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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0443.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 3, 1934 A REUNION DINNER ON Saturday last Mo. 45 (War-time) Squadron, R.F.C.,held their Eighth Annual Reunion Dinner at theCrown and Cushion Restaurant, London Wall, E.C.2. Maj. A. Crook, M.C., who was the fourth officer to command the Squadron, occupied the chair. This function is organised each year by Messrs. Bernard Weatherall and H. W. Grimmitt, and is primarily a re- union of the Other Ranks of the old Squadron. As many of the old 45 officers attend as can be present, but many of them are now in different parts of the Empire, and from these messages of good wishes were received. This year the Squadron entertained as its guest Air Vice-Marshal Sir Tom Webb-Bowen, K.C.B., C.M.G., in whose Brigade the Squadron fought for an unbroken period of well over a year in both France and Italy. After the toast of " The King " had been proposed by the Chairman, that of " Our Guest " was proposed by Capt. Norman Macmillan, M.C., A.F.C., who commanded "A" Flight of 45 Squadron for five months during the war. Capt. Macmillan referred to the way in which the lighting spirit of the Squadron had been maintained by the policy which Brig.-Gen. Webb-Bowen, as he then was, laid down for all Squadrons in his Brigade, which led to the proud record which 45 possesses of having shot down more enemy aeroplanes than any other squadron which was equipped with Sopwith aeroplanes. The Reply In his reply Sir Tom Webb-Bowen said that he was glad to be present, and that he realised that 45 had not lost any of its old spirit of espnt-de-corps. It was a fine thing, he said, to see this gathering of Other Ranks, organised by themselves, and attended by some Of the old officers, go on from year to year, and increasing its numbers as it did so; this year the number present was 67, which was a record, and that was something which very few regimental dinners could point to. The Air Ministry took note of these things, and it had greater repercussions than anyone there really knew. It was one of the very best ways to make our nation air-minded, which none knew better than the members of old 45 Squadron was badly needed. 45 Squadron had a fine record, and he was glad to have been associated with rl both during the war and later in Egypt, and he was proud to be present as their guest at dinner. " No. 45 Squadron " was proposed by Mr. A. T. Bland, and " Absent Friends " by Mr. Arthur Hart. The latter said that very few of the old Squadron were in poorcircumstances, but one or two had received help and one or two required it, and he hoped that everyone wouldgive generously to the "stocking" when it was passed round for the fund to assist any member of the oldSquadron who might be in need of it during the coming twelve months. A Gordon-Bell Story Mr. Grimmitt, one of the organisers of the dinner, gavehis annual review of the work. He said that the fund had helped one old member to get a new suit of clothesso that he was presentable to apply for a job, that in another case it had kept the bailiffs out, while in anotherit had redeemed some pawn tickets. The credit balance was now one shilling and sevenpence, but that didn'tmatter very much for 45 Squadron had a very good name at the bank. The collection at this dinner would givethem enough to carry on with for another year, but even if they were out of funds, ways and means would alwaysbe found to help any old member of the Squadron who was in need. He told an amusing story of the late Maj.Gordon-Bell who was at Gosport when the nucleus of 45 Squadron was forming. He, Grimmitt and a friend,Winkworth, were in that nucleus, and so was a sergeant, who he regretted very much never came to any of thedinners! This sergeant always called a parade at 5 a.m., which both Winkworth and Grimmitt felt was quite un-necessary, so they stayed in bed. After a time the sergeant felt he had to do something about it, so he toldWinkworth he was for it, and ran him in. Grimmitt was one of the escort as Winkworth was marched in in frontof Gordon-Bell with his cap off. Gordon-Bell looked up. "What's the charge, sergeant? " he asked." Absent from parade, sir," replied the sergeant. " What time was the p-p-parade? " next asked'Gordon-Bell. "Five o'clock, sir! " " W-w-where was the p-p-prisoner? " " In bed, sir! " " I sh-should b-b y well t-think so! " said Gordon-Bell to the astonishment of the sergeant, and the joy of Grimmitt and Winkworth as the latter was marched outa free man. After the laughter which followed Mr. Grimmitt's storysubsided, the usual smoking concert followed, and concluded a very cheerful evening. N. M. BRIEFLY SyD. LDR. J. L. BENNETT-BAGGS has joined the Black- burn Aeroplane & Motor Co., Ltd., of Brough, E. Yorks, as Sales Manager. He flew a B.2 " Trainer " out to Geneva for the Aero Show. FROM May 1 " Swissair " will be running aeroplanes direct between Geneva and Paris. VICOMTE DE SIBOUR is now representative, in Paris, of the Standard Oil Co., of New York. THE PALMER TYRE CO., LTD., has been acquired by- British Goodrich Rubber Co., Ltd. Their offices have,. therefore, now been moved to Thames House, Millbank. BROWN BROTHERS, LTD., inform us that, as from May 7, deliveries of telegrams to their head offices, Great Eastern Street, will be made from Finsbury Square instead of Bethnal Green as at present. Their telegraphic address will therefore be " Imbrowned, Finsquare, London." COMPER AIRCRAFT STAFF : (1 to r) M. O'Flaherty, Chief Inspector ; J. Graham, Works Manager ; B. R. S. Jones Managing Director ; Fit. Lt. N. Comper, Technical Director and Chief Designer ; G. A. Lingham, Sales ' Manager, and A. A. Fletcher, Technical Assistant. (FLIGHT Photo.) -,.,,-..,....-..V- ...;,. ,..,-..:,•:•.....:• • 443 ..--.-..•,. • : .; r ..;<; .-" • ' • ' •. ' '.-• •^•V^i '-
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