UK Aviation Museum News – Page 85

Americans in the Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force Museum, in the run up to American Independence Day, has launched a new online exhibition honouring those American men and women who joined the Royal Air Force during both World Wars to defend Britain against hostile attack.

View the online exhibition by clicking: here

Men such as Olympian and playboy Billy Fiske “an American who died so that England might live” and women such as aviatrix and pioneer Jackie Cochrane who was instrumental in recruiting American female pilots to serve in the Air Transport Auxiliary.

In this online exhibition the Museum recounts their stories, often, in their own words and the cultural challenges they faced; from not wishing to be considered “bragging Yanks” by their new comrades to potentially being branded traitors to their own countrymen for joining a foreign military service.

Stuart Hadaway, Curator of the exhibition states:

“It is amazing how many Americans served with the British flying services during both of the World Wars. Hundreds served with the RAF in the Great War – far more than in the more famous French Escadrille Lafayette.”

During the Second World War tens of thousands volunteered, and they made a valuable contribution. Their efforts were far from limited to the celebrated Eagle Squadrons; they served in every part of the RAF all around the world, and others, including women, flew as civilians with the Air Transport Auxiliary.

They came through a sense of adventure, or more often simply because they felt something must be done to stop the Germans.

Some, like Pilot Officer Billy Fiske, were rich and well-to-do people who literally gave up everything to come and fight for what they believed in. They may have broken American laws to do so, but long before Pearl Harbour these people were fighting for freedom, liberty, and every other American ideal. They were, and remain, the best of their country and true American heroes.”

Both of The Royal Air Force Museum’s sites in London and in Cosford are open daily from 10am to 6pm. Admission is FREE. For further details visit the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org

French Veterans Mark Anniversary of Squadron Formation at RAF Elvington

Five veterans of the unique French Squadron’s that operated out of the WWII Bomber Command Station of RAF Elvington made a pilgrimage back to the former airbase, now the Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, to mark the 65th Anniversary of the formation of their Squadrons. These Squadrons were formed around the remnants of the French Air Force, under the name of Groupes Lourds (Heavy Groups), flying near obsolete Leo 45 aircraft in missions alongside allied forces in North Africa against the Nazi Afrika Korps. Under the RAF designation of 346 Guyenne Squadron and 347 Tunisie Squadron, they were officially formed on 16th May and 20th June 1944 respectively.The visiting veterans, whose ages range from a ‘youthful’ 87 to a grand 91, have recently all taken part in the production of a French film documentary about their lives and loves in York and on the operations over Europe conducted from RAF Elvington. It will not be lost on many people that it is also the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion, one of the greatest operations in military history, but what is often overlooked is the vital role played by the two French Squadrons of Bomber Command in this strike for liberty and victory.

346 Squadron was immediately drawn into the invasion operations and it’s first missions were on the night of 1st/2nd June 1944 in a raid on the strategically vital radar installations at Ferme d’Urville on the Normandy coast. This mission, involving aircraft from other Squadrons and locations, was led by Group Captain Leonard Cheshire (617 Squadron). Then on the night of 5th/6th June, 346 was involved in raids against the heavy German Gun Battery just outside the small fishing port at Grandcamp Maisy, on the western tip of what was designated as ‘Omaha’ Beach, for the landings. Operations also took place against the railway marshalling yards at Caen and St. Lo. One of the veterans attending, Louis Hervelin, 87, took part in these missions.

The success of these operations was crucial to the overall outcome of the battle ahead, but the anguish that those first French crews must have gone through in bombing their own homeland is revealed in the documentary, overcome by their determination to ‘kick the Nazi enemy out of their beloved homeland’.

346 Squadron was augmented by the formation of 347 Tunisie Squadron on 20th June, and from this point they together took the war to the Ruhr, known ironically as the ‘Happy Valley’ because of the immense danger from flak and fighter intervention, and the German industrial heartland.

Ian Reed, Museum Director, said, “These young men, far away from their homes and their families had the unenviable task of often bombing their own country, and 50% never made it home. They were brave men and well known throughout York. Their stories in this new film are exceptionally heart-warming, especially about the English people and we are pleased to welcome them “back to base” once again”.

All of these veterans are united in their admiration in respect for the way they were welcomed and received in England, despite the language barriers, being treated as one of the family in the network of homes operated by Friends of the French Volunteers, when taking leave in places as diverse as London, Leeds or Lossiemouth. Locally, they learned to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the English pubs and the dance halls in York and the surrounding area. This exuberance in the face of the hostility of the times amazed them, as public dancing had almost ceased in France from the onset of the war.

They were impressed by the spirit and organisation of the British people and the way the old and the young, all pulled together in one united objective, all focused around the major figure of the time, Winston Churchill. Something else they had never encountered were the WAAF’s, and other branches of the women’s services, and the many and varied roles they took part in maintaining aircraft and keeping the bases running efficiently. This they found simply incredible.

What is very important to these survivors is what they refer to as the English Hommage and the ceremonies that are organized each year to pay tribute to those that did not return. Louis Hervelin recalls the services in York that he has attended: “At the commemorative service in York that I have been to several times, four Officers of the Royal Air Force take the Book (of Remembrance), and show it to the congregation, and then they turn the page. It is called The Turning of the Page and then they put it back in its place. That is a real memory, it gets you right here! When the English clergyman explained to me, when I saw the names of my chums – they are all there! I left in tears.”

Similarly, Pierre Patalano notes, with a tear in his eye: “In Elvington (York) in the village there is a War Memorial dedicated to the French. Every year, the schoolchildren keep a day (Remembrance Sunday) to visit the Memorial … that’s all! What else can be added?!”

The veterans who took part in the trip to Elvington are:

Group Guyenne:

Louis Hervelin – 87. Radio Operator / Air Gunner. 32 missions. Took part in raids on Grandcamp Maisy Caen and St. Lo.

Lucien Mallia – 88. Air Gunner. 23 missions. Survived from aircraft being shot down on night of 3rd/4th March 1945 when in ‘Operation Gisella’, German fighters lay in wait above air bases as the bombers returned. Lucien’s Halifax was shot at on approach to Elvington, but was able to divert to Croft where attacked again but made crash landing. The Luftwaffe JU88 that initially attacked this Halifax over Elvington crashed nearby, making another strike at the airfield, becoming the last German aircraft to crash on British soil.

Group Tunisie:

André Guédez – 88. Air Gunner, 23 missions.

Pierre Patalno – 88. Air Gunner. 29 missions.

Hervé Vigny – 91. Air Gunner. 35 missions.

Of these veterans, two have not been back to Elvington since the end of the war – Pierre Patalano and Hervé Vigny. Both were overwhelmed by the experience.

Louis Hervelin and André Guédez have not visited since 13th September 1996, but Lucien Mallia is a more regular visitor, who has attended the Remembrance Day services over the past few years.

During the visit to the Yorkshire Air Museum, the veterans had the opportunity to go inside the unique restored Halifax bomber, the only complete example in the world and see their former crew positions, recalling many memories. They toured the Museum and the many exhibits housed in original wartime buildings, including the Control Tower and French Officers Mess display. They were also shown for the first time, the documentary that they have all contributed to.

The trip culminated with a Civic Reception with the Lord Mayor of York and the High Sherriff at the Mansion House, York.

In Bomber Command, losses were one in two. The French Squadrons themselves lost 216, comprising of 41 crews plus those killed on training, exercise and bomb loading. After hostilities had ceased, and patrolling missions ended, these two French Squadrons left Elvington in October 1945, for Bordeaux, Mérignac, with their Halifax bombers, to form the basis of the new, and current, French Air Force.

www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

Dakota Flypast To Honour Veterans

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota will be flying across the RAF Museum to honour the Veterans gathered from all three services.On the 13th of May the Royal Air Force Museum is inviting Veterans of all three Services to join as one to celebrate Veterans’ Day. During this special reunion, hosted by the Museum staff, the veterans will be treated to a full day of events and activities including talks, special films screenings and tours.

The event will be marked by a flypast of a genuine wartime Dakota, as flown by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The aircraft will arrive over the skies of the Museum, from a northerly direction at 1500hrs.

Also as a special treat, there is a FREE programme of music by The Jive Aces swing band from underneath the Lancaster (at 1130 and 1400hrs).

The Bomber Command Association will be supporting the event and will be holding a special raffle. There will also be exhibition stands by The RAF Benevolent Fund Enterprises and The Royal British Legion.

Every year this exclusive day gives Veterans the chance to catch up with each other, reminisce over shared experiences and enjoy themselves in the authentic atmosphere and surroundings of the Royal Air Force Museum. The annual event usually attracts over 500 veterans and with Service men and women joining in from across the country, it is set to be a truly memorable and sentimental gathering.

… AND IT’S ALL FREE

· Please note that this is a private event for the Veterans and their guests

· Veterans’ day will be celebrated at the Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL

· Entrance is free to all Veterans of the three services and guests

· Veterans wishing to register for the day should call the Museum on: 0208 358 4849

Old Comrades Unveil Tribute To Old Friends

On Wednesday 13th May members of the ‘601 Squadron Old Comrades Association’ will unveil a memorial plaque at the RAF Museum (formerly RAF Hendon), to recognise the long standing association between the two units.Prior to the Museum opening in 1972, the site was an active RAF station and home to amongst others, 601 (County of London) Squadron for a total of fifteen years. The sculpture celebrates the historic association of RAF Hendon and 601 Squadron as well as the bravery of its personnel and their importance to London.

601 Squadron was RAF Hendon’s longest serving squadron it also had the honour of being recognized as ‘the County of London’ Squadron. It fought in many theatres across WWII notably in North Africa and Italy. The squadron was also active in the Battle of Britain and the defence of London.

Aircraft flown by the squadron include Hawker Harts, Hurricanes and Spitfires. Nicknamed ‘the Millionaire Squadron’, its ranks include renowned pilots such as Roger Bushell (the driving force behind the Stalag Luft III ‘Great Escape’), Max Aitken, Stanislaw Skalski (Polish veteran of the Battles of France and Britain) and the legendary American, Billy Fiske whose Bentley will also be on display during the day.

The sculpture was designed by Sam Bofey and is being installed in the grounds of the Museum. 1.5 metres in height, it is represents the squadron’s crest with a bronze cast sword and wings resplendent on a plinth of stainless steel.

The unveiling ceremony will be attended by members of the squadron’s ‘Old Comrades Association’ with Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen (Head of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force) as lead speaker. The Deputy Mayor will also be speaking and representing the squadron’s long standing relationship with the city of London. Other notable attendees include Squadron Leader Iveson DFC of the Bomber Command Association and Jack Riddle, a squadron pilot during the Battle of Britain.

http://www.rafmuseum.org/

Regional Development and Tourism Organisations Join Forces to Celebrate Centenary of Britains First Airshow

Following a Yorkshire Air Museum initiative, Doncaster Racecourse, Yorkshire Forward, and Welcome To Yorkshire have joined forces with the Museum to mark the Centenary of Britain’s first ever air show. An Education & Skills Day, exhibition and Edwardian Race Day event will celebrate this unique aspect of Yorkshire’s pioneering aviation heritage. This will take place on 2nd & 3rd July at the superbly redeveloped Doncaster Racecourse.Together with regional Business & Education Partnerships, we will be putting on a series of workshops that will reflect and celebrate Yorkshire & Humberside’s aviation and aerospace achievements and stimulate creativity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

Support from Yorkshire Forward has turned this concept into a reality and Yorkshire Air Museum will provide educational resource publications, Living History interpreters, archive film screenings, interactive displays, vehicles and artefacts, along with the provision of an exhibition detailing the colourful history of the intrepid airmen and their weird machines at this unique event at Doncaster. The Museum will also display its historic Wright Flyer, similar to those flown 100 years ago.

The two facets of the event will be the Education & Skills Day, on Thursday 2nd July, followed on Friday 3rd July by the public ‘Edwardian’ Race Day, with the exhibition providing an additional visitor attraction to the day’s horse racing.

Ian Reed, Museum Director, said: “Britain is the world’s second largest aerospace manufacturer. Aerospace is vital to our national economy and the idea behind this event is to create an annual skills opportunity showcase and celebration of Yorkshire’s incredible aviation heritage. Doncaster Racecourse provides a fantastic background to bring together various aviation industry organisations and education providers and create a new and exciting event that we hope will become an established part of the Yorkshire tourism calendar.”

New Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive, Gary Verity, offers his support:

“One hundred years ago Yorkshire made aeronautical history on the world stage. Today we are aiming for global recognition of Yorkshire as a major visitor destination. Attractions such as Yorkshire Air Museum and Doncaster Racecourse play a crucial role in enhancing the region’s tourism offer. Let me offer our best wishes for a successful summer that brings explorers, aviators and visitors alike from across the world to enjoy a raft of warm Yorkshire welcomes.”

www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

RAF REPRINTS TREASURES

The Royal Air Force Museum and the RAF’s Air Historical Branch are opening their treasured archives to a commercial reproduction service in order to make them more accessible to the public. The service will be formally launched at the Museum on Wednesday 11th March 2009.The RAF Museum and the Air Historical Branch, part of the RAF’s Centre for Air Power Studies, have teamed up with specialist printer Military Library Research Service, to provide an on-demand printing service of rarely-seen archive material held in the Museum and RAF collections.

The Museum’s collections consist of documents and reports, many of a strategic and intelligence nature, such as estimates of German strength in 1940; analyses of key operations and technical manuals.

Each document is painstakingly scanned, checked and, only where necessary, retouched for legibility by MLRS experts. They are printed using the latest in publishing technology.

These unique documents were formerly available only to research visitors on site at the Museum in Hendon, North London. They are used by students, archivists, enthusiasts and researchers from backgrounds as diverse as military academies and family historians. Not only is it a burden on the researcher with opening hours limited to the office day, but many of the popular documents are becoming increasingly fragile through frequent request.

The documents are chosen between MLRS Books and the Museum curator to identify the most popular and interesting titles. A proportion of the revenue from the publishing of Museum holdings is returned to the Museum to help fund vital conservation and cataloguing work

For over sixty years, the RAF’s Air Historical Branch has been producing detailed analytical studies of RAF operations and policy. Many of these studies were originally classified and those relating to the Second World War have been widely used by both official and academic historians to underpin their own work. Under the aegis of the RAF Centre for Air Power Studies [RAF CAPS] and in partnership with MLRS, these studies will now be made available to scholars and the wider public for the very first time. Eventually they will cover nearly every campaign that the RAF undertook in the course of the Second World War. Specialist monographs on weaponry, radar and specialist areas such as maintenance and logistics will also be covered. The campaign ‘narratives’ as they are known will also have new introductions written by the Head of the Air Historical Branch and Co-Director of RAF CAPS, Sebastian Cox, who said,

“By making these high quality studies available we believe we are fulfilling the Centre for Air Power Studies remit to foster a deeper understanding of air power.”

Managing Director of MLRS Books, David Westwood, is delighted to have forged the links with the Royal Air Force archives. He said,

“Many important documents will be available to the general public for the first time in a coherent collection. Anyone can now order a book to read at their leisure and to use as a basis for further research.”

The collection currently consists of an inaugural 60 documents but more are being selected and scanned at a rate of up to 30 per quarter.

Selected editions will be available from the Museum shops and website www.rafmuseumshop.com.

The full collection can be viewed and ordered from www.mlrsbooks.co.uk

Nightshoot – Saturday 21st March

In a completely new and exciting occasion, the Yorkshire Air Museum is pleased to announce a public Night photo shoot on Saturday the 21st of March 2009. The event will involve the Handley Page Victor K2 “Lusty Lindy” and the Museum’s Blackburn Buccaneer S2. These Cold War veterans are both kept in immaculate, ground operational condition and during the event both aircraft will be electrically powered up and the external lighting switched on to enable you to experience the unique view of seeing both of these aircraft at night in a “live” condition. This provides a rare and interesting photographic opportunity for the general public and in particular aviation and photographic enthusiasts.

The Victor, which started service as part of the V-Bomber force, but, converted to the refuelling role saw action in both the Falklands and Gulf War theatres, will be trailing its main Hose Drum Unit (HDU) refuelling hose to enable you to view the signalling lights on the rear of the carriage that usually only a pilot would be able to see. The hose will be moved in and out to enable you to view the signalling lights change as the HDU goes from “Stand Off” right through to the “Fuel Flowing” signal. In addition to this the Victor will have its cockpit open to inspection whilst powered up on the afternoon of the event. This level of access is not usually permitted to the Victor and will provide a unique insight into the aircraft, which is fully operational with all systems working as they did when it retired from RAF service over 15 years ago.

The event will be priced at £25 and tickets are available through the museum’s Shop under tickets and donations – see www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk or ring on 01904 608595. This includes admission to the museum, a visit to the Victors cockpit and to experience the view of these two classic British Cold War aircraft at night. All monies raised will be used for buying fuel for these two aircraft to enable them to continue to be run as a living reminder of British design ingenuity and the Cold War for many more years to come. Both these aircraft will be thrilling the public with live engine runs the following month at our Thunder Day event on April 5th.

13:00hrs Victor Cockpit open for inspection/photographs: 17:00hrs Victor Cockpit closes: 17:30hrs Safety Brief in Chapel: 17:45hrs Night Photoshoot begins: 20:00hrs Night Photoshoot ends.

www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

Anniversary of Formation of RAF Regiment

The new TV documentary War Zone, being screened weekly on Channel 5, has sparked public interest in the Royal Air Force Regiment at Yorkshire Air Museum. The exhibition at Elvington is the only RAF Regiment display open to the public in Britain and shows details of the famous regiment, which was formed at Butlin’s Holiday Camp, Filey in 1942. During the war years, the camp operated partly as a holiday camp and also as RAF Hunmanby, with the Air Ministry overseeing the construction of the camp.The exhibition is open every day and amongst many unique exhibits is the Japanese flag from Singapore which was presented to the RAF Regiment who took the Japanese surrender in 1945.

The TV documentary follows the daily lives of RAF Regiment Squadrons in operations in Afghanistan, based at Kandahar airbase, and certainly seems to have captured public interest.

Ian Reed, Museum Director, said: “It is interesting to note that, under Royal Warrant, the RAF Regiment came into being at Filey, North Yorkshire, on 1st February 1942. The HQ later moved to Lincolnshire until 1946 and then back to Catterick, North Yorkshire. Sunday February 1st marks the 67th Anniversary of the formation of the RAF Regiment and it is appropriate that the Yorkshire Air Museum houses this fascinating display, containing some unique memorabilia, on the history and development of the force, not far from its spiritual home.”

Since its formation, the Regiment has served the Royal Air Force with distinction, throughout WWII, seeing active service in North Africa, Middle and Far East, the Mediterranean, Italy and central Europe. This has continued to the present day and the regiment has seen service all over the world, wherever there are airfields, installations or other elements of the RAF to defend. This has included Palestine, Suez, Malaya, Borneo, Aden, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, notably the Falklands, the Gulf and now Iraq and Afghanistan, as seen on our TV screens.

We would like to take this opportunity to appeal for any items of memorabilia that members of the public may wish to donate to us, to enable us to update and refresh the exhibition. In particular, we would welcome pictures from the days of the formation of the RAF Regiment at Filey, as we have not as yet been able to trace an image of this and the site has been demolished (2006).

To highlight the forthcoming anniversary and the existence of this unique RAF Regiment display, Frank Wright, Yorkshire Air Museum volunteer and former RAF Regiment soldier (1952 – 56) and some current serving personnel from 609 (West Riding) Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron, RAF Leeming, who have just completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan, gathered at the Yorkshire Air Museum. 609 Squadron is an Air Defence Support Squadron, comprising of two specialist trades – RAF Regiment Gunnery and Force Protection. (Frank lives in Roberttown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire).

www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

RAF Photo Exhibitions Hot Stuff

The winning images from the Royal Air Force’s Photograph of the Year Competition will be on view to members of the public at the Service’s London Museum from 10th January 2009.Consisting of 12 categories ranging from “The RAF Experience” to “Technical & Engineering”, this exhibition gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of RAF Personnel at work, rest and play both at home and in the field.

The Royal Air Force trains and employs a large number of photographers who deal with day to day technical and operational photography. Their bread and butter is the recording of aircraft and equipment damage, technical manuals, military incidents and accidents, media work and ground intelligence gathering, as well as administrative work such as photos for ID cards. But as photographers, they also get unique access to their service colleagues and equipment and they bring their creative eye to this environment.

With varying categories for professional and amateur photographers, this annual competition gives Service personnel the opportunity to showcase their talents by encapsulating in a single image the strength, character, dignity and humour of the Royal Air Force.

The reward for the successful photographer is the recognition of their talent with the successful photograph selected from all 12 categories as “PR Photograph of the Year” being used in official communications by the Chief of Air Staff, the highest ranking officer of the Royal Air Force.

Striking images range from the Engineering Category’s “Hot Stuff” to the visually stunning studies of nature in the competition’s Open Category, and the playful images of service personnel interacting with local children in Afghanistan. In total over 60 photographs will be on display in the Museum’s Milestones of Flight Gallery until mid April after which the exhibition will then relocate to the Museum’s Cosford site in Shropshire.

Rebecca Dalley, Group Business Development Manager for the Museum and Competition Judge, stated: “I was highly impressed with the standard of photography. I have long thought that the RAF training for photographers is one of the best around and this was confirmed by the excellent submissions to the competition. Knowing that many of the photographers are operating ‘in theatre’, it was great to see that they were able to take the time to prepare their submissions. There were many moving and well-thought-out images and it was a really hard choice to narrow down to few in each category. I was also delighted to see the excellent amateur photographs which were a credit to their originators. ”

Entry to the Royal Air Force Photographer of the Year Exhibition is free; as is entry and parking to the Museum. The exhibition will be shown daily from 10am to 6pm until April 19th. For further details please visit www.rafmuseum.org/whatson or dial 020 8205 2266.

Rosie Winterton MP Wins Charity Champion Award

At a glittering Charity Champions Awards 2008 ceremony at Millbank, Westminster, London, the Rt. Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, won the prestigious Culture & Heritage Award for her support of the Yorkshire Air Museum and Royal Aeronatutical Society’s schools educational publication “Reach for the Sky”.Nominations were made by these and other charities, who wished to acknowledge the support of MPs to their projects and voting was undertaken by all UK MPs.

The new book, which has been carefully designed to fit into the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 and recent government guidelines, was issued free to all 26,000 primary schools in Britain this month. In accepting the award from top celebrity Esther Rantzen at the ceremony, Rosie Winterton said: “It has been a real pleasure to be involved with this worthwhile project which has been undertaken by these two charities.”

Yorkshire Air Museum Director Ian Reed, speaking at the ceremony in London, said they were delighted that Rosie had won the award which demonstrated her real support to the project, which she officially launched in London in June this year.

“We couldn’t have done it without her”, he said. “Aviation is Britain’s second largest manufacturing industry, employing over 260,000 people, and this country remains at the forefront of aerospace design and technology. It is important that this is reflected in the teaching and enthusing of our young children.”

Mr Reed also praised the support of Yorkshire Forward, British Airways, Virgin Galactic and EADS Astrium (European Aerospace Defence & Space Company) in this project.