Letter From the President of
44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Association
Dear Fellow Association Members,
I would rather not have had to write this letter.
Sadly, we are where we are. Simon’s death was tragic and untimely and he cannot really be replaced. However, he would wish our Association to continue and we should do so remembering him and all the other friends and colleagues who have left us.
The Committee have asked me to be the Association President and I am honoured so to do. Barry Smith has also very kindly agreed to be our new Chairman which means he does all the work while I only have to think up a few words and find a dreadful joke for our annual dinner.
We are blessed with an outstanding committee and if it were not for their efforts – and particularly the diligent work of Phil (and Jan) as Secretary – our Association would be in a difficult place.
As an Association, we have considerations to make and decisions to take. 2027 will see 45 years since our foundation and, incidentally, the same distance since the Falklands war. It will be an appropriate time to think carefully and wisely on our own future and how we wish our Association to proceed.
I hope therefore that as many of us as possible will make the effort to attend the annual events next year as this year’s reunion was so sadly curtailed. We need to have a real celebration of our Squadron. We also will need to use the AGM to think how best to preserve the future memories of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron. I know our chairman will write separately on this topic. I hope that you will make every effort to be there if you can and Ingrid and I look forward to seeing you then.
God Bless and Best Wishes,
Monty
Out of the DV Window
This edition of the newsletter has been overshadowed by the loss of 6 of our members, not least of which was the harrowing death of Simon Baldwin, our President, whose obituary can be found below. Before reading on though, please make a note in your diaries that next year’s reunion will take place on 5th and 6th of June 2027. This departure from the traditional early May date has been driven by the Committee’s decision to have next year's Annual Dinner at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) and such is the popularity of that venue that the earliest date that could be secured was early in June.
44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Standard at Rest
I am grateful to Simon Erskine Crum for sending this picture of the 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Standard which now hangs in its final resting place in the church of St Michael and All Angels at RAF Cranwell.
In this issue:
President:
Group Captain A C Montgomery OBE MA RAF (Ret'd)
Chairman:
Group Captain B Smith CBE BA RAF (Ret'd)
Treasurer:
Squadron Leader A C Marson RAF (Ret’d)
Editor and Membership Secretary:
Squadron Leader P J Leckenby MBE RAF (Ret’d)