77 sq reunion at Elvington

York Press today :

Fly past for 77 Squadron veterans at the Yorkshire Air Museum
8:26am Monday 13th September 2010

SECOND World War veterans who served with the Royal Air Force were treated to a fly past of one of the planes they used to fly.
The spectacle took place on Saturday at the Yorkshire Air Museum, in Elvington, where the veterans were gathering for 77 Squadron’s annual reunion.
The display by the Douglas C 47 Dakota was the last flypast of the season at the Yorkshire Air Museum.
Ian Reed, museum director, said: “It was a great opportunity to see this magnificent legend of the skies in action.”
77 Squadron came to RAF Elvington in October 1942 and, flying Halifax bombers, soon became involved in the Battle of the Ruhr and other battles aimed at destroying German industry. During 1943 the Squadron suffered some of the heaviest losses of Bomber Command and by the end of the war, they had lost 80 Halifaxes, with more than 500 aircrew killed, missing or taken prisoner.
In May 1945 the Squadron converted to Transport Command, and flew the Douglas C 47 Dakota.