Reunion 2025
550 Squadron Association Reunion 2025
Photographs from the Association Reunion held in North Killingholme 11 - 13 July 2025.
Many thanks to all in North Killingholme who, as always, helped ensure that the weekend was a success. Flags and bunting adorned the village, and the Memorial Stone and surrounding area were also suitably flagged. Thanks also to all the Association members and others who attended from all over the UK and The Netherlands, to make it a memorable weekend.
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Anniversaries
The reunion takes place in the year of special anniversary in the life of the Squadron, and indeed the country, namely the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
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October 1945 also marked the disbandment of the squadron so the 80th anniversary of that will come around shortly before the annual Remembrance services in November.
Reunion Weekend Welcome Pack
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Reunion Weekend Friday 11th - Saturday 12th July: Booking Form |
Friday Evening, Dinner at the Ashbourne (informal)
Visitors sat down to an informal meal at 7:30 PM. Time for old friends to catch-up before the events taking place on Saturday.
Saturday
Visitors sat down to the formal dinner at 7:30 PM.
Parade to Memorial Stone
The parade to the Memorial stone was, as ever, led by the Immingham Air Training Corps Band.
Service and Laying of the Wreaths At the Memorial Stone
A short service at the Memorial Stone was followed by two minutes silence and the laying on wreaths, the placing of poppy crosses and a photo opportunity.
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Flypast of the BBMF Lancaster over St Denys' Church
The flypast, scheduled for 14:45/46, so much missed in previous years was to be over the church. However, on the day the Lancaster had a technical issue prior to the time of the flypast over North Killingholme and was diverted, on three engines, to land early at Conningsby. Sadly, therefore, there was no flypast over the church.
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Remembrance Service in St Denys' Church
Sue Etherington, daughter of Jack Harris, welcomed everyone to the service on behalf of the Association, including visitors from far and wide.
The service was led by the Revd. Trevor Riess.
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Welcoming Speech |
Jack Harris Memorial St Denys' Church
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Harris family gathering at the Edgar Pickles bench.
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Tea in the Village Hall
Following the service everyone adjurned to the Village Hall for tea and cakes.
Saturday Evening, Reunion Dinner, The Ashbourne Hotel
Visitors assembled for dinner on Saturday evening at 7.30 PM for 8PM.
About 30 people in total sat down for dinner. After dinner George Turner said a few words of welcome, and then made the toasts (as listed in the Reunion Dinner card). Paul Batenburg, from The Netherlands, spoke about why he has adopted the grave of Leslie Harvey at Nederweert War Cemetery, and his recent investigations into the loss of the F/O CJ Jones crew, and especially where the pilot Cyril John Jones may be buried (currently he has no known grave and is remembered on the wall at Runnymede).
A slide set was prepared for display over the weekend and is shown below (this will download and need MS Powerpoint (MSOffice), or at least a Powerpoint reader, in order to be viewed).
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550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association
MS Powerpoint Slide Set NB: very large document (ca. 6Mbytes) - may take a long time to download depending on the speed of your internet connection. |
Sunday Morning
Airfield Tour
At 10.30 AM on Sunday morning George Turner took a number of visitors for a guided tour of the airfield.