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(Stanley) Charles Widdows, born in 4 October 1909, was the oldest surviving Battle of Britain pilot. He attended the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell and was Commissioned in 1931. He was with Fighting Area, RAF, from 1931 to 1932 and with the RAF Middle East, Sudan and Palestine from 1933 to 1937. In 1937 Charles was posted to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A & AEE) at Martlesham Heath where he was a Test Pilot until 1940. He flew a total of 89 aircraft there. Charles, on 8 November 1937, was the first RAF pilot to fly a production Hurricane, this was L1547, the first production aircraft. He later flew 13 further test flights on a total of four Hurricanes, the last on 25 June 1938 flying a cannon armed aircraft, L1750. He was also the first RAF pilot to fly a production Spitfire.
Charles told his fiancée, Irene Ethel (now known as Nickie) Rawlings, that he would not marry her if there were a war on and they married on 2 September 1939 and heard the next day that war had been declared.
In 1940, he was posted to to 12 Group as OC 29 Squadron at Digby. This Squadron flew the Blenheim F1 and from September 1940 also flew the Beaufighter F1 which finally replaced the Blenheim in February 1941. Charles commanded 29 Squadron from July 1940 to June 1941. In the absence of Radar, he was convinced that a single engined fighter would better than a slower, twin engined one, particularly in moonlight. He managed to get his own personal Hurricane in which he flew 40 night sorties, unfortunately without success having only seen two enemy aircraft. Charles piloted the first Beaufighter operational flight. He was promoted to Wing Commander. On the night of 13/14 Mar 1941, flying a Beaufighter F1 with Sgt Ryall, Charles intercepted a Junkers Ju 88 over Lincolnshire, sending it down near Horncastle after a short burst of fire from 100 yards. The Squadron was selected to take part in the night defence of London and in April 1941 moved South to West Malling and this resulted in a marked increase in activity. Charles was awarded the DFC in 1941 and was also twice mentioned in despatches.
In June 1941 Charles relinquished command of 29 Squadron but remained at West Malling as Station Commander. He held this post until June 1942. Following his command of West Malling, Charles held many senior staff posts including Commander of Eastern Sector, Fighter Command, when he flew Vampire or Venom night fighters whenever he had the chance. The final post was Director of Operations (Air Defence), Air Ministry from 1956 to his retirement from the RAF in 1958.
After his retirement from the RAF, Charles lived with his wife Nickie on the island of Guernsey. He was appointed CB in 1959. Charles kept busy with the following civilian positions:1973-79, People's Deputy, States of Guernsey; 1973-93, Guernsey Representative, RAF Benevolent Fund; 1974-90, Vice-Chairman, Guernsey Scout Association; 1990-TBA, Vice-President, Guernsey Scout Association.
On 18 September 2005, he and Nickie attended the opening of the London Battle of Britain Monument on the Victoria Embankment. As well as the London Monument, Charles also has his name engraved on the Black Wall at the National Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne, Kent. Charles who died on 10 January 2010, aged 100, ascribed his longevity to drinking whisky each day. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
The photo, from Nickie Widdows, shows Charles in 1940
Text from Tim Hammond
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The photo shows Kenneth while he was with 501 squadron at RAF Filton in 1941
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"Tommy" Thompson was born on the 14th of October 1930. He joined the RAFVR around the time of July 1939. He completed his training as a pilot, at number 15 EFTS and at number 5 OTS, RAF Sealand. He went to number 6 OTU on the 10th of September 1940. After converting to Hurricanes he was posted very briefly to number 85(F) Squadron, then on 17th October he was posted to number 249(F) Squadron at RAF North Weald, Essex. On the 28th he shared in the destruction of a Ju88. On the 30th of October he was credited with the destruction on an Me109.
In May 1941 249 were posted to Malta and flew off of HMS Ark Royal in two groups on the 21st. On the 5th of August "Tommy"Thompson was posted to the Malta Night Flight Unit, then being formed at Takali. He damaged an Italian BR20 at night on the 11th of November. The unit was to eventually become 1435 (Night Fighter) Flight on the 2nd of December 1941.
On the 3rd of March 1942, Thompson was posted to 71 OTU (Gordons Tree) in the Sudan. He returned to operations in October 1942 when he was posted to join number 73(F) Squadron in the Western Desert, in mid November he was appointed 'A' Flight Commander. At the end of December Thompson was posted to Cairo and in February 1943 he went to 206 Group as a Test Pilot. He was awarded the DFC on the 23rd of March 1943.
On 10th of March 1944 Thompson was seconded to BOAC and he took his release in Cairo on the 26th of February 1946, as a Flight Lieutenant. The following day he signed a contract with BOAC to fly for them as a Captain. He continued with the company until his retirement from British airways on 14th October 1975.
I was very fortunate, not only in meeting Tommy during the arrangements for the 249(F) Squadron reunion in 1990, but following on from then to his untimely death. Tommy became a wonderful friend and a writing companion. He suffered through the death of his first wife Doreen, and afterwards met another soulmate in his companion Liz. Together a short while Tommy suffered the loss of two loves of his life. He was a very caring man, and could be immensely funny. He loved a glass of red wine and a fine cigar, and also loved written verse which we both shared a common interest in.
Tommy died in Southampton General Hospital on the 9th of March 2008. He was admitted to the hospital following a fall in mid February. Unfortunately he contracted pneumonia and that allied with his fall and condition was the eventual cause of his death. If pilots have a heaven Tommy will be up at the bar with the boys pulling on a cigar and a good pint --- God bless you Tommy.
Text from Trevor Williams
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Brian Brown died on 15 September 2007
On the 67th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we mourn the sad passing of passing of 49 year old Hurricane display pilot Brian Brown of Doncaster, South Yorkshire. On 15 September at the RAFA Air Show at Shoreham, West Sussex, there was a simulated dogfight, during which G-HURR, piloted by Brian Brown was observed to go into a steep dive and burst into flames after impact. The next day a wreath was laid at the airfield and there was a two minutes silence in his honour. Brian was born in 1957 and learned to fly at the former Doncaster airfield. As well as being a much respected display pilot with the Real Aeroplane Company (RAC) for 15 years he was also manager of their airfield at Breighton, North Yorkshire. Brian was an ever-present and popular figure at Breighton, the hub of all airfield activities. He took an active role as Manager with such activities as propeller swinging and the refuelling of aircraft. Tony Smith, chief pilot at the company, said "He was probably the most experienced Hurricane pilot in the country. He was always highly regarded as a good hands-on pilot, very safe, very experienced, a proper aviator." His funeral on 26 September 2007 was in a packed St George's Minster, Doncaster, and was led by the Archdeacon, Bob Fitzharris. Brian is mourned by his family and his partner Eileen Evans to whom we send our condolences. Text from Tim Hammond. |
Former Warrant Officer Kenneth Gilbert, B.A. Honours, M.A died on 6 September 2007
It is with great sadness that Camm Followers records the passing of a good friend, former W/O Kenneth Gilbert. Ken to his friends was a great friend of the Hawker Hurricane Society and members of Camm Followers. During his wartime service Ken flew the Hurricane during the Burma campaign with 113(F) Squadron as part of the 'Forgotten Air Force, later being re-equipped with the big American Thunderbolt, as with their Hurricanes, in the dangerous role of ground attack. During this campaign there was little if any room for error. If one had to bale out over the jungle canopy a horrible fate awaited under the trees below, the only open spaces were the rivers, not ideal places to land a crippled aircraft. Ken was a great supporter of the Hurricane Society and a great friend to us all. He loved talking about his experiences and was a very interesting and modest man. From 1992 to 2000 he passed a BA Honours joint degree in French and Italian and a MA in French. Ken was 85 years old and suffered a heart attack at his home in Brighton, Sussex. God bless you and keep you and thank you from us all for your part in keeping England free, during those hostile years of 1940 - 1945. The photo, courtesy of Deadlinepix, shows Ken holding his Logbook at Brooklands in November 2005. Text from Trevor William |
Wing Commander Vivian R. Snell, died on 12 August 2007
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of W/Cdr Vivian R. Snell, RAF Ret'd. Vivian passed away in Watford Hospital after a short illness. During his service life Vivian flew the Fairy Battle with 103 Squadron, later flying the Hawker Hurricane with 151 and 501(F) Squadrons during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Vivian shot down a Bf109E on the 25th October 1940 and was then shot down himself while piloting Hurricane Mk.I serial N2438. After having minor wounds attended to he returned to his squadron and flew through the rest of the Battle of Britain. In 1941 he was flying the American built Douglas DB7 Havoc night fighter with number 85(F) Squadron. He commanded his own Mosquito Squadron towards the end of the War. Vivian was released from the RAF in 1946 with the rank of Wing Commander. Vivian was a great supporter of the 85 Squadron Reunion Association (the photo shows him at one of their meetings) and attended many other supportive venues throughout each year. He was a charming and well liked man. Our deepest sympathy is extended to Vivian's daughter Mrs Naomi Graham and her family. God has laid another place at the last big reunion. Having known Vivian personally, God bless him and keep him safe. We shall always remember his part in winning our continued freedom during the summer months of 1940. Text and Photo from Trevor Williams |
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