The 100 Squadron Association Reunion & AGM 2012, is being held on the weekend of Friday 8th June until Saturday 9th June. The finer details are currently being discussed and we hope to publish a full itinery in early March.

Our Reunion was held this year over the two days of 17^th and 18^th June 2011 at Royal Air Force Wyton. Members, including Joyce Sisson who travelled from Toronto, arrived from 10:00 and our meet’n’greet soon got underway. After a good lunch of fish’n’chips (well it was Friday) some of our Members departed by coach for a visit to Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust house some 15 miles distant. Jinny White took several photos and this is one of them.

From L to R Sally Kingston, Joyce Sisson, Miggs Bonnor and Laura Ellis.

The 35 Members who remained were treated to an excellent talk delivered by Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork, our Guest of Honour, which was entitled “The Men behind the Medals.” This was a very informative lecture given by a master of his trade. Graham is a renowned RAF historian and has published many books on RAF History. This was followed by a visit to the Pathfinder Museum where Andy Campbell, Curator of the Museum, gave us another interesting talk on the WWII Pathfinder Force, which was headquartered at Wyton. All in all, a most interesting and enjoyable afternoon.

Some 50 guests, including 7 officers from the Squadron, sat down for the Reunion Dinner with wine generously provided courtesy of Babcock Engineering. We were fortunate to have the company of Rev (Wg Cdr) Roger Hardman, Station Chaplain of RAF Wyton, as a guest and he said grace prior to the meal. After dinner Air Cdre Bonnor introduced our new Squadron Boss, Wing Commander Christian Gleave, who has flown Harrier GR7’s and GR9’s with IV (AC) Squadron in several combat arenas, plus a tour with the renowned Red Arrows. The Boss emphasised his commitment to the Association and said that he looked forward to the continuation of the close relationship between the Squadron and the Association. Our Raffle and Auction raised some £450:00 for the Association funds, and all had a good evening.

We held our Annual General Meeting on Saturday morning with some 22 Members present plus the Committee. The important points to emerge from the meeting included:

1. An update from the Boss that revealed just how busy 100 Squadron is in terms of 4850 flying hours tasked annually, that includes training support for Typhoon and Tornado Squadrons as they prepare to deploy for Afghanistan and Libyan operations. 100 also provides training for close air support forward controllers, and fast jet pilots train with the Squadron prior to posting to the Red Arrows. The Ton has funding to provide security until 2015. With Hawk T2 aircraft entering service, the T1 role(s) is likely to be reviewed with 100 Squadron being heavily involved in such a review.

2. 2012 will be the 95^th birthday of 100 Squadron and the Reunion is most likely to be held at Leeming late in July to coincide with Leeming Families Day. This also coincides with Sunderland Air Show, so the possibility of a good Air Show is an added bonus. The Reunion details will have to be worked out at a Committee Meeting early in September, and Members will be informed just as soon as is possible.

3. Air Cdre Bonnor outlined the reasons behind the resignation of John Hammill as Treasurer at the turn of the year, and why he had to become Acting Treasurer.

4. Dr Keith Ellis confirmed his intention, announced in 2010, to stand down as Association Secretary and introduced Jinny White (wife of Wg Cdr Wayne White, OC 100 Squadron 2004 to 2006) for election as the new Secretary. He also indicated that he offered himself for election as the new Association Treasurer. All other officers (Greg Harrison as Historian, Damien English as Website Editor and John Holford as Editor of The Hornet) offered themselves for re-election in their current roles. These proposals were passed unanimously.

5. Dr Keith Ellis welcomed some 9 new members to the Association including several members of Jim Berry’s family.

6. James (Trevor) Watson reported on the success of the Dutch Memorial Day at Twello in particular. The BBMF Lancaster provided several flypasts at the Memorial site to the delight of the local people. Flt Lt Kinnersley (Kinno) also reported that he along with several other Squadron members had attended Memorial Ceremonies at other Dutch sites with the Lanc putting in appearances.

7. The progress of the Bomber Command Memorial was reported; the foundation stone for the Memorial was laid in May, and building will now commence. Bomber Command Association intend that the Memorial will be unveiled in May 2012 just prior to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen. The Boss indicated that he expected 100 Squadron to be represented at the unveiling and that the Standard would be paraded. Air Cdre Norman Bonnor and Dr Keith Ellis will keep members fully informed with respect to the unveiling ceremony.

Rev (Wg Cdr) Roger Hardman conducted our end of Reunion Church Service. In the absence of Stamper Metcalfe, Dr Keith Ellis read the Act of Remembrance, and Air Cdre Norman Bonnor read out Absent Friends. The collection raised exactly £100:00 and this was donated equally between RAFBF and Bomber Command Memorial Fund.

Flt Lt Kinnersley had conducted ‘secret negotiations’ with BBMF and at just after 12:20 the ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ appeared from the west flying very low indeed. The grand old lady flew very low, and I mean very low, over the Officers’ Mess for us. The aircraft was ‘clean’ and under power as she roared over us heading east. She turned and came back again for a second pass, and then for a third time with the pilot fighting a strong crosswind before she turned north for Coningsby. Superb flying by a highly skilled driver! What a splendid finale to our Reunion, it simply could not have been a better way for us to draw our proceedings to a close and head for home!

Just whet your appetite for next year, a couple of photos for you, taken by Norman Bonnor. We urge you to join in the 100 Squadron 95^th birthday celebrations at RAF Leeming in July of 2012. Be there!!!!