hall (hereafter referred to as “mission control”) @ 18.45 hrs prior
to dinner on Thursday evening. Group Captain Newbold & Flt Lt
Johnston will be on hand to give you a full briefing on “operation
retribution”. At that time you will also be issued with your “special”
polo shirt and your “wings”. Please bring a beverage along with
you. 2 years ago we had a very successful “Terry Thomas” night,
see attached photos of some of the idiots involved. This year the
theme for the evening is “Chocks Away”, so please come dressed
for the occasion !!!! We will also give you an outline of what is in
store for the rest of the weekend along with the key timings and
meeting points. All of these details will be in a printed pack for
your navigator to take away. Those with walkie talkies please
remember to bring them with you. In addition, also bring a good
map of the area as SatNav will be of no use with all the roads being closed down due to the racing.
I’m really looking forward to this trip, I know it’s going to be a
blast. Carry on...
9
From: Dougal Black
Hi Bill, Not at all excited, no. Definitely not. No, really. I’m
completely indifferent to open-top cruising. In the sun. In France.
In a Cobra... To a chateau. To watch a race with loads of V8’s
HaaaaHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA. WoooHOOOOOO!
From: Bill Telford
Do you think Dougal is losing it !!!!!
Some of the best Post-Mission e-Banter
From: Clive
“Dambuster” Johnston
Chaps, I’m glad to report that all members of the Scottish Wing
have returned to their home base although with one AC less but
I understand it has been recovered and will soon be back on
the line soon. We had a rather eventful start
to our recovery to the UK, having to make a
forced landing to carry our running repairs on
the climb-out
from our dispersal point at the
seemwell
on trailer, as
’t wor k so
chateau. This
W hat didn Price arrived with kite d for longer jourar
d”
“Broadswor and safety issue on bo ring from a brake
was followed by
th
s suffe
y
e techniingly a heal
ntly, kite wa
eased to sa
ked well
despite som to which
running repairs
More importa even got started. Pl
.
nt
W hat wor n’s briefing went well,
ys
te
ne
ex
e
we’d
ll. Th
ai
n
leak before on the first evening.
after the second
the mess ha the spirit of the missio
Group Capt
d
in
ui
fl
g
rin
wi
th
to
lved
cal issues wi bers had entered in adsword” Price and
this was reso
d as likely
engine failure
em
ro
be
g suspecte
rin
wi
Squadron m ention, in particular “B ly, top accolade must
p
m
Le
m
al
d’s fuel pu
cg sortie to
en route by AT
is worthy of Top” Knapton...but re who was frankly unre
CD” Newbol failure to restart durin dron members
“O
ip
d,
gine
Squa
stached
navigator “T on’t Panic” Woodwar
cause of en ty of help from fellow
and one more engine failure on take-off from
ted and mou
dash switch.
en
“D
nd
es
to
hi
en
pr
d
be
llPl
de
.
re
we
ar
wi
y
aw
Chartre
loose
an extremel
a refuelling stop. We did manage to cruise
cause to a
e
th
.
s
t..
te
ognisable as ficer.
la
os
iso
gh
of
gave up the
where
young RAF
the rest of the way to meet with the evacu’s kite finally although a number
ni’s house,
on
to
st
An
hn
ic
ic
Jo
”
Er
Er
p,
er
s.
pum
er to
“Dambust
ong our allie , having
ing sortie ov
was the fuel to light, in particular a
ation ship at Zeebrugge, but not before
am
e
en
e
us
ev
m
ca
nt
lco
y
lle
el
we
ce
t
Exce
ough
most
most lik
of Fran
..
ms were br
ade to feel
e
in that part
running into some bad weather past Dunkirk
we were m
other proble x. Preparation chaps.
movement
s and is in th
of
e
cle
nc
hi
ta
ve
sis
y
bo
ar
se
leads the Re erous Mercedes milit
corroded fu
young
which once more forced us into a precaue
s.
m
so
vie
m
of
nu
civ
in front
acquired
g them in
extremely
ted directly
y
camouflagin
tionary forced landing to install wet weather
Co was shaf l night fuel station. An rve. Nevspite enem
g
process of
de
in
W
ed
ct
fe
obse
y unaf
in an al
ry painful to es to suffer in
gear. Anyway, now back in Blighty nursench boys
re seemingl
ve
Fr
d
we
an
es
t
kit
en
incid
and never on uadron memsorted since
The following d the elements:
unfortunate
ing the war wounds (Over a dozen mozzy
an
h to the core
les had been
, Sq
provocation Woodward (His troub
theless, Britis ost extreme adversity the picnic chairs
er
c”
ent as
of the m
bites!) and enjoying a “Nippy Sweety” to
cid
ce
s.
in
fa
“Don’t Pani
e
es
e
th
m
th
of
rry
)
e)
sorti
e pink
the so
much light
the Scottish ” Davies (always in th
e out around
bers made
aid recovery. Many thanks to all involved
ay
pagne cam
Aw
am
s
ch
ck
nk
ho
pi
“C
and
from
er” Millar
in the week’s festivities, especially my coe knocking ing
at
ig
st
ve
“Blue Lead
in
ll
to
us
r” Tunsta
ore decides nearside rear wheel
“Rear Gunne
pilot/navigator, Dougall, and my wingman,
“Fatboy” Bl
oves
e of knockm
us
re
d
Ca
ds
an
e.
ar
th
kit
w
A
ward
CD’s
undernea
Retribution ns award = “I Say” Co
ck out of O inues undeterred.
Allan and Brian who helped nurse me
ja
a
on
ti
br
ra
Co
al
pe
io
O
cont
origin
ey instruct
“ Young
d and Fatboy
for the 300 mile trip to the boat. Thanks
Failing to ob Award = “Black Dog
er” Millar
ing not foun
e
ad
th
Le
m
e
fro
lu
n
w
“B
te
para
Fighter Do iendly Fire Award =
again.
es itself to se in scalding water. As
e
rc
fo
or
Fr
Bl
se
f
y”
O
ho
atbo
top
lot
ctim
G•
O
L
N
O
I
S
• MIS
Vi
d = “F
Newbold
Wop Awar
The Hun /
d = “OCD”
g)
ation Awar = don’t know (missin
in
rd
bo
su
d
In
action awar “Pathfinder” Black
=
ebber
Missing in
d
W
unk awar
“Brigadier”
The blind dr ane drivel award = ed 5” Daniels
in
“R
g
=
in
d
lk
ar
vies
t aw
The ta
cks Away” Da
g up all nigh
The stayin away” award = “Cho d = “Rear Gunner”
ar
s
The “chock er / captain