600 Praeter Sescentos “THE RIGHT OF THE LINE” 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF Association Newsletter Patron: The Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton December 2010 Editorial Welcome to another 600 Sqn Association Newsletter albeit this time from a new Editor. I have taken over from Robin Van Geene who stepped down as Editor and would like to thank Robin for all his superb efforts to date. So, as Robin reported in his first newsletter, this is also my first attempt at putting together a newsletter. I have tried to jazz things up a bit, so if things are not as you like them, please do let me know – but please do also tell me if you dont like it! The aim is to pass on all our news and details of our events in a way, which is easy to digest, informative, fun, and most importantly interesting to read. If I miss the plot occasionally, do tell me so I can correct it for next time. First, a little about me so those of you who have not met me know who I am. I joined the RAuxAF in 1997 as a raw recruit following some time in the late 70’s with 86 (Heston & Isleworth) Squadron, Air Training Corps and then the Royal Engineers in the early 80’s. I joined 1 MHU as an AC under the then OC Edna Partridge before we were “Rebadged” as 600 Sqn. I reached the lofty heights of Corporal before personal matters prompted me to “retire” early in 2002. In 2007, I assumed the role of Association Standard bearer and late 2008 was appointed committee member. Unlike many of our readers, I do still have to undertake the demon “work” and my day job as one of Facilities Manager heading up the Group Facilities services across 22 offices for 700 employees for the oldest Property & Construction consultancy in the City of London. Gardiner and Theobald began trading in 1840 are still going strong today. Married with 4 Children, Julie & I live in Reading and I commute daily into my second home, London to work so close (ish) enough to London to get involved with Association business. My Standard bearing has taken me all over the country joining some very high profile parades and events, many of which I will report on in this and future newsletters. It is only 6 Months since our last newsletter, and in that time we have lost some well-known and well-respected members. It is only right and proper that the obituaries of those who have left us follow. 1 Obituries Wing Commander Norman Hayes Wing Commander Norman Hayes, who has died aged 98, flew night fighters fitted with top- secret radar equipment during the Battle of Britain; he also piloted the only aircraft to survive an attack on Rotterdam on the opening day of the German invasion of the Low Countries. (Norman Hayes) During the early morning hours of May 10 1940 reports reached London that German transport aircraft and paratroopers were descending on Dutch airfields. A strike against the key airfield at Waalhaven near Rotterdam was ordered but, as a result of a Cabinet ruling “to avoid possible casualties to Dutch soldiers or civilians”, bombers were not used. Six Blenheim fighters of No 600 Squadron were sent instead. It was a disastrous decision: five of the Blenheims were shot down within minutes of machine-gunning the aircraft on the ground. Hayes was the pilot of the sixth. As he approached the airfield, Junkers Ju 52s were landing and Hayes and his gunner destroyed one on the ground. Then Luftwaffe fighters appeared on the scene and attacked the Blenheims. Hayes’s aircraft was hit and petrol started to flood into the cockpit, but he avoided further damage as his gunner directed him in evasive action. As he escaped at very low level, another transport was seen preparing to land and Hayes attacked despite being harassed by the enemy fighters. The aircraft went down with one engine on fire. Departing from the target area, Hayes saw three Heinkel bombers cross ahead of his aircraft and, despite the damage to his own aircraft, attacked them. Return fire forced him to dive away. At the Dutch coast, Hayes coaxed his badly damaged aircraft to 15,000ft to give himself “some gliding space”. He skilfully nursed his aircraft back to his airfield at Manston in Kent, where he was met by the station commander. When asked to report, he commented simply: “I am the only one to return.” In due course he was awarded the DFC and his gunner received the DFM. 2 "Final Destination Waalhaven" Painting presented to 600 Sqn by Sqn Ldr Kevin O'Shaughnessy QVRM AE on his retirement in 2003. The central ac, BQ-O, was flown by Norman Hayes and was the only ac to return. Thomas Norman Hayes was born on June 26 1912 at Walthamstow and was educated at Dulwich College. After school he joined Lloyds Underwriters and in July 1936 joined 600 (City of London) Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force, where he learned to fly Demon biplane fighters. Together with all other Auxiliary Air Force personnel, he was called to full-time service in August 1939, by which time the squadron had received Blenheim fighters. During the Battle of Britain the role of the squadron was changed to night fighting, when the aircraft were fitted with the then top secret in-cockpit airborne interception radar. But it was a rudimentary piece of kit and little success was achieved in the early days. After losses during intensive enemy air attacks , the squadron moved to Hornchuch in Essex. Hayes and his colleagues tried to intercept the German bombers during night attacks on London, but with such poor radar equipment success was elusive. The squadron received the new and much superior Beaufighter in September before moving to Catterick. By the end of the year Hayes had been made a flight commander. In April 1941 he intercepted a Heinkel bomber over the Pentland Hills and fire was exchanged but the enemy bomber got away. Later in the year he joined the Fighter Interception Unit to conduct further trials on the airborne interception radar and to develop night-fighting tactics, which rapidly improved. Hayes went on to command a Beaufighter night fighter squadron before commanding the fighter airfield at West Malling in Kent. He was the deputy station commander of Biggin Hill before joining the staff of 85 Group to devise air plans for the invasion of Normandy. He returned to flying duties in August 1944 with a night fighter wing operating from forward airfields in France and Belgium. He was mentioned in despatches. 3 He left the RAF in 1946 and returned to civilian life but rejoined the Auxiliary Air Force and commanded 600 Squadron for two years when he flew Spitfires. He received the Air Efficiency Award. In 1946, Hayes inherited his father’s furniture business, which was relocated to Hastings. Collins & Hayes became well known as upholstery manufacturers and boasted Harrods as their principal customers. He was president of the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association and in 1968 was elected Master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers Livery Company. A courageous and honourable gentleman, Norman Hayes kept extremely fit playing squash until his late sixties, and golf and tennis into his eighties, when he also still managed to visit the ski slopes. At the age of 75 he bought a 750cc BMW motorbike. Having done so he happily ignored the serious concerns of his family for his safety. When one of his sons inquired how he was getting on, he replied: “It’s bloody marvellous old boy, but the only trouble is I can’t hold the wretched thing upright when I have to stop at a junction.” So ended his riding career. He was a staunch supporter of the No 600 Squadron Association and in November 1981 returned to the Netherlands to lay a wreath in honour of his colleagues lost on the May 1940 raid, whose remains had recently been recovered. Norman Hayes died on July 17. He married Anna Powell in 1942 and she died in 1973. He married, secondly, Mary Sargent in 1975, and she survives him with three sons from his first marriage. Wing Commander Jack Meadows, DFC, AFC, AE The Association is sad to report the passing of Jack Meadows, on July 20, 2010. Jack Meadows was born in India and brought up in the UK. In 1937, as soon as he was old enough (17), he got his Licence (forerunner of to-days PPL). He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve, flying Tiger Moths and Hawker Hart variants to Wings standard. At the outbreak of war, he waited until January 1940 and was then posted to repeat the SFTS course on the Harvard Mk. I. Destined for a Spitfire OTU, he was instead diverted to CFS Upavon for an Instructors’ course, then taught on Harvards. In late 1940 he was sent to Canada to instruct on Ansons at Fort Macleod, AB and Carberry, MB. In 1942 he was a Flight Commander at the Flying Instructors’ School at Vulcan, AB. Early in 1943 he instructed on the Senior Officers Refresher Course at Trenton, ON, and was then sent back to the UK on an Empire CFS course. On his arrival, by lying to Air Ministry, he instead got at long last to a Spitfire OTU then to 130 Squadron on operations at West Malling. Late in the year the squadron was sent north to Catterick and he transferred to 604 (County of Middlesex) night fighter squadron, which was then flying the Beaufighter VI.