Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

 

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[2001 - 2002]  [2003]  [2004] [2005] [2006][2007][2008][2009]

Guest Book 2010


E-mail:  joumal<AT>ozemail.com.au
Date:  28 Dec 2009
Time:  04:38

Comment

What a great site, I came on to Check out 652 Air O P Squadron 2nd Tactical Air Force, in Detmold West Germany, And saw another ex Airman who had been to Detmold after I had left, We are now keeping in touch, Hope to find more Ex RAF that were in Detmold 1953 to 1955,


E-mail:  this_old_man<AT>hotmail.co.uk
Date:  29 Dec 2009
Time:  11:48

Comment

I was just having a look at the Squadron history page for 511 Squadron, on which I served as a rigger from 1957-1960 at Colerne.

The squadron motto is "Surely and Quickly" However, I notice that your badge shows the motto as "Surley and Quickly" (note from webmaster - corrected)

We were not always happy, but I don't think we could ever be described as surley!

The groundcrews were a great bunch during my time there, and after 50 years I'm still in frequent contact with Bryan "Sammy" Samuels, and John "Joe" Stafford. I saw Sam just a few weeks ago, and met Joe last year when he was on a visit from his home in Australia.

If anybody else recognises any of us, please feel free to get in touch. We'd love to expand our small group.

My e-mail address is this_old_man@hotmail.co.uk, but the box below desn't want to accept it. I will leave out the underscores and see what happens.

Dennis "Willy" Williams.


E-mail:  gordonhar<AT>googlemail.com
Date:  2 Jan 2010
Time:  13:18

Comment

I am trying to find out more details of my wife's uncle Sgt Eric Moon, he was air crew based at Worthy Down, Feb 2nd 1937. I have a 5 by 7 photo of a Coming of Age Dinner taken in the Sgt's Mess. I have his last letter to his mother dated Oct 1st 1937, between this date and a letter I have from Worthy Down dated Dec 14th 1937, I believe his bomber crashed en route to Leuchers.35 Bomber Sqd.


E-mail:  fsuther<AT>telus.net
Date:  2 Jan 2010
Time:  15:37

Comment

Great site: I served in the RAF and at Seletar in 1950 at #32? M.U. Joined the Pipe Band there and had a great time with them. A.Comm Opie, at that time, was I believe the CinC Far East. Sgt. Ian Muray was the " pipie " at that time. Have encounter only one x-member in all these years a James Pirie also of Aberdeen.


E-mail:  irenek62<AT>hotmail.com
Date:  2 Jan 2010
Time:  14:48

Comment

My brother Ernest Brown was a warrant office in the Royal Air Force during World War II and flew Arab dignitaries to the middle east. Don't know his squadron but would like any information or photos of him.   Regards Irene Knox (nee Brown)


E-mail:  francespawley1<AT>btinternet.com
Date:  4 Jan 2010
Time:  10:45

Comment

I am trying to find out details of War Dogs.  During World War II my mother in law read a newspaper ad asking for Alsatian dogs to be trained and deployed for the War effort.  She let both of her dogs go. I should like to see a copy of this advert if possible and details of the training and areas such dogs were sent to.

Frances Pawley

Author.


E-mail:  hayley.lee<AT>hillarys.co.uk
Date:  7 Jan 2010
Time:  12:21

Comment

This website is amazing I have been looking for my Uncle Harry Stapleton for at least 2 yrs when my husband started my family tree.

Malcolm Barrass has given me the information that I desperately needed and to understand what actually happened and I have emailed him again, need to know dates etc if he has them available

But thanks many times again, this website is fantastic and so is Malcolm Barrass


E-mail:  r.chilton<AT>talktalk.net
Date:  7 Jan 2010
Time:  15:41

Comment

My name is Robert Chilton SAC 1964 I worked for Sir Roland & Lady Lees at air house in Germany, I have B/W photos of them and with HRH Princes Margaret and HRH Prince Philip a  long time ago. I’ve got many happy thoughts of Air House

Yours Fraternally Bob Chilton

Ps i also remember a Sqn Ld Lees and  a little boy and girl and daughter came over from oz


E-mail:  tessy<AT>ozemail.com.au
Date:  9 Jan 2010
Time:  03:10

Comment

I was an armourer on 73 Sqdn in Cyprus 1957 / 59.

Lived in Billet 86 with some great guys.

Sent home casevac for knee replacements.

After 4 years left and lived in Warrington until 1965 then my wife and 2 boys came to Adelaide Australia for 10 quid, best move I ever made.

Am 71 now and not too bad, just love my computers.

Keep on keeping on

Ray Walker.


E-mail:  www.keithkarren.com
Date:  9 Jan 2010
Time:  15:47

Comment

My Father, John Brown, was stationed at the RAF Manston base in 1942, most likely with the 174 Hurricane Squadron, though I am not positive of that. I do know he was there in the fall of 1942. He was on a ground crew. I went to Canada when I was 3, so I know very little about him. Does this name sound familiar to anyone?

Keith John Karren


E-mail:  js.white@ntlworld.com
Date:  10 Jan 2010
Time:  13:17

Comment

Does anyone remember RAF recruits from Jamaica during the ww2? I am searching for surname O'Connor (known as Aki?) who may have been a baker on the RAF station. He'd have been probably in his 20's.

Anyone who may have any tiny bit of info please email me, I have been searching for a long time & I do realise that this man may no longer be alive or may have gone back to Jamaica.

Regards

Sheila


E-mail:  i.body<AT>sky.com
Date:  10 Jan 2010
Time:  18:36

Comment

Hello to everyone and a happy 2010. I am still looking for anyone of my age who was at RAF Ismailia in 1937/8. My age then was 4/5 years old. My email address is now i.body@sky.com


E-mail:  fsuther<AT>telus.net
Date:  12 Jan 2010
Time:  03:15

Comment

A walk down memory lane for many I am sure. I have not ventured too far into the innards of your site yet, am savoring the trip in. So far it is excellent for me.

Thanks for all you have, and are, doing

sincerely

Frank Sutherland


E-mail:  info<AT>4data.ca
Date:  12 Jan 2010
Time:  20:10

Comment

We have visited your website. We liked it very much. Keep up the good work.

Thanks

www.4data.ca


E-mail:  gde271<AT>sky.com
Date:  14 Jan 2010
Time:  18:25

Comment

cant find any old bods fromm cleehill!! shurley their must be some one out there? period 1948  ex gra


E-mail:  jbish21<AT>ntlworld.com
Date:  15 Jan 2010
Time:  10:34

Comment

A brilliant site with  so much information I keep coming back for more. Thanks John Bishop


E-mail:  gschilir<AT>msn.com
Date:  18 Jan 2010
Time:  18:01

Comment

I'm looking for 126th Sq fighting on 5th July 1943 escorting USAF bombers over Sicily.  This would permit to me reconstruction of air combat among Italian/German aircrafts versus British/American fighter. They fought over my head for about 15 minutes and I remember everything like a film seen yesterday. I was 5 years old! Many thanks for useful indication on this subject. Gaetano SCHILIRO - Roma – ITALIA


E-mail:  bwfoord<AT>yahoo.co.uk
Date:  21 Jan 2010
Time:  20:41

Comment

I was one of Lord Trenchard’s brats at RAF Halton when i discovered via the guard room that they had police dogs mi immediately asked for a transfer to the RAF Police in 1959.  It took 6 months to convince the powers to be that that was what I wanted I never looked back.  Did my training at RAF Netheravon.684242 Cpl Brian W Foord RAFP dog handler. Demob in 1964.loved every day of my service


E-mail:  carolinepepler<AT>btinternet.com
Date:  24 Jan 2010
Time:  14:25

Comment

Thank you for your detailed entry on my father Air Commodore Roland Eugene de Trevieres Vintras


E-mail:  delfina24<AT>hotmail.co.uk
Date:  24 Jan 2010
Time:  15:08

Comment

Great Site,

I'm looking for anyone who remembers Albert Pickard, My father in law was an LAC in India from 1942 -1945 and worked on Mosquitoes mainly, his memory is not what is was and we are trying to find more on his life from this time. thank you


E-mail:  susankirkweaver<AT>hotmail.com
Date:  26 Jan 2010
Time:  20:14

Comment

Hi, I'm looking for anyone who was friends with my Dad who served in the RAF until 1973.

Ken Kirk - Mental Nurse

Served at Halton, Wegberg, Nocton, Akrotiri etc

Married to Eileen and while in the RAF had three children: Carol, Susan and Michael.  (Fourth child James born in civy street

Thank-you


E-mail:  copping.lynne@gmail.com
Date:  28 Jan 2010
Time:  04:39

Comment

My father was a 19 year old glider pilot on 669 Sqn in India in 1945 (after he had flown into Arnhem) and I was a WRAF at RAF Wildenrath when I met my husband who was an army helicopter engineer on 669 Sqn AAC.


E-mail:  angie<AT>jackson99.plus.com
Date:  28 Jan 2010
Time:  06:36

Comment

I'm researching my family tree and decided to look up 422 Squadron as my father's cousin, John Courtney Seely was killed in action 24/5/1944. What a lucky find this website was! To my delight, I found a photo of him (the first I'd seen) and details of his service - it was very moving to read about him. I was particularly interested to read an entry about him by "Alistair Cameron, UK". He talks about John's kid brother, David, who I knew nothing of. It would be wonderful to find out when this was posted and whether Alistair Cameron is around to provide more information about the Seely family - they emigrated to Canada in 1928 and it is difficult finding out about their life.

Thank you for a wonderful web site


E-mail:  doedobrd<AT>aol.com
Date:  28 Jan 2010
Time:  22:18

Comment

Master Signaller Singleton on 10 Squadron based at Lubeck during the Berlin Airlift wrote an ode to the Air Lift. I lost my copy during many moves and wonder if any ex 10 Squadron crews have a copy or anyone else.


E-mail:  jamespeter9<AT>gmail.com
Date:  30 Jan 2010
Time:  03:03

Comment

My name is James Peter, a male born on 04 August 1945 at Walton-on-Thames, London.

I am looking for mention of my father Leonid Piotrowski, a  Polish Pilot, who was a Bomber Pilot in the RAF during World War 2. He went missing or was killed in action some time in 1945, but I have no further information.  I am the only child of Elaine Peter, born Elaine Anderson on 23 December 1912 at Klerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa.

My Mother spent 11 years in Britain, first in Dublin, where she trained as a Nurse at Trinity College. She spent much or all of World War 2 in and near London, England, where she worked as an Emergency Services Nurse. My Mother and I returned to South Africa in 1947.   My father was a Polish Pilot, who joined the RAF during World War 2 possibly as a refugee from the Polish Air Force. I believe his full name may be Leonid Piotrowski, and that he  was nicknamed John Piotrowski in his time with the RAF in England. His names may be spelt differently, Leonid shortened to Leo or Theo.

The ink longhand in the few of my mother's and other letters I have is unclear, and show emotion and some travail.  I have one 1944-5 wartime black and white photograph of my father, in a RAF Uniform with Wings and a Bar Medal. It shows a strong likeness between my father and I. My Mum mentions considering marriage to Theo Piotrowski in a letter dated 22 December 1944, but that there were concerns.  My mother later told me that prior to my birth in England, she had changed her name by Deed Poll from Elaine Anderson to Elaine Peter.  I have the above mentioned Photograph of my father in an RAF Uniform, given to me by my mother, also my original birth certificate, and some 1944 and 1945 family letters mentioning him.  Together with my children and other family, I will be most grateful for any help or encouragement in looking for any listing or Wartime record of my father.

James (Jim) Peter.


E-mail:  stevenperry47<AT>aol.com
Date:  31 Jan 2010
Time:  22:30

Comment

This is of interest to me in view of the fact that my father, Norman D. Perry; who died 31/3/2008 served on the PR survey of British East Africa in 1948 as part of his RAF service, serving time as aircraft fitter particularly on the Lancaster unit.  Any references to himself in connection with this or any surviving members are welcome to contact me in due course.  I believe his section commander was a man named Ted Nutt (possibly Knutt, with an Avro Anson somehow involved.) He is still survived by his wife of 59 years (Betty) living in the Barry area of S. Wales and would like to know if there are any other contacts, photographs from the 1948 period of 82PR as a matter of course.

Thanks for any further recollections.

Steve M.Perry (son).


E-mail:  jim<AT>westwell.info
Date:  3 Feb 2010
Time:  17:33

Comment

very interesting site, couldn't find my sqdn 88 but a lot of work done all for the good, lets not forget. Jim Westwell x 88 sqdn


E-mail:  teresa.koch<AT>nellis.af.mil
Date:  3 Feb 2010
Time:  23:13

Comment

Fanstastic and imformative site. This has helped my research on a art project for your fellow RAF pilots and AWC to be taught.


E-mail:  arlin<AT>weingold.net
Date:  3 Feb 2010
Time:  23:42

Comment

Seeking information on my late uncle

Reginald Francis Sutherland who served in the RAF with a training Air Squadron based in Miami, Oklahoma during the early 1940's.

Any information will be appreciated.

Arlin Weingold


E-mail:  spoinekop<AT>hotmail.com
Date:  9 Feb 2010
Time:  00:49

Comment

William James Johnson JP. Melbourne, Victoria 3136, Australia. I am researching my family tree. My late father was awarded the Military Medal. James Laurence Johnson. Leading Aircraftman(512955)Military Medal awarded as per London Gazette dated 11May 1937 in Coronation Honours for valuable services rended in connection with the operations in Palestine during the period April to October 1936. I looked at your list of MM receivers. Very informative web site.

regards

William James Johnson.


E-mail:  peter.bell<AT>maitlandqs.com
Date:  9 Feb 2010
Time:  22:11

Comment

Very interested in your site, My Uncle was killed 10th Aug 1940, and I would like to find out more details

Peter Bell


E-mail:  monicaj.martinovich<AT>bigpond.com
Date:  9 Feb 2010
Time:  22:13

Comment

An extremely interesting site.  I am doing some family research, and I would be interested to hear from anyone who knew my father ERIC CLAUD SMITH. He joined 6000 squadron in 1939 just before WW11 began.  He was a gunner, shot down and eventually became a pilot.

Monica Martinovich - Perth, Western Australia


E-mail:  i.body<AT>sky.com
Date:  11 Feb 2010
Time:  11:47

Comment

My email is now i.body<AT>ky.com.

Hi. We were in Egypt with my DAD at Ismailia RAF camp in 1937/8. I was only 4/5 years old, but I can remember so much about it. I wondered if anyone had any photos of the camp. We have some but they are of us outside the camp school or Bungalow etc.

Thanks Ivor Body.


E-mail:  joemel12<AT>active8.net.au
Date:  13 Feb 2010
Time:  09:02

Comment

I am trying to find more information w.o. Jack Edward Woody of 131 squadron shot down over Morlaix, France,7 june 1944, flying a spitfire. If anyone knew him or knows more information I would be very greatful. (Deseased)thankyou.   Melissa Penfold,  Australia


E-mail:  michael.fonfe<AT>talktalk.net
Date:  13 Feb 2010
Time:  22:48

Comment

2890, along with 2729 Squadrons are unique in that they are the only two WWII squadron number plates to have been reactivated for the Cold War as part of the RAuxAF Regiment. 2890 was reformed at RAF Waddington as an additional ex-Argentine Oerlikon twin 35mm all weather air defence unit with Swiss Skyguard radars and assigned to defend nearby RAF Conningsby. Both squadrons, being assigned for 'Home defence' also very successfully fielded female gunners in all operational duties on both the guns and the radars. When the Cold war ended, 2890 was disbanded at Waddington in 1993. Its radars, however serve on as electronic warfare target simulators as a large number of Middle Eastern countries still field the system.


E-mail:  hillandale<AT>talktalk.net
Date:  14 Feb 2010
Time:  19:39

Comment

Thank you for this web site.   Norman Coslett was, by marriage, by Great-Uncle, and I am very sorry I never met him or his wife Audrey.  I am doing my family history and information on the Garrett side, Lady Coslett was a Garrett, is slim so this information will be of great interest to the family.


E-mail:  carl<AT>acs.co.uk
Date:  12 Feb 2010
Time:  12:01

Comment

Very informative site, thanks!!

Carl

http://www.angelcomputerservices.co.uk


E-mail:  jegc<AT>hotmail.co.uk
Date:  20 Feb 2010
Time:  15:37

Comment

I am typing my grandfather's memoirs who served in the RAF during WWII.  Your site has proved to be a valuable source of information and confirmation. 

If anyone has memories of him - Henry Michael Gordon Clark - who served at Atcham, Stradishall, Chedburgh and at 1 Dorset Square, London, I would be grateful.

Many thanks

Jane Gordon Clark


E-mail:  jfambrose<AT>btinternet.com
Date:  24 Feb 2010
Time:  16:24

Comment

Just a quickie

A friend referred me to this site. My dad was Poppa Ambrose 2 TAF during and after 1944 in various places and we lived in Germany in Jever in the early 60s.

Strange seeing all the stations and station commander's names some of whom I met: JE Johnson; Colin Coulthard, Billie Pettifer (Gatow)my brother's godfather, Donaldson and no doubt a few I can't remember at the moment. Must revisit the site sometime.

 Thanks for the memory

 James Ambrose (ex RAF 1988-1992)


E-mail:  phillb1<AT>keme.co.uk
Date:  26 Feb 2010
Time:  08:47

Comment

Very interesting site, I hope you are able to continue to build up the information.  As a member of the Methwold History Group and an ex ATC member I have a project on the go to build an archive of material about our local Airfield which was only operational for a few years but was the base for several aircrew who were awarded medals during WWII.

I should like to hear from anyone who has information or materials concerning either the airfield or Squadrons based at it.  Of particular intrest would be information or stories about individuals who operated or were stationed here.

As we build our archive we are happy to share the information with the site owner.

Regards

Phill Barnes


E-mail:  registrar<AT>lawsfamilyregister.org.uk
Date:  28 Feb 2010
Time:  20:29

Comment

Hi

Great site, came on looking for details of death of William John LAW (RAF Pilot Officer 1531252 RAF Coningsby) I run a One-Name study called Laws Family Register see our website www.lawsfamilyregister.org.uk I am a member of GOONS guild of One-Name Studies www.one-name.org


E-mail:  doveandhawk<AT>eircom.net
Date:  10 Mar 2010
Time:  15:12

Comment

Trying to locate a Bill Ramsey(or Ramsay) who served with the RAF in Malta in the late 50's.  I was in boarding school at the time and we were penpals.  Would love to know what happened to him.  My name then was Mary McHale from Ireland, maybe someone might know him.  Thanks for this opportunity to try and find him


E-mail:  eileen.brooks<AT>tiscali.com.uk
Date:  12 Mar 2010
Time:  19:00

Comment

Trevor Evans AFC WO1 flew in the short bros Sunderland, he was a quiet man yet his eyes would light up then sadden "I lost good friends in that ship, but it was a good, un" He died leaving all his medals to my son.  I’m ex army but he was the hero.    Gary Brooks


E-mail:  dave.fokkema<AT>tiscali.nl
Date:  14 Mar 2010
Time:  02:33

Comment

I'm tracking Christine (she was a nurse and in that days her dad passed away end she was transferred to the Persian Golf) of/and Ireen, I met this girls in the period 1965/1966 on the RAF base of Kinloss.

My name is Dave and in those days I was radio wireless operator on board of the S2PH Neptune from de Dutch Navy.

Hopely is there any one who still recognize this girls/womans with greetings Dave

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