Good for you “Johnnie”, it comes to something when,not only is the national memorial to Bomber command funded by charity, but it is then topped by the national disgrace that this government cannot find itself to honour a campaign medal which has been denied to the surviving crewmen since 1945.

Yet (despite the fact they deserve them, no so offence intended) the French are giving the D-Day veterans long overdue Leigion D’honnour medals.

Still, I may not be in a position to offer the ” Bomber Boys ” a medal, but I’m glad to be part of the generation that feels they are owed the greatest respect.

I know if lead the country, I’d make sure they got one.

So sad to see this one “go under the radar”, I felt it was a nice addition at Firbeck, given that they operated a few locally at RAF Worksop.

It seems a shame that it has been passed from pillar to post.

Anyone shed some light on this one?
Looks like Fowlmere or Duxford doesn’t it?

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Looking at the Photo, I am inclined to think they are 616 Squadron Spitfires. The first aircraft shows the individual “W” behind the roundel, while it is the “QJ” squadron codes ( which do not appear to be to standard dimentions) on the second and third aircraft.

if this is the case, there is a possible explanation for the off size codes. Many years ago I was told by a former 616 squadron member that on some of the 1939-1940 aircraft, the codes were painted by a groundcrew member who worked as a liveries painter for the rail company at Doncaster prior to being called up.

it was said that he had not been given the official code sizes, so he painted them as he thought right.

hope this helps

Rad

I heard that Tiger Moth R-5136 based at Worksop has suffered an accident. Anyone know if this is true – details?

How sad to hear that the Tiger Moth has crashed at Netherthorpe, though I’m pleased that both occupants are OK. For my 50th birthday July last year I had an 1/2hrs flight in N-6720, with Blue Skies Aviation,( If you can appreciate my point, I hope that this and R-5136 is not the same aircraft are not one and the same).

I hope this is not the end for this particular Tiger Moth, like them all its a joy to see them in the air.

I’m thinking of emailing my MP and asking him to ask the PM to make a statement of thanks to Canada, in Parliament, for assisting in the rembrance of the lost crews of Bomber Command. Do you guys think such a request is silly, or worthwhile?

I dont think it is a silly request at all. It wouldn’t harm the government to make such a public statement.

To add my thanks to the Canadians, it has been a wonderful gesture on their part, I just hope the opportunity arrises again sometime in the future.

If I may add, if anyone from the CWHM is reading this, should there be time, could they please take the chance to fly over the Stonefall cemetery at Harrogate please? It is here that many of those who served and died in the RCAF Bomber squadrons are laid to rest.

I was lucky enough to go to the same event Radpoe Meteor, was an amazing night, the other chap was Eric Quinney I believe ,flew P for Popsie in the Dambusters film, there’s a short documentary about him here, very interesting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtS4B72h48

Hello Jack, thank you for correcting Eric’s surname for me, much appreciated.:)

Disgusting, but sadly all too often. I doubt the perpertrators will get caught, but they deserve to be.

I often used to go to the farm when I was based at Brize Norton, trying to find out what still exhisted at Windrush & remember the plaque had not been put up very long then.

I hope the stone memorial doesn’t suffer the same fate as the Bronze one- the cruel irony is the latter was off the beaten track, so was likely pilfered by opportunists.

The memory of Sgt Hancock deserves better.

regards Rad