RAF BOMBER COMMAND & S.O.E. SIGNING EVENT – 10th JANUARY
For this exciting first event of 2016 we’ll be joined at the Wendover Gallery by RAF Bomber Command veterans and those who worked with Special Operations Executives who served during WWII.
RAF BOMBER COMMAND
On 9th January 1941, almost 75 years to the date of our event, the first prototypes of the Avro Lancaster took to the air. It went on to become one of the most famous aircraft of WWII and despite the overwhelming odds stacked against the brave young men who flew the Lancaster, they didn’t flinch from their task until victory was finally achieved.
To help commemorate the anniversary, we are delighted to be joined by Pilots and Aircrew who flew Lancasters with RAF Bomber Command during WWII.
Flight Sergeant WILLIAM TAIT-MOORE Ld'H - flew as an Observer on Wellingtons, Hudsons, Halifaxes and Lancasters, but also flew Lysanders with 138 Sqn on Special Duties, carrying SOE agents and goods in and out for the Maquis.
Flight Lieutenant RUSSELL ‘RUSTY’ WAUGHMAN DFC AFC Ld'H - served as a Pilot with 101 (Special Duties) Sqn on Lancasters. He completed a full tour of 30 Ops and survived having his Lancaster flipped upside down by an explosion whilst over the target in France.
Flying Officer TOM SAYER DFM - served as a Pilot on Whitleys with 10 OTU from St Eval and later 102 Sqn at Pocklington flying Halifaxes. He completed 35 Ops before becoming an Instructor on Whitleys and Wellingtons with 81 OTU where he trained crews to drop SOE agents behind enemy lines.
Warrant Officer ROY BRIGGS - served as a Wireless Operator on Lancasters with 576 Sqn. He took part in several notable operations over north-west Europe including raids on Hitler’s Alpine home at Berchtesgaden.
Warrant Officer HARRY IRONS DFC - joined the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940 and completed two full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Sqn and later 158 Sqn, both on Halifaxes. He took part in many famous raids including attacks against the Tirpitz and Berchtesgaden.
S.O.E.
Nicknamed ‘Churchill’s Secret Army’, Special Operations Executives served throughout occupied Europe during WWII, secretly conducting reconnaissance, espionage and sabotage with the aid of local resistance movements. Carefully selected RAF pilots of Special Duties Squadrons flew night after night deep into enemy territory, often landing on unlit remote fields, to deliver these secret agents, collect resistance leaders or downed airmen to fly them home, and all without attracting unwanted attention of enemy night-fighters.
Given the secrecy of their roles during WWII, it is extremely rare that we have the opportunity to host anyone associated with the S.O.E. movement and are therefore delighted to be holding this event.
Sergeant STANLEY CLEGG - served with the RAF relaying secret information between Bletchley Park and SOE field agents. Working closely with the British 1st Army he was based in Algiers, Tunis and Monte Casino on D-Day. With the US 6th Army he then moved north through Southern France and took part in the Battle of the Bulge.
Sergeant CHARLES WARD - served with the British 1st Army from their Moroccan Headquarters in Tangiers following Operation Torch. He was responsible for signals, ciphering and deciphering information between this base and SOE agents based in the field.
Cadet Ensign MARGARET WARD - trained as a Nurse and aged just 18 volunteered for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry who undertook both nursing and intelligence work. Also based at Tangiers she worked in Morse Key communicating information with SOE field agents.
Margaret and Charles got engaged in November 1945.
Our guests are happy to sign items for customers and entry is FREE but STRICTLY by ticket only. Bookings are now being taken and we look forward to welcoming new collectors to the Gallery as well as old friends.
