2013 AUTUMN NEWSLETTER
2013 REUNION
This year’s reunion saw an increased number of Fighting Cocks present, ranging from a number of welcome new faces to the customary stalwarts covering the Hunter, Phantom and Tornado eras. We were also delighted to welcome our guest of honour, Lieutenant General Andrew Graham, Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Scotland and late of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, our fellow military freemen of the City of Stirling.
It was particularly pleasing to welcome Jerry Ward to his first reunion since his severely disabling accident in 2007. His determination to enjoy life to the maximum extent now possible is inspirational and was exemplified by his having attended the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight annual dinner at Coningsby and the Dambusters’ commemorative flypast at Derwent Reservoir in the preceding two weeks.
More of Jerry’s remarkable story can be seen on his website at www.jerryward.co.uk |
Future Reunions
The committee has been considering our future pattern of reunions, including whether to adapt our current format by introducing a lunchtime event at the RAF Club to reduce the overall expense to members who otherwise might require overnight accommodation. A straw poll of those attending this year’s reunion resulted in a majority being in favour of continuing with the existing arrangements for an evening dinner. However the views of the wider membership may differ from those of a relatively small sample, clearly already largely satisfied with the current format. Accordingly, Association Members are invited to cast their vote on the Events page to enable us to gain a broader view of members’ preferences.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE
Please ensure that you register your vote no later than 30th November 2013 to enable your Secretary sufficient time to make arrangements for the 2014 reunion.
The committee has been considering our future pattern of reunions, including whether to adapt our current format by introducing a lunchtime event at the RAF Club to reduce the overall expense to members who otherwise might require overnight accommodation. A straw poll of those attending this year’s reunion resulted in a majority being in favour of continuing with the existing arrangements for an evening dinner. However the views of the wider membership may differ from those of a relatively small sample, clearly already largely satisfied with the current format. Accordingly, Association Members are invited to cast their vote on the Events page to enable us to gain a broader view of members’ preferences.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE
Please ensure that you register your vote no later than 30th November 2013 to enable your Secretary sufficient time to make arrangements for the 2014 reunion.
2016 plans
Looking further ahead we are developing our plans for commemorating in 2016 the centenary of 43 Squadron’s formation. Our plan is to hold a weekend of celebration at Stirling, to include a formal dinner, the dedication of a memorial to 43 Squadron and the laying up of the Squadron Standard in the Church of the Holy Rude beside Stirling Castle. Other events are being considered to a full weekend of activities and a fitting tribute to one of the Royal Air Force’s most distinguished fighter squadrons. Further information will be circulated in due course.
Looking further ahead we are developing our plans for commemorating in 2016 the centenary of 43 Squadron’s formation. Our plan is to hold a weekend of celebration at Stirling, to include a formal dinner, the dedication of a memorial to 43 Squadron and the laying up of the Squadron Standard in the Church of the Holy Rude beside Stirling Castle. Other events are being considered to a full weekend of activities and a fitting tribute to one of the Royal Air Force’s most distinguished fighter squadrons. Further information will be circulated in due course.
Obituaries
Sadly, the last of our founder members, Vic Vickers died earlier this year barely a month after his wife Maureen. They are pictured here during a visit by our previous joint secretaries, Bob Iles and Neil MacIndoe, who accompanied our past Chairman Ian McBride. |
Vic was in his 94th year and had been one of the select few along with Jimmy Beedle and Len Telling who had founded our association at Klagenfurt in Austria at the close of the Second World War. As the squadron’s personnel dispersed having experienced the Battle of Britain and five invasions together - North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and the South of France - Vic shared a determination that the spirit and comradeship that had built up between all its members, officers and non commissioned personnel alike, should not be lost. He was steadfast to this principle, serving as our treasurer for 44 years before becoming a Vice President.
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We have also been advised of the passing during the year of the following members or their wives:
Helen Roberts, 20th May, wife of ex CO Ray Roberts 1955-57
Ellie Roberts 2012, wife of Wg Cdr Will Roberts 1969-74
John Harper, 2nd July, served on the Squadron 1959-61
James Budd, 18th July, served on the Squadron 1956-57
Ron Scott, 2012, served on the Squadron 1955-58
Helen Roberts, 20th May, wife of ex CO Ray Roberts 1955-57
Ellie Roberts 2012, wife of Wg Cdr Will Roberts 1969-74
John Harper, 2nd July, served on the Squadron 1959-61
James Budd, 18th July, served on the Squadron 1956-57
Ron Scott, 2012, served on the Squadron 1955-58
Flight Lieutenant Richard Reynell
On 28th June your chairman, together with past and present secretaries of the association, attended the dedication of a memorial to Flight Lieutenant Richard Reynell at Point Hill Park in south-east London overlooking the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich. It was here on 7th September 1940 that Dick Reynell was killed while attacking a large formation of Dornier Do17 bombers and their fighter escorts. The same engagement, in which a numerically superior force was confronted by only 9 Hurricanes of 43 Squadron, also claimed the life of the squadron commander Caesar Hull who crashed a few miles away. The memorial at Greenwich is part of an initiative by the Shoreham Aircraft Museum to commemorate all the Battle of Britain pilots who fell within a 10 mile radius of Shoreham village, near Sevenoaks in Kent, and received additional support from the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
On 28th June your chairman, together with past and present secretaries of the association, attended the dedication of a memorial to Flight Lieutenant Richard Reynell at Point Hill Park in south-east London overlooking the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich. It was here on 7th September 1940 that Dick Reynell was killed while attacking a large formation of Dornier Do17 bombers and their fighter escorts. The same engagement, in which a numerically superior force was confronted by only 9 Hurricanes of 43 Squadron, also claimed the life of the squadron commander Caesar Hull who crashed a few miles away. The memorial at Greenwich is part of an initiative by the Shoreham Aircraft Museum to commemorate all the Battle of Britain pilots who fell within a 10 mile radius of Shoreham village, near Sevenoaks in Kent, and received additional support from the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Today, the panoramic view from Point Hill is still impressive although London’s skyline has changed markedly. St Paul’s Cathedral, which would once have dominated the view, is now dwarfed by high rise buildings throughout the city. However the immediate area of Greenwich remains largely untouched either by major development or by the attentions of the Luftwaffe. One of those attending the dedication, a local resident who had been a teenager at the time of the Battle of Britain, could recall German bombers flying down the Thames below the level of onlookers on Point Hill and suggested that the local anti aircraft fire with its rain of hot shrapnel had been a greater hazard to those on the ground than that posed by the German bombers who it was believed always left Greenwich undamaged as it provided a distinctive navigation feature when setting course for home after a raid on London. Imagine yourself looking out from Point Hill over the panorama of London as you read the following.
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Dick Reynell was one of at least 10 Australian pilots serving in the RAF who were killed during the Battle of Britain. It was thus most fitting that tributes were made by the Chief of Staff at the Australian High Commission, Wing Commander Anthony O’Leary, and Andrew Rennie, an Australian historian and author, as well as by family members. Andrew Rennie in particular delivered a most moving evocation of the events leading to that fateful sortie, from which the following extract is adapted. |
“It is hard to believe that nearly seventy three years ago the skies above us were filled with angry aircraft. Bullets flew and lives were lost. As we stand on this small green pinnacle that overlooks a great city it is indeed a peaceful spot far removed from the turmoil of that day and it is indeed because of those sacrifices made seventy three years ago that we can stand here.
On the 7th of September 1940 Dick was stationed with 43 Squadron at RAF Tangmere in West Sussex. He should have been on holiday from his responsibilities as a Test Pilot at Hawker Aircraft, but instead had felt it his duty to fly and had wangled a duty evaluating the Hawker Hurricane in combat conditions. In reality Dick's time at the Squadron was already numbered, for the paper work ordering him off combat and back to his job as a Test Pilot had finally caught up with him.
The day started with blue skies and perfect weather, Dick's first task was to test fly his own Hurricane V7257. It had been damaged the day before in combat. It was this test flight that even after 70 years stood out in the memories of the Squadron's ground crew. He beat up the field culminating in a continuous barrel roll down the length of the airfield with contrails from the wingtips forming a twisted vapour trail behind him.
The day, by all accounts, was very quiet. In control rooms the WAAFs on duty dozed or read or knitted. New pilots were sent up for practice and at one time the squadron was ordered airborne but nothing came of it. Then the rumour came that the squadron would be stood down. The pilots relaxed, deck chairs were dragged out into the afternoon sun, Dick relaxed in his canvas chair (front row second from right). On his left sat his squadron commander Caesar Hull and on his right sat Squadron Leader George Lott, wounded in combat on the eve of the Battle of Britain. The pilots leaned back as photos were taken, easy smiles on faces squinting into the sunlight. Within three hours, both Caesar Hull and Dick Reynell were to be killed in action.
On the 7th of September 1940 Dick was stationed with 43 Squadron at RAF Tangmere in West Sussex. He should have been on holiday from his responsibilities as a Test Pilot at Hawker Aircraft, but instead had felt it his duty to fly and had wangled a duty evaluating the Hawker Hurricane in combat conditions. In reality Dick's time at the Squadron was already numbered, for the paper work ordering him off combat and back to his job as a Test Pilot had finally caught up with him.
The day started with blue skies and perfect weather, Dick's first task was to test fly his own Hurricane V7257. It had been damaged the day before in combat. It was this test flight that even after 70 years stood out in the memories of the Squadron's ground crew. He beat up the field culminating in a continuous barrel roll down the length of the airfield with contrails from the wingtips forming a twisted vapour trail behind him.
The day, by all accounts, was very quiet. In control rooms the WAAFs on duty dozed or read or knitted. New pilots were sent up for practice and at one time the squadron was ordered airborne but nothing came of it. Then the rumour came that the squadron would be stood down. The pilots relaxed, deck chairs were dragged out into the afternoon sun, Dick relaxed in his canvas chair (front row second from right). On his left sat his squadron commander Caesar Hull and on his right sat Squadron Leader George Lott, wounded in combat on the eve of the Battle of Britain. The pilots leaned back as photos were taken, easy smiles on faces squinting into the sunlight. Within three hours, both Caesar Hull and Dick Reynell were to be killed in action.
(Standing from Left) Plt Off H C Upton, Plt Off A E A van den Hove d’Ertsenryck, Plt Off D G Gorrie
(Seated from Left) Plt Off S Cary (Sqn Adjutant), Flt Lt J I Kilmartin, Sqn Ldr C G Lott, Flt Lt R C Reynell and Sqn Ldr C B Hull. The last two named were killed in action some three hours after this photograph was taken.
But on the other side of the Channel the last windscreen had been wiped again for dust, a thousand engines revved or idled and an armada took to the air, the target was London.
About 4.00 pm this activity was seen in the plotting rooms and the books and knitting were abandoned. At 4.20pm four Hurricane squadrons were ordered into the air from Northolt, Hendon and Gravesend - all indications were that this was a typical raid. Five minutes later, squadrons from North Weald and Kenley took to the air: then, five minutes later, another squadron from North Weald.
At 4.40 43 Squadron was ordered to scramble but only A Flight was available. Half of B Flight was already in the air chasing an unidentified local plot towards Portsmouth. What there was of the squadron was ordered to patrol Beachy Head. Squadron Leader Hull with Blue Section of B Flight caught up with A Flight , Flt Lt Kilmartin (front row, 2nd from left) with Yellow Section and Dick leading Red section. At Bentley Priory, the lights under 43 Squadron lit up to show they were airborne, a WAAF placed a marker on the map of Southern England with a card marked 43 and nine for the aircraft available, edging it eastward from Tangmere to Beachy Head.
43 was then ordered towards Dover and there struck the bomber and fighter stream that was now obviously heading for London. Squadron Leader Hull, sent Yellow section (three Hurricanes) to take on the fighter cover and Blue and Red Sections to attack the bombers. In his croaky voice he ordered the Hurricanes to "smash them up". In the operations room at Bentley Priory the display for 43 Squadron lit up “engaged”.
We know that this initial contact took place in the Folkstone area and continued towards London over Ashford. Sgt Deller was shot down but parachuted to safety. Given the speed of a Hurricane and the distance from the coast to London, the distance can be covered in approximately ten minutes. Significantly, if you depress the gun button on a Hurricane the ammunition will be expended in only 12 seconds.
But London was being attacked and the men of 43 Squadron were doing their part to protect it. After the Hurricanes of 43 Squadron had expended their ammunition they continued to dive and swoop amongst the bombers trying to disrupt them. Only when fuel was low did the aircraft turn for home. Two had to land at other airfields for fuel to get home. When the marker was pulled from the plotting map and the lights that indicated a landing were glowing for 43 Squadron, only six Hurricanes had returned to their home.
Squadron Leader Hull, leaving a pall of smoke had fallen into the grounds of Purley Boys High School, probably trying to get to RAF Kenley. But above Blackheath, witnessed by small boys playing and teenagers on pushbikes from where they stood on Shooters Hill, another Hurricane was falling out of the sky, falling like a Catherine wheel. Things where being thrown out, maybe the engine, maybe a wing or maybe the pilot. They all found their final resting place in the area around where we now stand.
The local Home Guard, who at this moment had been receiving their new uniforms, rushed to find the downed pilot. When they found him they stood vigil until the ambulance came and took him to the care of others. With the Special Police they watched over the remains of the fighter till the recovery teams took that away too.
This story like all good stories does go on, but for Dick Reynell and many others, their stories ended that sunny September afternoon.
About 4.00 pm this activity was seen in the plotting rooms and the books and knitting were abandoned. At 4.20pm four Hurricane squadrons were ordered into the air from Northolt, Hendon and Gravesend - all indications were that this was a typical raid. Five minutes later, squadrons from North Weald and Kenley took to the air: then, five minutes later, another squadron from North Weald.
At 4.40 43 Squadron was ordered to scramble but only A Flight was available. Half of B Flight was already in the air chasing an unidentified local plot towards Portsmouth. What there was of the squadron was ordered to patrol Beachy Head. Squadron Leader Hull with Blue Section of B Flight caught up with A Flight , Flt Lt Kilmartin (front row, 2nd from left) with Yellow Section and Dick leading Red section. At Bentley Priory, the lights under 43 Squadron lit up to show they were airborne, a WAAF placed a marker on the map of Southern England with a card marked 43 and nine for the aircraft available, edging it eastward from Tangmere to Beachy Head.
43 was then ordered towards Dover and there struck the bomber and fighter stream that was now obviously heading for London. Squadron Leader Hull, sent Yellow section (three Hurricanes) to take on the fighter cover and Blue and Red Sections to attack the bombers. In his croaky voice he ordered the Hurricanes to "smash them up". In the operations room at Bentley Priory the display for 43 Squadron lit up “engaged”.
We know that this initial contact took place in the Folkstone area and continued towards London over Ashford. Sgt Deller was shot down but parachuted to safety. Given the speed of a Hurricane and the distance from the coast to London, the distance can be covered in approximately ten minutes. Significantly, if you depress the gun button on a Hurricane the ammunition will be expended in only 12 seconds.
But London was being attacked and the men of 43 Squadron were doing their part to protect it. After the Hurricanes of 43 Squadron had expended their ammunition they continued to dive and swoop amongst the bombers trying to disrupt them. Only when fuel was low did the aircraft turn for home. Two had to land at other airfields for fuel to get home. When the marker was pulled from the plotting map and the lights that indicated a landing were glowing for 43 Squadron, only six Hurricanes had returned to their home.
Squadron Leader Hull, leaving a pall of smoke had fallen into the grounds of Purley Boys High School, probably trying to get to RAF Kenley. But above Blackheath, witnessed by small boys playing and teenagers on pushbikes from where they stood on Shooters Hill, another Hurricane was falling out of the sky, falling like a Catherine wheel. Things where being thrown out, maybe the engine, maybe a wing or maybe the pilot. They all found their final resting place in the area around where we now stand.
The local Home Guard, who at this moment had been receiving their new uniforms, rushed to find the downed pilot. When they found him they stood vigil until the ambulance came and took him to the care of others. With the Special Police they watched over the remains of the fighter till the recovery teams took that away too.
This story like all good stories does go on, but for Dick Reynell and many others, their stories ended that sunny September afternoon.
Caesar Hull
One very special guest at the dedication of Flight Lieutenant Reynell’s memorial was Wendy Bryan, the sister of Squadron Leader Caesar Hull. Wendy and her husband Gerald continue to be staunch supporters of the Association and are regular attendees at our annual reunions.
Arguably an icon amongst the many distinguished commanding officers of 43 during the Second World War Caesar’s throaty chuckle as he tipped in for what was to prove his final dogfight epitomised the Fighting Cock spirit embodied in our motto Gloria Finis. Caesar crashed not far from Dick Reynell, in the grounds of what has become Coulsdon Sixth Form College. His sacrifice has continued to inspire the young people of today and the college has recently erected an elegant and symbolic memorial to Caesar featuring a silhouette of a Hurricane superimposed on a bird in flight.
One very special guest at the dedication of Flight Lieutenant Reynell’s memorial was Wendy Bryan, the sister of Squadron Leader Caesar Hull. Wendy and her husband Gerald continue to be staunch supporters of the Association and are regular attendees at our annual reunions.
Arguably an icon amongst the many distinguished commanding officers of 43 during the Second World War Caesar’s throaty chuckle as he tipped in for what was to prove his final dogfight epitomised the Fighting Cock spirit embodied in our motto Gloria Finis. Caesar crashed not far from Dick Reynell, in the grounds of what has become Coulsdon Sixth Form College. His sacrifice has continued to inspire the young people of today and the college has recently erected an elegant and symbolic memorial to Caesar featuring a silhouette of a Hurricane superimposed on a bird in flight.
The Thompson and Morton Memorial Trophy
Whilst on a training mission On 2nd July 2009, only days before the disbandment of 43 Squadron, Flight Lieutenants Kenny Thompson and Nigel Morton were killed when their aircraft crashed at Glen Kinglass in Argyll. Golfers on the squadron at that time decided that a trophy be created and played for in their memory, however following the disbandment of the squadron the trophy had been lying collecting dust in store at RAF Leuchars.
The Squadron Association decided that as Kenny and Nigel had enjoyed playing at the West Lothian Golf Club, they would ask if a competition at the club could benefit from the trophy. Some club members had visited the Squadron at Leuchars and “flown” in the Tornado flight simulator; one of the members flying it under the Forth Bridge! The club professional, Alan Reid, had also been shown around the aircraft by Nigel during a visit to the Squadron. The trophy was therefore adopted by the West Lothian Golf Club as the Ladies’ Club Championship Trophy and was presented to Mrs Maureen Shanks on 7th June this year by the President of 43(F)Squadron Association, Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall.
Whilst on a training mission On 2nd July 2009, only days before the disbandment of 43 Squadron, Flight Lieutenants Kenny Thompson and Nigel Morton were killed when their aircraft crashed at Glen Kinglass in Argyll. Golfers on the squadron at that time decided that a trophy be created and played for in their memory, however following the disbandment of the squadron the trophy had been lying collecting dust in store at RAF Leuchars.
The Squadron Association decided that as Kenny and Nigel had enjoyed playing at the West Lothian Golf Club, they would ask if a competition at the club could benefit from the trophy. Some club members had visited the Squadron at Leuchars and “flown” in the Tornado flight simulator; one of the members flying it under the Forth Bridge! The club professional, Alan Reid, had also been shown around the aircraft by Nigel during a visit to the Squadron. The trophy was therefore adopted by the West Lothian Golf Club as the Ladies’ Club Championship Trophy and was presented to Mrs Maureen Shanks on 7th June this year by the President of 43(F)Squadron Association, Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall.
Museum News
Plans for a proposed Gulf War display at the RAF Museum, which would feature the museum’s Tornado F3 in 43 Sqn livery are currently on hold. Similarly, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester which has Tornado F3 ZE 966 in store has postponed its earlier plans to place it on public display but hopes to do so as soon as curatorial funds allow. This aircraft was collected from the BAe factory at Warton on 9th January 1990 as 43 began its re-equipment with the Tornado and was part of the squadron complement at Dhahran during the Gulf War.
More encouragingly, construction of a replica Gloster Gamecock is currently nearing completion and is to be displayed in 43 Squadron's colours at The Museum of the Jet Age in Gloucester. Further details can be obtained at http://www.jetagemuseum.btck.co.uk/Aircraft/GlosterGamecock.
Perhaps even more exciting is a project being undertaken by members of the Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland http://www.apss.org.uk/index.htm at East Fortune airfield near Edinburgh. They are engaged in creating a flying replica of a Sopwith One and a Half Strutter, the first aircraft to be flown operationally by 43. It will be a couple of years at least before it is ready to fly however, as you can see, construction is well advanced.
Plans for a proposed Gulf War display at the RAF Museum, which would feature the museum’s Tornado F3 in 43 Sqn livery are currently on hold. Similarly, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester which has Tornado F3 ZE 966 in store has postponed its earlier plans to place it on public display but hopes to do so as soon as curatorial funds allow. This aircraft was collected from the BAe factory at Warton on 9th January 1990 as 43 began its re-equipment with the Tornado and was part of the squadron complement at Dhahran during the Gulf War.
More encouragingly, construction of a replica Gloster Gamecock is currently nearing completion and is to be displayed in 43 Squadron's colours at The Museum of the Jet Age in Gloucester. Further details can be obtained at http://www.jetagemuseum.btck.co.uk/Aircraft/GlosterGamecock.
Perhaps even more exciting is a project being undertaken by members of the Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland http://www.apss.org.uk/index.htm at East Fortune airfield near Edinburgh. They are engaged in creating a flying replica of a Sopwith One and a Half Strutter, the first aircraft to be flown operationally by 43. It will be a couple of years at least before it is ready to fly however, as you can see, construction is well advanced.
The Newsletter
The recent development of the website has created the opportunity for more frequent newsletters, subject of course to the availability of sufficient items of interest. The secretary would be delighted to receive suitable items for consideration. Photographs would be particularly welcome.
The recent development of the website has created the opportunity for more frequent newsletters, subject of course to the availability of sufficient items of interest. The secretary would be delighted to receive suitable items for consideration. Photographs would be particularly welcome.
A Request
Ian Smith Watson has asked for assistance with a book he is preparing, entitled ‘’Northern Q’’, The History of RAF Leuchars. Anything that Association members feel they could contribute regarding 43 Squadron while based at Leuchars, particularly the Phantom/Tornado era, including photographs would be very much appreciated.
Contact [email protected]
Ian Smith Watson has asked for assistance with a book he is preparing, entitled ‘’Northern Q’’, The History of RAF Leuchars. Anything that Association members feel they could contribute regarding 43 Squadron while based at Leuchars, particularly the Phantom/Tornado era, including photographs would be very much appreciated.
Contact [email protected]
And Don’t Forget ………
. . . . .The Fighting Cock still flies!