[Tony Gunby]

The funeral service for David will be held at 2.30pm on Monday 24 February 2020 at 2:30pm
Holy Trinity Church, 134 Wycombe Road, Prestwood, Great Missenden, HP16 0HJ

A reception will follow the service at The Bull Inn, High Street Bisham, Marlow, SL7 1RR

 

[Tony Gunby]

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Gordon. Thank you Tony for letting us know.  Although sad at his passing, I will have the great memories of the reunions and Gordon.  For the years that I attended, Gordon was very helpful and introduced me to many of the members! My annual visits  from the USA were the highlight of my year and I will miss Gordon and his dry humor!

Farewell Gordon, you will not be forgotten, your time and effort as Secretary was very much appreciated.

Keep them flying!

Roger Bayford – son of Sgt Cyril Bayford 57 Squadron  –   Lost 1944

[Tony Gunby]

The funeral service for Gordon will be held on Tuesday 27 August 2019 at All Saints’ Church, 52 Old Main Street, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 2RH.  The Service will commence at 11.30 am.  A Committal Service for family only will follow.

[Tony Gunby]

Ray’s ashes will be scattered at East Kirkby on Saturday 6 July 2019 at 11.00am. Should any friends and former colleagues wish to attend, they would be most welcome.

[Tony Gunby]

The Association has received the following details about Raymond’s funeral:

The Service is to be a Celebration of his Life on 1 May 2019 at 2pm at Southampton Crematorium, East Chapel,
Bassett Green Road, Southampton SO16 3NF

It was Raymond’s request that those attending wear bright colours.  Refreshments will follow the Service at Vellan Court, Porlock Road, Millbrook, Southampton SO16 9JG

[Tony Gunby]

A funeral service for Ted will be held at 12.30pm on Tuesday 26 March at St Columb Major Church, followed by cremation at Penmount Crematorium, Truro.  A Passing On gathering will follow at The Victoria Inn in Roche.

[Tony Gunby]

A funeral service for Chris will be held at 1045 on Wednesday 19 December 2019, at the Crematorium, Norse Road Cemetery, 100-104 Norse Road, Bedford MK41 0RL

The family has asked for no flowers, but would be happy for any donations to be made to the 57/630 Squadrons Association

[Tony Gunby]

A photo has recently been posted to Facebook which shows 57 Squadron aircrew and groundcrew at RAF Tengah in September/October 1964 – same place, same squadron, 14 years later and now equipped with the Victor.

 

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Tony Gunby.

[Tony Gunby]

A copy of the obituary from The Times is available here

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Tony Gunby.

[Tony Gunby]

Steve pays his own moving tribute to Maureen in this moving video

[Tony Gunby]

I was fortunate to be in London just a couple of weeks after the Memorial was unveiled.  It  was part of my planned vacation from the USA and I was not disappointed.  At long last a real memorial for Bomber Command.

I stood in front of the memorial transfixed by the wonderful sculptures of the crew members. It was as if I had stepped back in time and could see a real Lancaster crew standing there. It was a memorable visit and one I will not forget.

At long last Bomber Command has its own memorial.  A fitting tribute to all those that served and those that gave their lives in service of their country.

I hope to visit it again on my next trip back to the UK

Roger Bayford,       (Sgt Cyril Bayford  – Lancaster DX-H Lost Harburg  11-11-1944)

[Tony Gunby]

I believe six 57 Sqdn. aircraft took part. I see George Worrall had TACAN problems; I remember several issues including condensation in the aerial connections.

I find it interesting that a Wg. Cdr. Worrall was the captain of the 543 Sqdn. Victor SR2. Is Ft Lt George Worrall related?

[Tony Gunby]

Thanks for the story Roger!  George Worrall was a nav plotter with 57 Sqn who flew on the Air Race.  He gives an aircrew insight into the operation in the 57 Squadron archives page here (at the end of the page)

 

 

[Tony Gunby]

Originally posted on 8 December 2013 by Bruce McTrowe

In response to the query re The totem pole.It is amodel approx. 15 inches high presented to 426 Thunderbird Sqdn. RCAF. The Squadron Adjutant contacted a friend, Tony Lascelles who was field naturalist in Banff National Park.He could not supply a coloured picture, but sent some brochures and had the model totem pole carved. All of this info is in the book Thunderbirds at War by Laurence Motiuk. This Squadron flew Wellingtons, Halifaxes, and Lancasters. I have a framed copy of the original squadron badge. The motto was also proposed by Tony Lascelles; On Wings of Fire. Tony’s son was a good friend of my Dad’s. My Dad was on 57 Sqdn. Bruce McTrowe

[Tony Gunby]

Some time ago, Association Member Bruce McTrowe followed up on his post of 8 December 2013 (see below this post) with some more information about the totem pole:

Hi Tony, this is a framed print I have of the 426 Squadron Badge. The following is the history of how I came to have this. Tony Lascelles was a neighbour of ours in Banff when I was growing up. My Dad told me the connection between him and the Squadron Badge. A few years ago another friend of my Dad’s told me about the book “Thunderbirds At War”. Reading it jogged my memory about the connection. When Tony’s son passed away another friend was executor of the estate. Going through papers he came across the letters and a print of the badge. He sent the original to 426 Squadron and made a copy for me. If you can find a copy of the book it is a good read. The author is Laurence Motiuk who was, and still might be, President of 426 Squadron Association. Reading the memorial section Cheryl and I were saddened to read about the passing of Lady Jess Broom and Buck Buckley. We met them at the reunions. At our first reunion Mervyn Davies said we were to meet a Lord and Lady, Sir Ivor & Lady Jess. What a treat!! Very nice folks. I had a copy of Clean Sweep and Sir Ivor signed it for me and I had my pic taken with him. We met Buck and his wife Kath and they became good friends. I have an account written by Joe Sherriff of Buck; Joe was also in 57 Squadron. He lived in Calgary and I met him and kept in touch with him. He passed on a few years ago and I went to his service not only as a friend but to represent 57/630. The list goes on of friends we met at the reunions but it gets shorter every year. We still have fond memories of the reunions and still do keep in touch with a few. My Dad, Arnold was a Mid Upper Gunner on 57 Squadron. His pilot was Phil Ainley. We have a maple tree and plaque in his memory at East Kirkby.

This is the Canadian Bomber Command Clasp and ribbon with a pic of my Dad – Arnold – at East Kirkby in August1944. He had just turned 21 in July and celebrated at The Red Lion at East Kirkby.

Cheers, Bruce

• This reply was modified 7 years, 6 months ago by Tony Gunby.

[Author]

Posts