RAF BOMBER COMMAND SIGNING EVENT - 3rd November
We’re delighted to be joined at the Wendover Gallery by veterans who served with RAF Bomber Command to meet enthusiasts and sign items for collectors.
Our special guests include:
Warrant Officer WILLIAM GOULD - completing training as a Flight Engineer, he went on to serve with 622 Sqn on Lancasters where he completed a full tour of operations during the winter of 1944/45.
Warrant Officer CECIL ‘CHICK’ CHANDLER - joining the RAF in 1942 he served as a Flight Engineer with 15 Sqn on Stirlings and Lancasters before transferring to 622 Sqn on Lancasters. He completed a total of 28 Ops’ including raids on Nuremberg and on D-Day.
Warrant Officer DONALD FRASER - qualifying as a Flight Engineer he joined 101 (Special Duties) Sqn in July 1943 based at RAF Ludford Magna. Their Lancasters carried special equipment for jamming German radio signals and he completed a full tour of operations including 12 missions to Berlin.
Flight Sergeant TONY SNOOK - joining the RAF in 1943 he qualified as a Rear Gunner and joined 115 Sqn based at RAF Witchford near Ely in Cambridgeshire. He completed 5 missions on Lancasters including three relief drops during Operation Manna and Operation Dodge to Italy to repatriate soldiers of the Eighth Army.
Flight Sergeant LEN MANNING Ld’H - after completing training he joined 57 Sqn based at East Kirkby and flew as a Rear Gunner on Lancasters. On only his 3rd mission on the night of 18/19th July 1944, Len’s aircraft was shot down and after baling out he was hidden by French civilians before returning to Britain.
Flight Lieutenant BOB LEEDHAM - originally a Pilot on Beauforts with 86 Sqn, Bob then joined 90 Sqn equipped with Stirlings and completed a full tour of Operations. Having finished this first tour, he was later attached to 57 Sqn on Lancasters as a revision instructor brought in to help reduce the number of losses of new and inexperienced crews. Post-war with BOAC he flew the first Comet 4 transatlantic flight from New York to London.
Flight Lieutenant RUSSELL ‘RUSTY’ WAUGHMAN DFC AFC Ld’H - volunteering for the RAF in 1941, Rusty qualified as a Pilot and was posted to 101 (Special Duties) Sqn based at RAF Ludford Magna in Lincolnshire. He completed a full tour of 30 Operations on Lancasters including the Nuremberg raid on 30 March 1944 and survived several major incidents including a mid-air collision and, on the night of 3/4 May 1944, having his Lancaster flipped upside down by an explosion whilst over the target at Mailly-le-Camp in France.
Our guests are happy to sign autographs for collectors and items purchased at the event over £60 can be signed free of charge.
Bookings are now being taken so please contact us to secure your place.