207 Squadron (Royal Air Force) Association What's New & Association News This site is searchable - Site Guide/Search links may help

The Easter 2012 Newsletter was despatched 2&3 April
Members' 2011-2012 subs were due on 1 Nov 2011: new rates apply
Updating of the website is now in progress,

May 2012 - please scroll down the page:

• John Siebert's niece attends the May ceremony at Eindhoven Cemetery and meets Jeanne and Paul Schepers - see via Memorials > Crew members > Eindhoven

• 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

April 2012

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

September 2011

• 53 of us sat down for our Annual Reunion Dinner (55 last year) at the Hallmark Hotel, Derby on 4th September. We welcomed OC 207R Sqn, Sqn Ldr Andy Scott and several QFIs and students. It was much appreciated that, with due ceremony, the Standard was with us for the last time.
  
  Photos of the Reunion are on-line - see via Reunions

September 2010

• 55 of us sat down for our Annual Reunion Dinner (51 last year) at the Hallmark Hotel, Derby on 4th September. We welcomed OC 207R Sqn, Sqn Ldr Andy Scott, and three of his colleagues and there were a number of new faces as well as some apologies from regulars.
  
  Photos of the Reunion are now on-line - see via Reunions

• Jill Saunders' late father Gordon Rogers, an Aussie, served with 207 in 1944. He flew 21 ops as Sqn Ldr Pat Pattison's Bomb Aimer: other crew members at various times included Parker, McCreadie, Mitchell, Johnson, Ball, Daines, Shackleton, and Pickford. He then did 8 ops with Grant's crew in EM-K. Jill and her husband visited the Spilsby area in early August and the Pearces were their guides. Jill would love to hear from anyone who might remember her Dad, the two crews, or just stories of that time. Please contact the editor.

August 2010

• We have heard from Friend member Sheilagh Wilford and from Rev Bryan Keyworth, Minister of Monksthorpe Baptist Chapel (owned by the National Trust), that Npower are looking to build a huge sub station for offshore generated electricity on part of the site of RAF Spilsby.
  
  It involves "an area of 900 by 500 metres at the end of the field that lies by the Bomb Dump, using almost half of the existing field area. It is to the east of the 207 Spilsby Airfield Memorial." You can trace this site from The Orange Zone site report link provided below.
  
  It is one of four possible sites in this area. "Needless to say that everyone in the area, including the landowners, are strongly opposing any development."
  
  "The consultation period is very short, it ends on 6th September 2010 [this has now been exteded by a month], before a site is decided. All land owners within 1.5 kilometres have had a questionnaire sent to them.
  
  The electricity substation site will have 250-ton transformers each 43 feet high and 75 ft high lightning conductors; 400 ft high pylons will carry the electricity away from the site towards Bicker, south of Boston."
  
  Along with the National Trust Baptist Chapel Sheilagh says she considers the Memorial to be a cultural heritage feature and is concerned about the impact a substation will have on it - "the visual impact does not bear thinking about. This is a quiet reflective area that could also be considered as a war grave." She says she is sure all the residents in the area would appreciate the support of the weight behind an objection from 207 Sqn Association members.
  
  Further considerations are said to have emerged, such as landscaping, flood risk, the seemingly disproportionate size of the site (will other generating sites be connected to it - more pylons?).
  
  Our President Alan Watkins has said that the issue will be added to the Agenda for the forthcoming AGM at Derby on 4th September. Any decision on the Association's view arising from that can be communicated by email before the 6 Sep deadline.
  
  For more information:
  On the Triton Knoll project: www.npower-renewables.com/tritonknoll
  The Orange Zone site report:
  http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/453426/data/413702/70535/rwe-npower-renewables/sites/projects-in-development/wind/triton-knoll-offshore-wind-farm/consultation/blob.pdf
  On the proposed sub-station:
  http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/453876/data/413702/70580/rwe-npower-renewables/sites/projects-in-development/wind/triton-knoll-offshore-wind-farm/consultation/blob.pdf
  
  Objections to simmondsm@parliament.uk (Mark Simmonds, local MP - Boston & Skegness)
  and chris.panton@e-lindsey.gov.uk (Planning Officer)

• We have had news of the death of the following former member of the Squadron. Our condolences to the family and those who knew him:
  
  Walter (Wally) T Brown, Air Gunner: died in Spain in July
  
  He has been placed on our on-line Roll of Honour of former members of the Squadron and Association members who have died.
  If you can provide any recollections of him please contact the editor.

• Sqn Ldr Andy Scott RAF, the new OC 207 (Reserve) Squadron, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, will be at our Annual Reunion on 4 September, together with some other members of the Squadron. If you have not yet booked perhaps this will encourage you to find the form at the back of the Spring Newsletter.

• The Summer 2010 Newsletter was posted 14/15 August

July 2010

• We have had news of the death of the following former member of the Squadron. Our condolences to the family and those who knew him:
  
  WR Whiter, Navigator, 11/47-3/50
  
  He has been placed on our on-line Roll of Honour of former members of the Squadron and Association members who have died.
  If you can provide any recollections of him please contact the editor.

June 2010

• We have had news of the deaths of the following former members of the Squadron. Our condolences to the families and those who knew them:
  
  Bill Wetherill WOp/AG 1/41-8/41 died on 6 June. When the Taylor crew were lost on 13 August 1941, when Manchester EM-G L7377 was shot down on a Berlin raid, Bill survived becoming a POW in Stalag Luft 3. Bill was a regular attender at our reunions.
  
  Bill's funeral is on Wednesday 23 June, service at 12:30 with the burial at 13:00. It is to be held at the Haycombe Cemetery Bath BA2 2RQ, sometimes known as Whiteway Cemetery. The service will be in the top chapel, just inside the gates. The family have asked that it be family flowers only and that if you wish to make a donation, it be sent to Help for Heroes
  
  Sqn Leader Peter Boggis DFC Pilot & CO 3/47-3/48 passed away on 2 June 2010. Peter took command of the Squadron at Stradishall on 17th March 1947, just as the country emerged from a terrible winter.
  
  The funeral was at St John's Episcopal Church, Dumfries map, on Friday 11 June 2010 at 12.30pm. This was followed by a cremation at 3pm at Roucan Loch Crematorium, Lockerbie Road, Dumfries.
  
  A flypast by two Lossiemouth Tornados, including MacRoberts Reply of XV Sqn took place over the crematorium. During his time on XV Sqn in WWII Peter was the pilot of the first of the MacRoberts Reply aircraft and for many years remained associated with the MacRobert family through the MacRobert Trust.
  
  John and Mary Laing kindly represented the Association.
  
  Bill and Peter have been placed on our on-line Roll of Honour of former members of the Squadron and Association members who have died.
  If you can provide any recollections of them please contact the editor.

• Friend Member Oliver Clutton-Brock has accepted the invitation of the Committee to become an Honorary Member. Oliver's books on RAF PoWs (Footsteps on the Sands of Time) and RAF evaders (RAF Evaders) have in the view of many provided the definitive modern reference works on these subjects.
  
  It was his book Massacre over the Marne about the Revigny Raids of July 1944 that led to the dedication of the 207 Memorial at Margny.
  Oliver says "It will be a privilege to be a small part of such an august squadron, and I trust that I will be always prepared to do my bit to assist in whatever way I can."

 

May 2010

• Wing Commander Kenneth Maynard Marwood AFM RAF(Retd), former Secretary and President of the Association
  Our President, Wg Cdr Alan Watkins BA(Hons) FRSA RAF(Retd) writes: I regret to inform you that, sadly, Ken Marwood passed away on Saturday night (15th May) in his care home in Spain. In our recent newsletter we noted the celebration of his 80th birthday there.
  
  His daughter, Rebecca, has informed me that Ken had been rather poorly for a while as he had an attack of bronchitis a month or so ago which he did recover from, but he had another one a few days ago which he was just too weak to fight. She was told that he was comfortable and slipped away peacefully.
  
  It was his wish to be cremated in Spain and his ashes scattered there, with a tree to be planted in his memory. We now understand that Ken was cremated at Benalmadena on May 19th.
  
  Notice of any updates will be posted on this page. Please pass on this sad news to anyone whom you consider should know.

• We have had news of the deaths of the following former members of the Squadron. Our condolences to the families and those who knew them:
  
  Reginald H Brown, South Australia. Air Gunner 11/44-3/45, Rowell crew: died October 2009
  Frank A Bristow, Lincolnshire. Photographer ?/44-5/45: died October 2009
  J Sid Hiddleston, Cumbria. Pilot 6/44-8/44, 11/44-12/44: died November 2009
  Bob EH Hood-Morris, Somerset. Bomb Aimer 5/43-5/43, Parselle crew, POW when Lancaster EM-J W5001 lost on Dusseldorf 26/5/43: died November 2009
  Jack Lord, Lincolnshire. Navigator Radar 5/56-9/61, Gibbs and Coventry crews: died April 2010
  Tony D Wadley, Bristol, Avon. Pilot 11/47-7/49: died 2009
  
  Their names have been placed on our on-line Roll of Honour of former members of the Squadron and Association members who have died.
  If you can provide any recollections please contact the editor.
  
  We welcome three new Friend members:
  Mrs J Bell, widow of Don Bell, Navigator 10/44-7/45
  Mrs JM Hood-Morris, widow of Bob Hood-Morris, Bomb Aimer 5/43-5/43
  Mrs SJ Worth, grandaughter of Alec White, Air Gunner 11/43-9/44

• DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL PLAQUE AT MARKET RASEN ON SUNDAY 9th MAY 2010
  Valiant WZ363, of 148 Sqn was being flown by a 207 Sqn crew when it crashed just South of Market Rasen at 2235hrs on 6 May 1964. All five members of the crew died instantly when the aircraft exploded on impact. Flt Lt F C Welles was the aircraft captain. (A full account is on page 164 of the Squadron history Always Prepared – there is also a page on this website.)
  
  The Market Rasen Railway Station Adoption Group dedicated a memorial plaque on Sunday 9th May 2010, the closest available day to the crash, at 2 pm. The plaque is sited at Market Rasen railway station as this was the last cluster of buildings the aircraft passed over before the crash. It is located on a listed building so the future of the memorial is assured. Market Rasen is still an active station apart from Sunday when there are no trains.
  
  The event was based around an informal religious service lead by the Padre from RAF Waddington. Wreaths were laid and there were light refreshments afterwards. RAF Waddington provided a bugler.
  
  Our President, Alan Watkins, his wife Margaret and other members of the No.207 Squadron Association attended the dedication ceremony. No 207 (Reserve) Squadron (which is based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and is carrying on the good name and strong traditions of the former 207 Squadron) was also be represented.
  
  Alan, as President of No 207 Squadron Association, laid a wreath on behalf of the Association, as did some crew family members. The Market Rasen Group and our own Association successfully welcomed further support, especially those from the Valiant era.
  
  The station is in Chapel Street, Market Rasen. Click here for a map. Parking is available at the station and at the Tesco store nearby.
  
  It was hoped that at 12.50 the BBMF Lancaster would fly over.
  
  For an interim photo report see Memories > Valiants > WZ363

• Mrs Jacqui Noble has provided photos of her father Albert Douglas Coldicott DFM who was killed when the Hawkes crew (ED418 EM-G) was lost over Hilversum on the Duisburg raid on the night of 12/13 May 1943. After the war her family met the Dutch people who 'adopted' her father's grave. She gives a moving account of a visit made in 2006 to the cemetery, by coincidence on Memorial Day.
  The editor has also located the pilot, Dick Hawkes, on a school photo taken in 1929.
  See both stories via Memorials > 207 crew > Hawkes ED418

April 2010

• From a couple of people in the Spilsby area we have had the sad news that Revd Harry Orchard died on Thursday 15th April 2010 in Boston's Pilgrim Hospital after being unwell for some time. He was aged 87 and lived near his sister, Miss Beryl Orchard, in Spilsby.
  
  Harry was ordained in 1962 and worked mainly in the Diocese of Salisbury, with a short spell in Argentina. From 1978 to 2002 he had Permission to Officiate in Sailsbury Diocese and served as a Rural Dean for two years.
  
  He was a wonderfully supportive person to have around and will be missed by friends and the Parish of Spilsby. He had not felt able to lead worship for some time and slowly withdrew from reading in church but it was very special that he was persuaded to preach last Remembrance Sunday (2009) by Canon Peter Coates, who said that Harry's very moving sermon would stay with both young and old for a long time.
  
  He tried three times to join the RAF early and eventually succeeded when he was aged 17 in 1940. Unable to fly for medical reasons train as a pilot, Harry became a Flying Control Officer with 207 Squadron, initially at Langar and then at Spilsby: the ORB shows he went to Spilsby in September 1943 to prepare for 207's arrival. He was posted away in the Spring of 1944. He retired as a Squadron Leader.
  
  Our condolences to his sisters and his family. The funeral arrangements are understood to be as follows: 2pm on Monday 26 April at Spilsby Parish Church, St James', which is on the corner of Church Street and Boston Road. Donations may be made to St James - Canon Peter Coates, The Vicarage, Church Street, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 5DU.
  Members - if you are able to attend please let our Membership Secretary, Kevin Mapley know.

• Mrs Enid Vermeulen has written to say that her husband Paul (Air Gunner 6/45-1/47 in the McGuinness crew) died last year. More information will be added when known.

• Editor: The first newsletter for 2010 was despatched 7/8 April. It includes a booking form for our Reunion Dinner on 4 September. There will be a second Newsletter in early August which will catch up on the news of events and people.
  If you have a contribution to make, please let me have it no later than 17th July.
  Work is in hand to bring the website up to date - this will take some time.
  
  My apologies to all for the interruption in service.

• Please note that with effect from the 2009 AGM Wg Cdr Ken Marwood AFM RAF(Retd) retired from the Presidency of the Association after long and valued service in that role and for many years before that as Secretary.
  The New President is Wg Cdr Alan Watkins BA FRSA RAF(Retd), who was Vice-President. The other members of the Committee are:
  Secretary: Kevin Grant
  Treasurer: Mrs Nikki Mapley
  Membership Secretary: Kevin Mapley
  Newsletter/Website Editor and Reunion Secretary: Frank Haslam
  Members without Portfolio: Wg Cdr Alan Mawby OBE RAF (Rtd) and John Laing

• Denis Buck in Australia writes: If any of our members are interested in family members who were in the services or emigrated here I am happy to assist in finding their records subject to not being too busy! If the record has been digitised it is available free online otherwise the cost of digitising has to be paid for .... a great way to self-fund a government department!

September 2009

• Photos of the 2009 Reunion are now on-line - see via Reunions

January 2009

• It is with sadness that we report the death of EK Peter Phelps, Flight Engineer 6/44-7/44 in Cheltenham on Tuesday 13 January 2009, aged 84. Our condolences go to his widow Sylvia, son Martin and daughter Susan. His well attended funeral was on Tuesday 27th January 2009 at noon, at Christchurch Cheltenham and then at 1pm at Cheltenham Crematorium GL52 5JT for those who wished to attend. It was family flowers only - if anyone wishes to make a charitable donation in memory of Peter it should be made out to The Alzheimers Association and can be sent to the undertaker Mason and Stokes, Tudor Lodge, 54 Hewlett Road, Cheltenham, GL52 6AH.
  
  Friend members Frank Haslam and Colin Moulden attended on behalf of the Association. The Order of Service included the Memorial Card provided by the Association. A page about the service will shortly be provided.
  
  Peter was shot down with the Stamp crew (LM129 EM-Y) on the St Leu raid of 8/7/44 and was eventually captured by the Gestapo in Paris. He was transported to Buchenwald from where he and other RAF prisoners were removed by the Luftwaffe to a PoW camp. It took many years before he could speak publicly about his experiences, the first being in order to raise funds for Christchurch. He was for many years the Reunion Secretary for the Association.
  
  Just a few days ago the family of F/O AEJ Gilby who was the Bomb Aimer in the Stamp crew and who evaded, was in touch from Australia.

• Kevin Mapley has heard from Les's daughter Brenda that Les Gaterell, Electrician ?/41-5/45, passed away peacefully after a short illness on 23 November aged 96. He had been in a residential. nursing home near his home in Tottenham, Toronto for a number of months.
  
  Les emigrated to Canada in 1955 where he continued to work in the aircraft industry. He came to a number of reunions at Derby. On his last visit, with Brenda, he made an emotional visit to the memorial at Spilsby which Brenda said meant a great deal to him.
  
• Via the Friends of 138 Squadron we now have an image of Valiant WZ363, landing on delivery to 138 at Wittering in 1955. On 6 May 1964 this aircraft, borrowed by the Welles crew of 207 Squadron, crashed at Market Rasen - see via Memories > Valiants

• We now have a photo of the first 207 pilot to be lost in WW2, F/O Hugh Vernon Matthews, Manchester L7313 EM-C, shot down by an intruder after taking off for an op on Hamburg on the night of 12/13 March 1941, from Waddington, having been delayed by replacement of a burst tail wheel. F/O HV Matthews, Sgt HC Redgrave, Sgt RD Welch and Sgt HW Hemingway were killed instantly. Sgts Cox and J Marsden were thrown clear and were taken to Lincoln hospital with severe injuries, and there Sgt Marsden died. The story is told in detail in both the Squadron History and in Bob Kirby's book on the Manchester. The photo comes via F/O Matthews nephew, Tony Matthews, who is joining the Association as a Friend member.

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