFC. Judith Appleby grand-daughter of Sgt. Shilcock F/Eng with McCarty crew (all killed Gelsenkirchen raid Nov 1944). Sarah Craddock niece of Bill Swann. | - | Annual Reunion July 2010 | Saturday dinner | At Hull University attended by 44 people. | - | Switch from Hull University | Switch from Hull University to Ashbourne Hotel | The first reunion was held in Hendon RAF museum June 1992, so 2011 with be our 20th. We started in North Killingholme in 1993 and were accommodated at Hull University where the Saturday evening dinner takes place. The University has always looked after us well. Things have changed and we have got older and the journey is no longer easy as it once was. From 2011 onwards we are not going to use Hull University but are concentrating out accommodation and meal arrangements at the Ashbourne hotel in North Killingholme. We will continue to lunch at the Amethyst Hotel, East Halton. | - | Armistice Sunday 2010 | Armistice Sunday 14 November 2010 | Programme and detailed schedule of events. | - | Annual Reunion 2011 | Annual Reunion North Killingholme 2 July 2011 | Notice for first details about the reunions now centered around the Ashbourne Hotel North Killingholme. Don Kentish has voluntered to organise the reunions and a newsletter will be circulated in late May giving the details. | - | Tributes | Tributes to 550 Squadron Aircrew | Details about three tributes to former 550 Squadron aircrew. Sgt V Kirby, F/Sgt John Piper, Sgt R G Johns | - | Tributes | Sgt V Kirby | Sgt V ("Rip") Kirby was the navigator in the P/O Holdsworth crew. His son Roger Kirby made a special trip to Europe to paint 30 paintings of the targets his father visited on ops. | - | Tributes | F/Sgt John Piper | F/Sgt John Piper was the MU/AG in the S/L Roly Newitt crew. | - | Tributes | Sgt R G Johns | Sgt R G Johns was an Air Gunnerwith F/Sgt C G Foster. The crew were lost to a night -fighter on 30/31 March 1944 near Schweinfurt. His daughter, Eve Dolphin, was born after he was killed. Eve made a journey to Germany to visit the crash-site and returned with items from the aircraft received from two men who, as young boys, found the crash-site in the woods the morning after the crash. These items are now in the 550 Museum in NK. |
- |
Issue 46 (May 2010)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 46 | May | 2010 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | New Belguim Memorial to 550 Sqdn Crew | Details about the Rebecq Memorial Project | RAF 550 Squadron Lancaster JA712/BQ-H was shot down by a German night-fighter during the night of 27/28 May 1944. |
/documents/public/Rebecq-Memorial-Project/index.php |
Issue 45 (Jan/Feb 2010)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 45 | Jan/Feb | 2010 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 44 (October 2009)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 44 | October | 2009 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Armistice Services | Programme | Detailed programme events through the day. | - | Services at Westerlo | Programme | Provisional details, full details to be circulated in April. | - | Annual reunion | Provisional details | Provisional details of the weekend events. Full details to be circulated later. | - | July 2009 Reunion Report | Reunion report | Full report on all the key points from the reunion weekend. Involvement of Humberside Police with HGV driver. | - | Bomber Command Memorial | AGM discussion on Bomber Command Memorial | Discussion about the contribution the Association should make to help finance the memorial. | - | 550 Squadron Museum | Progress in establishing museum | Report on the progress made in setting up a small museum in the village hall. | - | Appeal for information | Information for History of 550 Squadron | Appeal for information to Sandra Mason who is putting together a History of 550 Squadron. Memoirs, of life on the squadron, etc etc. | - | Pforzheim Raid | Pforzheim Raid and it's consequences | Details about the raid and the aftermath. | - | RAF Sports Lottery | RAF Sports Lottery: Registered charity | Details about this charity set up to provide income for RAF Sports Associations. Weekly draws, and prizes. Details of where to buy tickets. | - |
Issue 43 (May 2009)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 43 | May | 2009 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 42 (Jan/Feb 2009)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 42 | Jan/Feb | 2009 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 41 (October 2008)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 41 | October | 2008 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 40 (May 2008)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 40 | May | 2008 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 39 (January 2008)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 39 | January | 2008 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 38 (October 2007)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 38 | October | 2007 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 37 (May 2007)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 37 | May | 2007 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 36 (February 2007)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 36 | February | 2007 | Special extra newsletter to give details of events at RAF Coningsby 27 April 2007 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Phantom of the Ruhr Unveiling | Unveiling of the BBMF Lancaster at RAF Coningsby | Details of the unveiling events at RAF Coningsby for the Phantom of the Ruhr. Major event covered by the media. 550 Sqdn members invited for this one of their ton-up Lancs. Two Spitfires also being unveiled in new colours. | - | 2007 Annual reunion | Saturday 21 July 2007 | BBMF Lancaster on the ground for a group photo. | - | Association Website | Web-site had gone off-line | Call for volunteers to help. | - | 550 Sqdn last Raid | Berchtesgaden 25 April 1945 | .... | - | BQ-B | The Phantom of the Ruhr | Two page article detailing the history of EE139/BQ-B. | - |
Issue 35 (November 2006)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 35 | November | 2006 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 34 (May 2006)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 34 | May | 2006 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 33 (October 2005)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 33 | October | 2005 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 32 (May 2005)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 32 | May | 2005 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 31 (October 2004)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 31 | October | 2004 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 30 (June 2004)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 30 | June | 2004 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 29 (April 2004)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 29 | April | 2004 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 28 (December 2003)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 28 | December | 2003 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 27 (October 2003)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 27 | October | 2003 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 26 (May 2003)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 26 | May | 2003 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 25 (October 2002)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 25 | October | 2002 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 24 (May 2002)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 24 | May | 2002 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 23 (November 2001)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 23 | November | 2001 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 22 (June 2001)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 22 | June | 2001 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 21 (November 2000)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 21 | November | 2000 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 20 (May 2000)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 20 | May | 2000 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 19 (November 1999)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 19 | November | 1999 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 18 (May 1999)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 18 | May | 1999 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 17 (December 1998)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 17 | December | 1998 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 16 (May 1998)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 16 | May | 1998 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 15 (December 1997)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 15 | December | 1997 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 14 (May 1997)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 14 | May | 1997 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 13 (February 1997)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 13 | February | 1997 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 12 ( -)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 12 | - | Due to mis-numbering there was no number 12 (a fact noted in issue 13!) | Not available online |
|
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 11 (September 1996)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 11 | September | 1996 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 10 (June 1996)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 10 | June | 1996 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
Issue 9 (June 1996)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 9 | June | 1996 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Sad News | Death of Frank Pritchard | Frank Pritchard RAAF was an air-gunner with Peter Sarll's crew and one of the founding members of the Association. | - | Church Window | Information on progress on a memorial window in the North Killingholme Church | Details of the design and the finances presented. | - | Crew Photographs | Photographic windfall | Details of a collection of ca. 100 photos received. | - |
Issue 8 (January 1996)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 8 | January | 1996 | 1996 Reunion arrangements. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | 550 Sqdn Pen | 50th Anniversary Pen | Pen available from Sam Lipfriend. | - | Church Window | Progress regarding 550 Sqdn Memorial window | Information on progress regarding installation of a memorial window in North Killingholme Church. Local vicar in support. Finances discussed, plans moving forward. |
- | 550 Sqdn Plate | Commemoration plate showing BQ-F airborne. | BQ-F airborne over and other BQ aircraft on the ground being serviced at dispersal no. 23. | - | Squadron History | Work still in progress | ETA now end 1996. | - | Battle under the Moon | Mailly-le-Camp raid | This raid of 3/4 May 1944 has a special place in Bomber Command history: 42 out of 346 Lancasters were lost, including one 550 lost and one damaged beyond repair. | - | Log Books | Note about Bomber Command log books | Details about a call by the RAF Museum for submission of log books to get them recorded. The value of these also discussed. |
- |
Issue 7 (May 1995)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 7 | May | 1995 | 1995 Reunion arrangements. | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | NK Church - Possible Permanent Memorial | Plans to install a permanent memorial in the NK village church | Outline plans described. Engraved glass vs. stained glass window considerations. |
- | Squadron History | Plans to record squadron history | Squadron history being put together by Jack Harris with the aim of publishing spring/summer 1996. | - | Australia Visit | Details of visit to Australian by Jack Harris | Describes reunions with many 550 Squadron colleagues in various locations throughout Australia. | - |
Issue 6 (December 1994)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 6 | December | 1994 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | The Valour and the Horror Film | Canadian Film, shown on Channel 4, 7th August | Note about the protests and letters generated as a result of the film | - | Bomber Command Assocation Film | Triggered by report above | Association donation of towards making of the Bomber Command Assocation Film. | - | Flashback to Christmas 1944 | Memories of December 1994 at NK Airfield | Memories of a month of thick fogs and hospitality at USAF Base at Wendling. | - | NK Church - Possible Permanent Memorial | First mention of plans for a permanent memorial | Outline plans to be drawn up, investigations and presentation to the membership at next AGM. | - | Achievements of Bomber Command | Analysis of the Strategic Bomber Offensive | Effort and Cost figures. Figures of aircraft involved etc in the Allied Combined Strategic Air Offensive. ca. 8 page analysis of the Bomber Command campaign. |
- |
Issue 5 (May 1994)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 5 | May | 1994 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Sad news | Report of the death of Wing Cmdr Nicholas | Sudden death of Wing Cmdr Peter Nicholas DFC, recently elected President of the Association. | - |
Issue 4 (December 1993)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 4 | December | 1993 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | 1994 Diary | Diary Dates for 1994 | Assocation Photograph with Lancaster in April. Reunion in July. |
- | Video | Video of 1993 reunion | A video, of one hour duration, of the service in the church and at the Memorial Stone. | - | Assocation Photograph | Association Photograph Coningsby, 5 April 1994 | One hour duration, of the service in the church and at the Memorial Stone. | - | Mailly-le-Camp Commemoration | Commemoration on 3/4 May 1994 | Details about the raid and the 550 Sqdn Lancs lost/damaged. | - | Memorial Service, Nuremburg Raid | Memorial Service on 30 March 1994 | Held at Runneymede RAF Memorial. Arrangement details. Roll of Honour. List of Decorations | - | Reunion and AGM Reports | The 1993 Reunion and AGM reports | Including agenda items and finances. Election of Peter Nicholas 'A' Flight Commander as President of the Association. | - |
Issue 3 (June 1993)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 3 | June | 1993 | - | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | 1993 Reunion | Detailed arrangements for the reunion | Hull University, local pubs, weekend programme, other details, member deaths, new members, special requests (for RAF museum). | - |
Issue 2 (December 1992)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 2 | December | 1992 | Actual first newsletter!! 1993 reunion details. |
Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL | Sad News | Report of the death of Wing Cmdr Bennett | Wing Cmdr JJ (Jimmy) Bennett was the first 550 Squadron CO. He was also the first President of the Association. |
- | Other deaths reported | Association members | Various, including Bob Todd (W/Op to Peter Nicholas), perhaps better known as the straight man to Benny Hill on TV. | - |
Issue 1 (- 1992)
| Newsletter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Month | Year | Notes | URL |
| 1 | - | 1992 | In fact there was no Issue No. 1 | Not available online |
| Articles, Reports, Anecdotes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Description | Details | URL |
|
TOTAL Newsletters in the database: 89 (indiviudal items 1531)
Minutes Of Meetings
June 1992
Notes of proceedings and decisions from the very first 550 Squadron reunion in June 1992 at RAF Museum, Hendon, London.
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