It is with regret that I have to pass on the death of Fred, my captain who made life very bearable on Valiants. He lost Joan, his wife, only a few weeks ago so that probably accelerated his demise.
His son, Howard, has passed on a summary of his service life so many of us must remember him.
1944 - 1945: Enlistment into The Army and The Parachute Regiment
1945 - 1948: Pilot in the Glider Pilot Regiment-
1948 - 1951: Civvy Street-
1951 - 1953: RAF Pilot training : RAF Stations: Cardington, Driffield, Feltwell, Middleton St George, Bassingbourn-
1953 - 1956:No 139 “Jamaica” Canberra Squadron RAF Hemswell including in Sept 1955 Tour of the Caribbean Tri- Centenary celebrations-
1956 - 1957: No 44 Canberra Squadron RAF Honington including being sent to RAF Nicosia during Operation Musketeer in the Suez crisis-
1957 - 1959: No 73 Canberra Squadron : RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus-
1959 - 1962: Valiant Simulator Instructor at RAF Marham -
1962 - 1963: No 18 Valiant AEO Squadron: RAF Finningley-
1963 - 1965: No 90 Valiant Squadron : RAF Honington-
1965 - 1971: No 99 Britannia Squadron : RAF Lyneham-
1971 - 1974: RAF Akrotiri, ground based role-
1974 - 1976: No 511 Britannia Squadron : RAF Brize Norton-
1976 - 1978: RAF Laarbruch in ground role as Operations Officer-
1978 - 1983: RAF Honington ground role, Simulator Instructor on 237 OCTU Blackburn Buccaneer
1983 aged 57 became RO & retired from RAF
1983 - 1992: RAF Wattisham ground role, RO Simualtor Instructor McDonnell Douglas FGR2 (F4-J) Phantom-
October 1992 Fred retired aged 66
He will be laid to rest in Ixworth at a date TBN