The BBMF held its annual veterans’ tea party in the Flight’s hangar on Wednesday 9th July, a date close to that when the BBMF was first formed as the Historic Aircraft Flight, on 11th July 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill.
The event was attended by the full-time BBMF personnel, many of the BBMF volunteer guides and no fewer than 13 veterans who served during the Second World War, covering all three services, the youngest of whom was 97 and the oldest 103. Four of the veterans were supported by Blind Veterans UK and five of the veterans had not been to the BBMF before. Surrounded by the BBMF historic aircraft in a setting like no other, everyone very much enjoyed chatting, especially with the veterans, and tucking into the marvellous spread that was paid for entirely by Club funds. The veterans clearly also enjoyed the occasion and the attention. Those present included:
Bert Hammond – Mid-upper gunner on Lancasters with 514 Squadron, aged 100. (Served on 514 Squadron at the same time as Eddie Humes.)
Eddie Humes – Lancaster Navigator with 514 Squadron. Shot down on Christmas Eve 1944 with a broken leg. POW who was on the ‘Long March’. 103 yrs old.
Stanley Wilson – Lancaster flight engineer who flew a full tour of ‘ops’ with 626 Squadron, aged 101.
Eddie Habberley – Spitfire pilot in the Far East, India and Burma, aged 101.
Jeff Brown – Lancaster rear gunner at the end of the war and subsequently an RAF pilot, aged 99.
Dorethea Barron – Women’s Royal Navy Service ‘WREN’ Signaller, aged 100.
John Ryan – Blind Veterans UK, Royal Navy veteran, aged 100.
Harry Wade – Blind Veterans UK, aged 97
Ted Wilson – Blind Veterans UK, aged 98.
Michael Woods – Blind Veterans UK. Aircraft Mechanic on Lancasters at Coningsby and Skellingthorpe, aged 101.
Ralph Ottey – Aged 101. Ralph left Jamaica in 1944, aged 19, to join the RAF. He became an MT driver stationed at Woodhall Spa.
Ronald Brammer – Army Royal Artillery Gunner.
Dr James Burt – RAF Bomber Command Station Medical Officer at RAF Waddington, aged 103.
RAF veteran Jeff Brown was singled out by OC BBMF, Squadron Leader Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden, when he spoke and thanked the veterans for attending. Jeff had been trained during the war as a wireless operator and air gunner. He flew operations as a Flight Sergeant air gunner on Lancasters with 576 Squadron from RAF Fiskerton towards the end of the war, including five trips on Operation Manna. Re-engaging with the RAF after the war, he flew as an air gunner and air photographer in Boeing B-29 Superfortresses (Washingtons as they were known in RAF service) with 149 Squadron from RAF Marham and then Coningsby. In 1952 he was selected for pilot training in Canada and on completion of his training he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. He was never formally presented with his pilot’s ‘wings’ – just told to get some from stores and sew them on – something that has rankled with him all his life. He returned to the UK and flew Gloster Meteor jets. He left the RAF in 1954 and subsequently worked for Avro until retirement in 1989. To correct the omission of Jeff never having been formally presented with his pilot ‘wings’, the BBMF arranged for Group Captain ‘Robbie’ Lees (Commander Air Wing Displays) to present Jeff with framed RAF pilot’s wings at the tea party. Jeff was delighted to have finally been officially presented with his RAF pilot’s flying badge.
The Tea Party is funded by the RAF Memorial Flight Official Club and would not be possible without that funding. Lincolnshire Tea and Coffee Company donate their time, tea, coffee and provide some of the crockery. Other volunteers helped out with setting up and serving tea and coffee. The BBMF is very grateful that the financial support from the Official Club allows an event like this to take place when it would otherwise be impossible.
