207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY
207 Squadron RAF Valiant period 'album'
The purpose of this page is invite the
addition/correction of names, dates and locations, and to
encourage anecdotes and further photos to be added. Above all
it provides access to the photos by a wider audience than
those who attend the Association reunions - 207's history
will be added to and improved thereby.
This page can be searched - press Ctrl and F
keys together.
No.207 Squadron served as a front-line squadron in Bomber Command at RAF Marham from 29 May 1951 until 1 May 1965. It operated the Washington B.1 (B29 Superfortress) until March 1954 and the English Electric Canberra B.2 from March 1954 until March 1956. Disbanding for a few days at the end of March 1956 and reforming on 1st April 1956 it operated the Vickers Valiant B.1 from July 1956 until February 1965. This album is about 207's Valiant years.
[V1] A Valiant of 207 Squadron and crewmen pictured before
departure to The Gold Coast
(now Ghana) during its Independence celebrations in March
1957, possibly at
Tripoli/Idris where the four aircraft staged (2 from 207 Sqn,
2 from 148 Sqn). See also V11 and V12
[V11] L-R: Flt Lt Ted CHILDS (Nav/Plotter) - Wg Cdr Dougie
HAIG (Captain & CO 207)
AVM Bing CROSS (AOC 3 Group) - Flt Lt John TREVAINS
(Nav/Radar) - F/O Dave JEFFERY (Nav/Radar)
F/O Jim WYLD (Nav/Plotter) - F/O Peter BUTLER (Co-pilot).
John Trevains: "our (Haig) a/c was WZ397 - our co-pilot
Ken Inson, is missing from this photograph [see V12]. Dave
Jeffery, Jim Wyld and Pete Butler were all members of Sqn Ldr
Cooke's crew, who went with us ..."
The Squadron Album links this with the visit to Ghana.
[V12] L-R: Wg Cdr Dougie HAIG (Captain & 207 CO) - AVM Bing
CROSS (AOC 3 Group)
Flt Lt John SNEE (AEO) - Flt Lt Ken INSON (Co-pilot) - Flt Lt
Charles John TREVAINS (Nav/Radar)
Flt Lt Ted CHILDS (Nav/Plotter)
The Squadron Album links this with the visit to Ghana.
[V9] A Valiant of 207 Squadron and crewmen pictured during
the visit to Ghana
during its Independence celebrations in March 1957 - medical
officer applies suncream in warmer climes
[V15] similar to V9
[V116] JJ Snee (L) and John Trevains (R) in Ghana during
visit for the Independence celebrations. "The civilian
is an MOD photographer who flew with us on the Regatta
Flypast. When asked how he enjoyed the flight he said that he
had never been so close to the water without actually
swimming. He added that the occupants of some boats jumped
overboard." source John Trevains
 |
| 232OCU Gaydon -Valiant & Victor Simulator
Staff 1958 back: Dave Osborne, Doug Wilson, Paddy Hegarty, Norman Taite, George Cheshire, John Selby, Little Tom Thomson, Jock Anderson, Martin Hunt, Big Tom Thompson front: Bill James, Ken Kemish, Robby Robson, Mick Meadows, Bill Wright, Sqn Ldr Hall, Jon Young, Pete Nelson, Frank McClory, Ted Day, Alf Parden Missing: Paddy Murray, Eric Livett, Mike Rigby source Doug Wilson 207Sqn, who was on the staff at Gaydon 11/56-1/60 |
[V2] Harrington crew at NATO Defence College display at RAF
Wittering June 1959.
L-R: Flt Lt Mike HARRINGTON (Captain) - F/O John POTTER
(Co-pilot) - Flt Lt Harry BRUNT (Nav/Plot)
F/O Denis MOONEY (Nav/Radar) - F/O Alan WEBB (AEO) - Chief
Tech MILLAR (Crew Chief)
[V3] Pictured at Idris are (L-R): Flt Lt Dave FRANKLIN
(Nav/Plotter) - Flt Lt Mike CAWSEY (Captain)
Flt Lt Alan RODMAN (Nav/Radar) - Sgt Ron NASH (AEOp - with
cast!)
(F/O Derek LUCAS (Co-pilot) is partly shown on left!)
[V4] Valiant WZ404 see also V38, V91
[V5] Valiant WZ403 of 207 Squadron - see also V36, V41, V45
[V6] Valiant XD813 at Luqa, Malta, in 1959 - see also V24,
V34, V39
[V7] Ken MARWOOD and three members of his crew - see also
V25, V27, V31-34
[V10] Static display at RAF Cottesmore 9 July 1963 in front
of WP219
L-R: F/O R McM (Mike) HARRALL (Co-pilot) - Flt Lt JM
(Johnnie) JONES (Captain)
F/O Norman S PULLEY (Nav/Plotter) - Flt Lt Mike P NOLAN (Nav
Radar)
M/Sig Sam CLUCAS (AEOp) - Joe RODDIS (Crew Chief) - see also
V21, V22, V23, V37, V40
image source: Peter Clucas - click image above for a
closer view
[V13] 207 Squadron Valiant at its dispersal
[V14] AVM Bing CROSS (AOC 3Group) - Wg Cdr Douglas
HAIG (207 Sqn CO) - unknown
? taken during visit to Ghana in 1957
V15 - see earlier
[V17] L-R: Flt Lt MO CARPENTER (Pilot) - Flt Lt J GIBBONS
(Co-Pilot) - Flt Lt DR JACKSON (Nav/Plotter)
Flt Lt RG BARNARD (Nav/Radar) - M/Sgt M WARD (Signaller) -
Chief Tech MILLAR (Crew Chief)
[V8] Wg Cdr William D (Robbie) ROBERTSON (Pilot & 207 CO)
introduces (L-R):
Flt Lt EAJ (Ollie) CROOKS AFC (Captain) - Flt Lt Harold JONES
(Nav/Plotter)
Flt Lt JWB (Barnie) BARNES (Nav/Radar) - M/Signaller Alan VAN
GEERSDAELE (A/Elec) and
Chief Tech Bill PRATER (Crew Chief) to the Rt Hon Mr George
Ward who was Secretary of State for Air in the late 1950s
[see also V19].
[V18] Wg Cdr William D (Robbie) ROBERTSON (Pilot & 207
CO) introduces [L-R]:
Cpl CC Croft, SAC KV Winter, JT WK Edwards, SAC MA Warren, JT
A Puffett, SAC JR Stannard, JT T Morgan
to the Rt Hon Mr George Ward who was Secretary of State for
Air in the late 1950s [see also V8 and V19]
[V19] ?March 1959: Sqn Ldr Peter P COVENTRY (Flight Commander
& Captain) introduces
L-R: F/O RT Kendall (AEO), Flt Lt Del WILLIAMS (Nav/Plotter)
- F/O John W BLOCKEY (Co-Pilot)
and Flt Lt Jack LORD (Nav/Radar) to the Rt Hon Mr George
Ward. [see also V8 & V18]
[V20] Wg Cdr A David DICK AFC MA, 207 Squadron CO
20th May 1963 - 2nd November 1964
AVM David Dick CB CBE AFC MA FRAeS RAF(Retd)
was the first President of 207 Squadron RAF Association, He
died in 1999.
[V21] Valiant WP219 of 207 Squadron - see also V10, V22, V23,
V37, V40
[V22] Valiant WP219 of 207 Squadron, in flight - see also
V10, V21, V23, V37, V40
[V23] Valiant WP219 of 207 Squadron, in flight - see also
V10, V21, V22, V37, V40
[V24] Valiant XD813 - see also V6, V34, V39
 Flt Lt Kenneth M MARWOOD AFM (Pilot) May 1958 – December 1961 [V25] - see also V7, V27, V31-34 |
 Flt Lt James R WYLD (Navigator/Plotter) May 1956 – October 1961 [V26] |
[V27] L-R: Flt Lt John H SCULLARD (Co-Pilot) - Flt Lt Kenneth
M MARWOOD AFM (Captain)
Sgt John C PAGLER (Signaller), Flt Lt James R WYLD
(Nav/Plotter) - F/O P (Dave) JEFFERY (Nav/Radar)
[Marwood: see also V7, V25, V31-34]
 [V28] Sgt John C PAGLER (Signaller) May 1956 - July 1961 |
 [V30] Flt Lt John H SCULLARD (Co-Pilot) May 1958 – April 1961 |
[V29] F/O P (Dave) JEFFERY (Navigator/Radar) [for V30 see
above]
[V31] Flt Lt Kenneth M MARWOOD AFM (Pilot) en route Malta to
El Adem for bombing.
see also V7, V25, V27, V32-34
[V32] F/O P (Dave) JEFFERY (Navigator) and Flt Lt Kenneth M
MARWOOD AFM (Pilot) at Ta’Qali, Malta
[V33] L-R: Flt Lt Kenneth M MARWOOD AFM (Pilot)
and Flt Lt James R WYLD (Nav/Plotter) relax at Akrotri,
Cyprus, 1959
[V34] Pre-flight checks on Valiant XD813 at Luqa, Malta, in
1959 by Flt Lt Kenneth M MARWOOD AFM (Pilot)
and Sgt John C PAGLER (Signaller) - for XD813 see also V6,
V24, V39
[V36] Valiant WZ403 of 207 Squadron -see also V5, V41, V45
[V37] Valiant WP219 -see also V10, V21, V23, V40
[V38] Valiant WZ404 see also V4, V91
[V39] Valiant XD813 at Luqa, Malta, in 1959 - see also V6,
24, V34
[V40] Valiant WP219 - see also V10, V21, V23, V37
[V41] Valiant WZ403, possibly at Luqa, Malta (Suez?) - see
also V5, V36, V45
[V42] Valiant taxying, possibly at Luqa, Malta (Suez?)
[V43] Valiant XD875 - see also V99
[V99] XD875 and another Valiant (and a Comet) at Negombo,
Ceylon, 4th June 1958, en route to Butterworth
see also V43
[V44] Unknown 207 Squadron Valiant being refuelled
[V45] Valiant WZ403, possibly at Luqa, Malta (Suez?) - see
also V5, V36, V41
[V46] Unkown Valiant at dispersal
[V47] Valiant WZ401 at Salisbury, Rhodesia, during a Lone
Ranger in November 1963.
Civilian Fokker Friendship aircraft in the foreground.
[V48] WZ401 at Salisbury, Rhodesia, during a Lone Ranger
in November 1963.
This was the CO’s aircraft and carried his pennant on
the nose, together with the 207 Squadron crest - see also V49
[V49] Valiant WZ401: This was the CO’s aircraft and
carried his pennant on the nose, together with the 207
Squadron crest.
see also V48
[V50] Unknown Valiant taxying
Please click here
for the album section relating to the presentation of
207 Squadron's Standard at RAF Marham on 23rd July
1956.
|
Please click here for the album section relating to operations in October and November 1956 on Suez. |
[V72] Valiant WZ405
[V73] Unknown 207 Squadron Valiant being refuelled.
F/O Peter G SQUIRREL (Nav/Plotter) in foreground
[V74] L-R: F/O Peter G SQUIRREL (Nav/Plotter) - F/O Kenneth C
HODGSON (Co-pilot)
Sgt RWG PECK (AEOp) - Flt Lt D Jock DAVIE
(Nav/Radar) - Sqn Ldr Raymond J DAVENPORT (Captain)
[V75] Inspection by SACEUR Gen. Lauris NORSTAD(left) at
Marham 13th October 1960.
L-R: F/O PC (Nobby) CLARKE (Co-pilot) - F/O Peter G SQUIRREL
(Nav/Plotter)
Flt Lt D (Jock) DAVIE (Nav/Radar) - Flt Lt John J SNEE (AEO)
[V76] Three unknowns awaiting better weather for flying. One
may be Peter SQUIRREL
[V110] Goose Bay Jan 1960: OC RAF Detachment at Goose Bay -
Pete Coventry - Jack Lord - Dave Bridger: source Del
Williams
[V111] Goose Bay Jan 1960 - Pete Coventry, Jack Lord, Dave
Bridger: source Del Williams
[V112] Nairobi Oct 1960 - R Nash, Tony Alder, Pete Coventry,
Jack Lord, a/c XD813: source Del Williams
[V113] with XD813 in Nairobi Oct 1960 - R Nash, Tony Alder,
Pete Coventry: source Del Williams
[V114] En route to Salisbury from Nairobi in Oct 1960, view
of Mount Kilimanjaro from XD813: source Del Williams
[V115] Game Park Nairobi 18 Aug 1961: ? - Jack Lord - Bob
Moss:
"There were privileges in being crewed with a Flight
Commander!" source Del Williams
[V77] L-R: Kiwi O’ROURKE - Ken HODGSON - Derek
LUCAS - Jock DAVIE - Des DELANEY - Ted CHILDS
[V78] L-R: Jock DAVIE -Ted CHILDS - Tony ALDER - ?
[V79] L-R: Ted CHILDS - Dave FRANKLIN
[V80] L-R: Peter SQUIRREL & Mary - Peter LEWIN &
Wenda
Mrs Betty RICHFORD - Hugh RICHFORD - Roger PRICE
[V81] Valiant WP210
[V83] Valiant WP221 - see also V84, V85, V104
[V84] Valiant WP221 - see also V83, 85, 104
[V85] Valiant WP221 - see also V83, V84, V104
 |
[V86] L-R: F/O Roger G PRICE (Co-Pilot) Sqn Ldr Hugh C RICHFORD DFC (Captain) Flt Lt Geoffrey R STURT (Navigator) Sgt Peter T BENNETT (A/A/Elec) Flt Lt Peter LEWIN (Navigator) source: Peter Bennett |
[V87] Camouflaged Valiant XD857
[V88] Camouflaged Valiant XD857
[V89] Valiants posed on QRA standby platform at Marham in
1965, post-disbandment of 207 Squadron.
[V90] Valiants posed on QRA standby platform at Marham in
1965, post-disbandment of 207 Squadron.
[V91] Camouflaged Valiant, towing arm attached. Possibly
WZ404
 [V92] |
 [V95] |
 [V94] |
| [V92, 95, 94] Following the disbandment of 207 Squadron on 1st May 1965 on the withdrawal of the Valiant from RAF service, the Squadron Standard was laid up in the Chapel at RAF Marham: “Always Prepared” says this was on 1st April 1968, the 50th Anniversary of the RAF and the date of disbandment of Bomber Command. | ||
[V96] Valiants being scrapped at Marham in June 1965.
[V97] Valiants being scrapped at Marham in June 1965.
[V98] 207 Squadron aircrew with Valiant as backdrop
displaying the Armaments Officers
and Laurence Minot trophies, which were won by 207 in June
1960
please click the image for a larger
version and if using Windows XP then click the image
expansion button
[V101] 207 Squadron with Valiant as backdrop displaying the
Armaments Officers and
Laurence Minot trophies, which were won by 207 in June 1960
please click the image for a larger
version and if using Windows XP then click the image
expansion button
(if you have an excellent copy of this image please let the
editor know so that the version on this page can be improved)
[V103] No 7 RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) Squadron Reunion,
believed to have been
on the 40th Anniversary of the formation of the Squadron,
which would have been in 1956.
Actual date, location and names of those pictured are
lacking, so any information would be appreciated!
[V104] Valiant WP221 in camouflage - see also V83, V84, V85
[V105] Luqa, Malta, - a regular destination for 207’s
Valiants
[V106] Introductions, possibly to ACM Sir Thomas Pike who was
CAS from 1960 to 1962 but to whom not known yet !
[V107] Valiants at dispersal
[V108] Bathing Party, but who, where and when?
[V109] Believed to be Marham era, but who, when and when?