Squadron Silver
Is the Inkwell there?
I found some but not all of my photographs of the aforementioned Thornaby silver and can tell you both that 3608 lives on ! From the photographs I noted ;
Three condiment sets but no visible donor or recipient
A pair of cut glass decanters - as above
A soild silver Hawker Demon - I'm pretty sure this was to 608 from Hawker ?
A solid silver DH Mosquito - presented postwar by DH to 608
A barometer presented to 608 by S/L FA Robinson DFC
and finally 3608 ;
Two candle holders with ornate swan necks and both presented to 3608 , one by F/L RW Lonsdale DFC MM and the other by F/L DH Swan DFC and both dated May 1955
Silver salver presented to 3608 by F/L GF Smith in March 1955
Two silver candleabras presented by F/O WK Grigg DFM
but sorry Danny42C and ian16th , no inkwell that I remember !
I await your further instructions ?
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David Thompson,
Thanks for the detailed list of your finds. I'm interested in the '55 presentations by Fred Smith (a teacher, and one of my two Auxiliary Adjutants), Bob Lonsdale and Doug Swan (Auxiliary Fighter Controllers - but not "wingless wonders!"), all after November '54 (when I left). Grigg doesn't ring a bell, which doesn't signify, as it was sixty years ago and memory fades. I wonder whether the sight of my parting gift to the Officer's Mess prompted this sudden outbreak of generosity !
Sqn Ldr Robinson DFC was the Boss of 608 when I arrived in '51. He insisted on "checking me out" on his Vampires (although I'd been flying them on 20 Sqn last posting). Not having a dual Vamp (although the sqn had a T7 Meteor), he ordered me aloft in a single-seater, to "do rollers till we tell you to stop". He then, apparently, took up position in the Tower with binoculars. After three or four circuits he called me in, grudgingly admitted that I could still fly, but reproved me for getting power on late in the rolls. I didn't think so, the Goblin with that massive centrifugal impeller always spooled-up slowly.
His successor (Sqn Ldr G.A.Martin DFC AFC) and I got on well enough, and I had the choice of the Sqn TM, the Harvard and a Vampire when no one else wanted them. It was a pity that I one Sunday inadvertently blotted the Sqn's escutcheon by landing at MSG under the impression that I was at Thornaby (he was rather cross about that !)
Of course, the Mess was my home (as a regular), so my gift was to them, but the Auxiliaries would rightly think their first loyalty was to their unit(s). Bob Lonsdale, I think, was with 608's later M.O., Ian Stewart, in the doc's sports (Lea-Francis ?) saloon when he wrapped it round a lampost on the way back to Hartlepool (?). Bob suffered facial injuries (all this was long before seat-belts), and I jestingly commiserated with him, as we were fellow-sufferers.
It would seem that anything donated to 608, or any of its "derivatives" (where was 2608 - the Rock Apes must have been a tight-fisted lot !) was scooped up by the Middlesbrough Town Hall, but the rest (including my nice little inkstand for the Mess Hall "signing-in/out" books table), has gone, Lord only knows where. Yet I'll have daughter go and have a look-see, for you never know. Will report either way.
Now it only remains to thank you for this very interesting historical find, and to tell you that you can "stand down", conscious of a job well done ! (I'll take it from here).
Danny42C.
EDIT: And thanks for your email 2202 19th. I don't hold out much hope of ever seeing the inkstand again ! D.
Thanks for the detailed list of your finds. I'm interested in the '55 presentations by Fred Smith (a teacher, and one of my two Auxiliary Adjutants), Bob Lonsdale and Doug Swan (Auxiliary Fighter Controllers - but not "wingless wonders!"), all after November '54 (when I left). Grigg doesn't ring a bell, which doesn't signify, as it was sixty years ago and memory fades. I wonder whether the sight of my parting gift to the Officer's Mess prompted this sudden outbreak of generosity !
Sqn Ldr Robinson DFC was the Boss of 608 when I arrived in '51. He insisted on "checking me out" on his Vampires (although I'd been flying them on 20 Sqn last posting). Not having a dual Vamp (although the sqn had a T7 Meteor), he ordered me aloft in a single-seater, to "do rollers till we tell you to stop". He then, apparently, took up position in the Tower with binoculars. After three or four circuits he called me in, grudgingly admitted that I could still fly, but reproved me for getting power on late in the rolls. I didn't think so, the Goblin with that massive centrifugal impeller always spooled-up slowly.
His successor (Sqn Ldr G.A.Martin DFC AFC) and I got on well enough, and I had the choice of the Sqn TM, the Harvard and a Vampire when no one else wanted them. It was a pity that I one Sunday inadvertently blotted the Sqn's escutcheon by landing at MSG under the impression that I was at Thornaby (he was rather cross about that !)
Of course, the Mess was my home (as a regular), so my gift was to them, but the Auxiliaries would rightly think their first loyalty was to their unit(s). Bob Lonsdale, I think, was with 608's later M.O., Ian Stewart, in the doc's sports (Lea-Francis ?) saloon when he wrapped it round a lampost on the way back to Hartlepool (?). Bob suffered facial injuries (all this was long before seat-belts), and I jestingly commiserated with him, as we were fellow-sufferers.
It would seem that anything donated to 608, or any of its "derivatives" (where was 2608 - the Rock Apes must have been a tight-fisted lot !) was scooped up by the Middlesbrough Town Hall, but the rest (including my nice little inkstand for the Mess Hall "signing-in/out" books table), has gone, Lord only knows where. Yet I'll have daughter go and have a look-see, for you never know. Will report either way.
Now it only remains to thank you for this very interesting historical find, and to tell you that you can "stand down", conscious of a job well done ! (I'll take it from here).
Danny42C.
EDIT: And thanks for your email 2202 19th. I don't hold out much hope of ever seeing the inkstand again ! D.
Last edited by Danny42C; 20th Jun 2015 at 21:41. Reason: ADDN. Put in Award of DFC to Sqn Ldr Robinson.
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Sqn Silver Display
It would, if they could find it! vast amounts of silver exist and were stored at Quedgely ISTR. I wonder where all the disbanded squadron's silver is now)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
When did we wake up and stop presenting silver?
OC 35, about 1971, was disappointed in the paucity of sqn silver. We went as far as getting a quote from Garrand but there was no enthusiasm on the sqn to cough up the dosh. The sqn disbanded a few years later probably never to reform.
OC 35, about 1971, was disappointed in the paucity of sqn silver. We went as far as getting a quote from Garrand but there was no enthusiasm on the sqn to cough up the dosh. The sqn disbanded a few years later probably never to reform.
In the early 90s as a young(ish) staff officer at HQ 11 Gp I was detailed to do a 100% check of mess silver. The Silver member and I went through the whole list - all present and correct - bar one flying trophy from the inter-war years. This large, solid silver trophy named after a famous RAF VSO could not be found. More to the point, since we had no photo, we did not know what it should look like.
Some weeks later I found it! It was being used as a door stop in the hall of the mess - only when I bent down to read the inscription did it become clear that this large, dirty winged lump was indeed the solid silver prestigious trophy.
Some weeks later I found it! It was being used as a door stop in the hall of the mess - only when I bent down to read the inscription did it become clear that this large, dirty winged lump was indeed the solid silver prestigious trophy.
