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fubar57
General
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
Wing Commander Dick Summers
ONE of the last remaining Battle of Britain pilots and former 'Old Boy' of Ermysted's Grammar School has died at the age of 95.
Wing Commander Richard Gordon Battensby 'Dick' Summers OBE, OStJ, AFM, who died on May 7, was born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, in 1921 and attended Ermysted's from 1935 to 1939. When he left Ermysted's, he joined the RAF and was fast-tracked into active service. With the 219 Squadron, he took part in the Battle of Britain and became "one of the few" immortalised in Winston Churchill's famous speech.
In 1940 he joined the Ferry Pool and Defence Flight at Takoradi, West Africa, where pilots suffered extreme contrasts in temperature and, because of the sand, the average life span of an aircraft engine was just 40 hours.
In July 1941, the young Summers crash-landed on a beach in Liberia. To avoid capture, he set off barefoot, walking 48 miles before taking to the sea, where he was picked up by a passing British merchantman.
Aged just 21, he was awarded the Air Force Medal. Two years later, he was posted as bomber leader to 48 Squadron at Gibraltar and in 1944 he returned home to be bombing leader at Aldergrove. He continued to hold a number of armament office positions until the end of the war.
From 1953 to 1956, he was again in the midst of action as deputy station commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya, during the Mau Mau emergency. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his "gallant and distinguished services". He retired from the RAF in 1968 as a Wing Commander.
In November, 2010, he returned to his old school to take part in its Armistice Day service and to receive a 70th anniversary memorial plaque in his name. The plaque was one of a number presented by The Battle of Britain Historical Society with the aim of preserving the memories of those who took part in the Second World War battle.
Wing Commander Summers, who was 89 at the time, travelled to Skipton from his home in Cheltenham, accompanied by his family.
But his involvement happened by chance after an appeal for information about him was seen in the Hull Daily Mail by his niece. His details were then published on the Battle of Britain Forum and seen by the twin brother of the then head of music at Ermysted's, Simon Gregory. After being presented with the plaque by the then headteacher, Graham Hamilton, Wing Commander Summers spoke of how pleased he was to be back at his old school.
He said when he was a pupil, the then headmaster, Mr McIntosh, was keen on corporal punishment, but despite being caned, he had survived.
From 1953 to 1956, he was again in the midst of action as deputy station commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya, during the Mau Mau emergency. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his "gallant and distinguished services". He retired from the RAF in 1968 as a Wing Commander.
source: Craven Herald
ONE of the last remaining Battle of Britain pilots and former 'Old Boy' of Ermysted's Grammar School has died at the age of 95.
Wing Commander Richard Gordon Battensby 'Dick' Summers OBE, OStJ, AFM, who died on May 7, was born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, in 1921 and attended Ermysted's from 1935 to 1939. When he left Ermysted's, he joined the RAF and was fast-tracked into active service. With the 219 Squadron, he took part in the Battle of Britain and became "one of the few" immortalised in Winston Churchill's famous speech.
In 1940 he joined the Ferry Pool and Defence Flight at Takoradi, West Africa, where pilots suffered extreme contrasts in temperature and, because of the sand, the average life span of an aircraft engine was just 40 hours.
In July 1941, the young Summers crash-landed on a beach in Liberia. To avoid capture, he set off barefoot, walking 48 miles before taking to the sea, where he was picked up by a passing British merchantman.
Aged just 21, he was awarded the Air Force Medal. Two years later, he was posted as bomber leader to 48 Squadron at Gibraltar and in 1944 he returned home to be bombing leader at Aldergrove. He continued to hold a number of armament office positions until the end of the war.
From 1953 to 1956, he was again in the midst of action as deputy station commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya, during the Mau Mau emergency. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his "gallant and distinguished services". He retired from the RAF in 1968 as a Wing Commander.
In November, 2010, he returned to his old school to take part in its Armistice Day service and to receive a 70th anniversary memorial plaque in his name. The plaque was one of a number presented by The Battle of Britain Historical Society with the aim of preserving the memories of those who took part in the Second World War battle.
Wing Commander Summers, who was 89 at the time, travelled to Skipton from his home in Cheltenham, accompanied by his family.
But his involvement happened by chance after an appeal for information about him was seen in the Hull Daily Mail by his niece. His details were then published on the Battle of Britain Forum and seen by the twin brother of the then head of music at Ermysted's, Simon Gregory. After being presented with the plaque by the then headteacher, Graham Hamilton, Wing Commander Summers spoke of how pleased he was to be back at his old school.
He said when he was a pupil, the then headmaster, Mr McIntosh, was keen on corporal punishment, but despite being caned, he had survived.
From 1953 to 1956, he was again in the midst of action as deputy station commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya, during the Mau Mau emergency. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his "gallant and distinguished services". He retired from the RAF in 1968 as a Wing Commander.
source: Craven Herald
fubar57
General
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
John Francis Reed, age 94, died Monday, February 27, 2017 at home in Annapolis, MD. Mr. Reed was born August 22, 1922 in Paterson, NJ the son of the late William and the late Jennie (Cole) Reed. He was one of thirteen children and lived in Wayne before moving to Toms River in 1978.
Mr. Reed joined the Army in 1943 during WWII. He was transferred to the Army Air Corp and became a waist gunner in a B-17. Shot down on his second mission, October 11, 1944, he became a POW i...n Germany. He was liberated on April 26, 1945 and received a purple heart for injuries he received on that mission.
On June 11, 1949 he married the love of his life, the late Ruth Clara Simpson. Together they had five children. He was retired from the Motor Vehicle Commission in Freehold, NJ in 1985 where he was a supervisor for 20 years. Mr. Reed was a member of VFW in Toms River.
Mr. Reed is survived by his beloved children, David Francis and his wife Donna, Susan Ruth and her husband John Schulte, William John and his wife Christine, Steven Michael and his wife Janie, and daughter-in-law, Constance Reed; fourteen devoted grandchildren; fifteen cherished great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth (Simpson) Reed, his son, John Richard and all of his siblings.
Mr. Reed joined the Army in 1943 during WWII. He was transferred to the Army Air Corp and became a waist gunner in a B-17. Shot down on his second mission, October 11, 1944, he became a POW i...n Germany. He was liberated on April 26, 1945 and received a purple heart for injuries he received on that mission.
On June 11, 1949 he married the love of his life, the late Ruth Clara Simpson. Together they had five children. He was retired from the Motor Vehicle Commission in Freehold, NJ in 1985 where he was a supervisor for 20 years. Mr. Reed was a member of VFW in Toms River.
Mr. Reed is survived by his beloved children, David Francis and his wife Donna, Susan Ruth and her husband John Schulte, William John and his wife Christine, Steven Michael and his wife Janie, and daughter-in-law, Constance Reed; fourteen devoted grandchildren; fifteen cherished great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth (Simpson) Reed, his son, John Richard and all of his siblings.
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
fubar57
General
Ken Wilkinson, one of the last Battle of Britain veterans, dies aged 99
Ken Wilkinson, one of the last Battle of Britain veterans, dies aged 99
Ken Wilkinson, one of the last Battle of Britain veterans, dies aged 99
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
at6
1st Sergeant
Charles Cawthorn
One of the last surviving Lancaster bomber pilots, 92-year-old Charles Cawthorn of Swindon, Wiltshire, known as Charlie Boy, died at march, 2017 in the Swindon's Great Western Hospital.
Cawthorn flew 27 missions, often into Germany's feared Ruhr Valley; he served with Bomber Commands in the 61st squadron.
The courageous wing commander joined up at age 15 and served for 30 years. After being shot down in 1944 and bailing out in Nazi-controlled Deurne, Holland, he made an incredible escape by hiding in a haystack before burying his uniform underground and escaping dressed as a peasant. He was listed as missing in action, but returned to Britain thanks to the Dutch Resistance – and eventually appeared at his mom's house asking what was for super.
His heroic feat earned him a Distinguished Flying Medal, personally presented by King George.
His son, Stuart, a Toronto, Canada resident, said he had never known a more courageous man than his father. He was very thorough, and he always thought there were no pretexts, a person had to put in the effort and try diligently. His daughter-in-law Roslyn added that he was unpredictable. He was strict but could also be the life of the party. He was accustomed to being in control and he did not suffer fools gladly.
Cawthorn was born in Dalston, London and had a keen interest in boxing and football in his early years. He enlisted in the RAF as an apprentice when he was 15. Despite his young age, he gained flying experience with the Lancaster Bomber Squadron during hazardous missions in Germany.
He married his sweetheart Hazel in 1946, and they had two children, Stuart and Cherie. His career took the family, living on RAF bases scattered around the world, to Germany, Cyprus, and Singapore. Many years later his career would come full circle when he returned to RAF Halton, where he began as an apprentice, and now served as wing commander to teach new recruits. Stuart said he would always treasure the memory of his father's visit to Hamilton, Canada, and a surprise sojourn to one of the only existing Lancaster bombers.
The trip saw Cawthorn return to the controls of the famous warplane. He was telling the pilots things they did not know, Stuart explained, and he was absolutely ecstatic.
Charles relocated to Swindon in the 1970s before settling down in Highworth in 1985. He had eight great-grandchildren including two named after him and five grandchildren.
During his time living in Swindon, he enjoyed traveling, golf, and gardening.
One of the last surviving Lancaster bomber pilots, 92-year-old Charles Cawthorn of Swindon, Wiltshire, known as Charlie Boy, died at march, 2017 in the Swindon's Great Western Hospital.
Cawthorn flew 27 missions, often into Germany's feared Ruhr Valley; he served with Bomber Commands in the 61st squadron.
The courageous wing commander joined up at age 15 and served for 30 years. After being shot down in 1944 and bailing out in Nazi-controlled Deurne, Holland, he made an incredible escape by hiding in a haystack before burying his uniform underground and escaping dressed as a peasant. He was listed as missing in action, but returned to Britain thanks to the Dutch Resistance – and eventually appeared at his mom's house asking what was for super.
His heroic feat earned him a Distinguished Flying Medal, personally presented by King George.
His son, Stuart, a Toronto, Canada resident, said he had never known a more courageous man than his father. He was very thorough, and he always thought there were no pretexts, a person had to put in the effort and try diligently. His daughter-in-law Roslyn added that he was unpredictable. He was strict but could also be the life of the party. He was accustomed to being in control and he did not suffer fools gladly.
Cawthorn was born in Dalston, London and had a keen interest in boxing and football in his early years. He enlisted in the RAF as an apprentice when he was 15. Despite his young age, he gained flying experience with the Lancaster Bomber Squadron during hazardous missions in Germany.
He married his sweetheart Hazel in 1946, and they had two children, Stuart and Cherie. His career took the family, living on RAF bases scattered around the world, to Germany, Cyprus, and Singapore. Many years later his career would come full circle when he returned to RAF Halton, where he began as an apprentice, and now served as wing commander to teach new recruits. Stuart said he would always treasure the memory of his father's visit to Hamilton, Canada, and a surprise sojourn to one of the only existing Lancaster bombers.
The trip saw Cawthorn return to the controls of the famous warplane. He was telling the pilots things they did not know, Stuart explained, and he was absolutely ecstatic.
Charles relocated to Swindon in the 1970s before settling down in Highworth in 1985. He had eight great-grandchildren including two named after him and five grandchildren.
During his time living in Swindon, he enjoyed traveling, golf, and gardening.