 The ‘exclusive’ club with very stringent entry requirements has featured in the news today.
The Goldfish Club is an Association exists to keep alive the spirit of comradeship arising from the mutual experience of members surviving, "coming down in the drink". If you wish to find out more about this unique Association you can visit their webpage: http://www.thegoldfishclub.co.uk or contact them via email: social@thegoldfishclub.co.uk Do 41 Sqn have any candidates?
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The Association is sorry to announce the passing of Wg Cdr Willie Felger. Willie joined No 41(F) Squadron in April 1972 as a navigator when it re-formed at RAF Coningsby, equipped with the Phantom FGR2. During this tour, he was the Squadron Standard Bearer. The Squadron Commander at the time was Wg Cdr Brian (B.J.) Lemon. “Willie. Retired Wg Cdr RAF, died on 1st January 2020. Much loved husband to Sue and father to Simon and Harriet. Funeral Service at Wealden Crematorium TN21 0LH on 31st January 2020 at 1 pm. No flowers please but donations, if desired, to Hospice in the Weald TN2 4TA” Willie contributed his memories of the Phantom era to the Association and they are captured on our website here:   Terrence Spencer's Mk XII Spitfire tipping the V1 flying bomb.
Painting completed Jan 2020 by Marc Heaton.  Captain Valentine Baker MC AFC served with 41 Squadron from 1916 – June 1917, and served briefly as a Flight Commander. He left the RAF in 1922 to work for Vickers-Armstrong. In 1934, however, he formed the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company with his colleague James Martin, to design new aircraft and offer flying lessons. One of their more notable pupils was Amy Johnson. The company went on to manufacture and market four different propeller aircraft, but Baker himself was killed in a flying accident in 1942, whilst test-flying the third of these. It was his death, however, that caused his business partner to rethink safety and develop a means of assisted escape for pilots. As a result, Martin-Baker began to manufacture ejection seats in 1946, and still does today for both fixed wing and rotary military aircraft.
Amongst 80 types of aircraft into which their seats have been fitted are the Jaguar, which 41 Squadron flew from 1977–2006, the Harrier, which the squadron flew from 2006–2010, and the Tornado and Typhoon, both of which they fly today. Martin-Baker ejection seats are now being fitted into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Over 70,000 Martin-Baker ejection seats have been delivered to 93 air forces, which have saved almost 7,500 lives. It is a squadron legacy that in giving his own life, Baker has saved the lives of thousands of others. |
Photo Credit:
Rich Cooper/COAP Association BlogUpdates and news direct from the Committee Archives
May 2020
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