A huge, big thank you in advance to IX Squadron and everyone who has helped with the organising.

Thank you :-)

I hope to be there also, be nice to put names to some of these faces, or faces to some of these names even!

A fantastic thread and a very touching story.A bit of a common phrase these days,Gone but not forgotten.Makes me feel slighty humble that everyone has helped out on this.

PJ,

Good skills mate, I'm immensely proud to see my old squadron bending over backwards to help out relatives of our lost ones, and providing a presence in the air and on the ground at a commemoration for them. If I wasn't you-know-where I'd have come along too. Well done IX, and to all involved in this thread, I hope it's of some comfort to the relatives.

Per Noctem Volamus

JG

Sarah X 2, Did you ever see the IX Sqdn photograph at

http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/vulcan_people/cgyclose.jpg

There’s a slim chance your respective Dads are in it. Very early 1964. I’m second row down directly under the centre of the No 1 engine intake; far right engine, looking at it. The original’s available if anyone wants good copies.

This must be one of the most touching threads I have read on any board, not just PPRuNe. I hope the weather is set fair for all who attend on Wednesday in Rutland.

The only, slightly spurious, link I have is that Mike Gillette was my dad's pilot on 13 at Luqa in 1970!

Here's the plan...
 

As things stand IX Sqn are hoping to put up a three-ship this Wednesday, subject to the usual caveats regarding anything to do with flying aeroplanes.

Attending will be at least myself, Sarah Bennett, Forget, Peppermint Jam, and A2QFI. Anyone else is welcome. (I'm sticking to Pprune user-names here for obvious reasons, but it's an assortment of serving and ex-servicemen, with various IX Sqn and/or Cottesmore attachments.)

We will be meeting at the Sun Inn, Cottesmore High Street, at 12:00 and will then walk - in wellies - to the exact crash location for 12:30 to pay our respects.

Open agenda after that.

Algy

Sarah & Sara

As the current 'boss' of IX(Bomber) Sqn, I'm honoured to be able to offer to help you commemorate your fathers lives in an appropriate way. It's the least their Sqn can do. I'll send whatever is the most suitable aircraft or formation that can get to Cottesmore at 1230, so it might be anything from one to four aircraft. Fingers crossed for the weather.

Dave Waddington
OC IX(B)

This is a fantastic thread - quite humbling really.

Well done to all involved.

Gareth

Top Drills Batman:ok::ok:

thanks
 

Thanks so much to all who have helped organise Wednesday
SaraG

Excellent - and as for IX Squadron boss WingCo Waddington's Prune handle - batman01. Cracker :ok:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b270/cumpas/bat.jpg

Excellent stuff Batman - wouldn't have expected anything less though!!!:ok:

Hi Sarah, Sara, Matt,

I hope all goes well tomorrow.

If any of you would like to visit XM655 at Wellesbourne, the aircraft is manned every Saturday from 0900 to 1600. Directions are on our website at www.xm655.com If you would prefer to visit at another time, please pm me and I will make the arrangements.

Best regards, Sooty655

Is anyone at RAF Cottesmore involved?

S&S,

I really hope to be able to make it, but if I don't.. I'm sure you'll both have a wonderful and (yes) an emotional day.

If I can't make it, I'll keep an eye out for those IX Sqn Tonkas though and I hope they're piling the coal on. In a Rutland field or at the Cenotaph, its humbling it is to see us remembering our own - quietly, proudly and with dignity. The memories of Alastair, Benny, Stephen and FO Whelan will be well served tomorrow.

Best wishes,

Al.

Umbrella1, not to the best of my knowledge. Obviously ATC know tonkas will be in the area at that time, but that's as much as I know.

As a civilian 'lurker', but with friends currently serving home and abroad, I have followed this very humbling thread with great interest. It has made me very much aware of the great debt that is owed to the crew of XM604, and those others who sacrificed their lives in our defence during the Cold War and beyond.

If anyone has the opportunity to post some photographs of the memorial gathering and flypast, I'm sure it would be much appreciated by those who are unable to be present.

Echo the above - great job by all.

Good luck for today.
RM

Even better this morning!

COTTESMORE EGXJ 300724Z 300918 28012KT 9999 FEW025

see you there....
airsound