Bexhill and District Branch Aircrew Association

The Dutch have never forgotten how the RAF's presence overhead boosted their morale during four long years of Nazi occupation or the vital part played by our bomber and transport squadrons in Operation MANNA dropping food to the starving population during the final stages of the of the war in Europe.

Their guests, many of whom had been involved in those operations, were overwhelmed by the generosity and gratitude displayed by local people of all ages who remain determined that the sacrifice of those who gave their lives should always be remembered.

At the monthly meeting on Monday (February 9), we paused to remember an unfailingly amiable colleague, Peter Paterson, who died suddenly on January 23.

After demobilisation in 1945, Peter, who interrupted his career with the Post Office to train as an RAF pilot during the war, returned to his original calling and eventually retired as Postmaster at Basingstoke before moving to Bexhill. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Audrey.

This month's speaker, branch member Peter Hobbs, gave the second of a series of excellently-illustrated talks tracing the history of aviation through commemorative postage stamps.

Covering the period 1936-1950 which saw a profusion of revolutionary developments in aircraft design and performance, including the introduction of jet propulsion which paved the way for today's aerospace technology, Peter thoroughly whetted his audience's appetite for the next instalment.

The next speaker, at 11am on Monday, March 9, Michael Davies CBE, will draw upon his early post-war service in the RAF to talk about The King's Flight. The branch will meet again later in the month for lunch at Maggie's Fish Bar at 12.30pm on Monday, March 23.