600 (City of London) Squadron Association, Registered Charity No
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600 Praeter Sescentos “THE RIGHT OF THE LINE” 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF Association Newsletter Patron: The Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton Affiliated Members; 601 & 604 Squadron Associations. March 2011 Editorial Welcome to another edition and another new year, well not so new now! I would like to thank all of you who have sent me messages of support for the newsletter – thank you, it is much appreciated and good to know I am hitting the right spot although remember, this is YOUR newsletter and I need YOUR continuing contribution to make it a success. Following the last newsletter, it became apparent that whilst the new format newsletter was greatly received, those of us who need spec-savers would have appreciated a larger format copy – hence this one is bigger – suits me as the pictures are even better now! You have been sent a lot of great material (thanks!) and have used all of it, but please keep it coming. In this issue, I must give thanks for one of a series of special articles from the Author and Historian, Ian White. Ian has written many successful books, in particular the history of 604 Sqn titled “'If You Want Peace, Prepare for War': A History of No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron, RAuxAF, in Peace and in War. I am sure you will enjoy Ian’s VERY interesting article. What I and the Squadron Archivist are particularly interested in please is war time material, photo’s records etc. We have a good deal of Squadron archive but are missing huge chunks from the war years. Any photos etc will be well taken care of, copied and returned safely, so please have a dig and send me all you have! Earlier this month, I joined the Blenheim Society and so will be bringing you regular and up to date information regarding the Blenheim restoration projects along with air show details when one gets back into the air and that won’t be long now! I have included in this newsletter some factual corrections and an update, but would be particularly keen to hear from anyone with any stories, recollections, photographs (especially please!) or service records of time spent flying or working on, Blenheim’s. I would also like to welcome all affiliated members from the now disbanded 601 & 604 Squadron Associations. Please do send me any material you have for inclusion in future newsletters. 1 Obituaries We will try to keep this up to date, but sadly we can only report the passing of old friends and colleagues if we are told about it. Since our last Newsletter, we are sorry to report the loss of the following; Robert Ernest Hills - 4 February 1921 – 28 December 2010 Bob was born in Hendon in February 1921 and grew up there. His father had been a machine gunner in the First World War and was a fireman at the local Fire Station. Bob and his younger brother Doug grew up in Hendon: their school was opposite Hendon Aerodrome. Bob’s best friend at school was Charlie Whatley. They joined the Boy Scouts together and after leaving school Bob become an apprentice at the local garage. Later they joined the Auxiliary Air Force at Hendon. At the outbreak of war both he and Charlie became fully-fledged members of 600 City of London Squadron. Bob was a ground engineer and during the first year the squadron was involved in attacking German troops advancing through the Lowlands, during which they suffered significant losses. The squadron specialised in night fighting and during the blitz that followed they moved station many times as the Germans moved their attention from one city to another. During this turbulent time Bob married Charlie’s sister Joan in 1942; after only a few weeks together he was posted abroad and they did not see each other again for 4 years. Bob went first to North Africa to support Monty’s defeat of the Africa Corps. From North Africa they pushed on to Malta, Sicily and up through Italy. He was involved in the beach landings at Salerno, when he exited the landing craft driving a Bowser full of aviation fuel with heavy artillery fire going overhead. He was told under no circumstances was he to take his foot off the throttle. He went down the ramp into deep water which came well up in the cab. To begin with the bowser was afloat, but then he felt the wheels bite and slowly the truck went up the beach. They went on to establish the forward airfield before the squadron aircraft arrived. Frequent moves from airfield to airfield followed as they fought their way up through Italy. 2 Bob became a Sergeant and applied to become aircrew on several occasions but was always refused on the basis that it took 4 weeks to train aircrew and 4 years to train engineers. After the war he continued to work with aircraft, working for De Havilland and Napier. He then joined Airwork Services at Blackbushe Airport and later at London Airport (now Heathrow). He worked on Hermes, Viking & Viscount aircraft and was eventually promoted to Chief Planner. During his time at Airwork, Bob was involved in planning some of the countries first commercial charter flights; including between London, Wadi-Halfa and Khartoum for the Sudanese government and to carry Muslims to and from Jeddah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage under a UK Civil Service contract. Other notable events at that time included winning contracts to take troops to Singapore and Aden. Stuart also remembers being taken by his father to see Donald Campbell’s Bluebird being shipped out to Lake Mead in America for a world record attempt. During his time at Airwork, Bob started the Sports and Social Club and was a leading player in their cricket team. Stuart was born in 1949 while the young family was living in a Nissen Hut and Barry in 1951, by which time they had moved to a bungalow in Hawley, near the airport: Bob then had a new detached house built at Hawley, where they lived until Bob decided to change direction and become his own boss. He had always been independent and would only take orders from those he respected: he had famously had a clash with the trade union when he worked for Napier. When the shop steward tried to tell him to "down tools" because they were in dispute about something, instead of downing his tools he went and got his cards and left on the spot. As he was not completely happy at Heathrow he took the decision to go into business. He bought a Ford Dealership in Newport Street, Tiverton and moved from Surrey into a cottage attached to the business. Both his and Joan’s parents followed and settled down in bungalows next to each other at Pinnex Moor, Tiverton. In 1962 Bob built ‘Stonehayes’ at Ashley, which was to remain his and Joan’s much loved home until December 2010. In the 1960s Bob expanded and modernized his garage, with new workshop, stores, forecourt, reception and office facilities. Joan was the Secretary and very active in the business. It was one of the best-equipped dealerships in the region. It had modern 4 post lifts, optical wheel alignment, up to the minute tuning equipment, the first rolling road - and the first forecourt in the South West with a self-service 24 hour petrol pump that would take a pound note. As a Round Tabler Bob was actively involved in fund raising for numerous charities, he started both the ‘Tivvy’ Struggle for home-made craft down the River Exe and the travelling Santa & carols at Christmas. He was a founder member of the 41 Club and a long serving member of the Rotary Club. 3 Bob sold the Ford dealership in the late 70s, but continued in the motor business with a small workshop and body shop in Castle Street, finally retiring in 1986. But it was not an idle retirement, as he was then able to devote more of his time to his passion for model engineering. He set up a workshop at home and built superb live steam models of a Showman’s Traction Engine and a King Class Railway Locomotive, which will become cherished heirlooms and reminders of his skill as an engineer for generations to come. He also loved repairing things for his friends & family. He loved a challenge, hated to throw anything away and would spend hours making or machining parts you could no longer get. He also loved his garden and spent many happy hours tending his vegetable and fruit plots and sitting on his ride-on mower. Bob was a proud grandfather to Richard, Andrew, Stephanie and Victoria. He was a people person: he loved entertaining, was generous and reliable - always the first person called on to help. Strong and determined, he didn’t suffer fools gladly, but he was very well liked and respected. He and Joan were together for 68 years, a remarkable record of love and caring. He will be much missed. (Stuart Hills) A footnote from Bob’s Nephew, Brian Whately; When my Dad & Bob joined 600 before the war there was a third school friend with them (I'm afraid I don't have his name). One of the saddest events that he used to talk about is connected with the Rotterdam raid that was mentioned in Wing Commander Norman Hayes's obituary as well. It seems that their friend made air-crew & was in one of the six Blenheim’s on the Rotterdam raid.