Just to let you know about an event to be held at Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire on the 12th May 2007.
There is to be a memorial & dedication ceremony to be held to remember all those who served with these squadrons.
Many veterans will be attending as well as local dignitaries and press.
Please come along as this may be the last reunion of this size.
I would love to be there but I live in OZ. My father flew in LK-F Feb-Aug 1944, I have tried the 578 Assn to try and find out if any of the crew are still alive , none joined the Assn.
I know their names ,do you know if there is a Website at all where I could hunt for them to see if they are still alive, they all survived the war.
Regards
Steve
Hi Steve.
Unfortunatley there isn't a web site for the association but if you give me your fathers name or the names of his crew I can mention you and your father at the re-union & see if his name rings any bells.
Alternativly you could email our membership secretary Mr Ian Taylor at iananddi578@hotmail.com. Any new members are always welcome.
Our association president is The Hon Victor J Ferry DFC JP and he too lives in Oz.
I hope this helps please let me know how you get on.
Thanks for posting the info about the 51/578 reunion. Could you write more details or let me know whereabouts I can find out more.
I live in York so am not far away.
My mother lost her only brother in 578 squadron and she doesn't really like to talk about things much even though I was always fascinated by the crew/Halifax photos on my grandfathers mantlepiece and it sparked my boyhood interest in the mighty halifax which has never gone away.
I have on several occaisions taken a walk round the Burn perimiter track. It is a very atmospheric place, even though most buildings are gone. It is very fitting that a gliding club still flys from the place.
Does the squadron association welcome the "future" generations or is it priamrily for the air/ground crews o fthe time.
New members are always welcome, I'm 41 & joined because I had read the book Based at Burn mark III after visiting various airfields in the area. I became interested in the Halifax & Burn after reading an article regarding the association asking for help with costs for a past reunion. I have no direct link to the squadron.
The date for the memorial service is May 12th at Selby Abbey service starts at 10.00 for an hour after which there is another hour to meet squadron members veterans and relatives.
If you wish to join the association our membership secretary is:
Mr Ian Taylor
e-mail iananddi578@hotmail.com
Hi Darren Thanks for answering my post. The crew of LK-F is as follows
F/S W J [Jack] Wilkinson-Mid-Upper Gunner
F/S W W [Mac] McDonald-Bomb Aimer
P/O N S [Norman] Whitwell-Wireless Op.
P/O D J [Pete?] Smith-Navigator
P/O R C [Bob] Corker- Flight Engineer
F/O G N [Chick] Henderson-Pilot
F/O P J [Perce] Grey [RAAF]-Rear Gunner
I got this info off Des Hollis last year.I have several crew photos .
My dad PJ Grey died in 1959 so I have little memory of anecdotal stories that I can remember, my hope was to see if any crew were still alive & then try & make contact. Probably left my run a bit late,I am now 66yo myself but only on the internet a few years.The above crew flew 2 ops. from 51 Squadron Snaith in Nov.& Dec. 1943 & 38 ops. from 578 Squadron Burn Feb. to August 1944. All got 'gongs'.
Anyhow mate ,I hope you have an enjoyable time at the reunion & I also hope it is a great occasion for the remaining Squadron members.
All the very best
Steve
I went to the memorial service in Selby Abbey; there were about 20 veterans in attendance and quite a full congregation of association members and locals who remember 578 at Burn.
After the service I had a chat with a few veterans, one even asked my 74 yr old mother to the reunion dinner that evening!
That is about as much as I can tell you, the veterans that were there all seemed quite sprightly and in high spirits meeting up with their comrades again.
It was particularly moving when the veterans to turns to do a roll call of those squadron aircrew who failed to return.
I met several of the veterans at Elvington on 12th May. I won an Halifax print and even though it was a Canadian one they all signed it for me, shared a story or two and made my day. Great guys.I have a couple of photos of the event but not sure how to load onto this website
Regards
Paul Hughes
Leeds
Sorry, I should have created an account before the last post.
The Avtar at the top shows me with four veterans at Elvington and my picture,
Regards
Paul
Many thanks to both Pauls for answering .It seems to have been a sucessful event and was greatly enjoyed ,I just hope there are still enough members around for a few more in the future.
Regards Steve
