GALLERY SIGNING EVENT – 12th FEBRUARY
What an exciting event this promises to be! We’ll be joined by veterans of both 617 Squadron Bomber Command and the often unsung heroines who served throughout WWII, the ‘Women at War’.
Our special guests include:
617 SQUADRON
Squadron Leader GEORGE ‘JOHNNY’ JOHNSON DFM - previously with 97 Sqn, he joined 617 Sqn as Bomb-Aimer on Lancaster AJ-T which attacked the earth Sorpe Dam. Forced to use a reserve aircraft which had not been fitted with the twin spotlights for gauging accurate height, it was on their tenth attempt that Johnny finally released his bomb, scoring a direct hit.
Wing Commander JOHN BELL MBE DFC Ld’H - after training as an Observer, he flew his first tour as a Bomb-Aimer with 619 Sqn. He volunteered for a second tour with 617 Sqn, completing 50 Ops’ of which 29 were flown on special missions with 617 Sqn.
Squadron Leader BENNY GOODMAN - flew Lancasters with 617 Sqn where he completed a full tour of 30 Ops’ including missions over Germany, Holland and France as well as taking part in all of the raids against the German Battleship Tirpitz.
Warrant Officer FRANK TILLEY - after training as a Flight Engineer he volunteered for 617 Sqn and took part in all the raids against the Tirpitz. At the end of 1944 he was forced to crash land in Lincolnshire returning from Politz, East Germany after being badly shot up and injured.
Leading Aircraftman BERNARD MABEY - joined the RAF in 1943 and trained as Ground Crew working on Halifaxes with 640 Sqn at RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire. In 1945 he transferred to RAF Waddington as part of ‘Tiger Force’ working on Lancasters with both 617 and 9 Sqns.
Flight Lieutenant SYDNEY GRIMES - completed a full tour as a Wireless Operator on Lancasters with 106 Sqn before joining 617 Sqn for a second tour. His first mission was attacking the German battleship Tirpitz, before returning a month later on the mission that sank it. He finished the war having completed a total of 43 Ops.
Doctor MARY STOPES-ROE - the daughter of Sir Barnes Wallis, who as a child helped inspire her father to invent Upkeep - the 'Bouncing Bomb' - while skipping stones across water as was famously portrayed in the 1955 film 'The Dam Busters'.
WOMEN AT WAR
ATA First Officer MARY ELLIS - joined the ATA in 1941 and flew 76 types of aircraft including over 400 Spitfires. In total she delivered around 1000 aircraft during WWII and escaped unhurt from two crash landings. Mary will be over 100 years old by the date of the event!
Plotter IRIS McCLEMENTS - served as a plotter in the Ops Room at York with 6 (Royal Canadian Airforce) Bomber Group.
And special guest signer:
Warrant Officer MAC McCLEMENTS - joined the RAF in 1944 and having completed training as a Mid-Upper Gunner. He joined 10 Sqn flying Halifaxes with whom he completed 38 Operations.
Further guests to follow – watch this space for more info!
Our guests are happy to sign items for customers and entry is FREE but STRICTLY by ticket only. We are currently taking bookings so please contact us now to reserve your place.
