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The RAF Cosford Air Show will be making an enclosure available exclusively to members of Squadron Associations for the 2018 event on Sunday 10th June 2018. Details are listed below and further information will be promulgated closer to the event.  Show Overview In the year of RAF100 RAF Cosford Air Show are making this year's air show the most spectacular yet. With 100 RAF Aircraft on Static, 6 hours of flying and 5 hangars full of exhibitions we will be showcasing the best the Royal Air Force has to offer. The showground will be split into 4 villages each with their own eras. Our ‘Policing the Empire’ zone will cover WWI up to the start of WWII, the ‘World At War’ zone will cover the end of the 1930s to the beginning of the 1950s and the ‘Age of Uncertainty’ zone will span the 1950s to 1999 where you will enter the ‘New Millennium’ displaying the RAF in its current capacity. Price £50 per ticket. This includes: -Entry to the show (currently priced at £25 per ticket) -Private Enclosure -Marquee and furniture -Private Toilets -Food and drink available to purchase -Hosting by RAF Cosford Personnel -Souvenir Programme (£6 each) -Goody-bag provided by one of our Media Partners, Key Publishing Location The Enclosure is located alongside the RAF Cosford Families Enclosure next to the Air Traffic Control Tower. Accessibility Both the Disabled parking and Coach parking are connected by hard-standing taxiways. To reserve an electric scooter or manual wheelchair you can book on line at www.eventmobility.org.uk, print out an advance booking form from the website or contact the office on 01386 725391 to request a form to be posted to you. The charity asks £25 for an electric scooter and £10 for a manual wheelchair. Disabled toilets will be available within the enclosure. Food and Drink Food and Drink can be purchased on the day in the enclosure.
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 On this day in 1918, the Royal Air Force was formed following an Order in Council made by His Majesty King George V on 22 March 1918, resulting in the union of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Flying Corps (RFC). On the inauguration of the Royal Air Force, His Majesty the King, sent the following telegram to Lord Rothermere, the President of the Air Council: "Today the Royal Air Force, of which you are Minister in Charge, comes into existence as the third arm of the Defences of the Empire. As General-in-Chief I congratulate you on its birth, and I trust that it may enjoy a vigorous and successful life." 100 years later Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has issued this statement from Buckingham Palace:  For more information on RAF100 events around the UK you can visit the official website:
https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/  It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Air Commodore David Norriss (OC 41(F) Sqn 84-87). He passed away over the weekend from complications following routine surgery. He was described as: "a much loved ‘proper officer’ who was liked and respected by all with whom he engaged." David started his flying career as a Vulcan Air Electronics Operator from 1964-1971. He graduated from pilot training in 1971 and after completing a tour as a flying instructor, joined the Jaguar force as the aircraft first entered service in 1975. Following his command tour on 41 (F) Squadron, he served an exchange posting at the USAF University in Alabama, returning to the UK as Station Commander of RAF Chivenor. As an Air Commodore, he was the Air Attache & Assistant Defence Attache in Washington DC from 95-00. Per Ardua. These pictures of David Norriss were kindly forwarded by the Military Secretary of the Sqn Association from the F540: The first is his arrival as the Boss, then there are 2 from a RED FLAG deployment, one of him presenting the old Standard to be hung up when the new one was delivered and finally a couple from his Dining Out Night in 1987. Dear All, it is with great sadness that we have to notify the Squadron family of the passing of David Norriss, Officer Commanding 41 (F) Squadron from 1987 to 1989. The funeral service will be held in Horsham on the 27th of February, full details are listed below courtesy of Sir Peter Norriss. Dear All,
As you kindly wrote to me following David’s death, I thought I’d let you know the arrangements for his funeral, though some of you will also get the information from other sources. It will take place at 1330 on Tuesday 27th February 2018 at: St Mary’s Church Causeway Horsham West Sussex RH12 1HE You cannot park in the Causeway and parking options in the immediate vicinity of the church are very limited. We would therefore recommend you park in one of the town centre car parks and walk to the church. Most of the car parks are within 5 - 15 minutes’ walk. The following link: https://www.horsham.gov.uk/parking/town-centre-parking will show you the car-parking options in the town centre, the cost and how you pay. The closest ones to the church are: The Forum, Blackhorse Way (5 minutes) Denne Road (5 minutes, although this is a small car park and can be difficult to park) Piries Place (5-10 minutes) There is also a large multi-storey car park attached to the Swan Walk Shopping Centre but this is a slightly further walk than the others (10-15 minutes) Following the service those attending are invited for afternoon tea at Mannings Heath Golf Club and Wine Estate, Hammerpond Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PG where the family will join them after a family-only burial in a local cemetery. Those planning to attend the service and wake are asked to let me know so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Family flowers only please. If you wish to make a donation to charity in memory of David, the family have asked for these to be made to the RAF Benevolent Fund and/or Dementia UK. These can be donated at the Church, sent directly to either the Funeral Director (Freeman Brothers, 9 North Parade, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2BF) or to the charity concerned. Kind Regards Peter WO Peter Hale (41 Sqn, Aug 1944-Aug 1945) will celebrates his 95th Birthday today, 28 July 2017. Thanks to Mark Hillier, Peter was able to take a back-seat in the Boultbee Spitfire from Goodwood Aerodrome (formerly RAF Westhampnett) on the 14th July, to help celebrate his pending 95th birthday. Jez Attridge (Former Officer Commanding RAF Coningsby) was at the helm and Peter had a ball, as the attached photos show. HALE, Peter Harold, 1332528, RAFVR
born Harpenden, 28 Jul 22 enl in RAFVR, Uxb, 27 Jan 41 1 ACRC Babbacombe, 12-28 Jun 41 4 ITW, Paignton, 28 Jun-7 Sep 41 21 EFTS, Booker, Bucks, 8 Sep-22 Nov 41 emb Clyde for Halifax, per HMT Bergensfjord, 23 Dec 41-1 Jan 42 31 PD, Moncton NB, Can, 2-7 Jan 42 41 SFTS, Weyburn, Sask, 11-14 Jan 42 Crse 36, 39 SFTS, Swift Current, Sask, 15 Jan-25 Apr 42 plt badge & Sgt Plt, 24 Apr 42 CFS, Trenton, Ont, 27 Apr-16 May 42 31 BGS, Picton, Ont, 16 May-5 Oct 42 Staff Plt, 31 SFTS, Kingston, Ont, 5 Oct 42-15 Jul 43 Crse 15, 1 OTU (Hurr), Bagotville, Que, 17 Jul-18 Sep 43 31 PD, Moncton NB, 26 Sep-9 Oct 43 emb NYC for Clyde per HMT Queen Mary, 10-16 Oct 43 Flt Sgt, Nov 43 (sen 24 Apr 43) Crse 40, 53 OTU (Spit), Kirton, 23 Nov 43-22 Feb 44 4 TEU (Hurr), Annan, 23 Feb-2 Mar 44 1 TEU (Spit), Tealing, Angus, 3 Mar-5 Jun 44 WO, 24 Apr 44 83 GSU (Spit XIV), Redhill, 6-22 Jun 44 3501 GSU (Spit XIV), Cranfield, Bucks, 23 Jun-6 Aug 44 41 Sqn, 8 Aug 44-21 Mar 45 FA in Spit XIV, MV255, blown off runway into mud on landing in cross-wind & TON, 21 Mar 45 83 GSU (Spit XIV), Dnsfld, 23 Mar-16 Apr 45 130 (Punjab) Sqn (Spit XIV), Celle, G., 17 Apr 45 retrieved by Sqn Ldr J. B. Shepherd & rtnd to 41 Sqn, 17 Apr-8 Aug 45 ¼ Dest He111 w Plt Off P. T. Coleman, WO J. A. Chalmers & Sgt Plt C. N. Moyle, W of Goldberg, G., 28 Apr 45 TCAHC, Morecambe, Lancs, 11-17 Aug 45 12 FU, Melton Mowbray, 17-30 Aug 45 TCAHC, Morecambe, Lancs, 1 Sep-8 Oct 45 229 Grp Delhi, India, 18 Oct-3 Nov 45 17 ACHU, RAF Pocklington, Full Sutton, Yks, 8 Nov 45-4 Jan 46 SHQ, RAF Cranwell, 22 Jan-24 Jun 46 demob 100 PDC, Uxb, 24 Jun 46 Meteorological Off, Feb 47-Mar 82 Retired Mar 82  On Tuesday 23 May 2017, former members of No 41(F) Squadron Phantom era and their ladies and guests held a re-union lunch in the RAF Club. Present included Peter Gover (former CO) and Pam Lemon (widow of Brian Lemon (former CO)), Peter Riley and John Collier (former Flight Commanders) and 9 other former aircrew. There were toasts to the squadron and a good time was had by all. The event was organised by Ben Laite.
Images and text from Paul Briggs, 41 Retro. Well organised by the Spirit of Coltishal Association, a service to remember the victims of a bus crash, which happened during a squadron exchange with 421 Sqn, RCAF. A big thank you to 41(R) Sqn for the support they gave to the event, with a Typhoon flypast, presentation of a new plaque for the memorial and the laying of a wreath presented by 41 Squadron personnel. Update: Total now reached - Thank you!41 Squadron has now raised £456 for a replacement memorial plaque to go at the military cemetery at Scottow for the 6 servicemen who lost their lives in a coach accident at Sasbachwalden on the 21st May 1983. They were serving with 41(F) Squadron RAF on exchange with 421 Squadron RCAF. 5 of those lost were from a complete cross section of the Squadron: a SNCO Avionics, a Rigger, a FLM, MT driver and a safety equipper. The 6th serviceman was from II Sqn RIC at Laarbruch. Sgt Brian Roe J/T Michael Messenger SAC Paul Armstrong SAC Peter Fox SAC Derrick Swash SAC Stuart Winship  The annual memorial service to the six RAF Coltishall servicemen who died in a coach crash in Germany, held at the Scottow Military Cemetery. Warrant Officer Ian Abraham, 41 (R) Squadron, lays a wreath. Picture: Denise Bradley Details of this year's memorial servicewww.spiritofcoltishall.com/ This year's memorial will be held at the Scottow Cemetery on the 18th May with serving personnel and Standards on parade. There will also be a dedication service of another new plaque from 41Sqn at the RAF Coltishall Memorial Garden after the service at Scottow. If you wish to attend please arrive at Scottow Cemetery by 10.45 for the service to begin at 11.00. Medals must be worn.   Welcome to the 41 Squadron Association Blog.
I had the honour of being asked earlier this year by Raz to join the Association Committee, once we’d caught up on old times and discussed the joys of trials flying in the Mojave desert, he’d somehow managed to persuade me to act as the Chairman of the Association. Thereafter, a few dedicated souls led by Sir Chris Harper, have been busy helping re-launch the Association. The initial focus was naturally the 100th Anniversary celebrations of the Squadron, which for those of you who couldn’t make it (myself included), you’ll see some great links on the site. In order to capture the goodwill and interest from that date, the Committee wanted to make sure we did 2 main things over the next few months. Firstly, to establish a really professional on-line presence which was linked to the various other media available to us, and also to establish a member’s forum; this mirrors other similar associations. I have to admit to being blown away by the superb look and feel that Al McFarland and Rob Colligan have managed to create in such a short time. The second objective was to think about what the next major event should look like. After lots of banter with Raz about charity cycle rides to France (that still needs to happen Raz), we've been working with the RAF Museum to sketch out an evening in the World War One Hangar in early 2017. The date of the 21st of January 2017 has been chosen to mark the demise of Samuel Cody Jnr, who was killed in action in January 1917. We envisage a drinks and canapés event in the hangar with one or two willing volunteers explaining key portions of the Squadron’s World War One history using the rather useful backdrop of the aeroplanes and other exhibits. In terms of timings we’re just working with the museum to make sure that the start of the event is as near 1830 as we can make it. That way people can use the earlier part of the day to explore the other halls of the Museum before we meet in the Grahame White Hall. The event would conclude at about 2130 which gives plenty of time to either drift back into London or find a local pub to continue the evening. You’ll find a very quick questionnaire to express your interest or comments under the ‘EVENTS’ tab at the top of the home page. I’ll come back to this Blog in the next few weeks once we’ve tied down exact timings and costs. Finally, we on the Committee are here to help commemorate the Squadron’s history and facilitate its member’s wishes. If you have an idea for an event or you want to simply start communicating with old friends then please do join us contributing to the Blog or in the Member's Forum which will be launched shortly. We’ve discussed numerous smaller scale events during recent committee meetings the minutes of which you can view via the INFORMATION tab. Best Wishes Andy Myers Our Association Historian, Steve Brew, was lucky enough to take to the skies in a Typhoon with OC41. The story in his words: I had one of the most amazing and memorable experiences of my life today, when OC 41 Sqn Wg Cdr 'Raz' Berry took me up for an hour in the back seat of RAF Coningsby based 3 Sqn's Typhoon ZK383. The performance take-off was thoroughly frightening for the inexperienced, but after that it was amazing. We flew across the country, visited Dorrington, where we held the book launch last Saturday, flew up the western side of Shrewsbury, did a tight turn over Sleap Aerodrome, then flew back over Shrewsbury and headed east towards the wash. We then undertook some roles and loops, watched other airborne aircraft and did a touch-and-go at RAF Coningsby before making a tight circuit and landing again at Coningsby in 30° heat. It was hot, but the weather was perfect from the air and we could see clear across the UK. An enormous thanks to Raz, to Gp Capt Rich Davies of RAF Marham, to the SMOs of both Coningsby and Marham, and to my wonderful Jacqui, who put the wheels in motion and had a sneaky word to Raz and Rich without me knowing. It came as a complete surprise to me, and I was and am still gob-smacked. What an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is something I will never forget.
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Rich Cooper/COAP Association BlogUpdates and news direct from the Committee Archives
May 2020
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