Research Work
I have carried out (or I am in the process of carrying out) research on the following airmen who served with the squadron:
- DI Jeffery (1945)
If you would like information on a relative who served with the squadron (1916 – 1982), please get in touch and I will do my best to help
Thanks go to the following individuals who provided me with information for inclusion on the website this month:
- Joss Leclercq (POW Liberation Questionnaires)
- Richard Allenby (Casualty Reports)
- Stan Grosvenor (Ephemera belonging to Leslie Thorpe)
I have been advised that Jack Bowey (Chief Technician), who served with the squadron during the late 70s, passed away on 18th November 2019. Details regarding his funeral were not available at the time of publication.
November’s “On this day” series
On 2nd November 1964, No 35 Squadron left Coningsby and moved to Cottesmore, The photograph shows the squadron on a farewell parade through Boston on 19th October 1964.
On 5th November 1940, No. 35 Squadron was reformed at Boscombe Down, tasked with bringing the newly developed Handley Page Halifax into operational service.
On 7th November 1935, No. 35 Squadron started operational sorties from Ed Damer, Sudan as part of its policing role during the Abyssinian Crisis.
On 8th November 1939, No. 35 Squadron took delivery of three Bristol Blenheim, which it used for training purposes, alongside its Fairey Battle, until its disbandment in April 1940.
On 15th November 1998, the 35 Squadron commemorative window at All Saints Church, Offord Cluny was unveiled
On 19th November 1943, FIDO was used for the first time at RAF Graveley to enable four 35 Squadron aircraft to land when the airfield was covered by fog
On 20th November 1940, No 35 Squadron moved from Boscombe Down to RAF Leeming, where it continued with its task of bringing the Handley Page Halifax into operational use
A bomb exploded at RAF Graveley on 25th November 1943, killing three airmen (RC Boak, C Crane and M Shaw) and injuring two others (E Webster and AC Muller)
35 Squadron Crew Memorial (Great Paxton)
I have been advised that the Great Paxton History Society has been granted permission to build a memorial to the crew of Lancaster PB366 which crashed in Great Paxton on Christmas Eve 1944
It now needs to raise the necessary funds (£2,500) and has produced the following flyer which shows how you can donate.
Furthermore, if you are a relative of one of the crew members, or know someone who is, please get in touch via the e-mail address in the flyer.
RAF Graveley Memorial
Further to last month’s article on the Memorial Stone at the former RAF Graveley, I am pleased to advise that the local Parish Council has agreed to take on the role of long term “care and maintenance” and to fund the restoration work on the lettering.
Rev. Peter Taylor, who has cared for the memorial for many years, has been in discussion with the stone mason and has arranged for the lettering to be redone “in situ” during the summer of 2020 (Note: the plaque does not need to be removed as previously thought and therefore the estimated costs are now a lot lower).
I would like to thank Peter for his continued commitment to all things “35 Squadron” related and to the Parish Council for securing the future of the memorial.
Squadron Personnel
Thanks to the following for getting in touch this month and providing a summary of their service with the squadron:
- Roger Turner (1956 – 1958)
- I flew with S/L John Mason as pilot and John Chaloner as Navigator; I was the bomb aimer. When I arrived on the squadron there were few people around, as they were nearly all involved in the Suez war, in Malta or Cyprus. I remember a USAF pilot and Navigator who were quite upset about being unable to participate and I seem to recall an Australian too. As an experienced bomb aimer (2 years on a Canberra squadron in Germany) I was made temporary Wing Bombing Leader and had to send the monthly bombing reports to Group. (Even though there was no activity!) The other squadrons (61 and 50 I believe) were overseas too
- Paul Blackley
- I was a crew chief on 35 Sqn. (1975 to 1981). I had “MY” aircraft for which I held the inventory, it was XL443. If it was due to fly, or had maintenance in progress, I would take care of it, but we would look after whatever aircraft we were needed for. We flew away on rangers on a rota basis with various crews and using whatever aircraft had been allocated for the trip. Once our primary aircraft was airborne, we would look after another aircraft as required. Our principal job was to look after the technical administration and co-ordinate the maintenance required liaising with the various trades. We of course did the external “crew in” checks, see in checks and supervised the aircrew technical debrief on aircraft return.
- Thomas Dignum
- I was an air radar tech from 1975 to 80, mainly servicing the NBS systems; did a trip to Goose bay in the jump seat and did terrain following radar support for aircrew training. Detachment to Malta.
- Mick Smith
- I was a FLM on 35 Sqn on its return from Cyprus to Scampton until 1977. I remember going on a detachment to Shiraz in Iran. Very interesting place.
Scampton Memorial Window
It is understood that a recent article in a national newspaper, suggesting that plans for the memorial window have been scrapped, has resulted in a fall in donations.
Please be advised that the project is still progressing and anyone wishing to donate should visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rafwindow
The site can only be built with help from people like yourself who have an interest in the squadron
If you have any squadron related photographs or documents that could be included in the archive and/or published on the website, or if you have any corrections, comments or information, we would love to hear from you,
