Halifax (bomber)

[Simpo Two]

Is there a Halifax anywhere in the UK that a veteran visiting from Australia could visit?

[Simpo Two]

Thanks, I'll pass it on. He's currently at Cosford and seems to have found a chunk of one there too.

[Simpo Two]

Aha, I got confused by the speed with which the man (Ron Hickey DFC) has covered the ground. He saw the Wellington at Cosford, and the Halifax (above) at Hendon as you say.

[Simpo Two]

Well he's getting around - he's just done a taxy run in Just Jane!

[Simpo Two]

Mojocvh said:

I wonder if they slipped one less F-35 wonder jet [that is sarcasm btw would the released funds trickle down through the layers to help these bastions of our heritage?

You could raid the foreign aid budget and the money being spent pulling Africans out of the Med.

[Simpo Two]

Halmyre said:

One F-35 is not worth one drowned African child. Unless you subscribe to the Katie Hopkins school of thought.

What proportion of the UK's GDP is worth an African child do you think? Numbers invited.

[Simpo Two]

With the kind permission of (and captions by) Ron's daughter, here are some photos of his trip around the UK which I hope you enjoy:

The Heroes. 1st five L - R Ron Hickey, Harry Irons, Tom Davidson, Charles Darby, Doug Wooldridge +2:


Crew 1944:


Ron Hickey DFC:


Friends of 466/462 Squadrons. Ron Hickey and his crew, standing under a Halifax 1944.
Morrie Draper, Hugh McClelland, Jock Cochran, Bill Woods, Lennie Rowe, Ron, and Lofty Duschene:


Pop having a great time. He is with his beloved Halifax:


Photo by Chas McHugh - "Daniel McHugh is an RAF Officer Cadet and member of East Midlands University Air Sqn. He has passed his pilot aptitude test and intends to pursue a cockpit after university. At just 20 years old, had it been 1940, he would have been a battle veteran and is indicative of the youth of RAF wartime aircrews. Any family resemblance with Ron is coincidental!"



'Just Jane' having a run. (Simpo's note - Ron was unable to get into the cockpit - wing spar IIRC - but made it into the rear turret):


Photo by Chas McHugh - Ron Hickey DFC and son David get up close and personal with a Wellington bomber at RAF Cosford with Centre Manager Mr Darren Priddy:


Photo by Jason Steele, posted from England... "Many of you probably saw the little boy and girl at the service today, as I was talking to Ron Hickey he came up with his sister and said he wants to be a pilot and gave Ron this picture...
"To Ron
A big Thank You for what you did for us
From Flynn"


The young pilot with Pop: