A ceremony was held this week to salute two RAF squadrons that were based near Darlington in the Second World War. * PETER BARRON**was there*
TIME flies...It has taken 85 years for a wrong to be put right, but two RAF squadrons have finally been honoured on the site of a North East bomber base where they sacrificed so much in wartime.
Under benevolent blue skies, those who served in 76 and 78 squadrons were officially honoured this week at what was once RAF Middleton St George and is now Teesside International Airport.
It was 1941 when they arrived with their Whitley and Halifax bombers. By the time they left, a little over a year later, 311 RAF personnel had been lost between the two squadrons.
Their missions included the heavy bombing of the German battleship, Tirpitz, while it was berthed at Faettenfjord, near Trondheim, in Norway.
Yet until this week, the dark grey memorial stone that stands in front of the derelict St George Hotel – formerly the officers’ mess – had only commemorated the three Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons that were based at Middleton St George.
Now, due to the admirable efforts of the Middleton St George Memorial Association, a new stone has been added to honour 76 and 78 Squadrons of British Royal Air Force.
The new stone, honouring 76 and 78 squadrons of the RAF (Image: Peter Barron)
“It needed to be done and, finally, we’ve been able to make it happen,” said aviation historian, Geoff Hill, co-chair of the association.
The original stone, honouring the Canadians, was laid in 1985, but the association hadn’t been able to afford to add the memorial to the RAF squadrons.
That changed due to Middleton St George Parish Council approving a £1,500 grant. With the association adding £500 from its own funds, the memorial is finally complete.
"We're only a small association and we simply didn't have the money before, so today has been a long time coming," added Geoff. "So many lives were lost in such a short space of time and they should never be forgotten."
The new stone was unveiled by Group Captain Geordie Lawson, Commanding Officer of RAF Leeming, who laid a wreath in honour of those who flew with the squadrons.
"It truly is important to remember those crews who faced such hardship in the dark days of World War Two," said Group Captain Lawson.
He also paid tribute to Geoff and co-chair, Fred Jackson, for their "outstanding service" in keeping the memories of RAF Middleton St George alive.
Geoff's invaluable contribution to local history will be officially recognised on Thursday when he receives the British Empire Medal at Durham Castle.
RAF Leeming Chaplain, Padre John Hetherington, who read a dedication and blessed the new stone, has a connection to RAF Middleton St George going back to childhood.
The ceremony takes place on the site of what was RAF MIddleton St George (Image: Peter Barron)
As a nine-year-old, he was taken to see a Battle of Britain display at the RAF base, and remembers being "overawed" by the sight of Meteor jets in action.
He went on to join the RAF at 16 before leaving to study theology and being ordained.
Deborah Laing, borough councillor for Sadberge and Middleton St George, was among the guests, having advised the memorial association to apply for the parish council grant.
"It's extremely important to keep these memories alive," she said. "It's hard to comprehend what they went through, and it's important to friends and family that they are remembered."
Other dignataries included the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Helen Crumbie, Stockton West MP Matt Vickers, and Deputy Lieutenant of County Durham, Pam Royle.
As the ceremony came to an end in the autumn sunshine, the peace was interrupted by the roar of an aircraft overhead – one of the fleet of Hawk jets, from the State of Qatar, that's based at RAF Leeming.
They are part of a joint training squadron, formed under an agreement to deliver advanced fast jet training to pilots from both the RAF and the Qatar Emiri Air Force.
Eight and a half decades after 76 and 78 Squadrons left Middleton St George – their numbers tragically depleted – the need for air defences continues in the modern era.
THE daring exploits of 76 and 78 Squadrons, during their stay at RAF Middleton St George, is chronicled in the book Goosepool by Darlington historian Stanley Howes, who passed away recently.The book, including detailed operational records, brings to life the heroism of the bomber crews.For example, records of the losses suffered by 78 Squadron include the following account of a Whitley that took off from Middleton St George at 23:00 on July 8, 1941:Hit by flak over enemy territory, this aircraft managed to get within 9 miles of the English coast before having to ditch (at 04:29). The navigator, Sgt Hafferden, swam to shore and raised the alarm. Sadly, the remainder of the crew were never found.
AS part of the ceremony to commemorate 76 and 78 squadrons, Tom Alden, of Great Stainton, was laid to rest.
Tom, who was 88 when he died, was a senior aircraftsman in the RAF Regiment post-war. Based at Catterick, he served in Malta, and Hednesford, in Staffordshire.
In later life, he became a farmhand, and was a committee member of the Darlington and District Motor Club, volunteering trackside to help run events at Croft Circuit.
He was also a "great friend" of the Middleton St George Memorial Association, and it was fitting that his ashes were buried in the garden of remembrance, in front of the old officers' mess that will soon be renovated and reopened as a hotel.
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Tom's son, Andrew, and granddaughter, Laura Willis, led the family tributes at the ceremony.
"He loved everything about the RAF," said Andrew.
"It's a little overwhelming that he's been laid to rest here, but he would have been so proud to be part of something so special and historic."