FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER
After the fabulous centenary commemorations in May last year, we are settling into routine and there is much to report. First, the Squadron Standard now resides in its permanent setting in the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling. Many thanks are due to Alan Carlaw in particular for making the arrangements for the manufacture of the bracket which supports the Standard.
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The 43(Fighter) Squadron Standard, the Memorial Paque and Bracket in the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling
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OBITUARIES
It is with regret that I report the following deaths:
George Gibson, died 10 October 2016, aged 96. Served on 43 (Fighter) Squadron from 1941 to 1942, retiring from the RAF at the end of WWII.
Gerry Shipley, died 27 September 2016 aged 80. Served on 43 (Fighter) Squadron as a Hunter pilot from 1969 to 1973.
We were also informed that CT Spence Lewis has passed away, believed to have served on 43(Fighter) Squadron in the late 1970s to early 1980s; unfortunately he is not on our Association records.
George Gibson, died 10 October 2016, aged 96. Served on 43 (Fighter) Squadron from 1941 to 1942, retiring from the RAF at the end of WWII.
Gerry Shipley, died 27 September 2016 aged 80. Served on 43 (Fighter) Squadron as a Hunter pilot from 1969 to 1973.
We were also informed that CT Spence Lewis has passed away, believed to have served on 43(Fighter) Squadron in the late 1970s to early 1980s; unfortunately he is not on our Association records.
OTHER NEWS
We continue to examine options for the future display of the Beedle Trophy and many Squadron paintings. Work is in hand with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders who are developing a museum in Stirling Castle and who have approached us to include suitable memorabilia and artefacts. Also, Air Officer Scotland, Air Vice Marshal Ross Paterson, is in discussion to include items of our memorabilia in his Edinburgh HQ. We hope to report progress on these approaches in due course and, as the conscience of the RAF’s Scottish Squadron, maintain our cultural and heritage link to our birthplace in Stirling. We are also discussing arrangements for the centenary of the RAF in 2018 with Air Officer Scotland.
We were informed in November that Tornado F3 ZE966 has been donated to the Tornado Heritage Centre at Hawarden Airfield near Chester, after a long period of storage in the Science Museum’s overflow facility at Wroughton. This aircraft is of significant interest as it was 43 Squadron’s first Tornado F3 with the tail letter ‘GF’, collected from the BAE Systems factory at Warton on 9 Jan 1990 by Nick Whilley and Andy Moir. It was also the 800th Tornado manufactured and the 160th Air Defence Variant. As ‘GF’, the aircraft was part of the fleet at Dhahran during Gulf War 1 and features as the subject of the oil painting ‘Kuwait CAP’. Subsequently the aircraft served on 11 and 56 Sqns and is currently in 56 Sqn colours. Along with a fully functional F3 cockpit procedures trainer, Stuart Case of the Tornado Heritage Centre plans to restore the aircraft for display and we are in discussion with him to see how we might support this project. More details may be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Tornado-Heritage-Centre-1763004247274903/about/
We were informed in November that Tornado F3 ZE966 has been donated to the Tornado Heritage Centre at Hawarden Airfield near Chester, after a long period of storage in the Science Museum’s overflow facility at Wroughton. This aircraft is of significant interest as it was 43 Squadron’s first Tornado F3 with the tail letter ‘GF’, collected from the BAE Systems factory at Warton on 9 Jan 1990 by Nick Whilley and Andy Moir. It was also the 800th Tornado manufactured and the 160th Air Defence Variant. As ‘GF’, the aircraft was part of the fleet at Dhahran during Gulf War 1 and features as the subject of the oil painting ‘Kuwait CAP’. Subsequently the aircraft served on 11 and 56 Sqns and is currently in 56 Sqn colours. Along with a fully functional F3 cockpit procedures trainer, Stuart Case of the Tornado Heritage Centre plans to restore the aircraft for display and we are in discussion with him to see how we might support this project. More details may be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Tornado-Heritage-Centre-1763004247274903/about/
Tornado F3 ZE 966. Copyright Tornado Heritage Centre
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Tornado F3 ZE 966. Copyright Tornado Heritage Centre
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SECRETARY'S NOTICES
It is the wish of 43(F) Squadron Association that every member should receive a newsletter at least once a year. The preferred method of distribution is via email as this approach reduces the Association’s costs to a minimum. That said, we realise that a small number of members do not have access to the internet and rely on receiving the newsletter by post. As time goes by some members change address or sadly pass away and your secretary is often unaware of such changes. Should you wish to continue to receive the newsletter by post, please confirm this with the Secretary. Please would all Association members ensure that their email details are up to date. Any changes may be made via the contact form on our website, www.43squadronassociation.com, or directly to the Secretary via email, telephone, text or letter!
For all the internet surfers out there, there is a raft of special interest groups on Facebook with all kinds of detail popping up out of the blue. For starters try:
British Military Aircraft of the Cold War (1947-1991)
The F-4 Phantom II
Phormer Phantom Phlyers
British F-4 Phantom Aviation Group
Phantom FG1/FGR2 and F4J(UK) Group
Former Tornado F3 Flyers
43(F) Squadron Association
The annual Tornado F3 reunion will take place on Friday 19th May at the Knights Templar in Chancery Lane, London.
The annual Phantom reunion will take place on Friday 10th November at the Lord Moon on the Mall, Whitehall, London.
For all the internet surfers out there, there is a raft of special interest groups on Facebook with all kinds of detail popping up out of the blue. For starters try:
British Military Aircraft of the Cold War (1947-1991)
The F-4 Phantom II
Phormer Phantom Phlyers
British F-4 Phantom Aviation Group
Phantom FG1/FGR2 and F4J(UK) Group
Former Tornado F3 Flyers
43(F) Squadron Association
The annual Tornado F3 reunion will take place on Friday 19th May at the Knights Templar in Chancery Lane, London.
The annual Phantom reunion will take place on Friday 10th November at the Lord Moon on the Mall, Whitehall, London.
AND FINALLY . . . .
The role of Association Secretary was handed over from David Manley to Bill Preece in August 2016. On behalf of the Association I would like to pass on a huge vote of thanks for everything that Dave achieved in the past few years – he did absolutely masses behind the scenes. Hopefully he will enjoy a well earned rest!
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