16 FLYPAST April 2018
briefings
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
We salute you
Fg Off Bill Bryce – pilot with 36 and 621 Squadrons in Aden and in the
Mediterranean – died on January 27, aged 96; Wg Cdr Owen Hardy DFC* –
flew with 72 Squadron in North Africa, credited with three enemy aircraft
destroyed, and later served on 485 Squadron – on January 4, aged 95; George
Harris DFC – Lancaster pilot with 101 Squadron – on January 17, aged 95; Alan
Hartley – served as ground crew on 217 Squadron during Operation Market
Garden – on December 25, aged 93; Sqn Ldr Peter Hearne DFC – credited with
five victories flying Spitfires and Mustangs, and also commanded 19 Squadron- on January 11, aged 98; W/O Henry Holbrook – rear gunner with 296 Squadron
who flew in Whitleys and Albermarles among others on missions including
Operation Market Garden – on January 30; Sqn Ldr Joe L’Estrange – initially
trained as an air gunner in 1944, but eventually completed more than 6,
hours as a Vulcan pilot – on January 14, aged 91; Flt Lt Bernard McCarthy –
flew Meteors, Vampires, Venoms and Hunters during 21 years of service – on
November 7, aged 88; Flt Lt James McPhee AFC – flew in the latter stages of
the Battle of Britain with 151 and 249 Squadrons – on January 14, aged 98; Flt Lt
Gordon Mellor – observer on a 102 Squadron Halifax who was shot down over
Belgium and crossed the Pyrenees to freedom – on January 9, aged 98; Flt Lt
Len Woodgate – former RAF engineering officer who was curator at Cosford
for 10 years and played a pivotal role in the recovery of Hendon’s Fairey Battle,
among others – on January 17, aged 89.
German Beagle rolled
out for display
The Military History Museum in Berlin-Gatow, Germany, has completed its restoration
of Ilyushin Il-28 Beagle ‘208’. The 1954-built aircraft flew with East Germany’s
Zieldarstellungskette 33, from Peenemünde on the Baltic coast, during the 1960s. It made its
last flight on October 20, 1982. BERND KIENLEAero Legends launches
air-to-air photography
workshop
Headcorn-based warbird experience
operator Aero Legends has teamed
up with photographer and FlyPast
contributor Darren Harbar to offer a
new aviation photography workshop.
The tuition will feature AeroLegends’ Supermarine Spitfire IX
TD314 in formation with Hawker
Hurricane I P3717. The company’s de
Havilland Dove will be used as a ‘flying
classroom’. The subject aircraft will
stay in formation with the Dove for
around 30 minutes and follow a tightly
choreographed brief that enables
photographers on both sides of the
aircraft to get a wide range of images.
The workshop will include instructionon camera settings and technique in
addition to a talk by Darren about his
past work. Each session costs £
per person and is limited to 16 people
(eight per flight). The first workshop is
planned for May 13, with further dates
for September being considered. To
book or for more information call Aero
Legends: 01622 812830A composite image illustrating Aero Legends’
Spitfire and Hurricane. DARREN HARBARAs Germany phases out its remaining
Transall C-160 military transports,
Lufttransportgeschwader 61 has painted
C-160D 51+05 in a special paint scheme.
The aircraft was opened up to guests
during a ceremony on December 14 at
Landsberg. The base is likely to close in
the near future. RENÉ J UIJTHOVENNigel Morter and Claire Nugent, owners of The Control Tower B&B in Norfolk, are
organising a series of events to raise money for the construction of a £30,000 memorial
at the former RAF North Creake. The campaign, entitled Time To Remember, begins with
the launch of a charity beer called Drink To Remember, created by Beeston Brewery near
King’s Lynn. It will be available in both cask and bottle form, and approximately 15p from
each pint sold will go towards the memorial. The sculpture, by Andy Knighton, depicts a
Short Stirling in flight, and will be placed on the site of the old airfield alongside a roll of
honour. http://controltowerstays.com/history.html