An obituary was published in todays (5/8) New York Times for Captain Levy. It appears to be quite well written, although is primarily about what happened to him on his 50th birthday.

On a personal note, Regles writings here reflect the incredible bravery, courage and humility of a real hero. My condolences to all the loved ones he has left behind, and my thanks for a life well lived. Lest we forget.

Very many thanks Clear to Land, and here it is, with some fascinating additions to what Reg himself told us:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/wo...ef=todayspaper

Over to you Times and Telegraph ......

Jack

Reg's obit in the NY Times

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...obit-popup.jpg

Reg - at the end of the hijack

The NY Times obituary is accessible without registration here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/wo...ref=obituaries

One of many others:
Sabena pilot Captain Reginald Levy dies at 88

Regle
 

I can only echo rmventuri's comments, although in my case I was researching my Grandfather also 51 Squadron, C Flight. I can only thank him for enlightening and entertaining with all the memories and stories. He will be much missed.

Peter, deepest regret on your father's passing.

But what a life!

Like most on this forum my connection with Reg was only virtual, yet I consider myself lucky to have been able to interact with people such as Reg at all. I hope that reading this thread and seeing the wisdom and stories passed on by Reg to his (very eager!) audience brings you some comfort.

Kind regards to you and your family,

Tom

Along with everone else my condolences to Reg's family. I am so glad he was able to pass on his stories. By this means he, and many others, will not be forgotten. "We will remember them".

A very fine obituary of Reg in The Telegraph

Andy is right, I (Peter, Reg's son) am following the thread and am humbled by the response both from you, the afficionados of this site, and by the international press coverage which seems to be escalating at a great rate of knots.
Dad is sorely missed by me and the rest of the family but I can truly say that the support and fellowship of people such as you guys (and gals) is tremendous and is helping to ease the pain.
Keep up the good work and continue to show good comeradeship to each other as you have to my Dad.
Thank you all,

Regle's son

That's one hell of an obit. in 'The Telegraph'. I'll admit to a very large lump in the throat as I read it.

Peter, I doubt you need to me to tell you this, but you and all your family should be extremely proud of your father.

Hat's off to the Daily Telegraph - a fine obit to a great man. Peter, you are a lucky man to have had so fine a father. You and you family have every reason to be sad at his passing, but also reasons to be so proud.

MB

Some guy! I remember a BBC Children's Hour programme series called "I'm Proud of my Father". Add your Dad to the list.

RIP

Reg Levy.
 

Hello Peter and family. My condolances on loosing such a great father and of course your mother. we had some great times in Brussels and some super stories from you dad, however I did not realise until to-day what a super hero he was. He beats Batman all the way. God bless you and all the family. Alan Whitlock.

Hi Alan how are you? It's been a while are you still riding a bike? It must have three wheels if you are. Will we see you in Belgium one of these days?

I have only recently found this thread and hav, when time allows, been reading through it. Yesterday I read the column in the Telegraph and realised that the Reginald Levy featured was 'Regle' from this thread, whose postings had informed me, amused me and humbled me in equal amounts.

I do not write condoloncies to people I do not know and have never met.

This is different.

I am sure I speak for all who have read this thread when I say that we will all be with you in spirit on the 11th.

I have been reading Reg's story since he began relating it, impatient for each new installment, and found myself shocked by the profound sense of loss I experienced for somebody I never knew.

His fame spread far and wide. Here is the obit from today's Los Angeles Times:

Obituaries: Reginald Levy, Derf Scratch, Robert Tucker - latimes.com

As a 25 year veteran of the RAF, inspired to join by the example of Reg's generation, his story, those of other contributors to this thread and the books they recommended, gave me a much deeper understanding of the courage and dedication of those who had made the RAF an organization of which I was always immensely proud to declare myself a member; a pride I carry to this day.

Thank you, Reg. :D

TB

Reg's Funeral correction
 

Dear PPRUNers,

Just a slight correction in timing, I originally advised that the funeral was taking place at St Marys at 11:00am it's actually 11:15am.

Regards Andy

Regle & Sir Stanley Matthews
 

See first comment, from one Reginald Levy DFC:

Blackpool 3 Cardiff 2 - full match report - Blackpool Today

"I was a Bomber Command Mosquito and Halifax pilot during the war and was so well looked after by the team when they were playing near me. During and after the war, whilst still in the RAF I was always given tickets by Sam Jones, that lovely Irish half back , fellow RAF man Stan Mortensen and I still supported Blackpool and actually had tickets for that first Cup final in 1948 but had to fly to India on the very day of the Final and my Wife and Brotherin law saw their terrific battle with Man. Utd. It is still considered as the finest football final ever although Blackpool lost. I flew all my life until I was sixty and actually flew the Blacxkpool team back from Belgium when they had been over there to play Anderlecht. It was my pleasure to introduce my children to the wonderful Joe Smith, still their manager at that time. I later became great friends with Stan Matthews whom I encountered in a street in Johannesburg where I was based flying up to Europe. He was training local black South Africans and we became great friends. he invited me and my Wife to a dinner given in his honour by the S.African Football Association and Jackie Mudie was there and I have some lovely pictures and also a bottle of South African Wine made in Stan's honour with the contents still unopened and a special label with Sta..."

B.F.T.S
 

I have just received an email from Mike Igglesden (membership sec: 6 B.F.T.S )which proves the B.F.T.S associations are still active, and reproduce it below.

FROM FREDA FREEMAN U.S.A
No 1 B.F.T.S Terrel , Texas Museum.
"Mike: This invitation would have been mailed to you in a proper form but did not have your mailing address. You and other members of No. 6 BFTS are invited to attend our festivities in September. Paula Denson & her husband and Floyd Sherrod and I believe his spouse will be coming from Ponca City . We hope that more from BFTS 6 will do so! Our future plans for this BFTS Museum is to include the story of all six of the schools under one roof. We realize that each individual school has a part of a museum in their towns but to have the complete story of the unique, important and historical part the six schools played in the WWII victories would be wonderful!! If you have a roster of surviving members we would appreciate it. We have the roster for #5 and #3 and of course #1 which we would be happy to share with you.
Best Regards,
Freda Freeman.

I will endeavor to resume my story , this week, as some Pruners may want to know what happened to those of us who were made redundant after 'cessation of hostilities'.
Think my last contribution finished before V.J day when we were waiting for posting to the Far East. In the mean time can any one remember the names of those who said they would contribute, and didn't ?. If you do then give me names and I will contact and them and try to encourage them to contribute.

Carrying the torch
 

Cliff, thanks for picking up the baton again and with some little luck you can inspire others to breathe new life into this thread, for which we all owe you a tremendous debt for having started it, so many posts ago.

I am sure that everyone will do their utmost to provide contact details of that dwindling band of ordinary men accomplishing extra ordinary feats when it seemed all the world was against them.