The 49 Squadron Association
This is not the official web site, but one which was started as a second step to finding out what had happened to those I flew
with and enjoyed their company in my National Service days, September 1951 to September 1953. The first step had been to link
up with the Association, which in those days was only concerned with WW2 matters and membership. Not so, now of course, but
due to the enormous debt that we owe those who failed to return, is still a key part of our activities. Consequently, the major
part of the Squadron history has now been published via a new 49 Squadron Association web site. It has reached the stage where
you can now read the full Roll of Honour with many photographs of individual graves and where available, a picture of the
WWI, WWII and post 1945 airman concerned. It also includes memories of former serving members, a squadron history and details
of the Association. Just started in a new section entitled 'Documents' are stories from some of our members.
So go to it NOW and see what a first class job it is.
This page has been provided for some years now as an on-going source of current information on the web about people
and events related to 49 Squadron. While there are a few members who have e-mail addresses, most of the effort made to keep
in touch is done through our magazine. And for the majority of members, this is the preferred way. Note that for those members
with broadband, you can download the electronic version of the magazine at your leisure. Please ask the Secretary
Alan Parr for details.
For others who find this site - read on. You can get some idea of the extent to which the Association has grown in the
last few years and to the great lengths that members have gone to ensure that......... WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
News Flash
The V Force reunion to be held at Newark Air Museum on the weekend of 24th/25th April 2010.
Please note that there is a website http://www.vforcereunion/ giving all the details.
I am still extracting items of interest from the current magazine and publish them here.
The latest issue is No.16, November 2009 and has a colour photograph on the front cover of the laying of the wreaths at the
Fiskerton Airfield Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Inside there are pictures of the subsequent unveiling of the plaque in
memory of Tom Gatfield and Leslie Hay. The squadron was also represented at other Remembrance events. At Doncaster, Eric
Clarke laid the Bomber Command Association wreath at the War Memorial and was Guest of Honour at the March Past. Stan Smith
laid the wreath at the Bransby Memorial, Peter Hare did the honours at Fulbeck, while Alan Walker did likewise at Scampton
Church. In Denmark, Marilyn Nissen placed poppy crosses on the graves of eight 49 Squadron members in Aahenraa Cemetery and
on the memorial at the crash site of JA691.
Much of the magazine is devoted to two articles about WW2 events that resulted in
recent visits by family members keen to see and understand more of the circumstances surrounding the loss of JB679 on the
27th April 1944 ('From the website' by Mme. Dominique Gaillardin and our Researcher, Colin Cripps) and the loss of PB537 on
the 7th March 1945 ('In Search of Ralph' by Graham Bairnsfather). Pictures of former 49 Squadron WW2 aircrew at the launch
of the 2nd edition of 'Beware of the Dog at War' this October contrast with the b & w photographs included with articles
about Kenya and the squadron's Cold War activities. Believe it or not we also have a colour photo of Bruce Forsythe (no, he's
not a member, or Associate or Friend) but former MT driver Vi Winters met him at the Armed Forces Day Garden Party at
Buckingham Palace.
Now a few extracts:-
One of the greatest problems for the Secretary is being asked by relatives and old friends of squadron members for information on past events. Obviously most enquiries relate to aircrew who were killed in action, but an increasing number seek information on post-war members. This has now resulted in yours truly helping in this, by acting as the post-war members archivist/correspondent. Bearing in mind that the total number of post-war members could run to over a thousand, even though the Squadron was disbanded on the 1st May 1965, it has been possible to use email and the Internet to link up old friends. Yes, there are other sites that do this, but they cover a much bigger group and so it's less likely you will find them there.
So this was started some nine years ago now as a first attempt at spreading the word that the Association does have a presence on the WWW. It has resulted in many new members, relatives and friends getting in touch with people who they never thought they would ever speak to or see again. Although our new website is now attracting many more enquiries, it seems worthwhile to continue with these pages. I have also provided a potted squadron history which may help you to sort out where your relative or friend might have been stationed. You can go to it now.
I have put some of the previous newsletters on a separate archive page if you wish to look back at them here.
There are always requests in the magazine in the "Do you know? or Can you help?" category -
in many cases these are friends or relatives of past members seeking news or
information. If you are ex-49 Squadron and have not yet joined your
Association, why not get in touch? You may just be the person they are
looking for! As a first step, I have now added a "Can you help" page
help where I have listed some of the enquiries
from emails I have received and also those mentioned in the magazine. Please email me
if you have any information to add or can suggest some answers.
It does get results!
If you would like to find out more, e-mail me. But please put 49 Sqdn in the
subject line so that I do not throw it out with the spam.
David Boughton
49 Squadron, 1952-1953