Author: Rachel Semlyen

80th Anniversary Get-Together

You are warmly invited to mark the

 80th Anniversary of 77 arriving at RAF Elvington

Saturday 8th October 2022

Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Force Memorial, Elvington, York, YO41 4AU

Programme:

10.00: Museum open with free admission for Registrants  (normally £12 pp)

11.00:  Chapel Service conducted by the Revd Taff Morgan and Wreath Laying at the Memorial 

12.30pm: Hot and Cold Buffet Lunch in the Halifax Suite

Afternoon: Pre-booked Halifax tours* and entertainment on site

Register £15.00 per person to include lunch.

You can download this form from the Documents box on this page, or use the Donations button with the following in the message box with your payment.

Name (s) ——————————————————————————————————————-

  • PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HALIFAX TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED BUT IF YOU WANT TO STILL RESERVE A PLACE LET US KNOW IN CASE OF CANCELLATIONS.

I wish to book places for the 77 Squadron Reunion: 

Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Address………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Telephone………………………………………Email………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Total Payment:  £…………… …. Cheques to be made out to 77 Squadron Association or by PayPal using the email: info@77squadron.org.uk or using the Donate button or return this booking form to: Hon Treasurer & Membership Secretary : Van Wilson, 20 Grange Garth, York, YO10 4BS before 30th September.

You can contact Rachel Semlyen for more information: rachel@yorkshireairmuseum.org 

We look forward to welcoming you back or meeting you for the first time!

20th August 2022 | Categories: Uncategorised

Our film is a unique record

Our film about 77 squadron, featuring unique footage of veterans’ stories and the history of the squadron, is available on DVD and with specially-designed and donated cover art by Brian Gaunt.Artwork

Tracing the history of the squadron through both world wars and afterwards, the film includes scenes of the association’s reunions and ceremonies, family memories and moving interviews with veterans describing their time with the squadron.

The cost of making the film was financed by family members of our association and the narration is by radio announcer, narrator and presenter, Richard Clegg who gave his services free of charge. He says: “It was such a pleasure to be able in some small way to contribute to the memory of the brave and selfless Second World War veterans to whom we all owe so much.”

Most of the former aircrew interviewed for the film over the past decade have now passed away, but we were determined that their voices and memories were captured for posterity. A Heritage Lottery funded extract of the interviews will be used at the Yorkshire Air Museum to help tell the story of the airfield, the aircraft and the people who flew and serviced them.

Chairman of the air museum, Martin Withers DFC, said: “At the museum, situated on the site of Elvington Airfield, you will see examples of both the Halifax and the Dakota aircraft as flown by 77 Squadron. Watching this film one realises how valuable are recordings such as this and must recognise the forethought of 77 Squadron Association for organising and funding the filming.”

The film was compiled and untiringly edited by Van Wilson, whose father was a pilot with the squadron, with filming by Rachel Semlyen and York company, Parashoots. It was produced by Ollie Bostock of Hewitt and Walker of York.

To obtain your copy of this 45 minute DVD, The Story of 77 Squadron, at £12 to include postage and packing, £15 for overseas, contact info@77squadron.org.uk

11th May 2021 | Categories: Uncategorised | Tags: dvd, film

Research 77’s operations from here!

New on the website

The collection of Operational Record Books (ORBs) of 77 Squadron  from Sep 1939 until Dec 1945. Included in these records are the monthly RAF Form 540 – Summary of Events (a daily diary of events at the Sqn), RAF Form 541 – Detail of Work Carried Out ( a record of what aircraft and personnel took part in Operations) as well as various appendices with supplementary information including Ops Orders, bomb camera pictures etc. Each year has its own named folder with individual monthly documents of the types listed above.. The ORB copies are of various levels of quality based on the available content from National Archives.  (Some of the original typing is very faint!). Feel free to download and use the information for non-commercial uses as you see fit in order to research family members or those connected to 77 Squadron.

Our thanks to Canadian member Mike Anglin for this tremendous work. Mike also compiled the Canadian Roll of Honour. His father was F/O William Anglin, J28695 RCAF who completed 35 Ops with the Tarling crew and made it safely home to Canada.

He writes:  It is my hope that the information is helpful as a resource for all researchers of 77 Sqn, whether they be families, or historian alike. The information in this drive is also provided in Remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of freedom.”

 

26th February 2021 | Categories: Uncategorised