<br />
Royal Air Force<br />
Memorial Flight<br />
Official Club<br />
YEARBOOK 2019<br />
Anniversary<br />
Issue<br />
ExclusivelyforMembers £7.50<br />
<br />
Welcome to the<br />
RAF Memorial Flight O cial Club<br />
Yearbook 2019<br />
R `Over the moon': BBMF D-Day veteran Spit re Mk Vb AB910, photographed during the<br />
2018 display season by O cial Club member Viv Porteus, apparently looping over the moon.<br />
(Photo: Viv Porteus)<br />
YEARBOOK 2019 RAF MEMORIAL FLIGHT OFFICIAL CLUB 3<br />
Foreword<br />
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC<br />
Military historian, medal<br />
collector and philanthropist<br />
I feel enormously privileged to have been asked<br />
to write this foreword because my passion for<br />
the military, <a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 1" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=1"> Royal Air Force Memorial Flight Official Club YEARB</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 2" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=2"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 3" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=3"> Welcome to the RAF Memorial Flight O cial Club Y</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 4" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=4"> Foreword Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC Military historian</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 5" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=5"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 6" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=6"> Introduction Squadron Leader Mark `Disco' Discomb</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 7" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=7"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 8" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=8"> Contents 37 | 10 | Veteran's Viewpoint – </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 9" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=9"> Spit re PR Mk XIX PM631 will be ying again in </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 10" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=10"> Veteran's Viewpoint Wing Commander John Bell MBE </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 11" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=11"> John Bell “We were particularly close as a crew. </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 12" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=12"> When I tell people I was in 617 Squadron the </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 13" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=13"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 14" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=14"> `Lest we forget' D-Day: The RAF on Omaha Beach </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 15" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=15"> `Bloody Omaha' `Bloody Omaha', as it became known</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 16" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=16"> mostly with Sten guns, some with only pistols. Th</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 17" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=17"> V This famous Robert Capa photo of US assault tro</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 18" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=18"> ̏Of the RAF personnel who went ashore on 6t</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 19" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=19"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 20" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=20"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 21" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=21"> Facts & figures On Tuesday 6th June 1944 the grea</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 22" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=22"> Air supremacy The outstanding feature of D-Day an</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 23" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=23"> P American D-Day casualties on Omaha Beach. (Phot</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 24" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=24"> D-Day invasion stripes On D-Day, 6th June 1944, t</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 25" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=25"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 26" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=26"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 27" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=27"> D-Day for `Kwicherbichen' and the Dakotas of 233 </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 28" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=28"> overhead that night did not know that this was D-</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 29" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=29"> R `Kwicherbichen' and Dakotas of 233 Sqn on Opera</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 30" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=30"> R A C-47 Dakota towing a troop-carrying glider o </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 31" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=31"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 32" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=32"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 33" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=33"> the remainder of the war as POWs, along with one </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 34" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=34"> Daks over Normandy To mark the 75th anniversary </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 35" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=35"> YEARBOOK 2019 Commemoration 6th June 1944 is wit</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 36" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=36"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 37" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=37"> BBMF's D-Day Veteran Spit res W Spit re Mk </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 38" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=38"> At 10:25 on 14th June 1944 Spit re Mk IX MK356 sk</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 39" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=39"> Spit re Mk Vb AB910 The full story of Spitfire Mk </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 40" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=40"> Spit re Mk IX MK356 Spitfire MK356 was part of a b</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 41" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=41"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 42" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=42"> R On the afternoon of 7th June 1944, D-Day+1, Spi</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 43" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=43"> YEARBOOK 2019 </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 44" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=44"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 45" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=45"> D-Day On D-Day, 6th June 1944, Gordon Ockenden an</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 46" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=46"> P A group of 18 of the original 24 Canadian pilot</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 47" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=47"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 48" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=48"> U BBMF Hurricane Mk II LF363 has been returned to</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 49" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=49"> The Wasp is back! Many readers will know that for</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 50" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=50"> Arthur Clowes There is an enduring myth that all </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 51" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=51"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 52" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=52"> Lancaster display from the cockpit Flight Lieuten</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 53" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=53"> R Flt Lt Neil `Faz' Farrell. (Photo: Lisa Harding</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 54" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=54"> Navigator: “Display brief.” Captain: “It will be </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 55" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=55"> R The Lancaster crew all hard at work in the cock</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 56" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=56"> Flight Engineer: ”Gear up.” Captain: “Above 120 k</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 57" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=57"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 58" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=58"> U The iconic BBMF three-ship formation – Lancaste</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 59" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=59"> YEARBOOK 2019 </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 60" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=60"> 60 Remembering Jimmy Whalen R Jimmy Whalen, smi</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 61" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=61"> R BBMF Hurricane Mk IIC PZ865 has represented Jim</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 62" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=62"> R This previously unpublished photo shows a tent </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 63" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=63"> R BBMF Hurricane Mk IIC PZ865 in Jimmy Whalen's 3</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 64" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=64"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 65" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=65"> `Doodlebug' Days S eventy- v</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 66" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=66"> R Cross-sectional drawing of a V1 from a wartime </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 67" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=67"> R This picture encapsulates the individual human </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 68" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=68"> This persuaded the Germans to shorten the flight t</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 69" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=69"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 70" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=70"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 71" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=71"> possess certain special qualities, not least dete</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 72" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=72"> R Flt Lt `Johnny' Johnson ew Spit re XIVs with 9</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 73" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=73"> R Fg O Ken Collier RAAF of 91 Sqn was one of tho</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 74" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=74"> Paying the ultimate price The fighter pilots and c</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 75" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=75"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 76" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=76"> BBMF Team 2019 BBMF Aircrew There are only two fu</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 77" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=77"> composition of the BBMF Support Cell, with Sergea</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 78" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=78"> Keeping 'em ying New radios for the BBMF aircraft</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 79" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=79"> closer together, but there is the need for many o</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 80" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=80"> Limited designed the modification for the Flight's</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 81" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=81"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 82" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=82"> Grateful thanks to the following individ</a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 83" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=83"> </a>
<a title="2019 BBMF Yearbook page 84" href="https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/492151e2?page=84"> BBMF Contact Information For details and news </a>