Reunion 2015

550 Squadron Association Reunion 2015

Photographs from the Association Reunion at North Killingholme 3rd-5th July 2015.

Thanks to Wilfred Burie, Kathleen Robinson and Mike Leeman for providing the photographs.

Many thanks to all in North Killingholme who, as ever, did everything possible to make the weekend run smoothly. Thanks also to all the Association members and others who turned up, from all over the UK, as well as Ireland, Belgium and Denmark, to make it a wonderful weekend for all.

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Anniversaries

This year marked a key event for the Squadron, for Bomber Command and indeed the people of The Netherlands: the 70th Anniversary of MANNA Operations.

Reunion Weekend Welcome Pack

Document	Description
	Reunion Weekend Friday 3rd - 5th July: Welcome Information Detailed information for the weekend

Document	Description
	Timetable of Events (final version) Detailed timetable of the Saturday events

Friday Evening, Dinner at the Ashbourne (informal)

About 40 people were able to attend the Friday evening meal. With no seating plan for the informal dinner people were able to turn up, mingle and chat.

Jack Harris spoke briefly with some arrangements for the following day and a couple of stories. Two of the veterans, Gerry Taylor and Don Hellings, read poems from "A Motley Crew" an affectionate and irreverent set of "derogatory ditties" about the seven members of a Lancaster crew that was written by Alan Gall, a Navigator with 550 Squadron.

Saturday Morning

Lunch at the Amethyst Hotel.

Saturday Afternoon

Parade to Memorial Stone

At the Memorial Stone

Memorial Stone Remembrance Service

Laying of the Wreaths

Representative Immingham ATC Band

Wreaths and personal poppy crosses

At the Memorial Stone

The Last Post

Lancaster Flypast

Unfortunately there was no flypast. The hoped for flypast by the Dakota was also cancelled just a few days before the reunions as it also fell foul to an engine problem. So for the first time in many years there was no flypast.

Remembrance Service in St Denys' Church

Jack Harris spoke and remembered Association members no longer with us.

Ildiko Van Dyck sang two pieces for the gathering in the church.

School Project Display, Church Porch

Flower Display, Church

Saturday Evening, Reunion Dinner, The Ashbourne Hotel

Sixty-nine members of the Association, including members from Belgium, Denmark and Ireland, sat down to dinner on Saturday evening. After the Grace said by Jack Harris a fine dinner was enjoyed by all.

Document	Description
	Reunion Dinner July 2015 Menu and evening programme

After the dinner Jack Harris said a few words, and proposed the toasts.

Slide sets displayed over the weekend and during the dinner are shown below (these will download and need MS Powerpoint (MSOffice) in order to be viewed):

Document	Description
	550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association MS Powerpoint Slide Set

Guy De Braeckeleer said a few words on behalf of the Rebecq (Belgium) contingent.

William Albertyn, from Sint Niklaas (Belgium), also said a few words and made a presentation to Jack Harris.

Operation MANNA

A key theme for the weekend was Operation MANNA, and there was a presentation both on screen, and on the displays around the room, about Operation MANNA and 550 Squadron's involvement in it. There was a short clip (ca. 4mins) of Maurice Snowball on a special Songs of Praise which was broadcast in May this year on the BBC about Operation MANNA.

Document	Description
	MANNA Operations MS Powerpoint Slide Set

Maurice, who was attending the dinner, also said a few words about his experiences and about the filming of the piece for the BBC.

Photos of those at each table follow below.

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Table 1

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Table 2

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Table 3

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Table 4

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Table 5

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Table 6

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Table 7

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Table 8

Sunday Morning, Airfield Tour

George Turner led a small convoy of four or five vehicles on a tour of the airfield at 11AM. He stopped at various places to point out items of interest, for example, where "Queenie" bogged down (in a well known photograph), where the "Phantom of the Ruhr" overshot the runway (and where in 1963 the metal "carpet" that was used by the winching crew to retrieve her, was dug up by ploughing), dispersal areas, bomb and fuel dumps, site of the control tower, etc. (although some buildings have been knocked down over the last couple of years as planned developments have commenced). Most of the large hangers remain, and are in current use by various businesses. This was followed by a visit to the remnants of the accommodation areas off the main air-field area.

This was much appreciated by all attending.

A photo of the map of the airfield that George used is available: here.

Sunday Afternoon, Elsham Wolds

A large group, including all our visitors from Belgium and Ireland, travelled to see the museum at Elsham Wolds (about 20 minutes from North Killingholme).

There the group was welcomed by members of the Elsham Wolds Association and given a guided tour of the museum.

Photo	Description
(click on picture)	Visitors assembling for visit to Elsham Wolds
(click on picture)	Visitors gathered around the Memorial Stone (to 103 and 576 Squadrons which flew from Elsham Wolds)
(click on picture)	Visitors gathered around the Memorial Stone (to 103 and 576 Squadrons which flew from Elsham Wolds)

Many thanks to all at Elsham Wolds, especially Robin Lingard (Curator, Elsham Wold Air Museum), Alan Holmes, and Graham Brett for giving us an extremely interesting and enjoyable visit.