Godmanchester Bomber Command Veterans Days 2017

Our third Veterans Day was as well attended as ever, although on the Veteran front we had a couple call off during the week running up to the Saturday, and sadly two very late on the Friday evening (which caused me a lot of grief as I had to rush around on Facebook to tell the those attending that they wouldn't be there) Nevertheless we had some great veterans come along and the atmosphere was fantastic, besides some regulars we also had some new veterans. Here Ken Johnson talks to some RAF personnel who helped out on the day and later signing a boxed display

      

Here from left to right: Johnny Johnson (second visit to the event), Rusty Waughman (an ever present), Ken Johnson and Reg Payne (regular attendee's), Henry Wagner (third year with us) and new veteran Ron Needle, who's own book 'Saved by the Bell' tells his remarkable story.  

 

         

    

My book was launched at the event, and I took the opportunity of grabbing Philip Jeffs and getting a picture of two XV Squadron books covering the same period of the Squadrons history. Philips father was Warrant Officer Donald Jeffs, a man who flew in the first two MacRoberts Reply's, surviving the first crash at Lossiemouth and being the only survivor of the second one in Denmark. His book tells his father's remarkable story.

A great display by the exhibitors, here a member of the BoBMF team chats with local artist Barry Limbrick, whist Steve Roberts put up a fantastic display of WW2 RAF memorabilia.  

  

The Brampton Scale Model Club kindly donated an 100% accurate model of Drummond Wilson's 'G for George' (or The Goblin as its was also known), and as per usual they had a fantastic display of WW2 military aircraft.

  

I think it's important for today's youngsters to meet and talk to the veterans and here two of our regular young visitors make some great memories

 

Local baker extraordinaire Claire Hurd delivers a scrumpy cake, a cake who's life was sadly cut short by a group of hungry veterans. Thanks Claire!

Prints based on the memories of veteran Reg Paye are discussed in some depth, whilst father and son discuss the 8th USAF display, a new exhibit for 2017.

  

Steve Cooney of the Tempsford Museum and Archive with their usual excellent display, whilst the RAF Intelligence Museum from Chicksands display some original RAF WW2 Target Maps. Tempsford Museum and Archive are well worth a visit, so too the church and village memorials. Check them out on the link page. 

  

I presented a copy of 'Stirling to Essen' to the Pathfinder Heritage Museum at RAF Wyton to go into their archive. They have been regular attendees at the event, this year they brought the Mid Upper Turret from a Short Stirling, which was certainly popular with the visitors.

 

The day in full swing, the signing line was full and hundreds of items were signed. It's a great way for exhibitors to network with other groups and also get their name out there. I do not charge the exhibitors for the space. 

Ken Johnson says 'thank you' for his end of day goody bag. These are filled with Beer, Cheese and Chutney, a thank you from me for their attendance, without which the day would not exist.