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THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

ASSOCIATION Rutland Branch

THE FLYING HORSESHOE December

2014

Chairman

Duncan Manderson

and all the

Rutland Branch

Committee

Wish you all

a very

Happy Christmas

and a

Peaceful New Year.

They hope to see you

at our regular monthly

Meetings in 2015.

Very Best Wishes.

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THE RUTLAND FLYING HORSESHOE

RAFA Rutland Christmas Dinner Greetham Valley Golf Club

Wednesday 3rd December – 7.30 for 8.00 £22.00 per person (including gratuity).

Final reminder If you still have to send your Christmas Dinner return please contact Roger Hyde as soon as possible, but no later than 24 Nov at: Roger Hyde, 25 The Pastures, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7DZ. Enquires: Tel 01572 813547 or email: g3zdw@btinternet.com

Prizes wanted for the RAFA Christmas Dinner Raffle. Please bring along on the night or give to one of the committee members

The Polish Community Remembers.

This is my latest parade with the Rutland Branch Standard, which is an annual event in my diary. The event is attended by representatives of the Polish Community from Melton Mowbray and Newark. Several International Consulates are represented by their own personnel. Other Air forces and Civic Worthies are also in attendance. A Dakota overflew the ceremony 3 times. This is the message that Mr S Wojtak, one of the Polish Veterans, read out on the coach travelling to Newark. “This year is the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising that began on the 1st August and lasted for 63 days. On 23 Occasions Allied Aircrews struggled through fierce opposition and violent storms to bring a few tons of supplies to the starving people. This came to be known as "The Polish Air Bridge." Some 200 low level sorties were flown by RAF, South African and Polish Aircrews plus 1 High level drop by the USAF but because of the enormous attrition rate, 96 Allied Aeroplanes were lost, The Air Bridge had to be abandoned. On the 1st of August 1944, Hitler said that the City and all its inhabitants must be eradicated. Himmler declared that all Poles in Warsaw were to be shot irrespective of age or gender. No prisoners were to be taken. On the nights of 13th and 14th of August the Royal Air Force, South African Air force and the Polish Air force made some 200 low level supply drops and the USAF one high level. A wreath was also dropped with the inscription "To our fighting comrades of the Polish Army. It cost the loss of 96 allied aircraft, a rate of attrition which could not be maintained.” General Bor Komorowski went on to say of the Aircrews "They flew low over the City and carried out their task with courage and skill that filled us with the deepest admiration. He also said Warsaw will remain forever a testimonial to the invincible strength of the Polish Nation and its unyielding will to independent life. This year we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Poland on September 1st 1939. They extensively bombed military and civilian targets. Poland mobilised a million men but they were outnumbered by overwhelming odds. On the 17th of September the Soviet Army invaded Poland from the East. The Polish government and some military units withdrew to Romania and Hungary, the campaign lasted five weeks. Polish losses were 68,000 killed, 14.000 wounded. Most Polish soldiers taken prisoner by the Soviets were sent to Labour Camps. Over 25,000 Officers and other ranks were murdered in 1940 by the Russian NKVD (The Russian Secret Police) at Katyn, Kharkow Miednoye and unknown other places. Francis Humphreys

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THE RUTLAND FLYING HORSESHOE

Remembrance 2014

As I start this article I refer to past articles in our April & June editions where we spoke of a visit by our Standard bearer and others to Ypres at Easter. We tried to explain the atrocities of the First World War. I don’t think we even scratched the surface. Over the last few days we have been given a much better idea of the carnage that took place. I hadn’t ever been, or to be absolutely honest wished to go to see the War Graves. This year Ivy & I had the opportunity to spend a day touring the area and I have never spent such a memorable day. I really didn’t understand what had happened 100 years ago. I had no concept of so many men being killed; I didn’t understand that weapons were still being unearthed on a daily basis: I didn’t understand why everything was so quiet, there no birds, except for one black swan on a small lake. I didn’t know that the names on the Menin Gate were the names of the fallen without a grave not a duplicate of names on the white head stones. At Passchendaele for every few yards gained, thousands of soles were lost. I think “O What A Lovely War” really brings it home. This year I unfortunately was unable to attend the Rutland Service and parade in Oakham but I have a few notes from Kathryn Manderson. The service was as usual held in All Saints Church in Oakham. A collage was made by the Sunday School children and placed on the pulpit. It looked really effective. It had been created from crushed red tissue paper and stuck onto the white card.

The parade was well attended with a full church. Cadet Andrew Birkes did a reading and Cadet Kathryn Miller, who was the young person, who with AVM Nigel Sudborough Chairman of the Rutland Branch of The Royal British Legion, read the Kohima epitaph. It was very moving when the cadet said “at the going down of the sun we will remember them”.

Cadet Yasmin Makinde who placed the wreath for the cadet 'squadron'

RAFA members marching after the service. Phil seen here laid the wreath for Rutland RAFA.

I was invited to attend the Loughborough Remembrance parade by the Typhoon Squadron at the University. Their seemed to be thousands of people there with a large parade with a dozen plus units and a number of bands. The service was held in Queens Park by the Loughborough Carillon Tower & War Memorial which was built after WW1 to commemorate the men of the town who gave their lives in the Great War. The only purpose built Carillon Tower is unique in Britain. The reason I mention the tower is that during the period of silence thousands upon thousands of red poppies are dropped from the top creating a remarkable effect. After the service, at the town hall, a number of campaign medals were presented to a Reserve Regiment who had just returned from active service. Peter

Loughborough Carillon Tower & War Memorial

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The Gazette

3rd December Christmas Dinner Greetham Valley Golf Club

2nd January TBA

4th February RAF DETAS Cadets Loughborough Uni. TBC

2014 Summer Expeditions to Kenya & Colorado

Chairman: Duncan Manderson, Pickwell Grange, Whissendine, LE15 7ER, 01664 474274

Vice Chairman: Gordon Diffey. Tel 01572 722068 Branch Secretary: Phil Marston,12 Seaton Road, Uppingham, LE15 9QX, 01572 822731 Treasurer: Gordon Diffey. Tel 01572 722068 Editor Flying Horseshoe: Peter Hart, , Tel 01572756750 peterivy42@btinternet.com Speaker Coordinator: Wings Appeal Organiser : Honorary Welfare Officer: Richard Foster, Tel 01780 411020 lizrich5049@hotmail.co.uk Membership Secretary: Angie Humphreys, email angelaandfrancis@talktalk.net Meetings Coordinator: Bob Tacey, Tel 01572 812455, email taceybob@hotmail.com Social Secretary: Derek Bury, Tel 01572 755969, email derek_bury@hotmail.co.uk Standard Bearer: Francis Humphreys, Christmas Dinner Organiser, Roger Hyde, Tel 01572 813547email g3zdw@btinternet.com

Branch Committee Members

Dates For Your Diary

Branch Meeting Branch Meetings are First Wednesday every month Venue:

Cottesmore Sports & Social Club 7.00 for 7.30pm

Personal Notices.

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Life Member, Mr Basil Lowe. His funeral will take place at 1230 on Friday 14 Nov 2014 at Peterborough Crematorium. His widow says that he was an active 92 year old and ‘well known’ in Oakham

. Angie Humphreys Membership Secretary