INSIGHT
Autumn 2024
From the Editor…
Flt Lt D.J. Hopkinson
Welcome to the Autumn Edition of Insight Magazine. With the temperatures outside dropping and the leaves turning it is all too clear that the season has changed.
This copy of the Station magazine promises the usual diverse spread of articles from an account of XIII Sqn’s role in the Second World War raids on Dieppe, in support of the subsequent ill-fated landings, to the RAF Waddington Running Club’s busy schedule and recent successes.
Alongside articles providing an overview of the Station’s Awards Dinner and Industry Day we have a piece discussing the 80th Anniversary of PD259, the Lancaster wreckage which provides the centre piece of the RAF Waddington Heritage Centre and the Force Development and Adventure Training trip arranged in order to mark this occasion. It is this juxtaposition in articles which ties the successes of RAF Waddington’s current personnel and need to embrace future opportunities with industry partners directly to the Station’s proud history and heritage.
For those keen to submit articles to Insight Magazine please send them to WADInsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov. uk. We are always excited to read about your endeavours in work and sport and the wider activities and engagement which takes place at RAF Waddington.
EDITORIAL TEAM:
WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk
External Email:
Use personal email addresses
Tel: +44 (0)1522 726704
Editor:
Flt Lt D.J Hopkinson
WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk
Deputy Editor:
Flt Lt Chris Talbot
WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk
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Gp Capt Dominic Holland
With Autumn in full swing RAF Waddington will be going through a busy time as will our personnel whether that be out for Halloween, watching the fireworks on Bonfire Night or marking Remembrance Day. This time of year, is a fantastic opportunity for us to enjoy some time together and to be proud of serving in the RAF. I hope that you have been able to make the most of these opportunities around your busy work schedules.
This edition of Insight Magazine contains one of my personal highlights in the Station’s calendar, the RAF Waddington Awards Dinner. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the hard work and successes of the wonderful people based here at RAF Waddington. The number of nominations alone demonstrates the superb work being conducted by our people and the chance to recognise those
that go above and beyond is one that cannot be missed. Thank you to all of those that submitted nominations, the nominees themselves and the Award winners, of course!
Another important event in the RAF Waddington calendar included in this copy of Insight is the RAF Waddington Industry Day which this year focused on the theme ‘Battlefield Advantage and the Changing Face of Warfare’. The Industry Day is an event which has gone from strength to strength over recent years and 2024 proved no different with RAF Waddington personnel engaging closely with our partners in the Defence Industry. This event provides a unique opportunity for service people particularly to engage with those outside of the armed forces whose professional focus is geared towards the changing landscape of defence to better learn and understand what one another can provide to the wider Defence community.
I would just like to finish by thanking those individual’s that take the time to write and contribute to the Station magazine. This is your publication, and it would not exist without your words or your achievements. Like the Awards Dinner mentioned earlier, this is a place to recognise and acknowledge the hard work and achievements of RAF Waddington and its community.
REMEMBERINGAT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
On 9th June a group from RAF Waddington had an FD visit to the National Memorial Arboretum.
AUK registered charity, the arboretum is a 150-acre visitor site on the edge of the National Forest in Staffordshire. Part of the Royal British Legion, but a separate legal body, the Arboretum exists to ensure that those who have served and sacrificed are never forgotten, that the baton of Remembrance is passed on through the generations, and that there is a year-round space to celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost.
I had not been before, and confess I was not sure what to expect – but was genuinely moved by the beauty and thoughtful curation of the grounds, the variety of different Squadron and branch/professions represented in the different stones, and the thoughtful way some of the trickier aspects of military history – such as the treatment of deserters in World War One, or topics such as reconciliation – were handled. The weather wasn’t brilliant, but it was manageable, and there are indoor spaces (a
chapel, and a good restaurant/ shop/concourse area).
Remembering colleagues is poignant and sometimes difficult, but important not only in honouring their memory, but also ensuring that the ethos and character of the RAF stays true to its purpose. Remembering the impact of service life on people, and keeping them the main thing is important in a complex, changing world. A service can evolve without losing its soul, but only if it keeps its history and purpose clearly in view –those who fail to learn from history doomed to keep on repeating the same mistakes in the future, as the saying goes.
As well as a really informative tour, which was educational in terms of our force development whilst helping us make the most of the site, we held a short Act of Remembrance of our own at the end of the day to mark the visit in a personal way.
I’m really grateful to the team at TDF for enabling the visit, and hope that LMs and sections will enable their personnel to make the most of the day visit opportunities that are currently on offer during
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RAFBF
The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, has released its 2023 Impact Report, highlighting how it has continued to support members of the RAF Family in 2023 through practical, emotional and financial support.
The Fund helped 42,259 members of the RAF Family in 2023, including over 27,800 serving personnel and their families, and 14,397 veterans and their families, with a huge 97 per cent of beneficiaries saying they were satisfied with the support they received.
One way the Fund supported the RAF Family was through RAF Station grants, with more than 12,000 people helped last year including serving
personnel and their families at RAF Waddington.
In 2023, RAF Waddington were given over £6100 in grants for Ben Play and Ben Parenting, and £4500 in grants towards Families Day and Operation Christmas.
How the RAF Benevolent Fund supported RAF Waddington in 2023.
You can view the full 2023 Impact Report: Impact Report 2023 | RAF Benevolent Fund (rafbf.org)
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, free memberships for Headspace, Airplay youth clubs, and more.
Irene Greenwood, Welfare Programmes Manager at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “The grants provided by the Fund to RAF bases like Waddington are vital for ensuring RAF families receive the mental, financial and practical assistance they need. Some of the initiatives and events we have funded have enabled serving personnel and their families to come together and socialise with others, increasing cohesion on base, improving morale and mental health, as well as reducing isolation. We are delighted that the Fund can make a positive impact to the lives of the serving community.”
Industry Day
RAF Waddington Industry Day 2024:
Battlefield
Advantage and the Changing Face of Warfare.
Wing Commander Keith Bissett, OIC for Industry Day, said: “The Industry Day brought together key players from the defence industry, including aerospace giants and local small tech firms to explore how emerging technologies can be harnessed to maintain and enhance battlefield superiority. The day showcased the critical role of collaboration between military and industry in keeping pace with an increasingly complex global security environment.”Fund can make a positive impact to the lives of the serving community.”
On 26 September 2024, RAF Waddington held its annual Industry Day, an event that continues to grow in significance as it connects the military, industry leaders, and defence innovators in addressing the rapidly evolving nature of warfare. This year, the theme "Battlefield Advantage and the Changing Face of Warfare" was the focal point of discussions, presentations, and exhibits aimed at understanding the future of conflict and how technology and collaboration can shape the strategic advantage in modern battlefields. The event was planned and prepared by RAF Waddington personnel, and the Greater Lincolnshire Defence and Security Cluster (GLDSC).
As warfare continues to shift from traditional, largescale conflicts to more asymmetric, unpredictable threats, maintaining battlefield advantage requires both adaptability and technological innovation. The Industry Day addressed how the future of conflict is likely to be characterised by cyber warfare, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and space-based capabilities. These technologies are rapidly transforming the landscape of military operations, demanding new strategies and solutions to stay ahead of adversaries.
The Industry Day offered an opportunity for Gp Capt Berry (Deputy ISTAR Force Commander) to give Stn and
Industry Partners an overview of RAF ISTAR capabilities, and to also discuss future challenges and opportunities. As the nature of conflict shifts, so too does the battlefield, now extending beyond the physical into the realms of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Gp Capt Burton (Deputy Commandant Air & Space Warfare Centre) and Gp Capt Ross (Director JEWOSC) discussed the importance of Electronic Warfare (EW) and how it is transforming the fight for battlefield superiority.
EW refers to the use of the electromagnetic spectrum to detect, disrupt, and degrade enemy capabilities, while simultaneously protecting one’s own assets. It includes
tactics like jamming enemy communications, intercepting radar signals, and deceiving adversaries with false information. EW is providing forces with a decisive edge in modern, multi-domain operations.
Industry partners from MASS, MAIAR, METIS Aerospace, the University of Lincoln and the Armour Group of Companies also gave the attendees briefs relating to battlefield advantage and the changing face of warfare. The overriding themes were: collaboration, adaptability, exploiting our current technologies to the best of their ability, and investing in emerging capabilities before our adversaries do.
A key highlight of the day was the array of cutting-edge technologies presented by defence contractors and tech companies. Several stands showcased the growing role of uncrewed systems in combat and surveillance, emphasising the importance of reducing the physical risk to personnel while maximising operational effectiveness.
The Industry Day also highlighted the increasing
Squadron Leader Louise Webster, Project Officer for the Industry Day, said: RAF Waddington’s Industry Day underscored the vital relationship between the military and industry in addressing the changing face of warfare. As the battlefield becomes increasingly digitised and interconnected, maintaining a strategic advantage will depend on rapid innovation and close collaboration across sectors. The event fostered dialogue on how both parties can work together to ensure that the RAF, and the broader UK defence community, remain agile and capable in this new era of conflict. By the end of the day, one thing was clear: the future of warfare is being shaped by technology, and those who can harness it effectively will dominate the battlefields of tomorrow.
prominence of cyber and information warfare. As military operations become more reliant on digital networks, the risks posed by cyberattacks and information manipulation have grown exponentially.
Discussions centred on the importance of defending critical infrastructure from cyber threats and the role of cybersecurity partnerships between the armed forces and industry.
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RAF Waddington Lancaster PD259 JO-G
80th Anniversary
To preserve the strong link that RAF Waddington has with the Lancaster, we are very lucky to hold the substantial remains of Lancaster PD259 JO-G.
This aircraft, operated by 463 Sqn RAAF from RAF Waddington crashed on 31 Aug 44, in the Monadhiliath Mountains on the Balavil Estate, near Kingussie; all of the 7 crew members were tragically killed.
PD259 was delivered to RAF Waddington on 06 Aug 44 and flew six combat missions between 15 and 30 Aug. Once delivered to RAF Waddington, it came under the captaincy of Flt Lt Bill Purdy. Bill has previously met the original landowners of the Balavil Estate and they recalled that ‘Bill always referred to it as "his" aircraft because he took possession of it the day it was delivered from the factory in Manchester to Waddington. Bill recalls how ‘it did a 3-point
landing perfectly, something I could never manage and taxied round in front of the tower and a small blond girl hopped out and told me it was all mine. She had flown it single-handedly to deliver it’.
Bill only ever flew a Lancaster marked us JO-G and it is still clear on PD259 where the ground crew repainted it from Y to G. Flt Lt Purdy captained PD259 on 3 of its combat missions. A remarkable individual, he flew 36 missions during the War; was awarded the DFC, which was presented by King George VI; and continued in the world of aviation regularly flying the lead Tiger Moth in the Anzac Day fly-past over Sydney Harbour, an impressive feat, particularly for a person in their 90’s.
The last operational mission for PD259 was to Konigsberg (now called Kaliningrad) in Russia, captained by Fg Off McKern DFC, on this occasion PD259 suffered some flak damage and had to return with one of its Merlin engines shut down. On the night of 30/31 Aug 44 there were no Ops planned so the new, or ‘sprog crew’ led by Fg Off Beddoe were tasked to undertake a cross country, night training flight. At some point during the flight the crew encountered a problem over a remote, mountainous area in the Highlands of Scotland and crashed.
There are a few theories as to what caused the crash. The first is that there may have been more damage caused by the flak from the previous days sortie which may have contributed. Another theory is that the weather coming in from the Atlantic was very poor with icing conditions and it is possible that this weather progressed towards Scotland and when the crew experienced problems they were forced to make an attempt to land on the mountainous terrain.
The Sqn Operations Log makes only a small mention of PD259, the entry on 31 Aug gives two short sentences: ‘P/O Beddoe and crew were
engaged on a cross country flight and crashed 10 miles ENE of Kingussie. As the aircraft crashed in the mountains no information is available until reached by the search party’. The Log’s entry for 01 Sep first mentions the weather, training and a cricket match before it gets to ‘Information received 1800 hrs that the bodies of P/O Beddoe and 5 members of his crew found at scene of crash. All Killed. No trace of Navigator (F/S Walker) – open parachute near crash’. Given that so many Bomber Command aircraft and their crews were lost in the Second World War, 55 573 aircrew died in total, it sets the context and tone in which the Ops Log entry should be read.
The crew of PD259 on 31 Aug 1944 comprised of:
Fg Off R H Beddoe – Pilot –RAAF
WO G H Middleton – Flight Engineer – RAF
FS S A Abbot – Mid Upper Gunner – RAAF
FS T R Dent – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – RAAF
FS B M Glover – Rear Gunner –RAAF
FS D H Ryan – Bomb Aimer –RAAF
FS F M Walker – Navigator –RAAF
The six Australian members of the crew had spent 2 years training in Australia and the UK and this was to be their last training flight before they commenced Ops. The Australians did not train Flight Engineers which is why there is a British member of the crew, WO Middleton was experienced on Stirling’s, with little time on Lancasters.
The Operations Record Book for RAF Longman in Inverness records that a crash party were sent out on 01 Sep 44 at 0010 and spent 19 hours in ‘very wild hilly country’ and that ‘The bomber had apparently exploded in mid-air at an estimated altitude of 10,000ft’. They discovered six bodies of the crew but could not bring them down all at once and the seventh member of the crew was still missing when they returned.
The ‘Mountain Section’ Kinloss relieved the Longman crash party in order to recover the bodies the following day. There is no official information about the Navigator, but some accounts say he was found at the bottom of a small cliff.
The RAAF members of the crew are buried in the War Cemetery in Cambridge whilst the Flight Engineer is buried in Rutherglen cemetery in Glasgow. PD259 was cut up into large pieces in order to make it obvious that it was not a recently crashed aircraft and therefore prevent it being reported as such repeatedly.
The story then slows down for a few years and is continued by Mr Allan Macpherson-Fletcher previously the owner of the Balavil Estate.
Going back to the old days. When the plane crashed the estate was owned by my Uncle, Harry Brewster Macpherson, who died in 1947 and then my Aunt Peggy then looked after the estate until I took over in 1975.
During that period there were very few people on the hill other than shepherds and gamekeepers and the occasional grouse shooter in the season. "The bomber" was always just referred to as that and was a mark of reference if anyone was out stalking you would be told it was beyond "The Bomber".
There wasn't much interest in the bomber I suppose until hillwalking became fashionable in the 80's and then we did notice that one or two bits were being vandalised and possibly removed. We had various requests from museums and individuals to remove items from the hill and the crash site, but we steadfastly refused permission on the basis that the crash site was a memorial to the seven crew members who were killed.
In 1994 I received a letter from RAF Waddington, again asking for permission to remove various bits and again
I denied them access. Shortly afterwards however I received a letter from Ted Richardson of 467-463 Lancaster Squadrons Association asking permission to remove one propeller blade from JO-G on behalf of the Association's members who wanted a memorial at Waddington. This hand-written letter was so beautifully worded that we allowed permission.
That then rather opened the floodgates for the RAF crews, led by Mike Chatterton, to come and remove various bits from the hill having persuaded me that it was in the interests of all to secure the crash site and stop any further theft or vandalism.
Over the next few years, with the news of PD259 being up on the websites, we had some interesting visitors.
Firstly, we had Bill Jackson and his wife Daphne from Queensland in Australia who had flown as the bomb aimer on PD259 the day before it crashed on its last flight to Konningsberg. We have his diary notes which make for extraordinary reading.
Secondly, we had Fred MurrayWalker and his wife visit the site. Fred is the son of Frank Murray-Walker who was killed in the crash and who only met his son for half an hour after he was born having absconded from training camp in Australia to visit his wife and newly born son before being posted to the UK. That was a pretty moving visit.
Thirdly, we had Bill Purdy visit the site. Bill always referred to it as "his" aircraft because he took possession of it the day it was delivered from the factory in Manchester to Waddington. His tales of low-level flights were also quite extraordinary.
We also met the son of George Middleton at one of the airshows at Waddington and he came to the unveiling of the memorial at our graveyard. I've advised his son that we're holding a small ceremony.
It transpired that George Middleton, prior to his death had sired 2 families from 2 different ladies and it was the Lancaster which, through myself, brought the 2 families together after 60 years or so.
The RAF Waddington perspective has been covered a bit by Allan and there are a few magazine articles available that also cover the period from 2007-10 when return visits were made and substantial parts of PD259 were recovered along with a propeller blade memorial being set up in the cemetery at Balavil and the full propeller that now resides in the RAF Waddington Memorial Garden. That period adds a great deal to the history of PD259 and there have been many visits from former crew members and family members from the last crew to fly it and we were gifted the personal diary of FS David Ryan, the Bomb Aimer with the last entry as 30 Aug 44. A fuselage frame was constructed within the Heritage Centre and PD259 is now a very impressive centre piece and memorial to all the crews that flew from RAF Waddington during that time.
The 80th Anniversary events had been planned for some time and were undertaken to remember all crews and personnel at RAF Waddington related to PD259 and its Squadrons with the centre piece being the unveiling of a plaque at the crash site that was mounted on a cairn of local stone by the Estate team at Balavil.
A Station Exped was organised by Flt Lt Littlehales and a small team with the 80th Anniversary events being coordinated by the Heritage Centre. We drove up on the Sunday and visited Rutherglen Cemetery in Glasgow where the team held a small Memorial Service led by Padre Williamson and laid a wreath at the grave of WO Middleton the Flight Engineer. When we had previously visited 5 years ago, we had notice that the grave was incorrectly marked with WO Middleton remembered as Bomb Aimer/ Navigator on his headstone and that is how the CWGC records dating back to that time have him recorded. It is not surprising that with so many headstones and memorials to be created that there would
be errors within the process so many years ago. Using the evidence we have of the RAAF Sqn and PD259 and his service records we had contacted them and it was nice to see they had changed the cut in the headstone.
We then travelled to RRC Grantown-on-Spey, the first night was spent organising our kit and the first full day
consisted of a relaxed walk-up Cairn Gorm so that everyone could be assured their kit would be suitable for the longer walk to the crash site. The following day was an early start and meet at the Balavil Estate where we were very generously hosted, we also met up with the Australian contingent who had all travelled up the day before led by Sqn Ldr Carpenter.
We were offered and readily took the opportunity to ride in a Pinzgauer a few Km up the track to the Bothy which reduced the overall distance we walked to 18Km. The weather was very breezy but also clear and with a track now being fully constructed the walk to the site was conducted at a very good pace. We had a break at the river crossing just below the last hill and were met by Allan MacphersonFletcher and some of the Estate staff.
The timings worked very well, and the site is quite obvious as you head up the hill with two pits still containing substantial pieces along with plenty of recognisable parts of airframe more scattered around the site, the soft peat is slowly reclaiming the heavier parts with just the top part of a propeller being the only indication of the location of one of the engines. Some of the items have obviously moved in a form of creep flow from one of the pits along a channel. Following the chance to look around the site the plaque was unveiled, a wreath was laid on behalf of the son of the navigator and one from the RAAF and following a service by Padre Williamson the Stn Cdr also said some
words. The Typhoon flypast was conducted by IX(B) Sqn who were actually RAF Waddington’s second Lancaster Sqn as well as operating Vulcans from Waddington later in their history.
The following day allowed for a more relaxed start with the group undertaking some mountain biking and the last day was split with some of the group kayaking and the others doing another hill walk, this time to Ben Macdui.
The culmination of the 80th anniversary was the Station FD event with the chance to pay respects at the graves of the Australian members of the crew at Cambridge Cemetery on the actual date of the anniversary of their loss when they took off from RAF Waddington. A wreath was laid on behalf of the son of FS Walker on his father's grave and a wreath from RAF Waddington laid on the first grave in line as the entire crew are laid to rest in a column in the CWGC part of Cambridge City cemetery. We then followed this with a visit to IWM Duxford where we spent several hours with the final serial of the day being the Lancaster tour, an appropriate way to complete the event.
Award Dinner 2024
RAF Waddington Awards Dinner 2024: Celebrate, Commemorate, Inspire.
On 26 September 2024, RAF Waddington held the annual Awards Dinner. This event is a significant moment in the station calendar where we come together to Celebrate, Commemorate, and Inspire through showcasing the best and brightest of RAF Waddington. The achievements identified by the over 70 nominators are truly
Nominated for:
The David Graham Memorial Award
The People and Community Award
The Spirit of RAF Waddington Award
Resourcefulness and Innovation Award
Outstanding Team Achievement Award
Industry’s Outstanding Contribution Award
Outstanding Sporting Achievement Award
Outstanding Contribution to Charity Award
Aviator of the Year
Civil Servant of the Year
remarkable and highlight the breadth of activity across the whole force; the effort our personnel are putting into delivering operational outputs while performing broader activity such as charities,
Team / Individual Nominee Name/s
Team - WINNER
Team
sports or community work is humbling. The standard was very high and competition fierce. This year there were ten categories for nominations. The Awards, Nominees and Winners are detailed below:
John Collier EXCON Facility (JCF) Team
MRSS Instructors
Team 31 Sqn Ops
Individual - WINNER
Cpl Jon Hughes
Individual Cpl Wayne Goodman
Individual AS1 David Gibb
Individual - WINNER
Sgt Andrew Merrett
Individual Sgt Jade Solomon
Individual
Team - WINNER
Sgt John Alderson
54 Sqn Eng Flt
Individual Sgt Darren Hawkes
Team - WINNER
Team
Team
Team - WINNER
Team
Welfare Team
VAHS
Airbase Plans A4 Movements and A5
L3-Harris (Field Service Reps)
Eagle Eye Innovation Team RAFAT Babcock
Individual - WINNER
Cpl Jessica Barnicoat
Individual Sqn Ldr Steve Bishop
Individual A/Sgt James Dean
Individual - WINNER 'Googly Eyes'
Individual A/Cpl Tamlin Dwyer
Individual Cpl Steven McKelvey
Individual - WINNER
Sgt Chris Paita
Individual Cpl Emily Axten
Individual Cpl Simon Oakley
Individual Will Burton
Individual - WINNER Lorraine Smalley
Individual Michelle Savage
Gp Capt ‘Dutch’ Holland, Station Commander RAF Waddington said:
“It was great to see so many nominations for this year’s awards. There are so many excellent people and teams, across our whole force at RAF Waddington and supported units, that deserve recognition. The 29 invited to the dinner were the very best of those nominations and I congratulate all 10 winners for their exceptional achievements.”
Squadron Leader James Bown, Project Officer for the Awards Dinner, said: RAF Waddington’s Awards Dinner is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of RAF Waddington Whole Force personnel. There were some outstanding citations submitted across all categories and down selecting the top three nominees and the winner was a real challenge. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to organise an event that recognised their impressive achievements and a big thank you must go to the industry sponsors and their contributions, without which we could not hold such a large-scale event.
XIII Sqn Dieppe Raid Aug 1942
On 16 Aug 1942 a detachment of XIII Sqn aircraft moved to Thruxton, along with aircraft from 614 and 226 Sqns, to take part in offensive operations in support of Operation JUBILEE, the Dieppe raid.
On the 19th they flew low across the beaches and dropped 100lb phosphorous bombs to lay smoke as cover for the landing forces with great success despite intense opposition from ground and sea forces. The bombs looked like large biscuits tins and were filled with a compound that ignited and made masses of smoke when exposed to air. The enemy A.A Batteries (The Bismark Battery) on the surrounding cliff were also screened effectively. One aircraft was damaged by friendly RN fire after laying its smokescreen and crashed at Thruxton with all 3 crew escaping alive.
The Sqn F541 records:
The first ‘vic’ of three was led by Flight Lieutenant Eric Beverley, who eased his heavy-laden bomber (Z6089) off from Thruxton just after 4am. He was joined by Pilot Officers Dave Rogan (in Z5811) and Cecil Woodland (V5380) and crews. The trio were followed by a further ‘vic’ led by Flight Lieutenant John Shaw in Z5882, with Pilot Officers Beck (Z6558) and Alaric Jickling (N3545).
“Each carried a full load of 100lb phosphorous bombs in canisters, which required removing the bomb bay doors. They flew into a lightening sky with sunrise expected at 5.50am. However, the action would already be unfolding beneath them – the first landing craft were scheduled to approach at 4.45am.” The pilots had difficulty joining into formation in the dark, but each was able to make successful drops and the deployed smokescreen blinded the target.
‘They let us have it’
“Dieppe, as we know, devolved into a fiasco,” said Andrew. “Despite its success and early entry into the action, 13 Squadron was not spared the sting of defeat.” Eric Beverley, who led the first ‘vic’, described the events in his report: “We flew low to avoid the radar cover… Our route took us just north of the ships of the attacking force.
“The white cliffs to the north of Dieppe stood out in the morning light and we pulled up to our aiming point, a small bay to the southwest along the line of the cliff face where the guns were and went into line astern to lay our smoke as low as we could fly. There was little or no fire until we had finished, but then over the port itself we encountered a considerable amount of flak.”
Andrew added: “He led his flight seaward, but they had to pass low over the supporting fleet. As Beverley recorded,
“Thought to have crashed after being hit by German fire, he was, with Sergeants Henry Neville and Austin Boyd, the RAF’s first casualties of the Dieppe Raid.”
The smoke-laying plan required further sorties to cover the withdrawal and a second mission was prepared. At 11am, Flight Lieutenant Thomas eased off Thruxton’s grass strip (in Z6358) leading Pilot Officers Broughton (Z5882) and Kilpatrick (N3612). They followed the Blenheims of 614 Squadron across the Channel.
“This time, navigation was easy,” said Andrew. “Palls of smoke hung over the port.
“However, halfway across the fighter escort indicated they were returning to base.
“With the skies above Dieppe a hornet’s nest of Luftwaffe fighters, Flight Lieutenant Thomas had no option but to turn back, bringing 13 Squadron’s part in Jubilee to an unsatisfactory end.”
Crew prep Dieppe.
Bombing up for Dieppe.
they were ‘understandably somewhat trigger happy’, making the point that ‘the silhouette of a Blenheim was not noticeably different from a Ju 88’. He surmised, ‘they let us have it, just in case’.”
Either due to anti-aircraft fire from German guns or by rounds from Royal Navy warships, Beverely was hit: “I suffered damage to my port engine and flying controls and lost all hydraulics. I could not operate my flaps or wheels and had to make a belly landing.”
Plt Off Jickling leaps from his Blenheim at Thruxton after returning from the Dieppe raid.
Andrew continued: “After being airborne for 2½ hours, five of 13 Squadron’s aircraft had returned to Thruxton by 6.40am – Beverley’s Blenheim skidding to a halt without its undercarriage. The others landed safely – except for one, Cecil Woodland’s aircraft was missing. Indeed, as Andrew noted, Woodland’s crew had picked up a tragic accolade:
Flight Lieutenant E Beverley and Flying Officer Jickling were mentioned in despatches for their part in the raid.
Pilot Officer Woodland and his crew, Sergeant Boyd (Observer) and Sergeant Neville (Gunner) were shot down and killed by Flak whilst laying a smokescreen. Currently they are not commemorated on the IBCC but the IBCC have agreed they should be and will be so in the next commemoration. It was suspected that, due to the difficulty of making formations
of 3 aircraft in the dark, they arrived individually over the target contributing to the loss.
In total during these raids the 2 Squadrons lost 2 aircraft and had 10 damaged with 1 lost in a ground accident. They were low, slow flying targets and relatively vulnerable to the Dieppe flak as well as that of the Royal Navy.
Fg Off Jickling Dieppe Damage to seat.
Running Club Update
The summer road season will be finished by the time this article is published and the winter cross country season will be in full swing, with the chance to run in muddy fields all around the local bases plus a couple further afield.
The Running Club again successfully organised our home race on the station which included the rare chance to run up the runway. We had well over 100 runners from across the station and Lincs League taking part. As always even if you only run one race then you help score towards the overall Station score in the League irrespective of finishing position, genuinely every runner helps.
We had several other races over the summer and a few
Waddington runners have also represented the RAF in some of the Inter Services events. As always, we have a wide range of abilities taking part in our races. If you fancy giving it a go lots of the races will only require a few hours of your day and most importantly there is always chocolate and snacks provided at the end, just get in touch with anyone from the Running Club in order to get on the distribution list. For up-to-date contacts and races there is a poster in the Gym or look for Clubs and Sports on the Wad SharePoint site.
Your local, proudly independent, veterinary practice opened in Waddington in 2022. Register and book online via our website, follow us on Facebook, call us or pop in to see us. Sarah, Alice and their friendly team look forward to welcoming you and your pets!
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6.30pm Saturday 8.30am – 12pm By appointment only
Call: 01522 716388
Email: info@lincolnedgevets.co.uk
Website: https://www.lincolnedgevets.co.uk/
Find us: Lincoln Edge Vets Ltd, The Quarry, Grantham Road, Waddington, Lincs, LN5 9NT
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The 24/25 Lincolnshire Cross Country League will take place at the following venues:
• 4th Generation family business trading for 103 years
• Serving central Lincs for Vauxhall cars and vans since 1980
• Usually 84+ Spoticar All Makes Quality Used cars & vans to view
• All makes servicing and MOT from only £249 incl.VAT
• Daily collection service from your area and with courtesy car
