207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY

COMMUNICATIONS PERIOD ALBUM

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Last updated 29 Aug 2012: 29 Dec 13.

The purpose of this page is invite the addition/correction of names, dates and locations, and to encourage anecdotes and further photos to be added. Above all it provides access to the photos by a wider audience than those who attended the former Association's reunions - 207's history will be added to and improved thereby. It should be viewed in conjunction with the other pages in the Devons/Bassetts/Pembrokes section of this website (see Memories).
This page can be searched - press Ctrl and F keys together.

Images provided by original sources, unless otherwise specified, via Raymond Glynne-Owen.
If you can add or correct, please contact the editor Frank Haslam specifying the image reference number(s).

“Copyright in the images on this page remains with the person who originally provided the image,
unless otherwise specified. If it is wished to make use of such images in another publication
or website please contact the editor.”

 

A: source Jan Kmiecik: his father Joe low over the lake during the filming of the Dam Busters

B: source Jan Kmiecik: his father Joe at the controls of a Lancaster during the filming of the Dam Busters

C: source Jan Kmiecik: his father Joe, thought to have been when a Polish Hooligan on 303 Squadron.
Anyone know Joe's dates on 207 at Northolt?

D: via Gerald Herd: Lez and the first Mrs Arthur, believed to have been at a hangar party at Northolt.
The late Lez was OC 207 Jan 72-Mar73

1 Anson LT764 - camouflaged livery

2 4 ac formation: Devon, Pembroke, Basset + Anson: pre 207 days

3 senior unknowns in front of Pembroke: ? - PGD Farr - ?

4 Sqn Ldr Austen Sullivan, early 1970s, in front of Pembroke cockpit

5 Pembroke WV746 - RAF Air Support Command livery

6 2 unknowns saluting Pembroke

7 Pembroke XK884

8 Fred Butcher: "Chap saluting is my old Nav Chris Gibbons. The VIP exiting Pembroke is CinC Strike Command ACM Smallwood."

10 Basset XS780 on hardstanding:

11 Basset XS765 on hardstanding (Dennis Nunn: 'Boscombe Bassett capable of variable handling characteristics')

12 Basset XS784 in flight

13 unknown Basset being marshalled on hardstanding

14 Pembrokes + crews line up on hardstanding

15 L-R: G/C Nunn (Stn Cdr) - Sqn Ldr Gary West (OC 207, 1973-75) - ? - ?,
with unknown Basset behind on hardstanding

16 A-G of approach to RAF Northolt in 1950s: (DC3s on S ramp).

17 Anson VV958 - RAF Air Support Command livery: ASC was formed from Transport Command in 1967.
This dates the photo as one of the last of the Ansons in service.

18 Basset XS779 in air formation with BBMF Hurricane + Spitfire

19 Devon C2 WB530 in flight

20 Robby LUNN, Dave GREEN, Colin SHAW, G/Capt DIXON (Station Commander), Jack SMITH
on the occasion of 10,000 hrs by Dave Green, 22 July 1982

21 Basset XS780 on landing approach

31 Devon VP955 at Finningley in mid-late 80s

32 Devon VP955 at Finningley in mid-late 80s

36 2 Devons in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

37 Close-up of tail of Devon VP981 in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

38 unknown Devon in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

39 unknown Devon in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

40 Tail of Devon VP968 in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

41 Devon VP971 in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

42 Tail of Devon VP952 in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

43 Tail of Devon VP981 in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

44 RAF Northolt badge on tail of unknown Devon in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

45 Devon VP952 landing at RAF Woodvale (en route to Aldergrove supporting BBMF Spitfire) June 1984

46 Devon VP952 at RAF Woodvale (en route to Aldergrove supporting BoBMF Spitfire) June 1984

47 Devon VP952 at RAF Woodvale (en route to Aldergrove supporting BoBMF Spitfire) June 1984

48 Devon VP952 at RAF Woodvale (en route to Aldergrove supporting BoBMF Spitfire) June 1984

49 Devon VP952 at RAF Woodvale (en route to Aldergrove supporting BoBMF Spitfire) June 1984

51 2 unknowns: handshake at access door to Devon - date unknown

52 Jacko Jackson? (centre) + 1 unknown + 'Mrs P' who sadly died of cancer, at 207's tea counter at Northolt.
Del Williams: I'm sure that the man on the left is Leigh Gothard. Leigh was a RAF College Cranwell graduate who played
cricket for the RAF and was awarded an MBE during a tour with the Army in Germany. By coincidence, we both
served our respective last tours in the RAF at SHAPE, overlapping by a couple of years.

53 unknown - Jacko Jackson - Leigh Gothard, in front of displayed 207 propellor

54 2 unknown with briefcases in front of nose of Devon (see also C77)

55 S/Ldr Mike Rosenorn-Lanng in front of Devon VP952

56 2 unknowns in route-planning room

57 1 unknown signing in (or out!)

58 Devon VP968 on ground - location/date unknown (but chimneys in distance)

60 Devon VP977+ unidentified BBMF Spitfire landing (at Aldergrove?)

61 Devon VP977 landing (Aldergrove?)

62 Joe Kmiecik (front 2nd left - in No 1s) with Red Arrows pilots 1983.

63 1 unknown (Navigator)

65 Ian CARR + Dennis CHAPMAN with displayed Devon

66 Ian CARR with displayed Devon

67 S/Ldr Cox (Pilot)

68 Devon C1 VP956 on ground (at Northolt?): pre-mod Devon with perspex top

69 Devon C1 VP971 on ground: pre-mod Devon with perspex top

70 Devon VP971 in flight: pre-mod Devon with perspex top

71 S/Ldr Ian HAMPTON (207 CO 1984) - Navigator

72 Devons lined up on hardstanding

73 VIPs exiting Devon VP977

74 L-R: Inspection of F/O Geoffrey Dalton, Flt Lt Alan Vickers ?, ? by PGD Farr

75 Inspection by Senior unknown inside Hangar

76 PGD FARR (Pilot). (Later VP of Shackleton Association)

78 Devon VP973 after undercarriage collapsed on landing (not 207? 21 Sqn?)

79 Crumpled propeller on Devon VP973 after undercarriage collapsed on landing

81 This is a photo of No 100 Devon conversion course by the Air Training Flight
Colin Forrester: Butch Coppins: Dave Munn: Des Taylor: Dave Green:
Wg Cdr Taylor who was the OC Operations Wing, designate: George Mitchell: Frank Haywood?

82 Frank Hayward - Dickie Birden - Malcolm Steele - Butch Coppins

83 Frank Hayward: Doug Hunter: George Hipperson: Dave Perrin: ?: Butch Coppins

84 Devon VP955 in Flight

85 Derek Lewis (Flt Cdr 83/84) - Brian Dent - W/Cdr Benny Goodman (OC 32 Sqn, present in his capacity
of Acting Stn Cdr as Gp Capt was on leave at that time) - Mike Rosenorn-Lanng (celebrating 10,000 hrs flying?)
- Ian Hampton - Sue ? (Ops Clerk)

86 S/Ldr Mike Rosenorn-Lanng + S/Ldr Ian Hampton in front of Devon VP952

87 Norman Enston (Pilot, right) and Sid Beaver with Devon VP958. Norman was also Sqn Adj in 83/84.
Sid Beaver was 207 Sqn Association Press Officer until the end of 2002.

88 2 Devons in flight viewed from another during final display tour June 1984

89 Aircrew from last Devon flypast June 1984, in front of Devon's nose
L-R: Norman Enston - Gordon Pearce - Mike Rosenorn-Lanng - Roper Langford - Bert Conchie
Ian Hampton - Colin Shaw - Brian Clifford - Hamish Grigor - Derek Lewis

90 Devon over Cranfield

92 4 Devons formation during practice for final display tour of 1984

93 Ian Hampton (207 CO) in front of Devon in 207 Hangar at Northolt June 1984

94 Tail of Devon WB530 in 207 Hangar at RAF Northolt June 1984

95 Devon VP952 in hangar at St Athans - 1985/6

96 Devon VP952 taxies in at RAF Woodvale June 1984 (anorak on right is RG-O - with dark hair!)

98 (Nose of) Devon VP952 at RAF Woodvale 1984

99 Devon VP952 on display at St Athans open day 1985/6

100 Devon VP952 in hangar at St Athans 1985/6

102 Unknown with Grp Cpt Alan Curry (centre, Station Commander 1977-80) and
Sqn Ldr Mike Perrett (right, OC 207 1977-79) at Devon's door! Dennis Buck adds: As a navigator
one of Alan Curry's perks was to fly with 32 Sqn on the Andover and 207 Sqn on the Devon aircraft.
On the other side of the coin he had to meet VIPs not only at RAF Northolt but Heathrow.
I did many trips with him in the Devon and enjoyed his company.

103 207 Squadron Lineup with Devon behind: Noel Cockfield adds:
Front and center is the CO, Peter Goodman, as you would expect.
Sitting on his right looks like Sqn Ldr Gordon Cockfield, my father.
Dad was Flt Commander/Nav Leader on the Squadron. Based on dates from his log book, the
photo was taken sometime between 1974 and 1977; more likely to be closer to the end of his tour.

104 Devon VP958 over Deptford power station - date unknown, pre 207

106 Senior unknown entering Devon: + 1 unknown saluting (in white overalls):
Roper Langford thinks it could be MRAF Sir Dermot Boyle: he retired as CAS on 1 Jan 1960.

107 Fred Butcher "This is me being toasted after my last flight
L-R: Dave Roberts - Benny Goodman - self - OC Northolt Roy Johnson - 5."

 

108 L-R: Leigh Gothard - Jacko Jackson - ? admire 207 display propeller, 1972?

109 207 Squadron display Propellor, with adornment?

110 "Royal Flight Today": 3 unknowns in office area

Identifiers ex-207 or family

Dennis Buck: 4, 11, 15, 52, 53, 68-70, 74, 82, 102, 108
Fred Butcher: 8, 107
Noel Cockfield: 103
Dave Green: 20, 81, 85, 87, 89
Ian Hampton: 17, 85, 87, 89, 102, 107
Roper Langford: 106
Alan Mawby: 90
Denis Mooney: 52, 53, 107, 108
Del Williams: 52

other

Toby Vickers: 104 - corrected the identification of the power station