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264 Squadron News 264 Squadron News H M Armed Forces We Defy January 2013 We Defy Issue 1/13 Editor: Geoff Faulkner, 8 Rosamond Avenue, Shipton Gorge, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4LN. 01308 897275 Email: [email protected] Belated Congratulations: Reunion: 2013 I didn’t get much of a response to my request about the I had this cutting from another reunion in the September’s edition. However, after their local newspaper sending some individual emails and making phonecalls, I sent to me by Bob have now booked the Watermill Hotel at Bourne End and Tacey regarding one of getting a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection sorted. There our active members. were a few who wanted Hendon, but the majority I spoke Sadly it arrived after to decided on the former. the Squadron News had been printed and Email Address: Please note that I am changing my serv- sent out, but neverthe- er, so my email address will change, but I’ll notify you of less, we send our best this soonest. wishes to Ken and Pam on reaching this Editor’s Comment: record anniversary. This edition is a rather pictorial one, as I have come Well done to you both. across some pictures of our Squadron from the dark days I’m sure he’ll be saying of the war. It is unfortunate that there is little information to some of us, “Get about who the particular people are shown there, other some time in sonny!” than they are all 264 Squadron. I decided to print them, so that they are not lost forever, and by placing them in our Squadron News, to a degree they have found their rightful home at last. Squadron Blazer Badges After the last reunion and also following the last Squad- ron News, I have managed to source a new supplier of Badges and have to say that I am pleased with them. I ordered 5 of which 2 are delivered, so if you would like Line-up of 264 at Kirton in Lindsay, cica 1940 one then it will be on a first come first served basis. They are well made and Group Captain Bob Olding DSC, OBE Gold Wire are in Gold and Silver wire. It is with sadness I have to report on the passing of This picture is only from a Bob Olding, our President, on October 19th 2012. I printer scanner, so it’s a tried to email all those on the internet as soon as I bit ‘flat’ and doesn’t really knew and I was so pleased that some of you could do it justice. It is actually attend the funeral at St Mary Magdalene Church, quite a bit brighter than Church Road, Brampton, Cambs, PE28 4PF. Sadly I shown here, but tasteful . couldn’t attend because of a hospital appointment. So if you want one, then We have several articles about Bob including an email or phone me. As informative Eulogy from Wing Commander Patrick they say, once its gone, Cliff OBE, which I will try to condense and add in to it’s gone! this Squadron News. With the hope that I do both Bob and the article justice. Silver Wire 1 Group Captain Robert (Bob) Olding DSC OBE It is with sadness that I have to report the passing of our President, Group Captain Robert Charles Olding DSC. AFC. Bob had been poorly for a long time and in later years requiring a lot of attention. Bob has been our President for a number of years and although not able to do all those things he would have liked, was pleased to be able to come to the reunions with ‘Liz’ and meet up with his old com- rades. I have had a number of articles about him, including a copy of an Eu- logy from Wing Commander Patrick Cliff OBE about Bob. I will try to condense this as it ran into 3 pages, but feel that it would be fitting to record it in our Squadron News. " Bob was born on 29 November 1932 at Colchester. His father was in the Army and his mother died when he was four, after which he was brought up by his maternal grandparents. He attended Colchester Grammar School where he played rugby and tennis and on leaving the headmaster said to him, " Go away Olding and don't come back until you have made a success of yourself ". (I wonder if he ever did go back?) .He then joineed in the Air Training Corps and also started work in a firm of accountants. Bob joined the Royal Air Force as a National Servicemen in 1951, volunteering for aircrew and was selected to be a navigator. He trained in the Ansom, Brigand and Valetta, but Bob suffered from air sickness and it was only on his last trip he persuaded the ‘powers that be’ that he had overcome the problem. In November 1952 he was posted to 87 Squadron at our RAF Wahn in southern Germany for his first operational tour. Bob returned to the UK in 1954 to join 264 Squadron flying the Meteor Mk 11 Night Fighter at RAF Linton on Ouse. There he flew with his trusty friend Lew Harris for some years. When they were on standby, sitting in the cockpit at the end of the runway, Lew used to get bored, and would start unscrewing all the lightbulbs on the instrument panel; it was depended on how many light bulbs he had in his lap, as to how embarrassed he was when they were scrambled. Bob skied in the RAF championships, where he was known as the ‘Black Knight’, because he wore a black ski suit and went straight down the mountain. He volunteered to fly with the Royal Navy, and was accepted and served with the Fleet Air Arm 809 and 893 squadrons flying Sea Venoms. Bob’s Squadron was deployed to Malta in August !956 for the Suez Crisis and then on to the Aircraft Carrier HMS Eagle. On the second day of action, 2nd November, Bob was flying in a formation of eight Sea Venoms which attacked Almaza airfield, and on their second pass, Bob’s aircraft was hit under the forward fuselage. Bob suffered a severe leg injuries and applied a tourniquet to his leg and injected himself with a painkilling morphine capsule. The captain decided to carry out a wheels up, no flap landing. Bob, who remained conscious throughout, was able to call the air speed out as he usually did, they landed on their second attempt. Bob had lost consciousness on landing. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the Royal Navy, an unusual award of this Royal Navy decoration to an RAF officer. An extract from a letter from a Major in the same hospital as Bob.. ” A boy of his age might well be forgiven for feeling despondent and I never once saw him with his tail down. Although he had lingered so near to death and was very weak and at times in consider- able pain, his cheerfulness and fortitude—that most admired virtue - was an inspiration to all, staff and patients alike. " He returned to flying within six months of its injuries which was a totally remarkable effort. We should not forget Bob did not have the benefit of the modern medical procedures of today. However, he created a self inflicted injury when, trying to ride a bicycle for the first time, he fell off and broke his arm. In January 1962 in Germany, Bob met the love of his life Elizabeth: they got engaged the following June and married in October Bob and Elizabeth returned to the UK with their first daughter Philippa where he joined the OCU at Thorney Island and converted onto the Argosy and then flew with 267 Squadron at Benson. Whilst away in Libya doing night flying training Elizabeth gave birth to Joanna their second daughter. Bob was later appointed ADC to the Queen and regarded his tour, as station commander, the highlight of his career. It was the height of the troubles and among his many responsibilities he had the sad task of arranging for Lord Mountbatten's body to be flown back to England. He retired from the RAF in January 1984. It should also be mentioned he had a penchant for Jaguar cars all his service career, alt- hough some had not been totally suitable for his physique. Bob flew in Night Fighters, ground attack aircraft, photo reconnaissance Canberas and tactical and medium transport aircraft. He served in the UK, Germany, the Mediterranean, Northern Ireland, Italy and Belgium and progress from officer cadet to twice decorat- ed in Group Capt ably supported by his loving wife, Elizabeth. And In closing this precis of Bob’s eulogy, I tmust print the final sentance, “It should be said that Bob was a man of integrity, humour, fun, cheerfulness and enormous fortitude”. We will remember him! My thanks to Wing Commander Patrick Cliff OBE for alowing me to use his notes and also sincere apologies for having to precis it. I would be happy to send copies of the full eulogy to any member should they like one. 2 For any Railway Enthusiast Did you know that there was a Railway Engine of the Battle of Britain Class named “264 Squadron“ and bore our Squadron crest. I think sadly, that it has long been scrapped, but obviously merited a Locomotive to be named after us.. You can just about make the Squadron Crest out on the side of the engine.
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