Suprising location for BoB pilots Memorial!

For info last Saturday & by complete fluke, I discovered and photographed a memorial to;

Flt Lt Donald Eric Turner RAFVR -KIA on Thursday August 8th 1940 (Age 30)

According to ATB’s BOBT&N(V5) Flt Lt Turner was shot down whilst flying Hurricane P3823 of 238 Sqn (based at Middle Wallop) following combat south of the IOW with elements of III/JG27 and V/LGI at 1245 over convoy “Peewit”

F/Lt Turner was never found and he is officially remembered on Panel 5 of the Runnymede Memorial . . . .

The memorial I found to F/Lt Turner is located in; Christchurch Catherdral, Port Stanley, er – the Falkland lslands !!????!!

As Christchurch Cathedral is also the world most southerly cathedral, the memorial to F/Lt Turner HAS to also be the worlds most southerly BoB Memorial as well? (Did F/Lt Turner come from the FI’s? – no ref displayed)

Not quiet BoB related, but just along the wall from the above is a memorial to an RAF pilot killed in June 1918 off Great Yarmouth (and he WAS born in the Falklands)

Fittingly, both of the above memorial will lie in the shadow of the old No 78 Sqn RAF Standard which was laid up in Christchurch Cathedral on Saturday. No 78 Sqn are the ONLY RAF Sqn to have ever been based in the FI’s* – all the other units are “Flights” (* 1st May 1986 – 31st Nov 2007)

If anyone wants a copy of the photo of F/Lt Turners memorial, then please drop me a line at [email]tonyhibberd752@yahoo.co.uk[/email]

Rgds

Tony H

A True Gent!

Having just returned from the Falkland Islands yesterday as part of the contingent that laid up the old 78 Sqn Standard, I am utterly saddened to read of the passing of “Bob Doe”

I lived in Rusthall Kent (until 1988) where – unbeknown to me “the old chap” that ran the village petrol stn WAS the man himself. Once I found out who he was, I spoke to him a lot – as an aviation mad teenage, to actually have a BoB veteran in my village was just fantastic

He was always a polite individual, although I believe he did for a long while decline attending reunions etc, and his book was published fairly late on. However, he was a 100% nice gent through and through – and extremely modest about his personal contribution to the BoB

I actually visited the RAFM Hendon Archives today to collect historical material for 78 Sqn. The two members of the film archive were equally saddened by his passing. In fact one of them had only spoken to him a fortnight ago and was planning to visit him next week to carry out another film interview with him . .

Ironically, the BoB Hall is undergoing a major overall in time for the 70th Anniversary later this summer. Although one less member of the few will not be there in person, he will never be forgotten . . .

RIP Wg Cdr Doe ~ Per Ardua At Astra

Tony H

The 3 Sqn Harrier GR3 that used to be on display outside the Sqn HQ at RAF Cottesmore (now Kendrew Barracks) was moved to Coningsby several years ago and now guards the 3 Sqn HAS site . . .

Tony H

If you want three typical Halifax Sqns from Yorkshire look no further than the three former 4 Group Bomber Command Halifax Sqns still operational today . . .

No 10 Sqn – Melbourne
No 51 Sqn – Snaith
No 78 Sqn – Breighton

Rgds

Tony H

Gents

That is correct! 39 Sqn were the first Reaper Sqn, based at Creech AFB, they have now relocated to Waddington and have been joined by the (recently reformed) 13 Sqn who are now the second RAF unit to operate Reaper . . . (who had nothing to do with BC either!)

Peter V – Thanks for the info on 39 Sqn NOT being part of Bomber Command

Tony

Whilst not exactly specific to an aircraft restoration . . . A significant event & definately long overdue which IS due to take place this year is . . .

The unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in London and in memory of the 55,573 “boys” that didn’t make it back for post op bacon and eggs . . .

* According to one news item on the subject, it it due to be completed in May with the unveiling in June. However, with the small athletics gathering taking place soon after I hope it isn’t pushed to one side & listed as other news . . .

I “think” the list of still active RAF Sqn’s that served in Bomber Command are;

No 7 Sqn (Chinooks) Flew: Hampden / Stirling / Lancaster
No 9(B) Sqn (GR4) Flew: Wellington / Lancaster
No 10 Sqn (Voyager) Flew: Whitley / Halifax * RECENTLY REFORMED AND IN TRAINING *
No 12(B) Sqn (GR4) Flew: Battle / Wellington / Lancaster
No 15(R) Sqn (GR4) Flew: Battle / Blenheim / Stirling / Lancaster
No 18(B) Sqn (Chinook) Flew: Blenheim
No 39 Sqn REMOVED * ENTERED IN ERROR! *
No 51 Sqn (In training to fly RC135) Flew: Whitley / Halifax * DISBANDED NOT SURE IF REFORMED YET * ??
No 76(R) Sqn (Tucano) Flew: Hampden / Halifax * BELIEVED RECENTLY DISBANDED?? *
No 78(B) Sqn (Merlin) Flew: Whitley / Halifax
No 99 Sqn (C17) Flew Wellington
No 100 Sqn (Hawk) Flew: Lancaster
No 101 Sqn (VC10) Flew: Blenheim / Wellington / Lancaster
No 115(R) Sqn (Tutor) Flew: Wellington / Lancaster * BELIEVED DISBANDED * ??
No 207(R) Sqn (Tucano) Flew: Manchester / Lancaster
No 617 Sqn (GR4) Flew: Lancaster (and a Mustang!)

As an after thought – are any of the Polish / RAAF/ RCAF or RNZAF Bomber Command Sqn’s still operational? I’m sure a RCAF C130 unit returned to visit Linton on Ouse last year – one of the 405/6/7 numbers ?

If these Nations also attend (and clearly they should!) it could make for an interesting flypast – including PA474 of course!

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong?

Kind Rgds

Tony H

Of definate historic aviation interest should be the unveiling of the (IMHO) long overdue Bomber Command Memorial in June London to the 55,573 “Boys” who didn’t make it back for their post op bacon & eggs . . .

Tony H
78 Sqn
RAF Benson

No 78 Sqn (operating Whitley & Halifax) were part of 4 Gp Bomber Command during WWII & suffered 979 aircrew KIA of which 153 officially remain MIA