Hi Mike,
I have just seen your letter about your father. Now that really IS strange because I was talking about him with a friend of mine just last night. That's what prompted me to go online to see if there was any information about his crash.
I first met your father when we were both stationed together at RAF Ahlorn in Germany (1956 to 58). I was with 256 Sqn (Meteor NF 11's) and he'd just been posted to the squadron (he was a Jnr.Tech. at the time). I remember "registering" him into the squadron and made a comment about us having the same intials (R.V.) which was quite a coincidence in itself. Then I asked him if he played an instrument and he said he played the trumpet. Great, said I, 'cause I play piano......from that meeting the Station Band was formed (about a 12 piece as I remember). I have photographs of us in the band. We used to play at the Station and also around some of the dance halls in Germany. (I could tell you some amusing stories about that too!).
I remember once when the Squadron was on detachment to Sylt (off the Danish coast) and they needed a trumpter back at Ahlorn for some ceremony or other. He was flown down in a Meteor, played his piece, and then flown back again. Also we used to visit the Casino in Sylt and one evening he won quite a bit of money - enough to fly back to UK on leave!
We sometimes used to hitchhike into Holland (I have photos of myself and your dad on one of those trips), then he bought an old Mercedes car which we used to knock around in........so many memories - perhaps it would be better if you could send me an email. I was there at the birth of your brother Robert when Bob and Della were at RAF Geldern, I sometimes came up to Yorkshire to stay with Bob at his parent's house. Also he came to my wedding.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Bob (
[email protected])