Category: 408 Squadron Memories

Squadron Leader ‘Mac’ McIlroy, wireless operator who was shot down over France – obituary

Reunion

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2021/03/18/squadron-leader-mac-mcilroy-wireless-operator-shot-france/ During the Cold War he specialized in signals and electronics, much of it top-secret, as well as guided-missile systems Squadron Leader William “Mac” McIlroy, who has died aged 99, was shot down during the Second World War, and later became a signals expert during a long career in the RAF. McIlroy was the wireless operator of a 408 Squadron Halifax bomber that took off from Leeming in North Yorkshire on the night of April 14 1943. It was his 28th operation. After successfully attacking Stuttgart, the bomber was…

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Flight Lieutenant Newton Reid Brydon

Reunion

My grandfather, Flight Lieutenant Newton Reid Brydon DFC served with the 408 Squadron in World War 2. He completed 47 bombing raids. No small task! He enlisted with his brother. Unfortunately his brother was killed after one week of action. Newton stayed in until the job was done. My mother just found a speech that he gave to a group of students in Hope BC where he lived in his later years. I sent it to my daughters principal today where she read it to the whole school. I hope…

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408 Squadron flies the C-130B

Reunion

408 Squadron flies the C-130Bby Captain Joel Possberg Within 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron often stands out: blue berets in a sea of green. We’re the only Royal Canadian Air Force presence at CFB Edmonton, the former RCAF Station Namao, which hosted some of the fixed-wing aircraft our squadron formerly flew. We have been operating helicopters for so long now – nearly 50 years – that day to day memories of our former time as a “true blue air force” squadron have more or less been…

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Sgt Robert “Scott” Hanna

association

Scott lost a short but heroic battle with cancer on November 2, 2019. Gone to soon but never forgotten. Predeceased by his mother Arlene Hanna, Scott leaves behind his wife Dawn Parlby, stepchildren Kendall DeVries (Kyle Petrik) and Gabrielle Parlby, his father David Hanna (Doreen Todd), sister Dawn (Mark) Kuzemski, nephew Cole Pethybridge, niece Lara Pethybridge, and favorite Aunt Faye Acton. Scott devoted most of his life to the Royal Canadian Airforce. He spent 39 years in service to his country as an AVN technician, recruiter and too many other…

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Marcus R. Humphrey

association

Marcus R. Humphrey, 89-1/2, of Gettysburg, passed away at Gettysburg Hospital on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Mr. Humphrey was born in 1923 in Omaha, Neb., son of the late Marcus R. Humphrey Sr. and Mabel Frappia Humphrey. He graduated from Pawnee City High School in Pawnee City, Neb., in 1941. In the summer of 1941, he hitch-hiked to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was sent to England and served in the Royal Air Force 408 Squadron as a pilot of a Lancaster bomber. He flew 30…

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In Remembrance of 408 Squadron Members

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In Remembrance of 408 Squadron Members   When the geese come back in the Spring And they learn that their friend has gone, I wonder will they take to wing And try to follow him on? When they look for their friend again As they’ve done in the years before, Will they stay with us who remain Or seek him the wide world o’er? They loved him, the young and the old, Wild geese and the whistling swan! What then, when the flocks are told The man who was kind…

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408’s Proud Banner

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408’s Proud Banner Long may 408’s proud banner wave,       The banner that flew o’er the braveAs they flew in the dark of night  To keep the torch of freedom burning bright. Our bombers helped to vanquish those Who sought their jackboot to impose  Upon those fine, free men in many lands,  Who looked to us with pleading hands, To help them in their hour of need  And see that they, again, were freed. Nine hundred men have paid the price, Nine hundred more would do it twice. No price for…

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The 408 Squadron Groundcrew

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The 408 Squadron Groundcrew Again the evening dusk doth deepen into dark, As the weary ground crew leave the aircraft, in its dispersal park, They’ve labored here since the early light of dawn, And soon the laden aircraft, once more, into the night is gone. They’ve labored here, day long, to patch each wounded plane, That returned to base in early morn; so it may fly again This night, and carry forth its dreaded load of fearful death, Perhaps, to be delivered with the aircrew men’s last breath. These ground…

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Requiem for a 408 Squadron Airman

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Requiem for a 408 Squadron Airman   The nation sends its sons once more To fight for freedom on a foreign shore, They fly into the dark night sky To bomb their target, and, perhaps, to die These airman had no time to see The graves of their paternity, In Flanders fields, or otherwise, Before they died in the dark night skies. The briefing’s done its time to go, We’re off to Essen to see the show, And take a load of a nasty surprise, To drop it out of…

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