426 Today
 

426 Squadron Visits Yorkshire


For the first time, on the 26th of May, 2011, serving members of 426 (Thunderbird) Squadron made official visits to sacred ground in the Royal Air Force Stations Linton-on-Ouse and Dishforth area of North Yorkshire. The Thunderbirds flew from these airfields during World War II, and the men who perished are commemorated throughout the villages and cemeteries. Having only a day, we did our best to pay our respects as much as possible. A comfortably cool morning with somewhat threatening clouds, we gathered for the bus ride to our first destination, Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate, where 42 Thunderbirds are interred together. The party was made up of various ranks, RAF personnel, a WWII veteran, and civilians.


LCol Christian Roy, current CO of 426 Squadron, pauses for quiet contemplation after placing the first flag, 426 Squadron CWO Jim McKenzie and Capt Emmanuel Dompierre look on.
 
 
At the cemetery we took turns installing small CAF Flags at each grave site while reading off the individuals name, where he was from, and his age. The honoured dead were humbly saluted as the flags were placed, and reading the inscription at the bottom of each stone spoke of how dear these boys and men were to their families. It was extremely moving to see the row after row of neatly attended burials with flowers blooming everywhere, the little clusters of flags fluttering in the wind. Upon reaching our final group where 17 men lay together in one long row, all perishing due to icing conditions on the 5th of March, 1945, a few tears had to be wiped away by many of those attending. We then stood reverently at the central altar stone while the Padre spoke of hope for the soul, and a welcoming in the afterlife. As though on cue, a gentle rain began to fall just as we uttered "Amen” and headed for our next destination.


By the time we unloaded in the village of Dishforth the rain had cleared and the rays shone down giving the community centre and cairn, a sundial, a warm glow. This monument was dedicated in June of 1991, and the people gave 426 Squadron freedom of the village. After a historical review of the Thunderbirds' formation and first months of active service flying Wellington Bombers, including missions flown, decorations awarded, and casualties, a wreath was laid, then prayers spoken. 


LCol Roy solemnly places a wreath aided by CWO McKenzie, Col Dave Cochrane, 8 Wing Commander, and 8 Wing HCol Glenn Rainbird, OC, attending, Mr. Ken Cothliff acts as standard bearer with the 6 Group Association Flag. 426 Squadron was part of the "All Canadian" 6 Bomber Group that started operations in January, 1943.
 
As we took a moment for a photo, the clouds were again darkening the sky. The cairn's plaque reads: When you pause to see the time of day, remember Canadians who came this way. 




From left to right is: Flt Lt Alfie Hall, Flt Lt Dave Williams, Capt Melanie Michaud, Cpl Sarah Brogaard, WO Bill Perry (ret'd) a 426 Squadron wartime flight engineer, Col Cochrane, LCol Roy, CWO McKenzie, HCol Rainbird, Capt Dompierre, Cpl Rob Fleming, Mr. Cothliff and Capt Jean Houde.

Our last stop before lunch was a marker near the actual crash site of a crew we honoured earlier at Stonefall. We would have liked to pay our respect at all the various cairns and plaques but unfortunately weren't able. This visit served as a representative homage, with a complete account of the last flight and crash being read, a flag being installed, and a prayer. This monument at Newton-on-Ouse* was originally dedicated in May, 1995, and active members did attend the unveiling with a C130 fly past.


Capt Houde is seen here relating the story of Halifax LW598/OW "J" to the gathering, while Padre Dompierre prepares to speak about giving and sacrifice.
 
In the afternoon we started at Beningbrough Hall, a grand manor now cared for by the National Trust, it housed SNCOs during WWII. One room is dedicated to those airmen and 426 Squadron figures prominently. Walking into the elaborate gardens, a tree planting took place; a maple nurtured from a seed taken by Mr. Cothliff during a visit to Peterborough, Ontario. Appropriately, thunder rumbled all around us and, just as the Padre began the blessing, the thick dark clouds dropped a healthy dousing on the little tree. Our raincoats and umbrellas were quickly deployed. A special thanks goes to the staff at Beningbrough who brought extra brollies to help preserve our uniforms.

We were then treated to tea, coffee, and a marzipan cake decorated with the Thunderbird crest. After a few words spoken by our host from the National Trust, Clare Fletcher, we were guided into the Hall for a tour. The Air Force room proved very interesting with several displays, comfortable chairs, and lovely views from the soaring windows. Here we presented an exact copy of our original crest, and the citation which garnered Flight Sergeant F.J. Stuart* his Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. This pilot served with 426 Squadron from its formation and heroically perished with his crew a couple months after being decorated. The citation was particularly special, because the individual who wrote it during WWII, Group Captain Bill Swetman, DSO, DFC, signed it for us. Sqn Leader Ted Sumner (ret'd) in turn gave us the history of Beningbrough Hall and a booklet explaining the ties to the RAF and RCAF.


Cpl Fleming proudly presents the Stuart citation to S/L Sumner.
Our next stop was the cairn at the Linton-on-Ouse* community centre, originally dedicated in 1990 during a ceremony attended by several Association members, when the entire village had been made honorary members. RAF Tornadoes taking off nearby created somewhat of a challenge for the orators, but it was quite appropriate under the circumstances. Here we listened to a review of the Thunderbird's accomplishments while operating with Lancaster and Halifax Bombers, including missions flown, decorations awarded, and casualties.

After a wreath laying and prayer, we entered the centre and signed the visitor's book, and a presentation was made to the parish council to thank them for their ongoing support of our Squadron and Association.



LCol Roy explains the various photos to the gathered crowd. Accepting on behalf of the Linton parish is Mr. Brian Marston.

Then for our last stop it was onto the station proper and a tour of the Memorial Room housed in Halifax Block. Every squadron that has operated out of Linton is extensively catalogued and displayed in this wartime building. 408 and 426 Squadrons sit together filling a large portion of the east end. We added to the collection, making the same presentations here as we did at Beningbrough Hall.



Col Cochrane happily presents the Stuart citation to W/C Alan Mawby (ret'd) curator of the Linton Memorial Room.









As a final nod to our past members, we stood quietly while the Padre blessed the maple and oak trees which were planted by the Association in 1990. The trees have grown quite nicely forming a charming little grove within the green separating the other ranks' and officers' quarters.











Thanks very much to Group Captain Terry Jones who hosted us at RAF Station Linton-on-Ouse, providing accommodation, messing, and a welcome dinner at the Maple Leaf Club where he presented 426 Squadron with a large framed print of the Watt's Crew, one of the bombers that crashed due to the horrendous icing conditions of the 5th of March, 1945. A special nod goes to Flt Lt Williams for doing the endless legwork and planning to make our visit go smoothly.







*To read more about some of the places we visited and Flt Sgt Stuart please visit the Remembrances section of this website.






   15 Oct current squadron members enjoyed a BBQ steak lunch, and then filled Blanchard Hall for a presentation of a Second World War relic; a commemorative pin made during the closing months of the hostilities. While the pin has been in the squadron's archives for some years, it now resides in the main display case outside Blanchard Hall, framed and pinned on RCAF wool.
   It was as the war drew to a close that the idea of a pin was born, but metal for such a project was scarce. Sgt. Stan Dunville, a founding squadron member and a tech who could make or fix anything out of nothing, found a solution. By catching the empty .303 casings from the tail turret of the Halifax Bombers when they went up for testing, plenty of brass was soon collected.
   An article providing more information on the pin, including the list of who received them and more photos, will be added to the Memorabilia section when possible.


Memorial Cross Finds Home at 426 Squadron

 

On 19 Aug 10, Mr Mark Tutton of Whitby, ON, representing his family, presented 426 Squadron with his grandmother’s Memorial (Silver) Cross. By chance Mr Tutton had read the article on the squadron’s Association website about his uncle’s wristwatch, and how it came to be shadowboxed outside Blanchard Hall, Dishforth Bldg, home of 426 Squadron.He, and his family, felt it would be fitting for the medal, his uncle’s original pilot wings, and a collection of war time correspondence, telegrams, and photos, be added to the squadron’s archives, and where appropriate a reworking of the shadowbox.

The Commemoration Service that recognized Sgt Tutton’s sacrifice wasn’t held until 17 May 44, at which time he was posthumously promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd class, and his mother received her Silver Cross. It wasn’t until 13 Jun 46 that the RCAF was able to confirm the burial site of WO2 Tutton, grave 217 in row 21 in the Military Cemetery, Venlo, Holland. Later, he was exhumed and buried with his crew mates at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery at Nijmegen. If you would like to read more about Sgt Tutton please visit this website pages Tutton’s Watch, S.S. Blanchard, and Beegden and Heel.



 

The presentation was witnessed by current members and the Thunderbird Association who were attending their reunion. From the left is Cpl Fleming, LCol Roy, 426 Sqn CO, Mr. Tutton, and CWO McKenzie. Sitting in the foreground is G/C Swetmen, DSO, DFC, (Retd).




Thunderbirds New Home Begins to Rise (initial occupancy plans are for Nov 2011)
Construction of the new Air Mobility Training Centre (AMTC), the future home of 426 Squadron, is well underway. Check back often and monitor the progress of this mammoth project that will be the pride of the Air Force training system.

It starts with artist conceptions, Sep '09.
It becomes a water filled series of holes, 3 Mar '10.
Suddenly there is concrete everywhere, 16 Mar '10.
Then the steel super structure begins to rise, 25 Mar '10.
The building starts to take shape, 26 Apr '10.                                                                                                             

7 Jun '10, looking east.


Sep '11, looking north. I apologize for the year gap, we weren't supplied with any photos, and a great deal of the work was going on inside the building. It is a mammoth structure, and now dominates the south side of the Wing.