BATTLE of BRITAIN 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE DINNER Wednesday, October 7th, 2015 The Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C.
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY Providing integrated training solutions across the globe BAE Systems is leading the way in developing and implementing new and innovative integrated training systems across the military air sector for aircrew, technicians and distributed operational mission training. We work closely with our customers and industry partners as one team meaning we are able to deliver innovative tailored training solutions providing maximum military effectiveness. www.baesystems.com BAE Systems is committed to being our Customers’ partner of choice delivering cost effective training to optimise and sustain operational performance and capability. Just some of the many ways that BAE Systems continues to deliver real advantage to its customers.
4 Foreword Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE ADC RAF, Chief of the Air Staff 6 W elcome and introduction Major General (Ret) Frederick F Roggero USAF; President, RAFMAF 8 10 19 A symbol of friendship How the recent gift from the United Kingdom to United States of a bust of Sir Winston Churchill received RAFMAF support 20 T he RAF Museum’s Centenary Program Looking forward to the Museum’s plans to mark 100 years of the RAF in 2018 A special relationship General Mark A Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 23 “A fraternal association” The USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program, which has existed for almost 70 years A necessary victory R oss Mahoney, Aviation Historian, RAF Museum on the Battle of Britain 24 13 Scramble! Historian James Holland reviews the illustrious wartime career of tonight’s guest of honor, Battle of Britain pilot Wg Cdr Tom Neil 18 The National Memorial to the Few News of developments at the Battle of Britain memorial in Capel-le-Ferne, Kent, including its recently opened visitor centre T he Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation Swords of Honor The background to tonight’s presentations recognizing the most outstanding RAF and USAF officers on exchange over the past year 26 of Honor 2015 citations Sword Squadron Leader Ryan Wyn Beynon, RAF and Captain Rosemary Perez-Howell, USAF 30 Flight High J ohn Gillespie Magee, Jr’s moving poem Cover image: Spitfire P7350 (front), the only Spitfire still flying to have fought in the Battle of Britain, flies alongside Hurricane LF363, the last Hurricane to enter service with the RAF (Crown copyright) Produced by Harfield Media Edited by Barry Davies Designed by Kylie Alder RAF Museum American Foundation 3
Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE ADC RAF, Chief of the Air Staff I n this 75th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain and our partner nations in executing the first Britain, I am once again delighted to attend strategic defeat of one of the most evil and tyrannical the annual dinner of the Royal Air Force regimes in modern history. That victory was important Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF). not just in preserving the United Kingdom from the Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to scourge of fascism, but also in ensuring that it could the Foundation for their continued support in act as the launching pad four years later for the Allied celebrating the partnership between our two Air armies’ drive to free Western Europe. This offensive was Forces. Through the hard work of its Directors, made possible by the combined efforts of our two Air the Foundation supports a wide range of activities, Forces over the preceding months and years. including the apprentice exchange programs with Between September 1940 and June 1941, the Royal partners within the United States, professional Air Force established three Eagle Squadrons, Nos. 71, exchanges between the RAF Museum and the 121 and 133 Squadrons, which were largely manned by Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum American citizens. Of the thousands who volunteered, here in Washington, and only 244 made it into the help in securing important The Allied armies’ drive to free Western Eagle Squadrons prior to artefacts that illustrate their being transferred Europe... was made possible by the the story of the Royal Air to the Eighth Air Force Force and its people. combined efforts of our two Air Forces of the United States This work will become Army Air Force (USAAF) over the preceding months and years increasingly important on 29 September 1942. as the RAF Museum I recently wrote to Pilot undergoes its planned programme of transformation, Officer William Corbett Slade, Roswell, NM, to thank intended to provide a fitting legacy for the 100th him for his service and to congratulate him on reaching anniversary of the formation of the Service in 2018. his 100th birthday. William joined No. 133 (Eagle) As we approach the centenary, the wider work of the Squadron on 14 April 1942. In September 1942, when American Foundation will continue to be essential in No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron was disbanded, he became a ensuring that these stories of transatlantic cooperation member of No. 336 Pursuit Squadron of the USAAF. are both preserved and shared. It was, therefore, fitting that the current Royal Air Force Tonight’s event also provides an opportunity to Exchange Officer serving with No. 336 Squadron was commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of able to attend Pilot Officer Slade’s birthday celebrations. Britain. A truly momentous battle in world history, it I offer my thanks to RAFMAF for its continued was the first decisive battle fought out entirely in the air. support and, in this anniversary year, particularly for American airmen joined us in the Battle, knowing the keeping the memories of ‘the Few’ alive here in the cause to be a just one. They joined forces with men from United States of America for future generations. RAF Museum American Foundation 4
5
Major General (Ret) Frederick F Roggero, USAF; President, RAFMAF T he Royal Air Force Museum American contributions have most reflected the values that our Foundation (RAFMAF) is honored and proud veterans, and the Foundation, share: service, excellence, to host the Battle of Britain Commemorative integrity and courage. It is these values that we honor in Dinner and would like to thank Chief of our young men and women of today, and encourage in the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Douglas the young people of tomorrow. Pulford KCB CBE ADC for his, and the Royal Air Force’s, continued support. This year, it is a great RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SERVICE privilege to recognize the 75th anniversary of the This year, it is our great privilege to, once again, Battle of Britain, and we were delighted that one of present two Swords of Honor to exchange officers from our Directors, Mr John Sessions, was able to join those both countries in recognition of the roles they play in commemorations in the United Kingdom by flying promoting relations between the RAF and the USAF, his Spitfire in a 40-strong formation of Spitfires and in keeping with the principles and values we endorse. Hurricanes – the largest gathering of those iconic The first Sword will be presented to Squadron Leader aircraft since the end of the Second World War. Ryan Beynon, who was posted to the United States in As Winston Churchill October 2013 and serves stated while the Battle was as an HH-60G pilot on 66th As Winston Churchill stated, under way, “Never in the Rescue Squadron, which field of human conflict “Never in the field of human conflict was is part of the 563rd Rescue was so much owed by so Group, 23rd Wing at Nellis so much owed by so many to so few.” many to so few.” Courage Air Force Base, Nevada. and bravery in the face The second Sword of of terrific adversity are Honor will be awarded to certainly values demonstrated by our guest tonight. Capt Rosemary Perez-Howell, Airborne Intelligence Wing Commander Thomas Francis “Ginger” Neil DFC Officer, who was selected to be the first-ever United AFC AE is a Second World War Royal Air Force fighter Kingdom Operational Test and Evaluation exchange pilot, ace and one of the few remaining survivors of officer from the RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint community, the Battle of Britain. Ginger flew 141 combat sorties and who quickly displayed outstanding leadership skills and shot down 14 enemy aircraft. We are thankful for as the Deputy Team Leader for the Project Airseeker Wing Commander Neil’s courage and bravery and are Operational Test and Evaluation Team. The directors of honored by his presence. the Foundation convey their heartiest congratulations to To commemorate his outstanding example, and this current generation of “Brothers and Sisters in arms,” those of numerous other veterans throughout the and wish them every success in their future careers. generations, RAFMAF presents ceremonial Swords of In pursuing its mission, the Royal Air Force Museum Honor to the RAF and USAF Exchange Officers whose American Foundation is also focused on education, as RAF Museum American Foundation 6
Prince Harry joined veterans including tonight’s honored guest, Wing Commander Tom Neil, at a recent Battle of Britain commemorative flypast held at Goodwood Aerodrome, in West Sussex, England. RAFMAF Director John Sessions was among the pilots participating in the event, flying his Spitfire as part of a 40-strong formation of Spitfires and Hurricanes demonstrated by its creation and support of an exchange program for young aircraft restoration technicians to travel from the United Kingdom to work and study at the National Air and Space Museum for several weeks. The aim is to share best practices and ideas to enhance the respective collections of the RAF Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. before eventually being requisitioned by the RAF in the United Kingdom while he was on tour – is one of the prize exhibits in the Milestones of Flight exhibition at the RAF Museum in Hendon. The aircraft was acquired in the United States and was painstakingly restored by the craftsmen conservators at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre. Moreover, the Hendon site has greatly benefited from the addition of the Boeing Chinook exhibit – a custommade re-creation of the RAF Chinook ‘Bravo November’, the sterling service of which has included Distinguished Flying Cross awards to its pilots in both the Falklands campaign and in Operation Desert Storm. Thank you for attending tonight, and for your continued support of the Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation and the Royal Air Force Museum. SUPPORTING KEY EXHIBITS The Foundation also supports a number of key exhibits at the RAF Museum, from the P-51 Mustang Donald Duck – donated by Mr Bob Tullius, a RAFMAF Director Emeritus – to the Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low, a more recent acquisition for the National Cold War Exhibition. The iconic Miles Mohawk – which is also owned by RAFMAF, and once owned by Charles Lindbergh RAF Museum American Foundation 7
General Mark A Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force © IWM T o all of you gathered to celebrate the of Britain, and the 244 American pilots who joined 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, them, in open defiance of American neutrality laws. I truly wish that I could be there with you Units such as the first all-American unit in RAF tonight. This is a special event, celebrating history, No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, which lost 108 men a special relationship – 75 years of a faithful bond during that battle, or the 88th Bombardment Group, forged between airmen which lost an entire of the United States and squadron over Stuttgart This is a special event, celebrating Royal Air Forces, carefully on Black Monday, a special relationship – 75 years of a nurtured and preserved September 6th, 1943. by the members of the faithful bond forged between airmen of We stand on the shoulders Royal Air Force Museum of extraordinary airmen the United States and Royal Air Forces such as tonight’s Guest of American Foundation. This “special relationship” Honor, Wing Commander provides leadership and hope to the world. Thomas Francis “Ginger” Neil. A Second World War Our Air Forces are built on the feats of extraordinary ace with 14 enemy kills, Ginger is a hero in every sense airmen... such as the tenacious and gritty RAF pilots of the word and belongs to a treasured generation of who prevailed over a relentless adversary in the Battle fighter pilots who became national heroes. Together, these airmen defeated the Luftwaffe’s finest and shredded Nazi plans to invade Britain. Their service is the reason we celebrate today – not just to memorialize the courage they mustered in the treacherous skies above Europe, but to embrace the freedom they guaranteed for citizens of so many nations. I love airmen. Airmen like Ginger, as well as today’s airmen, who strive to be worthy of his legacy. Each day we rise and remember that “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” Like the heroes defined by that phrase, we stand ready to defend our shared values and ideals around the world. Our predecessors answered the call of freedom... together. We must be ready to do the same. This special relationship must endure. If we get it right, Ginger will be as proud of us as we are of him. Pilot Officers VC ‘Shorty’ Keough and G Tobin of No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron show off their new squadron badge in October 1940 Air power! RAF Museum American Foundation 8
9
Fleepit Digital © 2021