207 Squadron Royal Air Force History

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Dec 2005

Peter Ward-Hunt DFC*, Pilot 8/41-5/42, Wg Cdr RAF(Retd), died aged 89 on 7th December: husband of the late Erica and father of Angela, John and the late David. In his distinguished RAF career he served on a number of squadrons. After the RAF he worked in Civil Aviation as an Air Traffic Controller at Heathrow and later worked on the Concorde simulator. In retirement he was involved in many local organisations in particular Bedford Rugby Club and the local horticultural society. Peter was a regular attender at our reunions. His funeral and burial took place on Tuesday 20th December at 12 noon at his parish church, St Peter's, Church Lane, Sharnbrook which was packed with his many friends, including representatives of this Association. The 207 badge was on the front of the order of service. Donations may be made to MacMillan Cancer Relief.

Peter's obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph of 14th December 2005.

Nov 2005

Peggy Priestley (née Meek, Driver 11/42-1/45) died in her sleep during the night of 26/27 November. Harry (Flight Engineer 12/43-6/44) has been unwell and their daughter Judy was looking after Peggy whilst he was in hospital for tests. Our condolences go to Harry and his family. The Priestleys have been stalwarts of the Association and their many friends will be sad at this unexpected news. Peggy is the WAAF shown on the history page of the WAAF Association website.

Peggy loved flowers and Harry asked there be flowers at her funeral. Peggy’s service was held at Stonefall Cemetery, at 11.40 on Thursday 8th December, the day after what would have been her 85th birthday. Afterwards those attending were welcomed at Judy & David's home. Peggy loved butterflies and each member of the family wore a large butterfly badge which they placed in their wreath on Peggy's coffin as they said goodbye at the end of the service. Sqn Ldr Paul Stockley OC207R at nearby Linton attended on behalf of the Squadron and there were four members of the Association present.

Maurice Jackman (Air Gunner 1/45-6/45, Ken Marten's crew) died in hospital in Guildford on Saturday 19th November. He was nearly 84. His daughter Penny had come over from New Zealand. We have expressed our condolences to Penny - and her sister Heather who joined her from San Francisco. Maurice sorely missed his beloved wife Grace who died a couple of years ago. He told me recently he was not getting another black labrador to replace his Sam. It was Maurice who phoned in August that John Mace (their Bomb Aimer 2/45-3/46) had died and John's widow Jean who phoned to say Maurice had died.

Maurice's funeral was at Guildford Crematorium on Wednesday 30th November at 11.30. Friend members Tony and Beverley Ruth kindly brought Jean Mace up from Bournemouth, and the Editor took Bill Angell, probably our oldest ex Sqn member, who lives in Guildford. A number of other members who were contacted were unable to attend by reason of distance, no longer driving or prior commitments. The chapel at the Crematorium was packed with Maurice's friends and colleagues from his many interests, particularly the Surrey Constabulary, in which he rose to be Chief Superintendent in charge of the Woking Division. His grandson Nicholas read High Flight and his sons-in-law also came over.

With Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day this month a reminder that the MEMORIALS pages provide access to the Roll of Honour pages in Leicester Cathedral and to the entries in our Memorial Book. There is also an RIP page remembering those who have died since the war and pages listing the UK (and European) cemeteries where 207s are buried should you wish to pay a visit.

A series of squadron personnel line up photos, aircrew and groundcrew, are now on-line. If you can identify faces please contact the editor:

For those paying their subscription by cheque the new membership year began on 1 November 2005. It is still £4, payable to 207 Squadron RAF Association and should be sent to our Treasurer David Green (see your newsletter). If you feel it would be less trouble to pay by standing order, please contact the editor who will provide you the link to print off the Mandate form. We would prefer payment that way as it saves having to send reminders. There are plenty of optimistic members in their 80s!

The BBC's WW2 People's War website is accumulating 207 Squadron stories and those for 207's wartime bases - if you put your story there please also give it to your association! The editor, who was consulted by the BBC when the site was at concept stage, is following up contributors.

Contact made:

Oct 2005

Robin Eyre, son of Stanley Eyre, one of the evaders in the John Whyte crew (Lancaster L7547 EM-M, Milan Raid, 14/15 February 1943 has made contact. Stanley Eyre retired as a Squadron Leader, MBE DFC. John Whyte jr in New Zealand has provided a new photo from the visit for the memorial dedication to the crew in May this year at St Brisson, France - see Memorials > 207 crew members > Whyte crew

Courtesy of FlyPast Magazine the Devons pages have been updated with an article from Dec 1985, on the September 25th 1985 Devons and Doves salute to DH at Hatfield on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the first flight of the Dove - see Memories > Devons > Dove at 40.

John Foster (Instruments 4/59-5/63) has provided an all-Squadron line up version of the 1960 photo taken when the Squadron won the Laurence Minot and Armament Officers' Trophies - see Memories > Valiant > Winners 1960

Mrs Enid Moore phoned on 5th October to say that her husband Flt Lt FA Dinty Moore RAF(Retd), AEO 12/60-10/64, passed away the previous night in Hull Infirmary. He had suffered a cardiac arrest when convalescing after an operation for cancer of the neck. Dinty and Enid were until 2002 fairly regular attenders at the Reunion. On 207 Dinty served as AEO in the CO's crew. Those who knew him are asked to provide material for an appreciation of Dinty for the next newsletter.

The funeral was at St Oswald's Parish Church, Church Street, Crowle, near Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, on Thursday 13th October at 1pm. It was followed by the committal at Woodlands Crematorium at 2pm attended by the family. Donations to Macmillan Cancer Relief may be sent via the Editor.

Paul Trickett advised of another RAF Tribute event at The Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby on Saturday 8 Oct. There was to be a book print signing session in the morning and after lunch to raise money for RAF charities, with special arrangements for Bomber Command veterans wishing to participate in book signings.

Sep 2005

The Cold War exhibition buildings at the RAF Museum at Cosford are under construction. The exhibition, which includes bringing together examples of all three V-bombers, is scheduled to have a grand opening at the end of 2006. A new page has been started to provide information on the exhibition plans and links relevant to the Air Force and 207 Squadron in the Cold War.

James Woods is a new Friend Member. He is the grandsson of the late George Baker, Flight Engineer in the Hordley crew EM-V ND567 lost on St Leu 8 July 1944. George evaded briefly then was captured. George's widow Molly is also a Friend. James is the third generation of his family to serve in the Met.

Dan Campbell, Navigator 6/54-4/56, has been recruited by John Scullard.

Peter Bennett, Signaller 3/57-3/59, has provided some photos of Valiant WP221 at Luqa in 1958 and a crew photo of the Richford crew - see Memories > Valiants

Corless crew EM-W ME683 Mrs Sheila Christie, sister of Sgt Kenneth Barnes, has provided photos of some of the Corless crew members (this was the crew commemorated in Belgium in May this year) and 1958 photos of some of the headstones. There are also photos of the Corless family and the window dedicated to the pilot Alvin Corless "in a church in Ontario" - please help us to identify this church - see Memorials > Crews > Corless .. the crew ... the crash

Raymond Glynne-Owen adds two images of the Spilsby Dinghy Store - Spilsby News above

Sue Hammad wrote: "It is with much sadness that I have to advise the Association that Dad, Ron W Brown, Flight Engineer 11/44-4/45, passed away on Friday, 9th September, following his deterioration in health as a result of his brain haemorrhage 11 days earlier. I know he will be greatly missed by us all, including his friends in 207 Squadron RAF Association. Dad's funeral is at 10.45am on Tuesday, 20th September at Mintlyn Crematorium, Lynn Rd, Bawsey, King's Lynn. We have decided that there will be no family gathering after it as the family do not feel up to it, especially mum. If any one is able to attend then I very much look forward to meeting them." Members able to attend the funeral should please contact the Secretary, Kevin Mapley 01634 848699 or the editor. We have expressed our condolences to Ron's family. He was much missed at this year's reunion, which he had been keenly looking forward to attending.

On 21 Sep Sue wrote: "Many thanks for the memorial cards you kindly sent - they were much appreciated by us and we did indeed use one at dad's funeral yesterday. May I say a big thank you to those who attended from 207 RAF Association. It was a very emotional time for his family, as you can imagine but dad would have been proud and smiling I am sure to be surrounded by his friends from the Association and the Police Force. Thank you all for your kind thoughts over the last few weeks."

Reunion The Editor's photos of the 3/4th September 2005 Reunion at the Midland Hotel Derby are now on-line via Reunions & Newsletters.

On Sunday 4th September, at 11.30am at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, we dedicated a memorial silver birch tree and plaque to all who have served on 207 Squadron. The short ceremony was conducted by the former Assistant Chaplain in Chief of the Royal Air Force, Rev Dr Desmond Harvey, son-in-law of one of our wartime casualties. It was an occasion blessed with splendid weather and provided an opportunity to explore the Arboretum before heading for home. For the photos and service see Memorials > to the Squadron

The pages of the website are being changed to a new font to make them easier to read for the majority that research shows are now viewing at 1024 x 768, rather than the 800 x 600 for which the website was originally optimised. The changes will take a while as this is one of the biggest Squadron websites on the internet.

New pages - with the assistance of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and with thanks to Raymond Glynne Owen and Alan Mawby, via Memorials you can now find:

Via the same route there is a listing of members of the Association and ex-Squadron members known to us who have died since leaving the Service - 207 Assoc RIP

Aug 2005

Maurice Jackman contacted us to say that John Mace (Bomb Aimer 2/45-3/46) and a fellow member of Ken Marten's crew, died on Friday 19th August. We contacted John's family to express condolences from the Association. The funeral was on Friday 26th August 2005 at Bournemouth Crematorium. Two members represented the Association and we provided a Memorial card, both gestures much appreciated by the family. John's widow Jean intends to enrol as a Friend Member.

In this 60th Anniversary year of the ending of WWII, on behalf of the Association, Fred Richardson DFC (Pilot 1/43-8/43) laid a wreath to the 200 who died on 207 Squadron who have no known grave. This took place at the Air Forces' Memorial, Runnymede, during the ACA Families' Day Service at noon on Sunday 14th August - see Memorials > other 207 Sqn related memorials > Runnymede (14th Aug 2005)

Terry Gower has just heard that Lancaster EM-J PD216, in which his father Sgt Leslie Gower and the rest of the Maurice Harding crew for that op were killed on Darmstadt, 25/26 Aug 1944, is to be excavated in September. The crew are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery. Terry is going to Germany for a few days to observe the dig and will keep us posted on developments. Please help him to trace the other crew families - contact the Editor if you have any leads:

Pilot - Flight Lieutenant Maurice Frederick Cleave HARDING RAFVR
Flight Engineer - Sergeant Leslie Percy GOWER RAFVR
Navigator - Pilot Officer Stephen SIMM RCAF
Wireless Operator - Maurice SAVAGE RAF
Air Bomber - Flight Sergeant Thomas John JONES RAFVR
Mid Upper Gunner - Sergeant Hugh Graham HAMILTON RAFVR
Rear Gunner - Pilot Officer Edward KISILOWSKY RCAF

Devon VP967 was on display at Redhill Aerodrome on 14th August 2005. Daniel Hunt, who is restoring the aircraft which is now in taxying condition, has provided a lovely early morning photo. He adds "The seats are restored and back in, a few more of the missing instruments have been sourced and fitted. We are having a hard time filling the top panel with the missing kit. I would say the cockpit is about 60-70% restored. We are also in desperate need of some good spark plugs as she is running a bit rough on the port engine. Work is under way on repairing the interior cabin door which was badly vandalised while she was at the college. Also trying to source the correct colour leatherette material for the interior lining." To see photo/contact Daniel please see Memories > Devons > VP967

Ken Brown’s many years work with others for a Memorial at the site of Stalag XIB/Camp 357 came to fruition in April with the help of REME: report now updated with National Ex-POW Association article – see via Memorials > Other 207 Sqn related memorials

Our May 2005 visit to Belgium is now on the website. It links to the Wesseling Raid pages.

Mrs Fiona Arthur has written to say that her husband Lez, who was OC207 Jan 1972-March 1973, died on 21 June 2005 aged 70, and was buried on 27 June. She adds "Lez enjoyed his 207 days and your newsletters". Please contact the editor if you wish to write to her or if you have any recollections of Lez for the next newsletter. Lez, who had almost lost his sight, was one of the former COs who attended the Presentation of the new Standard at Linton in November 2003.

The Spilsby pages have been reorganised and considerably updated with new material, including local news of 207 - see 207's Stations then click on the Spilsby image

Raymond Glynne-Owen is in touch with Spilsby WAAF ACW1 Mrs Dorothy Cocks. Dorothy (née Riches), originally from Norfolk, was at Spilsby from December 1943 until April 1945. Her late husband LAC Ronald Cocks was also one of the team of three safety workers in the parachute store (the third was Joyce Taylor). Does anyone know Joyce's whereabouts? If you wish to make contact with Dorothy please let Raymond or the editor know.

For photos of recent reunions and the contents of Newsletters, see Reunions & Newsletters

Her Majesty the Queen wishes all UK Forces WWII veterans to wear the Veterans' Badge: applications are also considered from Empire forces members. Click on APPLICATION FORM (to be completed and returned to the MoD address, not the Association) [November 2004]

July 2005

Dick Hayward's widow Lesley has joined as a Friend. Dick, who died in 1999, was a pilot on 207, 10/69-6/72. Can you confirm the occasion and date for the Squadron photo she has provided (Dennis Buck says 1971 AOC's Inspection)? Lesley has also provided two images of VP965 at Turnhouse. The Pembroke page has also been updated.
see Memories > Devons > Jul 71 and VP965

Dennis Buck, Pilot 2/71-1/74, has provided an image of the Bassett instrument panel - any more anecdotes, images? Memories > Bassett

207s in the news - the RAF News issue dated 22 July, page 4 - photos of members Ken Brown Navigator 11/43-1/44 (in St James' Park) and John Banfield WOp/AG, Bomb Aimer 9/41-1/43 (at Buckingham Palace) on July 10 - John says he sat next to Princess Alexandra at the lunch. Doug Radcliffe, Secretary of Bomber Command Association, tells me that the BCA Chairman, Tony Iveson, had the honour of sitting next to HM The Queen at the lunch.

Jim Wright says a cousin will be in Vevey in early August to place flowers on the graves of the Badge crew, one of whom was his father Sgt Arthur Wright.

Margaretta Scott, the actress, died on 15 April 2005 aged 93. She was the widow of the composer John de Lacey 'Dim' Wooldridge DFM (Pilot 207, 106, 105 Sqns) - see her obituary in the Daily Telegraph and Dim's biographical page by his son Hugh

Graeme Todd has provided the only formal photo of his step-father, Sqn Ldr AA Roissetter (L): Air Cdre Lowe (mid) and Grp Capt Wheeler (L) are also shown. In 2002 we asked if anyone could suggest when and where this was taken - presumably post-Spilsby, where Roissetter was Chief Technical Officer in 1944.

Ian Roissetter (son) has come up with "If I remember correctly this was taken during the AOC's inspection at Bassingbourne around 1956/1957."

Rob Kirby, on behalf of the Association, attended the funeral of Jack Cheesman (Observer 8/41-10/41) in Bideford on 14th July for which we provided a memorial card. A retiring collection was taken for the RAF Ex-POW Association, from which an area representative attended. Six people gave short eulogies including Jack's younger brother, another was the son of his very recently deceased best friend from POW days. Jack died on 5th July. Our condolences go to his widow Bea and children. He was the sole survivor of the Bowes-Cavanagh crew (L7312 EM-L) lost on Essen on 13 Oct 1941. He attended the presentation of the new Standard at Linton in November 2003.

Members who have not already booked for this year's Sep 3 Reunion at the Midland Hotel Derby using the form in the last newsletter are reminded to do so - the form is also in the newsletter coming to you shortly (posting began on 7 July). On the morning of Sunday 4 Sep, at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, we are dedicating a memorial tree and plaque to all who have served on 207 Squadron.

An extensive website on the Wesseling Raid of 21/22 June 1944 is now available and includes the Meeuwen Memorial page and a section on the Solly crew - also see via Memories > Lancasters

Can you identify some items found at the Solly crew (EM-M LL973) crash site?

Please visit 207 Sqn (Cranfield) Squadron Air Training Corps website http://www.cranfieldaircadets.org.uk/

June 2005

Pending the arrival of the Newsletter, which has been slightly delayed awaiting contributions, you are reminded that there is a booking form for the Sep 3rd Reunion in the last Newsletter.

George Hawes’ EM-N R5632 attracts interest: relatives of Sgt Percival Hooper (2nd Pilot) and of Sgt Eric Cartwright (WOp) have recently contacted me. A book about the pilot, Australian George Hawes, was written by his niece Denise Rope in 1984 and there are photos on page 85 of the Squadron history Always Prepared. If anyone has recollections of this crew or of R5632, the aircraft they went down in on Duisburg raid of 24 July 1942, please contact the editor.

The dedication of the memorial at St Brisson, France, to the crew of F/Sgt John HF Whyte RNZAF, EM-M L7547, which crashed after fire in the air on a raid to Milan on 15 February 1943 can be seen via Memorials > 207 Sqn crew members > Whyte L7547.

May 2005

See the Meeuwen Memorial page, part of a much larger site on the Wesseling Raid in preparation.

BELGIUM VISIT 5-9 MAY 2005 Thanks to the initiative of Kevin Mapley, our Secretary, we were able to attend the dedication of a memorial to the Corless crew at their crash site at Meeuwen in the Belgian province of Limburg. They were killed on the Wesseling raid of 21/22 June 1944, in Lancaster EM-W ME683. This was the aircraft in which the Glann crew - of which Kevin's uncle F/Sgt Littlemore was a member - had taken over as new and in which they completed their tour. F/Sgt Littlemore's son and daughter were in our party.


At Adegem Canadian War Cemetery

Our party of 28 included Association members and Canadian relatives of F/O Bruce Somers RCAF and Sgt James Magoffin RCAF in the Corless crew. We were joined at Meeuwen by two members of Sgt Joe Mireault RCAF's family who had been travelling in Europe and by 33 members of Sgt Raphael de Casagrande's family. We also represented the family of Sgt Kenneth Barnes who were unable to join us - Mrs Doreen 'Sheila' Christie, his sister, had a mass said for her brother and the crew at Thetford, Norfolk at 11am on May 8th.

Our thanks go to the Mayor and Council of Meeuwen-Gruitrode and especially to Joannes Bosmans for all that they have done in setting up the memorial and for their hospitality.

We also visited the graves of members of the Anderson, Cooke, Corless, Solly, and Unsworth crews at cemeteries on our route in Belgium. Frank Haslam snr and Eddie Chapman of the Solly crew talked to us about the loss of their aircraft EM-M LL973 on the Wesseling raid and we laid a wreath at their crash site where we were joined by the farmer who owns the land. We are grateful to Friend Member Danny Vanstraelen, grandson of the couple who hid Frank Haslam for 13 weeks, for being our guide during the Limburg part of our visit.

In Genk we laid a wreath at the RAF Provincial Memorial to the 207 Squadron crews which crashed in Belgium: Bowes-Cavanagh, Corless, Jones, Paskell, Perez, Solly, Unsworth and to the Belgians who honoured and assisted them. The memorial commemorates the 286 Royal Air Forces airmen who lost their lives in the Limburg province of Belgium. Mr Timmermans and his colleagues made us very welcome.

In Brussels we laid a wreath at the Comete Line window and RAF Escaping Society plaque in Koekelberg Basilica, in the presence of the Comete Line Standard and Mme Andrée Dumon ("Nadine") and other distinguished Comete veterans. We were also had privileged access to the RAF Chapel. At Adegem the very special Canadian War Museum opened for us.

The visit was supported by Heroes Return funding from the National Lottery for the WWII veterans taking part. A full report will be provided in the Memorials section of this website in due course.

We are still seeking contact with the Bore and Corless families of the Corless crew, 207 Squadron Lancaster ME683 EM-W. The aircraft crashed in the early hours of Thursday 22 June 1944 in the Belgian province of Limburg near the Anjerstraat in Meeuwen-Gruitrode, 8km SW of Bree. All the crew were killed and were buried first near the church but were later transferred to Adegem Canadian War Cemetery:

Pilot: Flying Officer Alvin Van Dyke CORLESS RCAF
Flight Engineer: Sgt Kenneth Victor BARNES RAFVR, age 19, son of Thomas Victor and Sarah Anne Barnes, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
Navigator: Sgt Raphael Edward DE CASAGRANDE RAFVR, age 20, son of Raphael Edward and Mary Genevieve de Casagrande, of Palmers Green, London.
Wireless Operator: Flight Sergeant Stanley Robert BORE RAFVR, age 23, son of Ernest Robert and Louisa Bore of Greenwich, London.
Air Bomber: Flying Officer Bruce Allan SOMERS RCAF, age 22, son of William John and Gretta Somers of Cache Bay, Ontario, Canada; stepson of Mabel Somers, of Cache Bay.
Mid Upper Gunner: Sgt Joseph Francis MIREAULT RCAF
Rear Gunner: Sgt James Ivan MAGOFFIN RCAF

Please contact the editor urgently if you can assist us in tracing the Corless (from Clinton, Ontario?) or Bore families.

Bill Cherrington, Air Gunner 10/44-6/45 has died. Our condolences to his family.

Apr 2005

Bert Hazel DFC, Pilot 9/44-4/45 and member of the Association died on 14th April. His funeral will be at 2pm on Tuesday 26th April at North East Surrey Crematorium off Lower Morden Lane near the Beverley roundabout at the top of Grand Drive, Lower Morden. Our condolences to Viv and Paul. Please contact the editor if you can attend.

Georges Pillot says that John Whyte and his wife will be attending the dedication of a memorial to the Langar based crew of John's father F/Sgt John HF Whyte RNZAF, EM-M L7547, which crashed after fire in the air on a raid to Milan, 15 February 1943. The memorial commemorates the five of the crew who were killed (F/Sgts TWK Strong and AR Grainger RAAF and Sgts FI Tillen, HG Bone and K White). John Whyte (pilot) and F/Sgt Stan Eyre RAF (F/E) evaded. The dedication will take place on Saturday May 7th at St Brisson (Nievre: 11 km W of Saulieu, France) which is where the aircraft came down and where those were killed are buried.

Congratulations to Peter Lumsden RN, Association Liaison Officer 207R, on his promotion to Lieutenant Commander from Lieutenant.

May 2nd - Launch of Robin Smith's print of Sunset Saviours, of 207 Squadron Lancasters EM-M LL973 (foreground) and EM-A LL902 at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby. More information on the print [who will be there for book and picture signings, including Wallace McIntosh DFC* DFM (gunner in the Grey crew which flew 4 sorties in LL973: Wallace did one op in LL902), Richard Todd OBE (who played Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters) and veterans from Bomber Command and the Battle of Britain] - or see p19 of the May issue of FlyPast magazine.

Mike Solly's crew flew 4 sorties in EM-M LL973 and were shot down in it on Wesseling 21/22 June 1944: their first op was to Munich on 24 April 1944 in LL902; survivors Frank Haslam (WOp), Eddie Chapman (BA) and Peter Loakes (RG) are members of the Association but are unable to attend: the other survivor was the late Arthur Barton (F/E).

Mar 2005

Jan Kmiecik makes contact. Jan's father Joe was one of the characters on 207 at Northolt - see Memories > Devons > part A of 1979 photo and 207 Books

Margaret 'Peggy' Kaye (Meteorologist 1942-43) died on March 13th in Florida just short of her 87th birthday - our condolences to her son Ian and daughter Alix. Alix writes that Peggy was a keen member of the 207 Squadron Association. Peggy wrote of her time in the WAAF in our Spring 1995 newsletter.

We have learnt of the death on Feb 16 2003 of Sqn Ldr Sam Panton RAF(Retd) Observer 3/41-5/4. He was taken POW when Manchester EM-T L7379 (Gardiner crew) was lost on Hamburg 3 May 1941.

Feb 2005

All interested in finding out if they live near or when travelling at any time will be near a 7RNAS/207RAF related cemetery or memorial are invited to contact the editor. We hope before long to provide a listing of all Commonwealth War Grave Commission cemeteries of 7RNAS/207RAF interest, with links to the appropriate cemetery pages on the CWGC website. The idea is that not only that our fallen should be visited, as it where, but also that in some cases we may be able to put intending visitors in touch with the families concerned - who may like to know of the visit so that arrangements can be made to lay a poppy cross or flowers etc.

Ralph Tyrell, Bomb Aimer 12/44-7/45, who took part in the Dresden Raid, 13 Feb 1945, was interviewed by The Times and his article appeared in the 12 Feb issue. For the text please click Dresden

Raymond Glynne-Owen: As trailed in the Newsletter and on this page, the BBC's Songs of Praise programme on Sunday February 6th had an item on Monksthorpe Baptist Chapel. The chapel was built in 1701 as a meeting place for Baptists, whose worship was illegal under Charles II's Conventicle Act of 1664, hence it was disguised as a barn in its outward appearance. Now owned by the National Trust who have restored it from a derelict state, the significance of the chapel to the Association is of course that it lies directly behind the sole remaining Hangar on the north side of the now disused Spilsby airfield and is located adjacent to where the bomb dump was. Those wartime members of 207 Squadron and RAF Spilsby of the Baptist faith would obviously have made use of the Chapel, which is also of special family interest to Raymond since it is where his uncle exercised his self-taught organ-playing skills during his off-duty moments January-June 1944! By the way, Raymond is at no.9 Erebus Close, not no.13 as stated on some pages of the Newsletter.

Jan 2005

Got £1.75 million or more? The old 5 Group HQ, St Vincents in Grantham, has been on the market for a while. On the night of the Dams Raid (not 1945 as stated in the particulars), Barnes Wallace, Sir Ralph Cochrane and Sir Arthur Harris awaited the outcome of the raid in the ops room there - see http://www.primelocation.com/uk-property-for-sale/printDetails/id/sast87860/

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