Tribute

We all at Soldier Blue respect and honour all current and former members of the RAF, RAF Regt, WAAF, WRAF and all other branches of the armed forces. Their deeds and actions in the defence of this country have been and continue to be an inspiration. We respect the families and friends of any member of the armed forces who has lost their life or the veteran themselves who has been disabled mentally or phyically in the line of duty.

Dear Father Today we Pray for the R.A.F Regt Gunners whom now are in your Kingdom. May you smooth their troubled souls and give comfort to their Loved ones left here on this mortal earth.

The Lords Prayer

Our Father who art in Heaven

Hallowed be thy name,thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil

for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours

now and forever

In the name of The Father,The Son and The Holy Ghost

Amen.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds- and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of- wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Christopher Bowler RAF Regt Reenactor - October 2008.

SAC Graham Livingstone 3 Sqn RAF Regiment -13 Apr 2008

SAC Gary thompson 3 Sqn RAF (AUX) Regiment -13 Apr 2008

SGT Duane 'Baz' Barwood RAF no 903 EAW- 29 Feb 2008

SGT Thomas Graham RAF Regiment - 30 Nov 2007

SAC Christopher Bridge 51 Sqn RAF Regiment -30 Aug 2007

LAC Martin Beard 1 Sqn RAF Regiment -7th Aug 2007

SAC Christopher Dunsmore 504 Sqn RAF Auxiliary Regiment -19th July 2007

SAC Peter McFerran 1 Sqn RAF Regiment -19th July 2007

SAC Matthew Caulwell 1 Sqn RAF Regiment -19th July 2007

WO John Joseph Kavanagh RAF Regiment -6th March 2007

SAC Peter Banks 1 Sqn , 3 Wing RAF Regiment -25 April 2007

LAC Ronald Smith. 1739518 2837 & 2908 Squadron Sept 11th, 1923 to Dec 20th, 2006.

Cpl Christopher N Strickleton 3 Sqn RAF Regiment -4 June 2003

LAC Colin George 63 Sqn RAF Regt (QCS) -27 May 2003

Duncan G. Pritchard 16 Sqn RAF Regiment -7 May 2003

SGT Nick Carter 15 & 1 Sqn's RAF Regiment -2003

SAC Peter Salmon 66 Rifle Sqn 1951 - 54 2003

Cpl Martin Bonnes 1 Sqn RAF Regiment, SAS- 2001

SAC R. McMenemie 1 & 34 Sqn RAF Regiment 501 TMW - 24 Aug 2000

Cpl Iain Learmonth 51 Sqn 3 Sqn RAF Regiment - August 1989

SAC J. Millar Reid 1 Sqn RAF Regiment -1 May 1988

SAC John D Baxter 1 Sqn RAF Regiment -1 May 1988

SAC Ian Shinner 16 Sqn RAF Regiment -1 May 1988

SAC Danny Hurley 16 Sqn 1 Sqn

SAC S. Kearney 1 Sqn RAF Regiment

SAC Jack Baggioni RAF Regiment

LAC Ron Finch RAF Regiment

F/Sgt Andy Reekie RAF Regiment

WO Jerry Goscombe RAF Regiment

LAC James Basil Thompson RAF Regiment

LAC Derek Smithen RAF Regiment

Sgt Patrick J Lopeman RAF Regiment

SAC Sid Mason RAF Regiment

SAC Paul Cunningham RAF Regiment

Ken Prout 2 Sqn 34 Sqn RAF Regiment

F/Sgt A.J. Balcombe RAF Regiment

F/Sgt George Fisher RAF Regiment

A Poem written by Ted Russell ( Navigator)

for Jack Leigh ( Rear-Gunner)

during WWll in 1944,

Tonight I go out, come back I may

For that is a problem, on which nobody can say,

If that is my fate, then that’s OKAY

Although I should like to live, yet another day.

Halfway to heaven, up in the sky

Or as near to the other, if I'm going to fry,

At least we have an original shroud

The dying sun whitens the lowering cloud.

The engines blend in constant sound

Far below, the darkening ground,

A yellow moon, no more daylight

A false sense of security to fright

I wonder what they are doing at home

Probably like me, she is alone.

This REAR TURRET, so remote and small

Contains a man, not so tall

Controlling four guns at his will

His deadly purpose is to kill

Approaching the target, a reddish glare

An aircraft in front, drops its flare

And now the flak comes up in streams

Surely a hideous fancy of my dreams

But No' No', I am awake

A difficult objective, no piece of cake

My nerves are tense, I strain my eyes

At any moment, Death may strike from these dark skies.

A shadowy blur, My word one of these huns

I give him a burst from all of my guns

He disappears' into the gloom,

Who knows! Perhaps to his doom.

Our bombs go down with adept skill,

A few holes in the morning Jerry can fill

Now, lets get out of this wilderness

To a glass of beer in the nice warm mess.

It seems I am going to keep our date

Find you rigid, for being late

Now let me see that’s my number five

I can shoot a few lines on being alive.

The light grey sky, the sleeping towns

The very English wavy downs

Shrouded in early morning mist our 'drome

Who care's, not I, we are at home.

OUR PRAYER

Lord guard and guide the men who fly,

Through the great spaces of the sky.

Be with them as they take to air,

In morning light and sunshine fair.

Eternal Father, strong to save,

Give them courage, make them brave;

Protect them whereso'er they go,

From shell and flak and fire and foe.

Most loved Member of their crew,

Ride with them up in the blue.

Direct their bombs upon the foe,

but shelter those whom Thou dost know.

Keep them together upon their way.

Grant their work success today.

Deliver them from hate and sin,

and bring them safely down again.

O God bless the men who fly,

Through lonely way across the sky,

Amen