News (2018)

Last of the Battle of Britain ‘Red Eagles’

December 9th, 2018

Recently passed away Battle of Britain veteran Flight Lieutenant ‘Bob’ Hughes DFC AE, who served as an air-gunner with the night-fighter Bristol Blenheims of 23 Squadron (the ‘Red Eagles’), was a great supporter of the Shoreham Aircraft Museum and attended the opening in July 1988 and last visited the Museum at Easter 2018 for its 30th anniversary.

Flight Lieutenant 'Bob' Hughes DFC AE

Despite the perceived less-glamorous role compared to the Hurricane and Spitfire fighter pilots, Bob always defended the work of the Blenheims during the 1940 ‘Blitz’, as by maintaining patrol lines in the night sky the Luftwaffe bombers were often forced onto divergent flightpaths making it harder for them to find their targets. The 23 Squadron Blenheim crews also did a lot of work helping to introduce air interception radar, which eventually proved such a success in use with RAF night-fighter Bristol Beaufighters and de Havilland Mosquitos.

Flight Lieutenant 'Bob' Hughes DFC AE

Post-Battle of Britain, Bob had remarkable experiences as an air-gunner, surviving two tours on bomber operations, both in North Africa and Occupied Europe and spells as an instructor. Whilst serving at RAF Pershore as a gunnery instructor, Bob took part in the second ‘Thousand Bomber Raid’ on Essen, when to make up the numbers, Bomber Command had to draw upon personnel and aircraft from training units. Having flown in Vickers Wellingtons during his two bomber tours, Bob’s last op’ was in a 50 Squadron Avro Lancaster that was meant to bomb the ‘Big City’ – Berlin. He hadn’t ever been on a trip to the German capital city, so was keen to go and poke Hitler in the eye even though the Lancaster crew weren’t overly pleased to be heading to the heavily defended target. But on route the Lancaster had to divert to the secondary target of Magdeburg, so Bob still didn’t get to add ‘Berlin’ to his logbook; however, on the return from Magdeburg, the pilot of the Lancaster did divert again to get within sight of Berlin so Bob could at least get a glimpse of the city from the air, much to the protest of the other crewmembers. For his outstanding service, Bob received a well-deserved Distinguished Flying Cross.

Bob will not be forgotten.

Memorial for a Polish Battle of Britain pilot unveiled

October 3rd, 2018

Having previously honoured Battle of Britain pilots from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the Shoreham Aircraft Museum ‘Local RAF Memorials Project’ has now dedicated a memorial to ‘One of The Few’ from Poland. A magnificent stone memorial was unveiled on 29th September 2018 to honour Flying Officer Ludwik Paszkiewicz VM, KW & DFC, of 303 ‘Polish’ Squadron. He lost his life on 27th September 1940, when his Hawker Hurricane was shot down and crashed on Crowhurst Farm, Plaxtol, near Borough Green in Kent. The dedication service was well attended including representatives from the ‘Polish Airmen’s Association UK’, ‘Polish Air Force Memorial Committee’ and ‘The Children of 303′. The service included a superb and poignant tribute flypast by the Hurricane from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar flown by Clive Denney.

Flying Officer Ludwik Paszkiewicz VM, KW & DFC
Flying Officer Ludwik Paszkiewicz VM, KW & DFC
Flying Officer Ludwik Paszkiewicz VM, KW & DFC

They will not be forgotten

April 15th, 2018

It is a sad fact that as they are now reaching very old age we have to say goodbye to our ever dwindling group of wartime hero veterans. Four veterans recently passed away that the Museum could call friends and supporters were Sydney Pigden, Rodney Scrase, Fergus Anckorn and Adam Ostrowski.

Sydney Pigden

Sydney Pigden

Sydney was an RAF fighter pilot who survived well over 100 ground-attack sorties with 164 ‘Argentine-British’ Squadron, when flying Hawker Hurricane and Typhoon rocket-armed aircraft against heavily defended enemy ground targets. Losses on these missions were high and on several occasions Sydney’s aircraft was damaged by flak, including an incident when he had to land his mighty Typhoon on a forward airstrip in Normandy post D-Day with no brakes or flaps. Due to his high landing speed, he soon ran out of runway, so Sydney had to kick in full rudder to skid his aircraft off to one side in a ground loop and was lucky to avoid either the undercarriage collapsing or flipping over into a violent cartwheel. His successful recovery of his damaged aircraft earned Sydney a well-deserved Mention-In-Despatches. Postwar, Sydney flew Spitfires and took part in the Battle of Britain flypast over London on 15th September 1945. After first visiting the Museum in 2010, Sydney kindly donated his flying logbook and medal’s where they have been on proud display ever since.

Rodney Scrase

Rodney Scrase

Rodney was a proud serving member of 72 Squadron and flew with distinction across the Mediterranean theatre of operations that included the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Flying Spitfires in air combat, he was credited with four enemy aircraft destroyed and a further three damaged. All his claims were against enemy fighters and included Messerschmitt Me109’s and a Focke-wulf Fw190 and his success in air combat earned him a coveted Distinguished Flying Cross. After completing his tour in mid-1944, Rodney carried out instructor duties teaching air-to-air gunnery in the Middle East before returning to England at the end of the year to serve with No.1 Squadron on escort missions until the war ended. Rodney was a longtime very keen supporter of the work of the Museum, especially the on-going Local RAF Memorials Project and in attending many fund-raising signing events.

Fergus Anckorn

Fergus Anckorn

Fergus can truly be called a remarkable survivor, not least because he found a way to keep strong against brutal Japanese captivity in the Far East. As a member of the Royal Artillery, Fergus was wounded and captured at Singapore in 1942 by the Japs who eventually sent him to work on the infamous ‘Death Railway’. However, Fergus honed his skills as a conjurer that did much to alleviate the horrors of the prison camps not just for himself, but also for his fellow captives. Once the atom bombs brought Japan to sign a surrender and bring the Second World War to an end, Fergus was liberated and repatriated back home to recover from his ordeal and try and return to a normal life, which was not easy. Fergus eventually built a career in teaching and having been the youngest elected member to the Magic Circle before the war, he became a professional magician. In addition, he also became a Special Constable, where his ‘beat’ included the home of Winston Churchill at Chartwell. Fergus was a very popular and entertaining visitor to the Museum who wowed young and old alike with his sleight of hand tricks.

Adam Ostrowski

Adam Ostrowski

Adam had a remarkable wartime experience that started out being captured by Russian forces in Poland and ended by flying Spitfires for the RAF. Working as an engineering student Adam had obtained his pilot’s licence, but caught up by the German and Russian invasions of Poland in September 1939, the Russians shipped him off to a labour camp in Siberia. Eventually released when General Sikorski, the Polish leader-in-exile made an agreement with Stalin to release his countryman to help the war effort, Adam managed to secure passage to Great Britain via Murmansk, where he presented himself to the RAF. They taught him to speak English and flight theory (the RAF way!) until he was allowed to fly. After serving with various flying units, in late 1944 Adam eventually gained a proud posting to fly Spitfires alongside his countrymen with 317 ‘Wilenski’ Squadron operating as part of the Second Tactical Air Force in Belgium as they supported the Allied advance into Europe against determined German defence. When the war in Europe ended, Adam and his Polish squadron were based in Germany as part of the British Air Forces of Occupation. Saddened at the fate of his beloved Poland under Soviet occupation, Adam elected to settle in England. His visits to the Museum were warmly welcomed and he was a keen reader of the ‘Friends of The Few’ newsletter, especially when any stories appeared linked to the great fighting spirit of Poland, for which so much was sacrificed in the face of massive adversity.

Sydney, Rodney, Fergus and Adam will ever be fondly remembered at Shoreham.