And what happens if all the pledges made aren’t honoured?

Why do you think god made bones that break when stamped on :diablo:

I hope they paint her white.

SAVE RAF DRIFFIELD 😀

So XH558 is unlikely to fly again. I’m not surprised. It’s a bomber and killing machine flown by mostly white middle class “gentlemen” and has no place in our multicultural country. As Jack Hawkins said in The Cruel Sea: “It’s the war, the whole bloody war”. Only a few of us care about our aeronautical heritage. Also, unlike America we have few Philanthropists in the UK – most if not all have no interest in our aviation heritage. I’ve had another sleepless night trying to figure a way to save RAF Driffield, even though its fate has probably already been decided upon. It will be demolished, because no body cares – not even by those who we trust to helkp protect out heritage. The Vulcan at BAE Systems Woodford will also be scrapped. Let’s face it we are in a minority. Because our cause is tinted with death and suffering.

I’ve given my all to save RAF Driffield and then some. But why bother? I feel like curling up into a ball. I also feel like rubbing “their” noses in it – those who failed me and RAF Driffield and all those who once called Driffield their home. ****** it, I feel like kicking and screaming and breaking a few legs. Licking bottom – to please or persuade the good and the great has also left its mark and bad taste in the mouth. This thread was about an aeroplane – it could have been VC10, Trident, Comet, Beverley or a place like Driffield, North Weald, Tangmere, Cardington and a hundred other places when through indifference are in the process of being lost.

What to do?

Don’t rock the boat. If you do, then your labelled a nutter and ostrosized one and all – by those who feel they know best or should do more themselves.

“You can teach monkey’s to drive better than that”. At least your alive and well and not injured or worse. Always look on the bright side of things. I hope the police are going to charge the sod involved?

There is at least one Sunderland in Lake Windermere at White Cross Bay(?). I understand someone has some sonar pictures(?)

My granddad built Sunderland flying boats at Chatham. During the war some minister or other from Whitehall was posted to Chatham to help improve efficiency. But being a “man from the ministry” the opposite happened and he was sent on his way. Not pleased at being told where to go, after the war he forced the closure of Shorts at Chatham and possibly Rochester (?). The reason given was that the River Medway was too short for flying boats to operate from (this after many years of safe flying). The last flying boat to fly from the River Medway took off NOT lengthways but across the river – too prove the point that the “man from the ministry” didn’t know what he was talking about.

During the war my granddad ended up in court for trying to join the army. He was fined. The problem was he was in a reserve occupation. Although he was in the Home Guard (Dad’s Army) he never forgave the powers that be for not allowing to “serve his country” and at war’s end he returned his Defence Medal to the War Office in disgust.

Another incident involved a scientist who visited Chatham during the war. He brought with him a chemical. He was given permission to use one of the flying boats. The fuel tanks were emptied and filled with water. The chemical was added and the machine flew on water (in more ways than one). Excited by the prospect of this new wonder chemical, the Americans invited the scientist to the USA. Both he and his invention left the UK but only his invention arrived in the USA – he disappeared mid-Atlantic.

Before working for Shorts, my granddad, Leslie Rhodes worked for Rolls Royce (not the company but rather the two men who founded the company). After the war my granddad worked on the nuclear Blue Steel missiles at RAF Wittering. He then worked for Elliots(?) at Rochester Aerodrome until retiring in mid to late 1970s. He died in 1989.

Gary

According to the the RAF Heraldry Trust website (http://www.griffon.clara.net/rafh/station.htm):

RAF Khormaksar (Aden) Available
RAF Winterberg (Germany) Not Available
RAF Sundern (Germany) Not Available
RAF Fassberg (Germany) Not Available
RAF Middle Wallop (GB) Available
RAF Wickenby (GB) Not Available

As RAF Wickenby was only opened for the duration of the war, it would not have been issued with a crest or badge. My understanding is that most aerodromes were not issued with a station crest until after the war, as is the case with RAF Driffield.

I wouldn’t worry about copyright issues. As long as you credit the badge to being Crown Copyright you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. There is an online resource for working with material that is crown copyright and if I can find it again, I’ll post the URL here. I would also suggest you contact Joe Bridge for advice.

Check Out: http://www.griffon.clara.net/rafh/ for the RAF Heraldry Trust website.

I understand that you cannot order copies of work already undertaken, but you can sponsor a badge: If you would like to sponsor any badge, simply send a letter detailing the badge requested, the name of the sponsor or sponsoring unit, the name and address of a contact, if this is different from that of the sponsor and a cheque for £ 87 [UK Pounds] made payable to The RAF Heraldry Trust. [Overseas sponsors will be given further instructions]

Or you might be able to commission the artist to product an original for around £70(?), though this information is a few years out of date.

Regarding the RAF Marham website, check out: http://www.rafmarham.co.uk/gallery/crests-index.htm. The website and brilliant station/squadron crests are the work of one man – Joe Bridge. I’m sure he’ll be able to assist with your enquiry.