Welcome to the 55 Squadron Association Website
Member Section (needs Password)
History of 55 Squadron
Spearpoint (1974 - 2005)
Spearpoint continued (2006 - 2015)
Faces - & Queries
55 in the First World War
Videos of some aircraft we flew
Tanker Stories
Typed History - Chapter 1
Chapter 2, 3
Chapter 5, 6, 7
Chapter 10, 11
Chapter12, 13, 14
This is where items will be stored, which were on the website previously but don't quite fit into the other Sections.
Victor Gate Guard to be Given Away
The Victor K2 Gate Guard at RAF Marham is costing too much to keep in shape and is being given away... Below is the address of the Eastern Daily Press article with details. If you have any ideas - or a big garden and a large trailer, please let me know.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/raf-marham-offering-free-victor-jet-1-6504843
The info comes via Eric and Audrey Anstead and Nobby Clarke's wife Jenny. Thanks, Bill
Latest Information - in October 2020- is that she will be scrapped, as nobody would take her...
These three evocative shots come from John Brown, who writes:
"... about the demise of the gate guardian at Marham? They had a farewell tour last Saturday and I took the enclosed pictures. All rather sad.
John"
News items from the past - these Items have been transferred from the What's New section
Video: Blue Spear - the Movie, filmed and produced way back is now on line in our Videos Section. Enjoy and don't take it too seriously! Project was led by SAC Pete Burns, who had connections to TV video makers and the 55 Sqn Cdr is played by Simon Harris, who later became Air Cdre. so it did him no harm... The sound has faded a bit over the years.
Projects: We have a new page called Projects where renovation and re-run items will be presented. Presently we have:
Information and an appeal from Barry Masefield - about the renovation project for the Victor simulator and also
Up to date information - also an appeal from the website of the Imperial War Museum about the renovation of XH 648 at Duxford.
Regarding the latter - I have tried to get Duxford to agree to having the 55 tail badge restored but they want to restore it as a 57 ship, as it originally was, when a bomber.
Squadron History: Gary West, has sent a large file of typewritten documents, which is a compilation of the Squadron history from 1916 to 1986, by A. Butterworth.
The document is well worth a read. Within the History section there are now sub pages for the Chapters of this document.
Also, as the pages are rather slow to load, the whole document (over 250 pages) is available on Google Drive in pdf format, for viewing or downloading.
There are links to do this in the History section and in the Links Section, which take you directly to the 55 Sqn History 1916 - 1986 file on Google drive.
Brooklands Event:
100 years since Alcock and Brown's historic first non-stop flight across the North Atlantic - and 50 years since the commemorative Daily Mail Air Race in which 55 Sqn Victor Tanker crews were very much involved.
To celebrate the occasion, the staff at Brooklands Museum organised on 8.May 2019 a reception for participants in the Daily Mail event in 1969 (itself the 50th anniversary of the famous crossing.) We managed to contact a few worthies from 55 Squadron, who had been involved in the event and all duly turned up at 08:00 on a rainy cold day in time for breakfast with other past participants from various categories - and a visit to the reconstructed Vimy and the Harrier in which Lecky Thompson made his (many times refueled) crossing. While there, we of course visited the other fine exhibits at the Museum - including a Vickers Vanguard, which member Gary West had landed there a good few years back on the shortened runway. The brakes are still hot...
Colin Griffiths has made some good shots of the event and these are now posted under Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race along with recollections by Keith Evans and Colin Seymour in the Tanker Stories section.
Also in May 2019, Bob Tuxford writes;
"I shall be powering XM715 down Bruntingthorpe's runway as usual at the May bank holiday Cold War Jets meeting, with Mike Beer in the back to keep an eye on the electrics and hydraulics!" This will be on 26th May - and for those wanting more, again on 25th August.
See his report of last year's run below.
The Member List - As of October, 74 names on the list - In order to get more information onto this list, we have put the wording from the application forms in a "Who is Who?" immediately following the formal list. This is in pretty much the reverse order of applications - newest on top. In some cases it is basic info - in others there is a story. Good news is that quite a few of our ground crew Members are applying. Certainly one of the big plusses of being on 55 was the autonomous squadron system. It may not have saved money but it formed a big family and was probably more efficient just due to that atmosphere. Nice also to see that we are getting members from the 55 (R) Squadron days, so the family is increasing...
Tanker Stories section.
First a comprehensive look at an overseas exercise recalled by John Brown. This should jog some memories.
Then action! A Falkland Islands War bombing raid, Black Buck 1:
Bob Tuxford describes his experience as long distance final Victor tanker captain and
Dick Russell contributes his memories of being seconded as receiver expert to the Vulcan bomber during this raid.
Transatlantic Air Race stories also in here.
100 year 3. Battle of Ypres Anniversary - The 55 Squadron RFC crew of 2nd Lt William Bishop and Lt Douglas Mackintosh was shot down in Belgium in October 1917. There was a memorial held there on 22. October 2017. Details under 55 in the First World War Period Newspaper shown below.
Website address - As well as 55assoc.com the old 55squadronassociation.jimdo.com address still brings you to the same site.
Your email address - Has your email address changed from the one on the Member list? Please let us know!!
Mail Chimp Distribution List - If you are registered on our Member list, we send out multiple emails from time to time using the Mail Chimp distribution service. The mails will appear to come from 55assoc.web@gmail.com which is a valid address belonging to the webmaster. Quite possible these mails will land in your Junk folder at first. We see that about 80% of the mails get opened, which means that 20% of you are missing out. You can trust our distribution service!
Frank Whittle's original W1 Jet engine at Cranwell
First flight Gloster E 28/39 TP Fg Off Gerry Sayer 15.April 1941
From the Antipodes - Mike Lawrence sends us this magnificent embroidery from his daughter Harriet - talent there...
Typical for an ex 55 Squadron Flight Refueler - Mike Lawrence in the Nullarbor plain - apparently pushed down the hotel fence to get fuel...
Mike Lawrence and Sling - retracing some OZ pioneer flights
35 Yr. Anniversary - Black Buck 1
On the 30th April 1982, the RAF mounted an iconic operation under the codename 'BLACK BUCK 1' from Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The mission was to signal the first offensive air action against the Argentine Invasion forces which had occupied the Falkland Islands at the onset of the Falklands War. On Sunday 30th April 2017, Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicester, home of the Cold War Jets and Victor K2 XM715, hosted a 35th Anniversary of Black Buck 1 in celebration of one of the RAF's most daring raids.
The weekend saw the largest gathering of Black Buck veterans since 1982. Amongst those invited to a reunion dinner on the Saturday evening was the former Air Officer Commanding of No.1 Group, Air Chief Marshall Sir Michael Knight KCB AFC. On the day of the anniversary, a group photo shoot of participating aircrew, operations and engineering staff was taken in front of XM715. Following this, three members of the original 'WHITE 2' Black Buck crew, Bob Tuxford, Glyn Rees and Mike Beer gave a taxi and high speed demonstration run in the Victor. Representing his father Ernie Wallis (Bob's Navigator Radar during Black Buck 1), Tony Wallis had the privilege of riding along on this very special occasion. On the runway, the simulated take-off was abandoned and brought safely to a taxi speed using the impressive brake parachute and clam shell airbrakes at the rear fuselage – a sight guaranteed to get the cameras clicking by the assembled guests and ticket holders positioned near the end of the runway.
After taxiing the aircraft back to the dispersal area, the operating crew gave a presentation inside the adjacent Whittle building. Mike Beer opened proceedings with an overview of the build-up to Operation Corporate, the deployment of Marham's tankers to the South Atlantic, and an insight into life for the aircrews on this remote volcanic island base. Three intelligence gathering MRR missions were undertaken within the first week of arrival on Ascension Island, and these sorties provided a valuable insight into what was to follow.
Bob Tuxford gave a detailed breakdown of the eventful Black Buck 1 mission. In a nod to the original briefing made on the open breezy airfield inside the flapping walls of the tent, Bob's presentation was poignantly interrupted by his mischievous AEO shouting down a megaphone from the side lines. Fond memories came flooding back to the amused assembled veterans. Glyn Rees wrapped up the show with a few personal recollections of life on Ascension Island and the Falklands. Refuelling support for the Hercules and Nimrod aircraft was covered, along with his experiences with the wide body TriStar tanker and cargo aircraft which became the mainstay of the South Atlantic Air Bridge.
The whole event was an unbridled success, and thanks must go to the Walton family who generously support the Cold War Jets collection at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. Particular thanks must also go to Brendon Johnston, who can take the credit for the idea behind the whole event (and much of the airfield preparation), and to the band of volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts towards the preservation of Teasin' Tina, Victor K2 XM715.
As written for FlyPast by Sqn Ldr Bob Tuxford AFC RAF
(Capt of 'White 2' Black Buck 1 crew)
HS run crew L to R: M. Beer B.Tuxford, G.Rees
XM715 - braking after the HS run
Assembled Company BB1 Anniversary Bruntingthorpe