Funeral of WW2 Spitfire armourer

[ricardian]

A veterans group is pleading for people to attend the funeral of a Spitfire armourer who died one day short of his 96th birthday and has little family to attend his memorial service. SGT Ray Johnson served throughout the Second World War, from September 1939 to late 1945, as part of the 152 (Hyderbad) Squadron and died on September 3, 2016. He only has three living relatives and so veterans group, Friends of 152 Squadron, has, with the families permission, begun a campaign to get people to attend his funeral and give him the send off he deserves. They are calling on people to attend SGT Johnson’s funeral on Monday September 26, at 12 noon, at Grantham Crematorium, Harrowby Road, Grantham.
Newspaper report (http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/plea-for-people-to-attend-funeral-of-lincolnshire-world-war-veteran-with-little-family-1-7574767)

[Robert Cooper]

Am reposting this to RAFSA and RBL, hopefully they will pick up on it. RIP Sir!

Bob C

[Sandy Parts]

Grantham? sounds like an ideal lead for a flight cdr at a nearby RAF training facility....

[NutLoose]

It appears he got a good send off, well done all those involved :D

Nearly 100 people turn out for funeral of Grantham war veteran after social media campaign - Sleaford Standard (http://www.sleafordstandard.co.uk/news/local/nearly-100-people-turn-out-for-funeral-of-grantham-war-veteran-after-social-media-campaign-1-7597558)


However, when he chose to join the RAF he had no idea he would be part of the same squadron throughout the war, nor of the adventures it would take him on. His first day though, might have given him an indication of what was in store.
“I was posted to No2 Flying Training School at Brize Norton, and on reporting to the armourment section was told to pick up the Lewis gun and pan of ammo. I would be taken to a gun pit on a blister hangar on the other side of the aerodrome, and was to stay there until I was relieved,” Ray remembers.

“When I enquired what I was to do, the Flt Sgt told me that if an enemy aircraft came over I was to ‘shoot the b*****d down’. This I thought was wonderful, to be given the defence of the RAF Brize Norton after being in the airforce for such a short time!”
:)

Not my spelling BTW " armourment"