617 SQUADRON & RAF BOMBER COMMAND – 2nd APRIL
For this exciting first event at the new UK Gallery we’ll be joined by WWII veterans of 617 Squadron and RAF Bomber Command.
Our special guests include:
Squadron Leader BENNY GOODMAN - flying Stirlings and later Lancasters with 617 Sqn, he completed a full tour of 30 Ops’ including missions over Germany, Holland and France as well as taking part in the Tirpitz Raids.
Wing Commander JOHN BELL MBE DFC Ld’H - after training as an Observer, his first tour was as a Bomb Aimer with 619 Sqn. He volunteered for a second tour with 617 Sqn, completing 50 Ops’.
Leading Aircraftman BERNARD MABEY - joined the RAF in 1943 and trained as Ground Crew working on Halifaxes with 640 Sqn at RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire. In 1945 he transferred to RAF Waddington as part of ‘Tiger Force’ working on Lancasters with both 617 and 9 Sqns.
Flight Lieutenant ALAN PAYNE DFC - after initially training as an Observer, he actually served as a Bomb Aimer on Lancasters with 630 and 57 Sqns completing 29 Ops’ and later transferring to 620 Sqn Transport Command in Palestine.
Our guests are happy to sign items for customers and entry is FREE but STRICTLY by ticket only. We are currently taking bookings so please contact us now to reserve your place.
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