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207 Squadron Royal Air Force Historyfrom the Association web archive
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December 2012
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Via Andy Tait we have learned of the death on December 3, 2012 of Dave Jock Sutherland (Air Gunner 11/44-7/45, in Frank Chambers' crew). He was 89 and lived in Burnaby, British Columbia where he was an active golfer and supported his local branch of the Aircrew Association.
November 2012
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Bill Green has informed the Membership Secretary that Mrs Jessie Emeny died on 5th November. Her funeral took place on Wednesday November 14th at 2pm at St Andrew's Church, St Andrew's Road, Droitwich. Jessie (née Owen, proud of her Welsh roots) served as a Telephonist 11/46-2/48. She and her late husband Ron (Air Gunner 4/44-5/44, 1/46-4/50, and elsewhere in the RAF as an AEO) were regular attenders of our reunions and those of other associations - Ron was a member of the RAF Escaping Society.
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Among the wreaths being laid at various memorials around the country and in Europe, the Association has been pleased to hear that one was laid at Market Rasen on our behalf by the Market Rasen Station Adoption Group in memory of the crew of Valiant WZ363 (captained by Flt Lt Chris Welles), which crashed at Market Rasen on 6th May 1964.
October 2012
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David Ferguson has informed us that his father Norman Ferguson (Pilot 5/44-10/44) died on Friday after a fall at home. His funeral was at Middlesbrough Crematorium in Acklam on Monday 29th October at 2.30pm. David writes: "He was aged 90½ so must have been one of the last wartime pilots of 207 Squadron." He was a regular attender of our reunions.
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The family of Ken Brown (Navigator 11/43-1/44) in Dick Burnet's crew lost in EM-K EE173 on 30/1/44 have informed us that he died on 30th September 2012. A Service of Thanksgiving for his life was held on Friday 19th October at 2.15pm in the West Chapel of Ipswich Crematorium. Ken was a POW and was active in ex-POW activities, in particular the creation of the Stalag XIB memorial at Fallingbostel. He was a regular attender of our reunions.
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Via his grandson Michael Peaks, we have learned of the death of Squadron Leader Bert Conchie AFC on 26 September 2012. Bert was posted to 207 as a Pilot on Canberras with 207 at Marham, in March 1954. He was crewed with F/O Dave Crowther and Sgt JA Riley. He also served on the Squadron at Northolt, where he took part in the Squadron's final communications era flypast in June 1984.
Bert served with other Squadrons in his RAF career, including the Valiant bomber force where he was based at both Gaydon and Wittering, ending his career at the Flight School (gliding) at RAF Syerston. His funeral was on Tuesday 9th October at 9.30am at Peterborough Crematorium, Bretton.
September 2012
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Peter Sells, Wireless Operator 10/44-8/46 died suddenly on 30th August. The Editor most recently saw him at the dedication of the Bomber Command Memorial on 28th June this year. He was a member of AT Ack Tock Loveless's crew.
Peter's funeral is to be held at the Harwood Park Crematorium, Watton Road, Stevenage, Herts SG2 8XT on Wednesday 19 September at 12.30. He was a regular attender of our reunions. -
Robert Murdoch tells us that his father Flt Lt CJB Jock Murdoch AFM RAF (Retd), who was a Pilot on 207 10/70-2/72, died in November 2008.
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Via Peter Bennett, Signaller in the Richford Valiant crew in the Marham days, we have heard of the death of Peter Lewin, who was Navigator in that crew. Peter Lewin retired from the Air Force at Brize Norton.
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Squadron Leader Maxwell Alexander Dick Riddell DFC DFM died on 29 August 2012 aged 91. Dr Bob Kirby, who knew Max through Bob's book on the Avro Manchester, and John and Mary Laing represented the Association at Max's funeral at Freuchie near Dundee on 6th September. Bob gave a tribute to Max, who was one of those legendary characters - he did not record all his ops so that he could keep flying.
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A photo report of our Reunion in Derby on 1st September, when 46 were booked for the Dinner, can now be seen via the Reunions link.
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Photo coverage of members and others present at the Dedication of the Bomber Command Memorial on Thursday 28th June, in Green Park, London can now be seen via the Memorials link
August 2012
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The photo report of the Dedication of the new RAF Spilsby Airfield Memorial on 9th June can now be seen via Memorials > To the Squadron > Spilsby & Gt Steeping or click on new RAF Spilsby Airfield Memorial
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Friend member and ex-WRAAF and WRAF Lesley Hayward-Mudge, whose first husband was the late Dick Hayward (Pilot 10/69-6/72), was on TV recently in the two part series Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies. You may still be able to catch Lesley in the first part via iPlayer:
Programme 1 – ‘Military Marvels’ was broadcast 9pm-10pm on BBC 4 on Wednesday 22nd August 2012
Programme 2 – ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ will be broadcast 9pm-10pm on BBC 4 on Wednesday 29th August 2012 -
Andrew Brookes is a well respected aviation author. His new 96 page paperback book in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series, Valiant Units of the Cold War was published on 20 Aug 2012. If any Valiant folk have been able to look at this book or have it, please let the editor know what you think of it. On-line it is available from the publishers and Amazon.
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Roper Langford (Pilot 10/82-6/84) has alerted us to the presence of ex-207 Devon VP967 at the Allied Air Forces Memorial Museum at Elvington near York. The Museum acquired the aircraft in 2010. It had previously been under restoration at Redhill in Surrey. Our Devon VP967 pages are to be updated with photos provided by Roper.
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Noel Cockfield has spotted his late father Sqn Ldr Gordon Cockfield (Navigator 12/74-10/77) on picture #103 in the Comms Era album, of the Squadron in front of a Devon (see via Memories >Devons); He writes: "After 207 Sqn, Dad was posted to the Air Transport Flt at RAE Farnborough where he continued flying Devons and the last serving RAF DC3, which now flies with the BBMF. Dad passed away in 2007."
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Honorary member and great benefactor to the Association Mrs Dorothy Ware peacefully passed away in July. The funeral took place in August at All Saints & St Margarets Parish Church, Pakefield, Suffolk. The church is only a few hundred yards from Dorothy's bungalow overlooking the sea. The service was followed by cremation at Gorleston Crematorium. Our Membership Secretary and Treasurer attended, representing the Association and as her great friends.
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We have learned that Wg Cdr RJ Eddie Edmonds DFM RAF (Retd) died on 8 July 2012 aged 94. He served on the Squadron as an Air Gunner/Fitter II 11/40-10/41.
July 2012
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Friend Member Sandra Sainty, niece of F/O Gordon Buxton kia 27.4.44 (Muir crew, Lancaster EM-R, LM526 Dusseldorf: the crew all lie in Durnbach War Cemetery) writes: My aunt has found some old photographs which she has sent on to me, including one of F/Lt Jim Muir’s crew. My uncle F/O Buxton (Nav) is on the extreme right, and I think it is Sgt Fawcett (W/Op) second left; Jim Muir is obviously at the front, but I have no reference to identify which of the others is which.
We called in at The Bell pub after the Spilsby Memorial re-dedication service, and the landlord gave us the 207 Visitors' Book to look through – an early entry was from [W/Op F/S] Selwyn Fawcett’s nephews and since I added my own entry, there are now two of the crew represented!
June 2012
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Some members attended the dedication of the Bomber Command Memorial in London on Thursday 28th June 2012. Our Association contributed £1000 toward this memorial. If 207 connected and you can provide your own photos of this day, please let the editor know.
May 2012
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John Siebert's niece attends the May ceremony at Eindhoven Cemetery and meets Friend Members Jeanne and Paul Schepers - see via Memorials > Crew members > Eindhoven
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Lincoln RF570 was one of 207's aircraft in the short time that the squadron operated these aircraft. Robert Hughes has provided a splendid b&w photo of RF570 when it was on the strength of Bomber Command Bombing School - see via Memories > Lincolns
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Jim (Harcourt J) Daplyn was a Sergeant Armourer, one of the 50 Armourers brought in to RAF Spilsby after the Bomb Dump explosion in April 1944. He is pictured at the recent Memorial Service - see via Memorials > To the Squadron > Spilsby & Gt Steeping > Bomb Dump Commemoration
April 2012
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The Easter 2012 Newsletter was despatched 2&3 April: it contained all information needed to book for our reunion on 1st September
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The photo report of the 207 (Reserve) Squadron Disbandment Day at RAF Linton on Ouse on 13 January 2012 is now available. If you can add to those pages please contact the editor
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It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Hugh Wynter, Air Gunner 11/44-3/45. One of the Jamaicans on the Squadron he flew with the Stenhouse, Verralls and Passmore crews. He was a loyal attender of our reunions. Hugh's funeral will be on Thursday 12 April 2012 at 3pm, at Penmount Crematorium (Trelawny Chapel), Truro, Cornwall TR4 9AA. Representatives from RAF Portreath will be in attendance. Our Membership Secretary and Treasurer, Kevin and Nikki Mapley who knew Hugh well, intend to be there. If any members in the area are also able to attend this would be appreciated. Our condolences go to Hugh's family and friends.
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We have also learned of the death of Sqn Ldr Peter Langdon DFM (Pilot 8/42-2/43, Pilot 4/72-6/74); he died on 26th March 2012 and the funeral took place at Breakspear Crematorium, Ruislip, on Wednesday 11th April 2012. Our condolences have been given to his family. Peter and Catherine attended some of our reunions and Peter's wartime story is being serialised in our newsletter. In due course we hope to have the Eulogy given at his funeral by his daughter Julia.
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SPILSBY BOMB DUMP EXPLOSION Spilsby Airfield Memorial Service 2.30pm Tuesday 10th April
Rev Bryan Keyworth, Minister of the Monksthorpe Baptist Chapel will be leading a short service of Remembrance and wreath laying at the Spilsby Airfield Memorial at 2.30pm on Tuesday 10th April. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have agreed to provide a Lancaster Fly-By (subject to the weather and operational considerations). Because it will be a training or test flight, and they don’t fly the Lanc anywhere near dusk, they will honour the memories of those killed by overflying us at 14.30 on the 10th April, which is why the public event will be at that time.
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SPILSBY AIRFIELD MEMORIAL DEDICATION Saturday 9 June 2012
Members will be aware of the reported problems relating to the original Spilsby memorial. A new memorial, unanimously approved at the last AGM, and to be built of Portland Stone will be dedicated this coming summer. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) has confirmed Lancaster PA474 will make an appearance during the dedication service, weather permitting. The Dedication, followed by a reception, is scheduled for Saturday 9 June 2012. All UK members with a Spilsby connection will be contacted directly. Other members, including those from overseas who would like details of the event should contact the Membership Secretary. A number of families have donated to the memorial fund in memory of their loved ones. If you wish to remember your family member in a similar way please forward your donation to the Membership Secretary. This memorial will remain a legacy to their memory. Cheques should be made payable to 207 Squadron (RAF) Association. -
Author Ron Tillen has written an extensive article about the Whyte crew (Lancaster EM-M L7547) in the 2012 issue of Memorial Flight and has given permission for use to be made of the material in due course.
March 2012
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John Banfield, WOp/AG, Bomb Aimer 9/41-1/43, shot down from Langar in Barry Chaster's crew on 3 Jan 1943 (EM-U W4134) on Essen, was among those with Carol Vorderman at the launch of the Poppy Salute Appeal for the fund to maintain the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park. John is Secretary of the RAF Ex-POW Association. He is on the right of the photo shown in the linked Daily Telegraph article.
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Mark Hollins reports that his father Basil Dick Dixon Hollins died on 26 October 2011 aged 87. He was a Navigator II on the Squadron 5/44-11/47. His service started at RAF Jurby, Isle of Man as a Navigator, then onto RAF Silverstone, RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, RAF Lindholme, and RAF Stradishall where he flew from Stradishall in one of the six Lancasters in the Battle of Britain Day fly past over London.